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1 \input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-
2 @c Copyright (C) 1988-2016 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
3 @c
4 @c %**start of header
5 @c makeinfo ignores cmds prev to setfilename, so its arg cannot make use
6 @c of @set vars. However, you can override filename with makeinfo -o.
7 @setfilename gdb.info
8 @c
9 @c man begin INCLUDE
10 @include gdb-cfg.texi
11 @c man end
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 @c To avoid file-name clashes between index.html and Index.html, when
24 @c the manual is produced on a Posix host and then moved to a
25 @c case-insensitive filesystem (e.g., MS-Windows), we separate the
26 @c indices into two: Concept Index and all the rest.
27 @syncodeindex ky fn
28 @syncodeindex tp fn
29
30 @c readline appendices use @vindex, @findex and @ftable,
31 @c annotate.texi and gdbmi use @findex.
32 @syncodeindex vr fn
33
34 @c !!set GDB manual's edition---not the same as GDB version!
35 @c This is updated by GNU Press.
36 @set EDITION Tenth
37
38 @c !!set GDB edit command default editor
39 @set EDITOR /bin/ex
40
41 @c THIS MANUAL REQUIRES TEXINFO 4.0 OR LATER.
42
43 @c This is a dir.info fragment to support semi-automated addition of
44 @c manuals to an info tree.
45 @dircategory Software development
46 @direntry
47 * Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
48 * gdbserver: (gdb) Server. The GNU debugging server.
49 @end direntry
50
51 @copying
52 @c man begin COPYRIGHT
53 Copyright @copyright{} 1988-2016 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
54
55 Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
56 under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or
57 any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
58 Invariant Sections being ``Free Software'' and ``Free Software Needs
59 Free Documentation'', with the Front-Cover Texts being ``A GNU Manual,''
60 and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
61
62 (a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: ``You are free to copy and modify
63 this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
64 developing GNU and promoting software freedom.''
65 @c man end
66 @end copying
67
68 @ifnottex
69 This file documents the @sc{gnu} debugger @value{GDBN}.
70
71 This is the @value{EDITION} Edition, of @cite{Debugging with
72 @value{GDBN}: the @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger} for @value{GDBN}
73 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
74 @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
75 @end ifset
76 Version @value{GDBVN}.
77
78 @insertcopying
79 @end ifnottex
80
81 @titlepage
82 @title Debugging with @value{GDBN}
83 @subtitle The @sc{gnu} Source-Level Debugger
84 @sp 1
85 @subtitle @value{EDITION} Edition, for @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN}
86 @ifset VERSION_PACKAGE
87 @sp 1
88 @subtitle @value{VERSION_PACKAGE}
89 @end ifset
90 @author Richard Stallman, Roland Pesch, Stan Shebs, et al.
91 @page
92 @tex
93 {\parskip=0pt
94 \hfill (Send bugs and comments on @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.)\par
95 \hfill {\it Debugging with @value{GDBN}}\par
96 \hfill \TeX{}info \texinfoversion\par
97 }
98 @end tex
99
100 @vskip 0pt plus 1filll
101 Published by the Free Software Foundation @*
102 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor,
103 Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA@*
104 ISBN 978-0-9831592-3-0 @*
105
106 @insertcopying
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) 1988-2016 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 * In-Process Agent:: In-Process Agent
164
165 * GDB Bugs:: Reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
166
167 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
168 * Command Line Editing: (rluserman). Command Line Editing
169 * Using History Interactively: (history). Using History Interactively
170 @end ifset
171 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
172 * Command Line Editing:: Command Line Editing
173 * Using History Interactively:: Using History Interactively
174 @end ifclear
175 * In Memoriam:: In Memoriam
176 * Formatting Documentation:: How to format and print @value{GDBN} documentation
177 * Installing GDB:: Installing GDB
178 * Maintenance Commands:: Maintenance Commands
179 * Remote Protocol:: GDB Remote Serial Protocol
180 * Agent Expressions:: The GDB Agent Expression Mechanism
181 * Target Descriptions:: How targets can describe themselves to
182 @value{GDBN}
183 * Operating System Information:: Getting additional information from
184 the operating system
185 * Trace File Format:: GDB trace file format
186 * Index Section Format:: .gdb_index section format
187 * Man Pages:: Manual pages
188 * Copying:: GNU General Public License says
189 how you can copy and share GDB
190 * GNU Free Documentation License:: The license for this documentation
191 * Concept Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} concepts
192 * Command and Variable Index:: Index of @value{GDBN} commands, variables,
193 functions, and Python data types
194 @end menu
195
196 @end ifnottex
197
198 @contents
199
200 @node Summary
201 @unnumbered Summary of @value{GDBN}
202
203 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
204 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes---or what another
205 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
206
207 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
208 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
209
210 @itemize @bullet
211 @item
212 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
213
214 @item
215 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
216
217 @item
218 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
219
220 @item
221 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
222 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
223 @end itemize
224
225 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C and C@t{++}.
226 For more information, see @ref{Supported Languages,,Supported Languages}.
227 For more information, see @ref{C,,C and C++}.
228
229 Support for D is partial. For information on D, see
230 @ref{D,,D}.
231
232 @cindex Modula-2
233 Support for Modula-2 is partial. For information on Modula-2, see
234 @ref{Modula-2,,Modula-2}.
235
236 Support for OpenCL C is partial. For information on OpenCL C, see
237 @ref{OpenCL C,,OpenCL C}.
238
239 @cindex Pascal
240 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
241 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
242 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
243 syntax.
244
245 @cindex Fortran
246 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, although
247 it may be necessary to refer to some variables with a trailing
248 underscore.
249
250 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Objective-C,
251 using either the Apple/NeXT or the GNU Objective-C runtime.
252
253 @menu
254 * Free Software:: Freely redistributable software
255 * Free Documentation:: Free Software Needs Free Documentation
256 * Contributors:: Contributors to GDB
257 @end menu
258
259 @node Free Software
260 @unnumberedsec Free Software
261
262 @value{GDBN} is @dfn{free software}, protected by the @sc{gnu}
263 General Public License
264 (GPL). The GPL gives you the freedom to copy or adapt a licensed
265 program---but every person getting a copy also gets with it the
266 freedom to modify that copy (which means that they must get access to
267 the source code), and the freedom to distribute further copies.
268 Typical software companies use copyrights to limit your freedoms; the
269 Free Software Foundation uses the GPL to preserve these freedoms.
270
271 Fundamentally, the General Public License is a license which says that
272 you have these freedoms and that you cannot take these freedoms away
273 from anyone else.
274
275 @node Free Documentation
276 @unnumberedsec Free Software Needs Free Documentation
277
278 The biggest deficiency in the free software community today is not in
279 the software---it is the lack of good free documentation that we can
280 include with the free software. Many of our most important
281 programs do not come with free reference manuals and free introductory
282 texts. Documentation is an essential part of any software package;
283 when an important free software package does not come with a free
284 manual and a free tutorial, that is a major gap. We have many such
285 gaps today.
286
287 Consider Perl, for instance. The tutorial manuals that people
288 normally use are non-free. How did this come about? Because the
289 authors of those manuals published them with restrictive terms---no
290 copying, no modification, source files not available---which exclude
291 them from the free software world.
292
293 That wasn't the first time this sort of thing happened, and it was far
294 from the last. Many times we have heard a GNU user eagerly describe a
295 manual that he is writing, his intended contribution to the community,
296 only to learn that he had ruined everything by signing a publication
297 contract to make it non-free.
298
299 Free documentation, like free software, is a matter of freedom, not
300 price. The problem with the non-free manual is not that publishers
301 charge a price for printed copies---that in itself is fine. (The Free
302 Software Foundation sells printed copies of manuals, too.) The
303 problem is the restrictions on the use of the manual. Free manuals
304 are available in source code form, and give you permission to copy and
305 modify. Non-free manuals do not allow this.
306
307 The criteria of freedom for a free manual are roughly the same as for
308 free software. Redistribution (including the normal kinds of
309 commercial redistribution) must be permitted, so that the manual can
310 accompany every copy of the program, both on-line and on paper.
311
312 Permission for modification of the technical content is crucial too.
313 When people modify the software, adding or changing features, if they
314 are conscientious they will change the manual too---so they can
315 provide accurate and clear documentation for the modified program. A
316 manual that leaves you no choice but to write a new manual to document
317 a changed version of the program is not really available to our
318 community.
319
320 Some kinds of limits on the way modification is handled are
321 acceptable. For example, requirements to preserve the original
322 author's copyright notice, the distribution terms, or the list of
323 authors, are ok. It is also no problem to require modified versions
324 to include notice that they were modified. Even entire sections that
325 may not be deleted or changed are acceptable, as long as they deal
326 with nontechnical topics (like this one). These kinds of restrictions
327 are acceptable because they don't obstruct the community's normal use
328 of the manual.
329
330 However, it must be possible to modify all the @emph{technical}
331 content of the manual, and then distribute the result in all the usual
332 media, through all the usual channels. Otherwise, the restrictions
333 obstruct the use of the manual, it is not free, and we need another
334 manual to replace it.
335
336 Please spread the word about this issue. Our community continues to
337 lose manuals to proprietary publishing. If we spread the word that
338 free software needs free reference manuals and free tutorials, perhaps
339 the next person who wants to contribute by writing documentation will
340 realize, before it is too late, that only free manuals contribute to
341 the free software community.
342
343 If you are writing documentation, please insist on publishing it under
344 the GNU Free Documentation License or another free documentation
345 license. Remember that this decision requires your approval---you
346 don't have to let the publisher decide. Some commercial publishers
347 will use a free license if you insist, but they will not propose the
348 option; it is up to you to raise the issue and say firmly that this is
349 what you want. If the publisher you are dealing with refuses, please
350 try other publishers. If you're not sure whether a proposed license
351 is free, write to @email{licensing@@gnu.org}.
352
353 You can encourage commercial publishers to sell more free, copylefted
354 manuals and tutorials by buying them, and particularly by buying
355 copies from the publishers that paid for their writing or for major
356 improvements. Meanwhile, try to avoid buying non-free documentation
357 at all. Check the distribution terms of a manual before you buy it,
358 and insist that whoever seeks your business must respect your freedom.
359 Check the history of the book, and try to reward the publishers that
360 have paid or pay the authors to work on it.
361
362 The Free Software Foundation maintains a list of free documentation
363 published by other publishers, at
364 @url{http://www.fsf.org/doc/other-free-books.html}.
365
366 @node Contributors
367 @unnumberedsec Contributors to @value{GDBN}
368
369 Richard Stallman was the original author of @value{GDBN}, and of many
370 other @sc{gnu} programs. Many others have contributed to its
371 development. This section attempts to credit major contributors. One
372 of the virtues of free software is that everyone is free to contribute
373 to it; with regret, we cannot actually acknowledge everyone here. The
374 file @file{ChangeLog} in the @value{GDBN} distribution approximates a
375 blow-by-blow account.
376
377 Changes much prior to version 2.0 are lost in the mists of time.
378
379 @quotation
380 @emph{Plea:} Additions to this section are particularly welcome. If you
381 or your friends (or enemies, to be evenhanded) have been unfairly
382 omitted from this list, we would like to add your names!
383 @end quotation
384
385 So that they may not regard their many labors as thankless, we
386 particularly thank those who shepherded @value{GDBN} through major
387 releases:
388 Andrew Cagney (releases 6.3, 6.2, 6.1, 6.0, 5.3, 5.2, 5.1 and 5.0);
389 Jim Blandy (release 4.18);
390 Jason Molenda (release 4.17);
391 Stan Shebs (release 4.14);
392 Fred Fish (releases 4.16, 4.15, 4.13, 4.12, 4.11, 4.10, and 4.9);
393 Stu Grossman and John Gilmore (releases 4.8, 4.7, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.4);
394 John Gilmore (releases 4.3, 4.2, 4.1, 4.0, and 3.9);
395 Jim Kingdon (releases 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3);
396 and Randy Smith (releases 3.2, 3.1, and 3.0).
397
398 Richard Stallman, assisted at various times by Peter TerMaat, Chris
399 Hanson, and Richard Mlynarik, handled releases through 2.8.
400
401 Michael Tiemann is the author of most of the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} support
402 in @value{GDBN}, with significant additional contributions from Per
403 Bothner and Daniel Berlin. James Clark wrote the @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
404 demangler. Early work on C@t{++} was by Peter TerMaat (who also did
405 much general update work leading to release 3.0).
406
407 @value{GDBN} uses the BFD subroutine library to examine multiple
408 object-file formats; BFD was a joint project of David V.
409 Henkel-Wallace, Rich Pixley, Steve Chamberlain, and John Gilmore.
410
411 David Johnson wrote the original COFF support; Pace Willison did
412 the original support for encapsulated COFF.
413
414 Brent Benson of Harris Computer Systems contributed DWARF 2 support.
415
416 Adam de Boor and Bradley Davis contributed the ISI Optimum V support.
417 Per Bothner, Noboyuki Hikichi, and Alessandro Forin contributed MIPS
418 support.
419 Jean-Daniel Fekete contributed Sun 386i support.
420 Chris Hanson improved the HP9000 support.
421 Noboyuki Hikichi and Tomoyuki Hasei contributed Sony/News OS 3 support.
422 David Johnson contributed Encore Umax support.
423 Jyrki Kuoppala contributed Altos 3068 support.
424 Jeff Law contributed HP PA and SOM support.
425 Keith Packard contributed NS32K support.
426 Doug Rabson contributed Acorn Risc Machine support.
427 Bob Rusk contributed Harris Nighthawk CX-UX support.
428 Chris Smith contributed Convex support (and Fortran debugging).
429 Jonathan Stone contributed Pyramid support.
430 Michael Tiemann contributed SPARC support.
431 Tim Tucker contributed support for the Gould NP1 and Gould Powernode.
432 Pace Willison contributed Intel 386 support.
433 Jay Vosburgh contributed Symmetry support.
434 Marko Mlinar contributed OpenRISC 1000 support.
435
436 Andreas Schwab contributed M68K @sc{gnu}/Linux support.
437
438 Rich Schaefer and Peter Schauer helped with support of SunOS shared
439 libraries.
440
441 Jay Fenlason and Roland McGrath ensured that @value{GDBN} and GAS agree
442 about several machine instruction sets.
443
444 Patrick Duval, Ted Goldstein, Vikram Koka and Glenn Engel helped develop
445 remote debugging. Intel Corporation, Wind River Systems, AMD, and ARM
446 contributed remote debugging modules for the i960, VxWorks, A29K UDI,
447 and RDI targets, respectively.
448
449 Brian Fox is the author of the readline libraries providing
450 command-line editing and command history.
451
452 Andrew Beers of SUNY Buffalo wrote the language-switching code, the
453 Modula-2 support, and contributed the Languages chapter of this manual.
454
455 Fred Fish wrote most of the support for Unix System Vr4.
456 He also enhanced the command-completion support to cover C@t{++} overloaded
457 symbols.
458
459 Hitachi America (now Renesas America), Ltd. sponsored the support for
460 H8/300, H8/500, and Super-H processors.
461
462 NEC sponsored the support for the v850, Vr4xxx, and Vr5xxx processors.
463
464 Mitsubishi (now Renesas) sponsored the support for D10V, D30V, and M32R/D
465 processors.
466
467 Toshiba sponsored the support for the TX39 Mips processor.
468
469 Matsushita sponsored the support for the MN10200 and MN10300 processors.
470
471 Fujitsu sponsored the support for SPARClite and FR30 processors.
472
473 Kung Hsu, Jeff Law, and Rick Sladkey added support for hardware
474 watchpoints.
475
476 Michael Snyder added support for tracepoints.
477
478 Stu Grossman wrote gdbserver.
479
480 Jim Kingdon, Peter Schauer, Ian Taylor, and Stu Grossman made
481 nearly innumerable bug fixes and cleanups throughout @value{GDBN}.
482
483 The following people at the Hewlett-Packard Company contributed
484 support for the PA-RISC 2.0 architecture, HP-UX 10.20, 10.30, and 11.0
485 (narrow mode), HP's implementation of kernel threads, HP's aC@t{++}
486 compiler, and the Text User Interface (nee Terminal User Interface):
487 Ben Krepp, Richard Title, John Bishop, Susan Macchia, Kathy Mann,
488 Satish Pai, India Paul, Steve Rehrauer, and Elena Zannoni. Kim Haase
489 provided HP-specific information in this manual.
490
491 DJ Delorie ported @value{GDBN} to MS-DOS, for the DJGPP project.
492 Robert Hoehne made significant contributions to the DJGPP port.
493
494 Cygnus Solutions has sponsored @value{GDBN} maintenance and much of its
495 development since 1991. Cygnus engineers who have worked on @value{GDBN}
496 fulltime include Mark Alexander, Jim Blandy, Per Bothner, Kevin
497 Buettner, Edith Epstein, Chris Faylor, Fred Fish, Martin Hunt, Jim
498 Ingham, John Gilmore, Stu Grossman, Kung Hsu, Jim Kingdon, John Metzler,
499 Fernando Nasser, Geoffrey Noer, Dawn Perchik, Rich Pixley, Zdenek
500 Radouch, Keith Seitz, Stan Shebs, David Taylor, and Elena Zannoni. In
501 addition, Dave Brolley, Ian Carmichael, Steve Chamberlain, Nick Clifton,
502 JT Conklin, Stan Cox, DJ Delorie, Ulrich Drepper, Frank Eigler, Doug
503 Evans, Sean Fagan, David Henkel-Wallace, Richard Henderson, Jeff
504 Holcomb, Jeff Law, Jim Lemke, Tom Lord, Bob Manson, Michael Meissner,
505 Jason Merrill, Catherine Moore, Drew Moseley, Ken Raeburn, Gavin
506 Romig-Koch, Rob Savoye, Jamie Smith, Mike Stump, Ian Taylor, Angela
507 Thomas, Michael Tiemann, Tom Tromey, Ron Unrau, Jim Wilson, and David
508 Zuhn have made contributions both large and small.
509
510 Andrew Cagney, Fernando Nasser, and Elena Zannoni, while working for
511 Cygnus Solutions, implemented the original @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
512
513 Jim Blandy added support for preprocessor macros, while working for Red
514 Hat.
515
516 Andrew Cagney designed @value{GDBN}'s architecture vector. Many
517 people including Andrew Cagney, Stephane Carrez, Randolph Chung, Nick
518 Duffek, Richard Henderson, Mark Kettenis, Grace Sainsbury, Kei
519 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Andreas Schwab, Jason
520 Thorpe, Corinna Vinschen, Ulrich Weigand, and Elena Zannoni, helped
521 with the migration of old architectures to this new framework.
522
523 Andrew Cagney completely re-designed and re-implemented @value{GDBN}'s
524 unwinder framework, this consisting of a fresh new design featuring
525 frame IDs, independent frame sniffers, and the sentinel frame. Mark
526 Kettenis implemented the @sc{dwarf 2} unwinder, Jeff Johnston the
527 libunwind unwinder, and Andrew Cagney the dummy, sentinel, tramp, and
528 trad unwinders. The architecture-specific changes, each involving a
529 complete rewrite of the architecture's frame code, were carried out by
530 Jim Blandy, Joel Brobecker, Kevin Buettner, Andrew Cagney, Stephane
531 Carrez, Randolph Chung, Orjan Friberg, Richard Henderson, Daniel
532 Jacobowitz, Jeff Johnston, Mark Kettenis, Theodore A. Roth, Kei
533 Sakamoto, Yoshinori Sato, Michael Snyder, Corinna Vinschen, and Ulrich
534 Weigand.
535
536 Christian Zankel, Ross Morley, Bob Wilson, and Maxim Grigoriev from
537 Tensilica, Inc.@: contributed support for Xtensa processors. Others
538 who have worked on the Xtensa port of @value{GDBN} in the past include
539 Steve Tjiang, John Newlin, and Scott Foehner.
540
541 Michael Eager and staff of Xilinx, Inc., contributed support for the
542 Xilinx MicroBlaze architecture.
543
544 @node Sample Session
545 @chapter A Sample @value{GDBN} Session
546
547 You can use this manual at your leisure to read all about @value{GDBN}.
548 However, a handful of commands are enough to get started using the
549 debugger. This chapter illustrates those commands.
550
551 @iftex
552 In this sample session, we emphasize user input like this: @b{input},
553 to make it easier to pick out from the surrounding output.
554 @end iftex
555
556 @c FIXME: this example may not be appropriate for some configs, where
557 @c FIXME...primary interest is in remote use.
558
559 One of the preliminary versions of @sc{gnu} @code{m4} (a generic macro
560 processor) exhibits the following bug: sometimes, when we change its
561 quote strings from the default, the commands used to capture one macro
562 definition within another stop working. In the following short @code{m4}
563 session, we define a macro @code{foo} which expands to @code{0000}; we
564 then use the @code{m4} built-in @code{defn} to define @code{bar} as the
565 same thing. However, when we change the open quote string to
566 @code{<QUOTE>} and the close quote string to @code{<UNQUOTE>}, the same
567 procedure fails to define a new synonym @code{baz}:
568
569 @smallexample
570 $ @b{cd gnu/m4}
571 $ @b{./m4}
572 @b{define(foo,0000)}
573
574 @b{foo}
575 0000
576 @b{define(bar,defn(`foo'))}
577
578 @b{bar}
579 0000
580 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
581
582 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
583 @b{baz}
584 @b{Ctrl-d}
585 m4: End of input: 0: fatal error: EOF in string
586 @end smallexample
587
588 @noindent
589 Let us use @value{GDBN} to try to see what is going on.
590
591 @smallexample
592 $ @b{@value{GDBP} m4}
593 @c FIXME: this falsifies the exact text played out, to permit smallbook
594 @c FIXME... format to come out better.
595 @value{GDBN} is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies
596 of it under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see
597 the conditions.
598 There is absolutely no warranty for @value{GDBN}; type "show warranty"
599 for details.
600
601 @value{GDBN} @value{GDBVN}, Copyright 1999 Free Software Foundation, Inc...
602 (@value{GDBP})
603 @end smallexample
604
605 @noindent
606 @value{GDBN} reads only enough symbol data to know where to find the
607 rest when needed; as a result, the first prompt comes up very quickly.
608 We now tell @value{GDBN} to use a narrower display width than usual, so
609 that examples fit in this manual.
610
611 @smallexample
612 (@value{GDBP}) @b{set width 70}
613 @end smallexample
614
615 @noindent
616 We need to see how the @code{m4} built-in @code{changequote} works.
617 Having looked at the source, we know the relevant subroutine is
618 @code{m4_changequote}, so we set a breakpoint there with the @value{GDBN}
619 @code{break} command.
620
621 @smallexample
622 (@value{GDBP}) @b{break m4_changequote}
623 Breakpoint 1 at 0x62f4: file builtin.c, line 879.
624 @end smallexample
625
626 @noindent
627 Using the @code{run} command, we start @code{m4} running under @value{GDBN}
628 control; as long as control does not reach the @code{m4_changequote}
629 subroutine, the program runs as usual:
630
631 @smallexample
632 (@value{GDBP}) @b{run}
633 Starting program: /work/Editorial/gdb/gnu/m4/m4
634 @b{define(foo,0000)}
635
636 @b{foo}
637 0000
638 @end smallexample
639
640 @noindent
641 To trigger the breakpoint, we call @code{changequote}. @value{GDBN}
642 suspends execution of @code{m4}, displaying information about the
643 context where it stops.
644
645 @smallexample
646 @b{changequote(<QUOTE>,<UNQUOTE>)}
647
648 Breakpoint 1, m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
649 at builtin.c:879
650 879 if (bad_argc(TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[0]),argc,1,3))
651 @end smallexample
652
653 @noindent
654 Now we use the command @code{n} (@code{next}) to advance execution to
655 the next line of the current function.
656
657 @smallexample
658 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
659 882 set_quotes((argc >= 2) ? TOKEN_DATA_TEXT(argv[1])\
660 : nil,
661 @end smallexample
662
663 @noindent
664 @code{set_quotes} looks like a promising subroutine. We can go into it
665 by using the command @code{s} (@code{step}) instead of @code{next}.
666 @code{step} goes to the next line to be executed in @emph{any}
667 subroutine, so it steps into @code{set_quotes}.
668
669 @smallexample
670 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
671 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
672 at input.c:530
673 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
674 @end smallexample
675
676 @noindent
677 The display that shows the subroutine where @code{m4} is now
678 suspended (and its arguments) is called a stack frame display. It
679 shows a summary of the stack. We can use the @code{backtrace}
680 command (which can also be spelled @code{bt}), to see where we are
681 in the stack as a whole: the @code{backtrace} command displays a
682 stack frame for each active subroutine.
683
684 @smallexample
685 (@value{GDBP}) @b{bt}
686 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<QUOTE>", rq=0x34c88 "<UNQUOTE>")
687 at input.c:530
688 #1 0x6344 in m4_changequote (argc=3, argv=0x33c70)
689 at builtin.c:882
690 #2 0x8174 in expand_macro (sym=0x33320) at macro.c:242
691 #3 0x7a88 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=209696, td=0xf7fffa30)
692 at macro.c:71
693 #4 0x79dc in expand_input () at macro.c:40
694 #5 0x2930 in main (argc=0, argv=0xf7fffb20) at m4.c:195
695 @end smallexample
696
697 @noindent
698 We step through a few more lines to see what happens. The first two
699 times, we can use @samp{s}; the next two times we use @code{n} to avoid
700 falling into the @code{xstrdup} subroutine.
701
702 @smallexample
703 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
704 0x3b5c 532 if (rquote != def_rquote)
705 (@value{GDBP}) @b{s}
706 0x3b80 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? \
707 def_lquote : xstrdup(lq);
708 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
709 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
710 : xstrdup(rq);
711 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
712 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
713 @end smallexample
714
715 @noindent
716 The last line displayed looks a little odd; we can examine the variables
717 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} to see if they are in fact the new left
718 and right quotes we specified. We use the command @code{p}
719 (@code{print}) to see their values.
720
721 @smallexample
722 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p lquote}
723 $1 = 0x35d40 "<QUOTE>"
724 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p rquote}
725 $2 = 0x35d50 "<UNQUOTE>"
726 @end smallexample
727
728 @noindent
729 @code{lquote} and @code{rquote} are indeed the new left and right quotes.
730 To look at some context, we can display ten lines of source
731 surrounding the current line with the @code{l} (@code{list}) command.
732
733 @smallexample
734 (@value{GDBP}) @b{l}
735 533 xfree(rquote);
736 534
737 535 lquote = (lq == nil || *lq == '\0') ? def_lquote\
738 : xstrdup (lq);
739 536 rquote = (rq == nil || *rq == '\0') ? def_rquote\
740 : xstrdup (rq);
741 537
742 538 len_lquote = strlen(rquote);
743 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
744 540 @}
745 541
746 542 void
747 @end smallexample
748
749 @noindent
750 Let us step past the two lines that set @code{len_lquote} and
751 @code{len_rquote}, and then examine the values of those variables.
752
753 @smallexample
754 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
755 539 len_rquote = strlen(lquote);
756 (@value{GDBP}) @b{n}
757 540 @}
758 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote}
759 $3 = 9
760 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote}
761 $4 = 7
762 @end smallexample
763
764 @noindent
765 That certainly looks wrong, assuming @code{len_lquote} and
766 @code{len_rquote} are meant to be the lengths of @code{lquote} and
767 @code{rquote} respectively. We can set them to better values using
768 the @code{p} command, since it can print the value of
769 any expression---and that expression can include subroutine calls and
770 assignments.
771
772 @smallexample
773 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_lquote=strlen(lquote)}
774 $5 = 7
775 (@value{GDBP}) @b{p len_rquote=strlen(rquote)}
776 $6 = 9
777 @end smallexample
778
779 @noindent
780 Is that enough to fix the problem of using the new quotes with the
781 @code{m4} built-in @code{defn}? We can allow @code{m4} to continue
782 executing with the @code{c} (@code{continue}) command, and then try the
783 example that caused trouble initially:
784
785 @smallexample
786 (@value{GDBP}) @b{c}
787 Continuing.
788
789 @b{define(baz,defn(<QUOTE>foo<UNQUOTE>))}
790
791 baz
792 0000
793 @end smallexample
794
795 @noindent
796 Success! The new quotes now work just as well as the default ones. The
797 problem seems to have been just the two typos defining the wrong
798 lengths. We allow @code{m4} exit by giving it an EOF as input:
799
800 @smallexample
801 @b{Ctrl-d}
802 Program exited normally.
803 @end smallexample
804
805 @noindent
806 The message @samp{Program exited normally.} is from @value{GDBN}; it
807 indicates @code{m4} has finished executing. We can end our @value{GDBN}
808 session with the @value{GDBN} @code{quit} command.
809
810 @smallexample
811 (@value{GDBP}) @b{quit}
812 @end smallexample
813
814 @node Invocation
815 @chapter Getting In and Out of @value{GDBN}
816
817 This chapter discusses how to start @value{GDBN}, and how to get out of it.
818 The essentials are:
819 @itemize @bullet
820 @item
821 type @samp{@value{GDBP}} to start @value{GDBN}.
822 @item
823 type @kbd{quit} or @kbd{Ctrl-d} to exit.
824 @end itemize
825
826 @menu
827 * Invoking GDB:: How to start @value{GDBN}
828 * Quitting GDB:: How to quit @value{GDBN}
829 * Shell Commands:: How to use shell commands inside @value{GDBN}
830 * Logging Output:: How to log @value{GDBN}'s output to a file
831 @end menu
832
833 @node Invoking GDB
834 @section Invoking @value{GDBN}
835
836 Invoke @value{GDBN} by running the program @code{@value{GDBP}}. Once started,
837 @value{GDBN} reads commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
838
839 You can also run @code{@value{GDBP}} with a variety of arguments and options,
840 to specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
841
842 The command-line options described here are designed
843 to cover a variety of situations; in some environments, some of these
844 options may effectively be unavailable.
845
846 The most usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument,
847 specifying an executable program:
848
849 @smallexample
850 @value{GDBP} @var{program}
851 @end smallexample
852
853 @noindent
854 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
855 specified:
856
857 @smallexample
858 @value{GDBP} @var{program} @var{core}
859 @end smallexample
860
861 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
862 to debug a running process:
863
864 @smallexample
865 @value{GDBP} @var{program} 1234
866 @end smallexample
867
868 @noindent
869 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
870 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
871
872 Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a fairly
873 complete operating system; when you use @value{GDBN} as a remote
874 debugger attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of
875 ``process'', and there is often no way to get a core dump. @value{GDBN}
876 will warn you if it is unable to attach or to read core dumps.
877
878 You can optionally have @code{@value{GDBP}} pass any arguments after the
879 executable file to the inferior using @code{--args}. This option stops
880 option processing.
881 @smallexample
882 @value{GDBP} --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
883 @end smallexample
884 This will cause @code{@value{GDBP}} to debug @code{gcc}, and to set
885 @code{gcc}'s command-line arguments (@pxref{Arguments}) to @samp{-O2 -c foo.c}.
886
887 You can run @code{@value{GDBP}} without printing the front material, which describes
888 @value{GDBN}'s non-warranty, by specifying @code{--silent}
889 (or @code{-q}/@code{--quiet}):
890
891 @smallexample
892 @value{GDBP} --silent
893 @end smallexample
894
895 @noindent
896 You can further control how @value{GDBN} starts up by using command-line
897 options. @value{GDBN} itself can remind you of the options available.
898
899 @noindent
900 Type
901
902 @smallexample
903 @value{GDBP} -help
904 @end smallexample
905
906 @noindent
907 to display all available options and briefly describe their use
908 (@samp{@value{GDBP} -h} is a shorter equivalent).
909
910 All options and command line arguments you give are processed
911 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the
912 @samp{-x} option is used.
913
914
915 @menu
916 * File Options:: Choosing files
917 * Mode Options:: Choosing modes
918 * Startup:: What @value{GDBN} does during startup
919 @end menu
920
921 @node File Options
922 @subsection Choosing Files
923
924 When @value{GDBN} starts, it reads any arguments other than options as
925 specifying an executable file and core file (or process ID). This is
926 the same as if the arguments were specified by the @samp{-se} and
927 @samp{-c} (or @samp{-p}) options respectively. (@value{GDBN} reads the
928 first argument that does not have an associated option flag as
929 equivalent to the @samp{-se} option followed by that argument; and the
930 second argument that does not have an associated option flag, if any, as
931 equivalent to the @samp{-c}/@samp{-p} option followed by that argument.)
932 If the second argument begins with a decimal digit, @value{GDBN} will
933 first attempt to attach to it as a process, and if that fails, attempt
934 to open it as a corefile. If you have a corefile whose name begins with
935 a digit, you can prevent @value{GDBN} from treating it as a pid by
936 prefixing it with @file{./}, e.g.@: @file{./12345}.
937
938 If @value{GDBN} has not been configured to included core file support,
939 such as for most embedded targets, then it will complain about a second
940 argument and ignore it.
941
942 Many options have both long and short forms; both are shown in the
943 following list. @value{GDBN} also recognizes the long forms if you truncate
944 them, so long as enough of the option is present to be unambiguous.
945 (If you prefer, you can flag option arguments with @samp{--} rather
946 than @samp{-}, though we illustrate the more usual convention.)
947
948 @c NOTE: the @cindex entries here use double dashes ON PURPOSE. This
949 @c way, both those who look for -foo and --foo in the index, will find
950 @c it.
951
952 @table @code
953 @item -symbols @var{file}
954 @itemx -s @var{file}
955 @cindex @code{--symbols}
956 @cindex @code{-s}
957 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
958
959 @item -exec @var{file}
960 @itemx -e @var{file}
961 @cindex @code{--exec}
962 @cindex @code{-e}
963 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when appropriate,
964 and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump.
965
966 @item -se @var{file}
967 @cindex @code{--se}
968 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
969 file.
970
971 @item -core @var{file}
972 @itemx -c @var{file}
973 @cindex @code{--core}
974 @cindex @code{-c}
975 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
976
977 @item -pid @var{number}
978 @itemx -p @var{number}
979 @cindex @code{--pid}
980 @cindex @code{-p}
981 Connect to process ID @var{number}, as with the @code{attach} command.
982
983 @item -command @var{file}
984 @itemx -x @var{file}
985 @cindex @code{--command}
986 @cindex @code{-x}
987 Execute commands from file @var{file}. The contents of this file is
988 evaluated exactly as the @code{source} command would.
989 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
990
991 @item -eval-command @var{command}
992 @itemx -ex @var{command}
993 @cindex @code{--eval-command}
994 @cindex @code{-ex}
995 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command.
996
997 This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may
998 also be interleaved with @samp{-command} as required.
999
1000 @smallexample
1001 @value{GDBP} -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \
1002 -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out
1003 @end smallexample
1004
1005 @item -init-command @var{file}
1006 @itemx -ix @var{file}
1007 @cindex @code{--init-command}
1008 @cindex @code{-ix}
1009 Execute commands from file @var{file} before loading the inferior (but
1010 after loading gdbinit files).
1011 @xref{Startup}.
1012
1013 @item -init-eval-command @var{command}
1014 @itemx -iex @var{command}
1015 @cindex @code{--init-eval-command}
1016 @cindex @code{-iex}
1017 Execute a single @value{GDBN} command before loading the inferior (but
1018 after loading gdbinit files).
1019 @xref{Startup}.
1020
1021 @item -directory @var{directory}
1022 @itemx -d @var{directory}
1023 @cindex @code{--directory}
1024 @cindex @code{-d}
1025 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source and script files.
1026
1027 @item -r
1028 @itemx -readnow
1029 @cindex @code{--readnow}
1030 @cindex @code{-r}
1031 Read each symbol file's entire symbol table immediately, rather than
1032 the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed.
1033 This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster.
1034
1035 @end table
1036
1037 @node Mode Options
1038 @subsection Choosing Modes
1039
1040 You can run @value{GDBN} in various alternative modes---for example, in
1041 batch mode or quiet mode.
1042
1043 @table @code
1044 @anchor{-nx}
1045 @item -nx
1046 @itemx -n
1047 @cindex @code{--nx}
1048 @cindex @code{-n}
1049 Do not execute commands found in any initialization file.
1050 There are three init files, loaded in the following order:
1051
1052 @table @code
1053 @item @file{system.gdbinit}
1054 This is the system-wide init file.
1055 Its location is specified with the @code{--with-system-gdbinit}
1056 configure option (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
1057 It is loaded first when @value{GDBN} starts, before command line options
1058 have been processed.
1059 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}
1060 This is the init file in your home directory.
1061 It is loaded next, after @file{system.gdbinit}, and before
1062 command options have been processed.
1063 @item @file{./.gdbinit}
1064 This is the init file in the current directory.
1065 It is loaded last, after command line options other than @code{-x} and
1066 @code{-ex} have been processed. Command line options @code{-x} and
1067 @code{-ex} are processed last, after @file{./.gdbinit} has been loaded.
1068 @end table
1069
1070 For further documentation on startup processing, @xref{Startup}.
1071 For documentation on how to write command files,
1072 @xref{Command Files,,Command Files}.
1073
1074 @anchor{-nh}
1075 @item -nh
1076 @cindex @code{--nh}
1077 Do not execute commands found in @file{~/.gdbinit}, the init file
1078 in your home directory.
1079 @xref{Startup}.
1080
1081 @item -quiet
1082 @itemx -silent
1083 @itemx -q
1084 @cindex @code{--quiet}
1085 @cindex @code{--silent}
1086 @cindex @code{-q}
1087 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
1088 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
1089
1090 @item -batch
1091 @cindex @code{--batch}
1092 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the
1093 command files specified with @samp{-x} (and all commands from
1094 initialization files, if not inhibited with @samp{-n}). Exit with
1095 nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN} commands
1096 in the command files. Batch mode also disables pagination, sets unlimited
1097 terminal width and height @pxref{Screen Size}, and acts as if @kbd{set confirm
1098 off} were in effect (@pxref{Messages/Warnings}).
1099
1100 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for
1101 example to download and run a program on another computer; in order to
1102 make this more useful, the message
1103
1104 @smallexample
1105 Program exited normally.
1106 @end smallexample
1107
1108 @noindent
1109 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under
1110 @value{GDBN} control terminates) is not issued when running in batch
1111 mode.
1112
1113 @item -batch-silent
1114 @cindex @code{--batch-silent}
1115 Run in batch mode exactly like @samp{-batch}, but totally silently. All
1116 @value{GDBN} output to @code{stdout} is prevented (@code{stderr} is
1117 unaffected). This is much quieter than @samp{-silent} and would be useless
1118 for an interactive session.
1119
1120 This is particularly useful when using targets that give @samp{Loading section}
1121 messages, for example.
1122
1123 Note that targets that give their output via @value{GDBN}, as opposed to
1124 writing directly to @code{stdout}, will also be made silent.
1125
1126 @item -return-child-result
1127 @cindex @code{--return-child-result}
1128 The return code from @value{GDBN} will be the return code from the child
1129 process (the process being debugged), with the following exceptions:
1130
1131 @itemize @bullet
1132 @item
1133 @value{GDBN} exits abnormally. E.g., due to an incorrect argument or an
1134 internal error. In this case the exit code is the same as it would have been
1135 without @samp{-return-child-result}.
1136 @item
1137 The user quits with an explicit value. E.g., @samp{quit 1}.
1138 @item
1139 The child process never runs, or is not allowed to terminate, in which case
1140 the exit code will be -1.
1141 @end itemize
1142
1143 This option is useful in conjunction with @samp{-batch} or @samp{-batch-silent},
1144 when @value{GDBN} is being used as a remote program loader or simulator
1145 interface.
1146
1147 @item -nowindows
1148 @itemx -nw
1149 @cindex @code{--nowindows}
1150 @cindex @code{-nw}
1151 ``No windows''. If @value{GDBN} comes with a graphical user interface
1152 (GUI) built in, then this option tells @value{GDBN} to only use the command-line
1153 interface. If no GUI is available, this option has no effect.
1154
1155 @item -windows
1156 @itemx -w
1157 @cindex @code{--windows}
1158 @cindex @code{-w}
1159 If @value{GDBN} includes a GUI, then this option requires it to be
1160 used if possible.
1161
1162 @item -cd @var{directory}
1163 @cindex @code{--cd}
1164 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
1165 instead of the current directory.
1166
1167 @item -data-directory @var{directory}
1168 @itemx -D @var{directory}
1169 @cindex @code{--data-directory}
1170 @cindex @code{-D}
1171 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its data directory.
1172 The data directory is where @value{GDBN} searches for its
1173 auxiliary files. @xref{Data Files}.
1174
1175 @item -fullname
1176 @itemx -f
1177 @cindex @code{--fullname}
1178 @cindex @code{-f}
1179 @sc{gnu} Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a
1180 subprocess. It tells @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line
1181 number in a standard, recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is
1182 displayed (which includes each time your program stops). This
1183 recognizable format looks like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by
1184 the file name, line number and character position separated by colons,
1185 and a newline. The Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two
1186 @samp{\032} characters as a signal to display the source code for the
1187 frame.
1188
1189 @item -annotate @var{level}
1190 @cindex @code{--annotate}
1191 This option sets the @dfn{annotation level} inside @value{GDBN}. Its
1192 effect is identical to using @samp{set annotate @var{level}}
1193 (@pxref{Annotations}). The annotation @var{level} controls how much
1194 information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt, values of
1195 expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is the
1196 normal, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a subprocess of
1197 @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs
1198 that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 has been deprecated.
1199
1200 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
1201 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
1202
1203 @item --args
1204 @cindex @code{--args}
1205 Change interpretation of command line so that arguments following the
1206 executable file are passed as command line arguments to the inferior.
1207 This option stops option processing.
1208
1209 @item -baud @var{bps}
1210 @itemx -b @var{bps}
1211 @cindex @code{--baud}
1212 @cindex @code{-b}
1213 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
1214 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
1215
1216 @item -l @var{timeout}
1217 @cindex @code{-l}
1218 Set the timeout (in seconds) of any communication used by @value{GDBN}
1219 for remote debugging.
1220
1221 @item -tty @var{device}
1222 @itemx -t @var{device}
1223 @cindex @code{--tty}
1224 @cindex @code{-t}
1225 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
1226 @c FIXME: kingdon thinks there is more to -tty. Investigate.
1227
1228 @c resolve the situation of these eventually
1229 @item -tui
1230 @cindex @code{--tui}
1231 Activate the @dfn{Text User Interface} when starting. The Text User
1232 Interface manages several text windows on the terminal, showing
1233 source, assembly, registers and @value{GDBN} command outputs
1234 (@pxref{TUI, ,@value{GDBN} Text User Interface}). Do not use this
1235 option if you run @value{GDBN} from Emacs (@pxref{Emacs, ,
1236 Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}).
1237
1238 @item -interpreter @var{interp}
1239 @cindex @code{--interpreter}
1240 Use the interpreter @var{interp} for interface with the controlling
1241 program or device. This option is meant to be set by programs which
1242 communicate with @value{GDBN} using it as a back end.
1243 @xref{Interpreters, , Command Interpreters}.
1244
1245 @samp{--interpreter=mi} (or @samp{--interpreter=mi2}) causes
1246 @value{GDBN} to use the @dfn{@sc{gdb/mi} interface} (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,
1247 The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}) included since @value{GDBN} version 6.0. The
1248 previous @sc{gdb/mi} interface, included in @value{GDBN} version 5.3 and
1249 selected with @samp{--interpreter=mi1}, is deprecated. Earlier
1250 @sc{gdb/mi} interfaces are no longer supported.
1251
1252 @item -write
1253 @cindex @code{--write}
1254 Open the executable and core files for both reading and writing. This
1255 is equivalent to the @samp{set write on} command inside @value{GDBN}
1256 (@pxref{Patching}).
1257
1258 @item -statistics
1259 @cindex @code{--statistics}
1260 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print statistics about time and
1261 memory usage after it completes each command and returns to the prompt.
1262
1263 @item -version
1264 @cindex @code{--version}
1265 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print its version number and
1266 no-warranty blurb, and exit.
1267
1268 @item -configuration
1269 @cindex @code{--configuration}
1270 This option causes @value{GDBN} to print details about its build-time
1271 configuration parameters, and then exit. These details can be
1272 important when reporting @value{GDBN} bugs (@pxref{GDB Bugs}).
1273
1274 @end table
1275
1276 @node Startup
1277 @subsection What @value{GDBN} Does During Startup
1278 @cindex @value{GDBN} startup
1279
1280 Here's the description of what @value{GDBN} does during session startup:
1281
1282 @enumerate
1283 @item
1284 Sets up the command interpreter as specified by the command line
1285 (@pxref{Mode Options, interpreter}).
1286
1287 @item
1288 @cindex init file
1289 Reads the system-wide @dfn{init file} (if @option{--with-system-gdbinit} was
1290 used when building @value{GDBN}; @pxref{System-wide configuration,
1291 ,System-wide configuration and settings}) and executes all the commands in
1292 that file.
1293
1294 @anchor{Home Directory Init File}
1295 @item
1296 Reads the init file (if any) in your home directory@footnote{On
1297 DOS/Windows systems, the home directory is the one pointed to by the
1298 @code{HOME} environment variable.} and executes all the commands in
1299 that file.
1300
1301 @anchor{Option -init-eval-command}
1302 @item
1303 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-iex} and
1304 @samp{-ix} options in their specified order. Usually you should use the
1305 @samp{-ex} and @samp{-x} options instead, but this way you can apply
1306 settings before @value{GDBN} init files get executed and before inferior
1307 gets loaded.
1308
1309 @item
1310 Processes command line options and operands.
1311
1312 @anchor{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}
1313 @item
1314 Reads and executes the commands from init file (if any) in the current
1315 working directory as long as @samp{set auto-load local-gdbinit} is set to
1316 @samp{on} (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory}).
1317 This is only done if the current directory is
1318 different from your home directory. Thus, you can have more than one
1319 init file, one generic in your home directory, and another, specific
1320 to the program you are debugging, in the directory where you invoke
1321 @value{GDBN}.
1322
1323 @item
1324 If the command line specified a program to debug, or a process to
1325 attach to, or a core file, @value{GDBN} loads any auto-loaded
1326 scripts provided for the program or for its loaded shared libraries.
1327 @xref{Auto-loading}.
1328
1329 If you wish to disable the auto-loading during startup,
1330 you must do something like the following:
1331
1332 @smallexample
1333 $ gdb -iex "set auto-load python-scripts off" myprogram
1334 @end smallexample
1335
1336 Option @samp{-ex} does not work because the auto-loading is then turned
1337 off too late.
1338
1339 @item
1340 Executes commands and command files specified by the @samp{-ex} and
1341 @samp{-x} options in their specified order. @xref{Command Files}, for
1342 more details about @value{GDBN} command files.
1343
1344 @item
1345 Reads the command history recorded in the @dfn{history file}.
1346 @xref{Command History}, for more details about the command history and the
1347 files where @value{GDBN} records it.
1348 @end enumerate
1349
1350 Init files use the same syntax as @dfn{command files} (@pxref{Command
1351 Files}) and are processed by @value{GDBN} in the same way. The init
1352 file in your home directory can set options (such as @samp{set
1353 complaints}) that affect subsequent processing of command line options
1354 and operands. Init files are not executed if you use the @samp{-nx}
1355 option (@pxref{Mode Options, ,Choosing Modes}).
1356
1357 To display the list of init files loaded by gdb at startup, you
1358 can use @kbd{gdb --help}.
1359
1360 @cindex init file name
1361 @cindex @file{.gdbinit}
1362 @cindex @file{gdb.ini}
1363 The @value{GDBN} init files are normally called @file{.gdbinit}.
1364 The DJGPP port of @value{GDBN} uses the name @file{gdb.ini}, due to
1365 the limitations of file names imposed by DOS filesystems. The Windows
1366 port of @value{GDBN} uses the standard name, but if it finds a
1367 @file{gdb.ini} file in your home directory, it warns you about that
1368 and suggests to rename the file to the standard name.
1369
1370
1371 @node Quitting GDB
1372 @section Quitting @value{GDBN}
1373 @cindex exiting @value{GDBN}
1374 @cindex leaving @value{GDBN}
1375
1376 @table @code
1377 @kindex quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1378 @kindex q @r{(@code{quit})}
1379 @item quit @r{[}@var{expression}@r{]}
1380 @itemx q
1381 To exit @value{GDBN}, use the @code{quit} command (abbreviated
1382 @code{q}), or type an end-of-file character (usually @kbd{Ctrl-d}). If you
1383 do not supply @var{expression}, @value{GDBN} will terminate normally;
1384 otherwise it will terminate using the result of @var{expression} as the
1385 error code.
1386 @end table
1387
1388 @cindex interrupt
1389 An interrupt (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}) does not exit from @value{GDBN}, but rather
1390 terminates the action of any @value{GDBN} command that is in progress and
1391 returns to @value{GDBN} command level. It is safe to type the interrupt
1392 character at any time because @value{GDBN} does not allow it to take effect
1393 until a time when it is safe.
1394
1395 If you have been using @value{GDBN} to control an attached process or
1396 device, you can release it with the @code{detach} command
1397 (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
1398
1399 @node Shell Commands
1400 @section Shell Commands
1401
1402 If you need to execute occasional shell commands during your
1403 debugging session, there is no need to leave or suspend @value{GDBN}; you can
1404 just use the @code{shell} command.
1405
1406 @table @code
1407 @kindex shell
1408 @kindex !
1409 @cindex shell escape
1410 @item shell @var{command-string}
1411 @itemx !@var{command-string}
1412 Invoke a standard shell to execute @var{command-string}.
1413 Note that no space is needed between @code{!} and @var{command-string}.
1414 If it exists, the environment variable @code{SHELL} determines which
1415 shell to run. Otherwise @value{GDBN} uses the default shell
1416 (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix systems, @file{COMMAND.COM} on MS-DOS, etc.).
1417 @end table
1418
1419 The utility @code{make} is often needed in development environments.
1420 You do not have to use the @code{shell} command for this purpose in
1421 @value{GDBN}:
1422
1423 @table @code
1424 @kindex make
1425 @cindex calling make
1426 @item make @var{make-args}
1427 Execute the @code{make} program with the specified
1428 arguments. This is equivalent to @samp{shell make @var{make-args}}.
1429 @end table
1430
1431 @node Logging Output
1432 @section Logging Output
1433 @cindex logging @value{GDBN} output
1434 @cindex save @value{GDBN} output to a file
1435
1436 You may want to save the output of @value{GDBN} commands to a file.
1437 There are several commands to control @value{GDBN}'s logging.
1438
1439 @table @code
1440 @kindex set logging
1441 @item set logging on
1442 Enable logging.
1443 @item set logging off
1444 Disable logging.
1445 @cindex logging file name
1446 @item set logging file @var{file}
1447 Change the name of the current logfile. The default logfile is @file{gdb.txt}.
1448 @item set logging overwrite [on|off]
1449 By default, @value{GDBN} will append to the logfile. Set @code{overwrite} if
1450 you want @code{set logging on} to overwrite the logfile instead.
1451 @item set logging redirect [on|off]
1452 By default, @value{GDBN} output will go to both the terminal and the logfile.
1453 Set @code{redirect} if you want output to go only to the log file.
1454 @kindex show logging
1455 @item show logging
1456 Show the current values of the logging settings.
1457 @end table
1458
1459 @node Commands
1460 @chapter @value{GDBN} Commands
1461
1462 You can abbreviate a @value{GDBN} command to the first few letters of the command
1463 name, if that abbreviation is unambiguous; and you can repeat certain
1464 @value{GDBN} commands by typing just @key{RET}. You can also use the @key{TAB}
1465 key to get @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest of a word in a command (or to
1466 show you the alternatives available, if there is more than one possibility).
1467
1468 @menu
1469 * Command Syntax:: How to give commands to @value{GDBN}
1470 * Completion:: Command completion
1471 * Help:: How to ask @value{GDBN} for help
1472 @end menu
1473
1474 @node Command Syntax
1475 @section Command Syntax
1476
1477 A @value{GDBN} command is a single line of input. There is no limit on
1478 how long it can be. It starts with a command name, which is followed by
1479 arguments whose meaning depends on the command name. For example, the
1480 command @code{step} accepts an argument which is the number of times to
1481 step, as in @samp{step 5}. You can also use the @code{step} command
1482 with no arguments. Some commands do not allow any arguments.
1483
1484 @cindex abbreviation
1485 @value{GDBN} command names may always be truncated if that abbreviation is
1486 unambiguous. Other possible command abbreviations are listed in the
1487 documentation for individual commands. In some cases, even ambiguous
1488 abbreviations are allowed; for example, @code{s} is specially defined as
1489 equivalent to @code{step} even though there are other commands whose
1490 names start with @code{s}. You can test abbreviations by using them as
1491 arguments to the @code{help} command.
1492
1493 @cindex repeating commands
1494 @kindex RET @r{(repeat last command)}
1495 A blank line as input to @value{GDBN} (typing just @key{RET}) means to
1496 repeat the previous command. Certain commands (for example, @code{run})
1497 will not repeat this way; these are commands whose unintentional
1498 repetition might cause trouble and which you are unlikely to want to
1499 repeat. User-defined commands can disable this feature; see
1500 @ref{Define, dont-repeat}.
1501
1502 The @code{list} and @code{x} commands, when you repeat them with
1503 @key{RET}, construct new arguments rather than repeating
1504 exactly as typed. This permits easy scanning of source or memory.
1505
1506 @value{GDBN} can also use @key{RET} in another way: to partition lengthy
1507 output, in a way similar to the common utility @code{more}
1508 (@pxref{Screen Size,,Screen Size}). Since it is easy to press one
1509 @key{RET} too many in this situation, @value{GDBN} disables command
1510 repetition after any command that generates this sort of display.
1511
1512 @kindex # @r{(a comment)}
1513 @cindex comment
1514 Any text from a @kbd{#} to the end of the line is a comment; it does
1515 nothing. This is useful mainly in command files (@pxref{Command
1516 Files,,Command Files}).
1517
1518 @cindex repeating command sequences
1519 @kindex Ctrl-o @r{(operate-and-get-next)}
1520 The @kbd{Ctrl-o} binding is useful for repeating a complex sequence of
1521 commands. This command accepts the current line, like @key{RET}, and
1522 then fetches the next line relative to the current line from the history
1523 for editing.
1524
1525 @node Completion
1526 @section Command Completion
1527
1528 @cindex completion
1529 @cindex word completion
1530 @value{GDBN} can fill in the rest of a word in a command for you, if there is
1531 only one possibility; it can also show you what the valid possibilities
1532 are for the next word in a command, at any time. This works for @value{GDBN}
1533 commands, @value{GDBN} subcommands, and the names of symbols in your program.
1534
1535 Press the @key{TAB} key whenever you want @value{GDBN} to fill out the rest
1536 of a word. If there is only one possibility, @value{GDBN} fills in the
1537 word, and waits for you to finish the command (or press @key{RET} to
1538 enter it). For example, if you type
1539
1540 @c FIXME "@key" does not distinguish its argument sufficiently to permit
1541 @c complete accuracy in these examples; space introduced for clarity.
1542 @c If texinfo enhancements make it unnecessary, it would be nice to
1543 @c replace " @key" by "@key" in the following...
1544 @smallexample
1545 (@value{GDBP}) info bre @key{TAB}
1546 @end smallexample
1547
1548 @noindent
1549 @value{GDBN} fills in the rest of the word @samp{breakpoints}, since that is
1550 the only @code{info} subcommand beginning with @samp{bre}:
1551
1552 @smallexample
1553 (@value{GDBP}) info breakpoints
1554 @end smallexample
1555
1556 @noindent
1557 You can either press @key{RET} at this point, to run the @code{info
1558 breakpoints} command, or backspace and enter something else, if
1559 @samp{breakpoints} does not look like the command you expected. (If you
1560 were sure you wanted @code{info breakpoints} in the first place, you
1561 might as well just type @key{RET} immediately after @samp{info bre},
1562 to exploit command abbreviations rather than command completion).
1563
1564 If there is more than one possibility for the next word when you press
1565 @key{TAB}, @value{GDBN} sounds a bell. You can either supply more
1566 characters and try again, or just press @key{TAB} a second time;
1567 @value{GDBN} displays all the possible completions for that word. For
1568 example, you might want to set a breakpoint on a subroutine whose name
1569 begins with @samp{make_}, but when you type @kbd{b make_@key{TAB}} @value{GDBN}
1570 just sounds the bell. Typing @key{TAB} again displays all the
1571 function names in your program that begin with those characters, for
1572 example:
1573
1574 @smallexample
1575 (@value{GDBP}) b make_ @key{TAB}
1576 @exdent @value{GDBN} sounds bell; press @key{TAB} again, to see:
1577 make_a_section_from_file make_environ
1578 make_abs_section make_function_type
1579 make_blockvector make_pointer_type
1580 make_cleanup make_reference_type
1581 make_command make_symbol_completion_list
1582 (@value{GDBP}) b make_
1583 @end smallexample
1584
1585 @noindent
1586 After displaying the available possibilities, @value{GDBN} copies your
1587 partial input (@samp{b make_} in the example) so you can finish the
1588 command.
1589
1590 If you just want to see the list of alternatives in the first place, you
1591 can press @kbd{M-?} rather than pressing @key{TAB} twice. @kbd{M-?}
1592 means @kbd{@key{META} ?}. You can type this either by holding down a
1593 key designated as the @key{META} shift on your keyboard (if there is
1594 one) while typing @kbd{?}, or as @key{ESC} followed by @kbd{?}.
1595
1596 If the number of possible completions is large, @value{GDBN} will
1597 print as much of the list as it has collected, as well as a message
1598 indicating that the list may be truncated.
1599
1600 @smallexample
1601 (@value{GDBP}) b m@key{TAB}@key{TAB}
1602 main
1603 <... the rest of the possible completions ...>
1604 *** List may be truncated, max-completions reached. ***
1605 (@value{GDBP}) b m
1606 @end smallexample
1607
1608 @noindent
1609 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands:
1610
1611 @table @code
1612 @kindex set max-completions
1613 @item set max-completions @var{limit}
1614 @itemx set max-completions unlimited
1615 Set the maximum number of completion candidates. @value{GDBN} will
1616 stop looking for more completions once it collects this many candidates.
1617 This is useful when completing on things like function names as collecting
1618 all the possible candidates can be time consuming.
1619 The default value is 200. A value of zero disables tab-completion.
1620 Note that setting either no limit or a very large limit can make
1621 completion slow.
1622 @kindex show max-completions
1623 @item show max-completions
1624 Show the maximum number of candidates that @value{GDBN} will collect and show
1625 during completion.
1626 @end table
1627
1628 @cindex quotes in commands
1629 @cindex completion of quoted strings
1630 Sometimes the string you need, while logically a ``word'', may contain
1631 parentheses or other characters that @value{GDBN} normally excludes from
1632 its notion of a word. To permit word completion to work in this
1633 situation, you may enclose words in @code{'} (single quote marks) in
1634 @value{GDBN} commands.
1635
1636 The most likely situation where you might need this is in typing the
1637 name of a C@t{++} function. This is because C@t{++} allows function
1638 overloading (multiple definitions of the same function, distinguished
1639 by argument type). For example, when you want to set a breakpoint you
1640 may need to distinguish whether you mean the version of @code{name}
1641 that takes an @code{int} parameter, @code{name(int)}, or the version
1642 that takes a @code{float} parameter, @code{name(float)}. To use the
1643 word-completion facilities in this situation, type a single quote
1644 @code{'} at the beginning of the function name. This alerts
1645 @value{GDBN} that it may need to consider more information than usual
1646 when you press @key{TAB} or @kbd{M-?} to request word completion:
1647
1648 @smallexample
1649 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble( @kbd{M-?}
1650 bubble(double,double) bubble(int,int)
1651 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1652 @end smallexample
1653
1654 In some cases, @value{GDBN} can tell that completing a name requires using
1655 quotes. When this happens, @value{GDBN} inserts the quote for you (while
1656 completing as much as it can) if you do not type the quote in the first
1657 place:
1658
1659 @smallexample
1660 (@value{GDBP}) b bub @key{TAB}
1661 @exdent @value{GDBN} alters your input line to the following, and rings a bell:
1662 (@value{GDBP}) b 'bubble(
1663 @end smallexample
1664
1665 @noindent
1666 In general, @value{GDBN} can tell that a quote is needed (and inserts it) if
1667 you have not yet started typing the argument list when you ask for
1668 completion on an overloaded symbol.
1669
1670 For more information about overloaded functions, see @ref{C Plus Plus
1671 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}. You can use the command @code{set
1672 overload-resolution off} to disable overload resolution;
1673 see @ref{Debugging C Plus Plus, ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
1674
1675 @cindex completion of structure field names
1676 @cindex structure field name completion
1677 @cindex completion of union field names
1678 @cindex union field name completion
1679 When completing in an expression which looks up a field in a
1680 structure, @value{GDBN} also tries@footnote{The completer can be
1681 confused by certain kinds of invalid expressions. Also, it only
1682 examines the static type of the expression, not the dynamic type.} to
1683 limit completions to the field names available in the type of the
1684 left-hand-side:
1685
1686 @smallexample
1687 (@value{GDBP}) p gdb_stdout.@kbd{M-?}
1688 magic to_fputs to_rewind
1689 to_data to_isatty to_write
1690 to_delete to_put to_write_async_safe
1691 to_flush to_read
1692 @end smallexample
1693
1694 @noindent
1695 This is because the @code{gdb_stdout} is a variable of the type
1696 @code{struct ui_file} that is defined in @value{GDBN} sources as
1697 follows:
1698
1699 @smallexample
1700 struct ui_file
1701 @{
1702 int *magic;
1703 ui_file_flush_ftype *to_flush;
1704 ui_file_write_ftype *to_write;
1705 ui_file_write_async_safe_ftype *to_write_async_safe;
1706 ui_file_fputs_ftype *to_fputs;
1707 ui_file_read_ftype *to_read;
1708 ui_file_delete_ftype *to_delete;
1709 ui_file_isatty_ftype *to_isatty;
1710 ui_file_rewind_ftype *to_rewind;
1711 ui_file_put_ftype *to_put;
1712 void *to_data;
1713 @}
1714 @end smallexample
1715
1716
1717 @node Help
1718 @section Getting Help
1719 @cindex online documentation
1720 @kindex help
1721
1722 You can always ask @value{GDBN} itself for information on its commands,
1723 using the command @code{help}.
1724
1725 @table @code
1726 @kindex h @r{(@code{help})}
1727 @item help
1728 @itemx h
1729 You can use @code{help} (abbreviated @code{h}) with no arguments to
1730 display a short list of named classes of commands:
1731
1732 @smallexample
1733 (@value{GDBP}) help
1734 List of classes of commands:
1735
1736 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1737 breakpoints -- Making program stop at certain points
1738 data -- Examining data
1739 files -- Specifying and examining files
1740 internals -- Maintenance commands
1741 obscure -- Obscure features
1742 running -- Running the program
1743 stack -- Examining the stack
1744 status -- Status inquiries
1745 support -- Support facilities
1746 tracepoints -- Tracing of program execution without
1747 stopping the program
1748 user-defined -- User-defined commands
1749
1750 Type "help" followed by a class name for a list of
1751 commands in that class.
1752 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1753 documentation.
1754 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1755 (@value{GDBP})
1756 @end smallexample
1757 @c the above line break eliminates huge line overfull...
1758
1759 @item help @var{class}
1760 Using one of the general help classes as an argument, you can get a
1761 list of the individual commands in that class. For example, here is the
1762 help display for the class @code{status}:
1763
1764 @smallexample
1765 (@value{GDBP}) help status
1766 Status inquiries.
1767
1768 List of commands:
1769
1770 @c Line break in "show" line falsifies real output, but needed
1771 @c to fit in smallbook page size.
1772 info -- Generic command for showing things
1773 about the program being debugged
1774 show -- Generic command for showing things
1775 about the debugger
1776
1777 Type "help" followed by command name for full
1778 documentation.
1779 Command name abbreviations are allowed if unambiguous.
1780 (@value{GDBP})
1781 @end smallexample
1782
1783 @item help @var{command}
1784 With a command name as @code{help} argument, @value{GDBN} displays a
1785 short paragraph on how to use that command.
1786
1787 @kindex apropos
1788 @item apropos @var{args}
1789 The @code{apropos} command searches through all of the @value{GDBN}
1790 commands, and their documentation, for the regular expression specified in
1791 @var{args}. It prints out all matches found. For example:
1792
1793 @smallexample
1794 apropos alias
1795 @end smallexample
1796
1797 @noindent
1798 results in:
1799
1800 @smallexample
1801 @c @group
1802 alias -- Define a new command that is an alias of an existing command
1803 aliases -- Aliases of other commands
1804 d -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1805 del -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1806 delete -- Delete some breakpoints or auto-display expressions
1807 @c @end group
1808 @end smallexample
1809
1810 @kindex complete
1811 @item complete @var{args}
1812 The @code{complete @var{args}} command lists all the possible completions
1813 for the beginning of a command. Use @var{args} to specify the beginning of the
1814 command you want completed. For example:
1815
1816 @smallexample
1817 complete i
1818 @end smallexample
1819
1820 @noindent results in:
1821
1822 @smallexample
1823 @group
1824 if
1825 ignore
1826 info
1827 inspect
1828 @end group
1829 @end smallexample
1830
1831 @noindent This is intended for use by @sc{gnu} Emacs.
1832 @end table
1833
1834 In addition to @code{help}, you can use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{info}
1835 and @code{show} to inquire about the state of your program, or the state
1836 of @value{GDBN} itself. Each command supports many topics of inquiry; this
1837 manual introduces each of them in the appropriate context. The listings
1838 under @code{info} and under @code{show} in the Command, Variable, and
1839 Function Index point to all the sub-commands. @xref{Command and Variable
1840 Index}.
1841
1842 @c @group
1843 @table @code
1844 @kindex info
1845 @kindex i @r{(@code{info})}
1846 @item info
1847 This command (abbreviated @code{i}) is for describing the state of your
1848 program. For example, you can show the arguments passed to a function
1849 with @code{info args}, list the registers currently in use with @code{info
1850 registers}, or list the breakpoints you have set with @code{info breakpoints}.
1851 You can get a complete list of the @code{info} sub-commands with
1852 @w{@code{help info}}.
1853
1854 @kindex set
1855 @item set
1856 You can assign the result of an expression to an environment variable with
1857 @code{set}. For example, you can set the @value{GDBN} prompt to a $-sign with
1858 @code{set prompt $}.
1859
1860 @kindex show
1861 @item show
1862 In contrast to @code{info}, @code{show} is for describing the state of
1863 @value{GDBN} itself.
1864 You can change most of the things you can @code{show}, by using the
1865 related command @code{set}; for example, you can control what number
1866 system is used for displays with @code{set radix}, or simply inquire
1867 which is currently in use with @code{show radix}.
1868
1869 @kindex info set
1870 To display all the settable parameters and their current
1871 values, you can use @code{show} with no arguments; you may also use
1872 @code{info set}. Both commands produce the same display.
1873 @c FIXME: "info set" violates the rule that "info" is for state of
1874 @c FIXME...program. Ck w/ GNU: "info set" to be called something else,
1875 @c FIXME...or change desc of rule---eg "state of prog and debugging session"?
1876 @end table
1877 @c @end group
1878
1879 Here are several miscellaneous @code{show} subcommands, all of which are
1880 exceptional in lacking corresponding @code{set} commands:
1881
1882 @table @code
1883 @kindex show version
1884 @cindex @value{GDBN} version number
1885 @item show version
1886 Show what version of @value{GDBN} is running. You should include this
1887 information in @value{GDBN} bug-reports. If multiple versions of
1888 @value{GDBN} are in use at your site, you may need to determine which
1889 version of @value{GDBN} you are running; as @value{GDBN} evolves, new
1890 commands are introduced, and old ones may wither away. Also, many
1891 system vendors ship variant versions of @value{GDBN}, and there are
1892 variant versions of @value{GDBN} in @sc{gnu}/Linux distributions as well.
1893 The version number is the same as the one announced when you start
1894 @value{GDBN}.
1895
1896 @kindex show copying
1897 @kindex info copying
1898 @cindex display @value{GDBN} copyright
1899 @item show copying
1900 @itemx info copying
1901 Display information about permission for copying @value{GDBN}.
1902
1903 @kindex show warranty
1904 @kindex info warranty
1905 @item show warranty
1906 @itemx info warranty
1907 Display the @sc{gnu} ``NO WARRANTY'' statement, or a warranty,
1908 if your version of @value{GDBN} comes with one.
1909
1910 @kindex show configuration
1911 @item show configuration
1912 Display detailed information about the way @value{GDBN} was configured
1913 when it was built. This displays the optional arguments passed to the
1914 @file{configure} script and also configuration parameters detected
1915 automatically by @command{configure}. When reporting a @value{GDBN}
1916 bug (@pxref{GDB Bugs}), it is important to include this information in
1917 your report.
1918
1919 @end table
1920
1921 @node Running
1922 @chapter Running Programs Under @value{GDBN}
1923
1924 When you run a program under @value{GDBN}, you must first generate
1925 debugging information when you compile it.
1926
1927 You may start @value{GDBN} with its arguments, if any, in an environment
1928 of your choice. If you are doing native debugging, you may redirect
1929 your program's input and output, debug an already running process, or
1930 kill a child process.
1931
1932 @menu
1933 * Compilation:: Compiling for debugging
1934 * Starting:: Starting your program
1935 * Arguments:: Your program's arguments
1936 * Environment:: Your program's environment
1937
1938 * Working Directory:: Your program's working directory
1939 * Input/Output:: Your program's input and output
1940 * Attach:: Debugging an already-running process
1941 * Kill Process:: Killing the child process
1942
1943 * Inferiors and Programs:: Debugging multiple inferiors and programs
1944 * Threads:: Debugging programs with multiple threads
1945 * Forks:: Debugging forks
1946 * Checkpoint/Restart:: Setting a @emph{bookmark} to return to later
1947 @end menu
1948
1949 @node Compilation
1950 @section Compiling for Debugging
1951
1952 In order to debug a program effectively, you need to generate
1953 debugging information when you compile it. This debugging information
1954 is stored in the object file; it describes the data type of each
1955 variable or function and the correspondence between source line numbers
1956 and addresses in the executable code.
1957
1958 To request debugging information, specify the @samp{-g} option when you run
1959 the compiler.
1960
1961 Programs that are to be shipped to your customers are compiled with
1962 optimizations, using the @samp{-O} compiler option. However, some
1963 compilers are unable to handle the @samp{-g} and @samp{-O} options
1964 together. Using those compilers, you cannot generate optimized
1965 executables containing debugging information.
1966
1967 @value{NGCC}, the @sc{gnu} C/C@t{++} compiler, supports @samp{-g} with or
1968 without @samp{-O}, making it possible to debug optimized code. We
1969 recommend that you @emph{always} use @samp{-g} whenever you compile a
1970 program. You may think your program is correct, but there is no sense
1971 in pushing your luck. For more information, see @ref{Optimized Code}.
1972
1973 Older versions of the @sc{gnu} C compiler permitted a variant option
1974 @w{@samp{-gg}} for debugging information. @value{GDBN} no longer supports this
1975 format; if your @sc{gnu} C compiler has this option, do not use it.
1976
1977 @value{GDBN} knows about preprocessor macros and can show you their
1978 expansion (@pxref{Macros}). Most compilers do not include information
1979 about preprocessor macros in the debugging information if you specify
1980 the @option{-g} flag alone. Version 3.1 and later of @value{NGCC},
1981 the @sc{gnu} C compiler, provides macro information if you are using
1982 the DWARF debugging format, and specify the option @option{-g3}.
1983
1984 @xref{Debugging Options,,Options for Debugging Your Program or GCC,
1985 gcc.info, Using the @sc{gnu} Compiler Collection (GCC)}, for more
1986 information on @value{NGCC} options affecting debug information.
1987
1988 You will have the best debugging experience if you use the latest
1989 version of the DWARF debugging format that your compiler supports.
1990 DWARF is currently the most expressive and best supported debugging
1991 format in @value{GDBN}.
1992
1993 @need 2000
1994 @node Starting
1995 @section Starting your Program
1996 @cindex starting
1997 @cindex running
1998
1999 @table @code
2000 @kindex run
2001 @kindex r @r{(@code{run})}
2002 @item run
2003 @itemx r
2004 Use the @code{run} command to start your program under @value{GDBN}.
2005 You must first specify the program name with an argument to
2006 @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Invocation, ,Getting In and Out of
2007 @value{GDBN}}), or by using the @code{file} or @code{exec-file}
2008 command (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
2009
2010 @end table
2011
2012 If you are running your program in an execution environment that
2013 supports processes, @code{run} creates an inferior process and makes
2014 that process run your program. In some environments without processes,
2015 @code{run} jumps to the start of your program. Other targets,
2016 like @samp{remote}, are always running. If you get an error
2017 message like this one:
2018
2019 @smallexample
2020 The "remote" target does not support "run".
2021 Try "help target" or "continue".
2022 @end smallexample
2023
2024 @noindent
2025 then use @code{continue} to run your program. You may need @code{load}
2026 first (@pxref{load}).
2027
2028 The execution of a program is affected by certain information it
2029 receives from its superior. @value{GDBN} provides ways to specify this
2030 information, which you must do @emph{before} starting your program. (You
2031 can change it after starting your program, but such changes only affect
2032 your program the next time you start it.) This information may be
2033 divided into four categories:
2034
2035 @table @asis
2036 @item The @emph{arguments.}
2037 Specify the arguments to give your program as the arguments of the
2038 @code{run} command. If a shell is available on your target, the shell
2039 is used to pass the arguments, so that you may use normal conventions
2040 (such as wildcard expansion or variable substitution) in describing
2041 the arguments.
2042 In Unix systems, you can control which shell is used with the
2043 @code{SHELL} environment variable. If you do not define @code{SHELL},
2044 @value{GDBN} uses the default shell (@file{/bin/sh}). You can disable
2045 use of any shell with the @code{set startup-with-shell} command (see
2046 below for details).
2047
2048 @item The @emph{environment.}
2049 Your program normally inherits its environment from @value{GDBN}, but you can
2050 use the @value{GDBN} commands @code{set environment} and @code{unset
2051 environment} to change parts of the environment that affect
2052 your program. @xref{Environment, ,Your Program's Environment}.
2053
2054 @item The @emph{working directory.}
2055 Your program inherits its working directory from @value{GDBN}. You can set
2056 the @value{GDBN} working directory with the @code{cd} command in @value{GDBN}.
2057 @xref{Working Directory, ,Your Program's Working Directory}.
2058
2059 @item The @emph{standard input and output.}
2060 Your program normally uses the same device for standard input and
2061 standard output as @value{GDBN} is using. You can redirect input and output
2062 in the @code{run} command line, or you can use the @code{tty} command to
2063 set a different device for your program.
2064 @xref{Input/Output, ,Your Program's Input and Output}.
2065
2066 @cindex pipes
2067 @emph{Warning:} While input and output redirection work, you cannot use
2068 pipes to pass the output of the program you are debugging to another
2069 program; if you attempt this, @value{GDBN} is likely to wind up debugging the
2070 wrong program.
2071 @end table
2072
2073 When you issue the @code{run} command, your program begins to execute
2074 immediately. @xref{Stopping, ,Stopping and Continuing}, for discussion
2075 of how to arrange for your program to stop. Once your program has
2076 stopped, you may call functions in your program, using the @code{print}
2077 or @code{call} commands. @xref{Data, ,Examining Data}.
2078
2079 If the modification time of your symbol file has changed since the last
2080 time @value{GDBN} read its symbols, @value{GDBN} discards its symbol
2081 table, and reads it again. When it does this, @value{GDBN} tries to retain
2082 your current breakpoints.
2083
2084 @table @code
2085 @kindex start
2086 @item start
2087 @cindex run to main procedure
2088 The name of the main procedure can vary from language to language.
2089 With C or C@t{++}, the main procedure name is always @code{main}, but
2090 other languages such as Ada do not require a specific name for their
2091 main procedure. The debugger provides a convenient way to start the
2092 execution of the program and to stop at the beginning of the main
2093 procedure, depending on the language used.
2094
2095 The @samp{start} command does the equivalent of setting a temporary
2096 breakpoint at the beginning of the main procedure and then invoking
2097 the @samp{run} command.
2098
2099 @cindex elaboration phase
2100 Some programs contain an @dfn{elaboration} phase where some startup code is
2101 executed before the main procedure is called. This depends on the
2102 languages used to write your program. In C@t{++}, for instance,
2103 constructors for static and global objects are executed before
2104 @code{main} is called. It is therefore possible that the debugger stops
2105 before reaching the main procedure. However, the temporary breakpoint
2106 will remain to halt execution.
2107
2108 Specify the arguments to give to your program as arguments to the
2109 @samp{start} command. These arguments will be given verbatim to the
2110 underlying @samp{run} command. Note that the same arguments will be
2111 reused if no argument is provided during subsequent calls to
2112 @samp{start} or @samp{run}.
2113
2114 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration. In
2115 these cases, using the @code{start} command would stop the execution of
2116 your program too late, as the program would have already completed the
2117 elaboration phase. Under these circumstances, insert breakpoints in your
2118 elaboration code before running your program.
2119
2120 @anchor{set exec-wrapper}
2121 @kindex set exec-wrapper
2122 @item set exec-wrapper @var{wrapper}
2123 @itemx show exec-wrapper
2124 @itemx unset exec-wrapper
2125 When @samp{exec-wrapper} is set, the specified wrapper is used to
2126 launch programs for debugging. @value{GDBN} starts your program
2127 with a shell command of the form @kbd{exec @var{wrapper}
2128 @var{program}}. Quoting is added to @var{program} and its
2129 arguments, but not to @var{wrapper}, so you should add quotes if
2130 appropriate for your shell. The wrapper runs until it executes
2131 your program, and then @value{GDBN} takes control.
2132
2133 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
2134 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
2135 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
2136 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
2137
2138 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
2139 the debugged program, without setting the variable in your shell's
2140 environment:
2141
2142 @smallexample
2143 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper env 'LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so'
2144 (@value{GDBP}) run
2145 @end smallexample
2146
2147 This command is available when debugging locally on most targets, excluding
2148 @sc{djgpp}, Cygwin, MS Windows, and QNX Neutrino.
2149
2150 @kindex set startup-with-shell
2151 @item set startup-with-shell
2152 @itemx set startup-with-shell on
2153 @itemx set startup-with-shell off
2154 @itemx show set startup-with-shell
2155 On Unix systems, by default, if a shell is available on your target,
2156 @value{GDBN}) uses it to start your program. Arguments of the
2157 @code{run} command are passed to the shell, which does variable
2158 substitution, expands wildcard characters and performs redirection of
2159 I/O. In some circumstances, it may be useful to disable such use of a
2160 shell, for example, when debugging the shell itself or diagnosing
2161 startup failures such as:
2162
2163 @smallexample
2164 (@value{GDBP}) run
2165 Starting program: ./a.out
2166 During startup program terminated with signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
2167 @end smallexample
2168
2169 @noindent
2170 which indicates the shell or the wrapper specified with
2171 @samp{exec-wrapper} crashed, not your program. Most often, this is
2172 caused by something odd in your shell's non-interactive mode
2173 initialization file---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell,
2174 $@file{.zshenv} for the Z shell, or the file specified in the
2175 @samp{BASH_ENV} environment variable for BASH.
2176
2177 @anchor{set auto-connect-native-target}
2178 @kindex set auto-connect-native-target
2179 @item set auto-connect-native-target
2180 @itemx set auto-connect-native-target on
2181 @itemx set auto-connect-native-target off
2182 @itemx show auto-connect-native-target
2183
2184 By default, if not connected to any target yet (e.g., with
2185 @code{target remote}), the @code{run} command starts your program as a
2186 native process under @value{GDBN}, on your local machine. If you're
2187 sure you don't want to debug programs on your local machine, you can
2188 tell @value{GDBN} to not connect to the native target automatically
2189 with the @code{set auto-connect-native-target off} command.
2190
2191 If @code{on}, which is the default, and if @value{GDBN} is not
2192 connected to a target already, the @code{run} command automaticaly
2193 connects to the native target, if one is available.
2194
2195 If @code{off}, and if @value{GDBN} is not connected to a target
2196 already, the @code{run} command fails with an error:
2197
2198 @smallexample
2199 (@value{GDBP}) run
2200 Don't know how to run. Try "help target".
2201 @end smallexample
2202
2203 If @value{GDBN} is already connected to a target, @value{GDBN} always
2204 uses it with the @code{run} command.
2205
2206 In any case, you can explicitly connect to the native target with the
2207 @code{target native} command. For example,
2208
2209 @smallexample
2210 (@value{GDBP}) set auto-connect-native-target off
2211 (@value{GDBP}) run
2212 Don't know how to run. Try "help target".
2213 (@value{GDBP}) target native
2214 (@value{GDBP}) run
2215 Starting program: ./a.out
2216 [Inferior 1 (process 10421) exited normally]
2217 @end smallexample
2218
2219 In case you connected explicitly to the @code{native} target,
2220 @value{GDBN} remains connected even if all inferiors exit, ready for
2221 the next @code{run} command. Use the @code{disconnect} command to
2222 disconnect.
2223
2224 Examples of other commands that likewise respect the
2225 @code{auto-connect-native-target} setting: @code{attach}, @code{info
2226 proc}, @code{info os}.
2227
2228 @kindex set disable-randomization
2229 @item set disable-randomization
2230 @itemx set disable-randomization on
2231 This option (enabled by default in @value{GDBN}) will turn off the native
2232 randomization of the virtual address space of the started program. This option
2233 is useful for multiple debugging sessions to make the execution better
2234 reproducible and memory addresses reusable across debugging sessions.
2235
2236 This feature is implemented only on certain targets, including @sc{gnu}/Linux.
2237 On @sc{gnu}/Linux you can get the same behavior using
2238
2239 @smallexample
2240 (@value{GDBP}) set exec-wrapper setarch `uname -m` -R
2241 @end smallexample
2242
2243 @item set disable-randomization off
2244 Leave the behavior of the started executable unchanged. Some bugs rear their
2245 ugly heads only when the program is loaded at certain addresses. If your bug
2246 disappears when you run the program under @value{GDBN}, that might be because
2247 @value{GDBN} by default disables the address randomization on platforms, such
2248 as @sc{gnu}/Linux, which do that for stand-alone programs. Use @kbd{set
2249 disable-randomization off} to try to reproduce such elusive bugs.
2250
2251 On targets where it is available, virtual address space randomization
2252 protects the programs against certain kinds of security attacks. In these
2253 cases the attacker needs to know the exact location of a concrete executable
2254 code. Randomizing its location makes it impossible to inject jumps misusing
2255 a code at its expected addresses.
2256
2257 Prelinking shared libraries provides a startup performance advantage but it
2258 makes addresses in these libraries predictable for privileged processes by
2259 having just unprivileged access at the target system. Reading the shared
2260 library binary gives enough information for assembling the malicious code
2261 misusing it. Still even a prelinked shared library can get loaded at a new
2262 random address just requiring the regular relocation process during the
2263 startup. Shared libraries not already prelinked are always loaded at
2264 a randomly chosen address.
2265
2266 Position independent executables (PIE) contain position independent code
2267 similar to the shared libraries and therefore such executables get loaded at
2268 a randomly chosen address upon startup. PIE executables always load even
2269 already prelinked shared libraries at a random address. You can build such
2270 executable using @command{gcc -fPIE -pie}.
2271
2272 Heap (malloc storage), stack and custom mmap areas are always placed randomly
2273 (as long as the randomization is enabled).
2274
2275 @item show disable-randomization
2276 Show the current setting of the explicit disable of the native randomization of
2277 the virtual address space of the started program.
2278
2279 @end table
2280
2281 @node Arguments
2282 @section Your Program's Arguments
2283
2284 @cindex arguments (to your program)
2285 The arguments to your program can be specified by the arguments of the
2286 @code{run} command.
2287 They are passed to a shell, which expands wildcard characters and
2288 performs redirection of I/O, and thence to your program. Your
2289 @code{SHELL} environment variable (if it exists) specifies what shell
2290 @value{GDBN} uses. If you do not define @code{SHELL}, @value{GDBN} uses
2291 the default shell (@file{/bin/sh} on Unix).
2292
2293 On non-Unix systems, the program is usually invoked directly by
2294 @value{GDBN}, which emulates I/O redirection via the appropriate system
2295 calls, and the wildcard characters are expanded by the startup code of
2296 the program, not by the shell.
2297
2298 @code{run} with no arguments uses the same arguments used by the previous
2299 @code{run}, or those set by the @code{set args} command.
2300
2301 @table @code
2302 @kindex set args
2303 @item set args
2304 Specify the arguments to be used the next time your program is run. If
2305 @code{set args} has no arguments, @code{run} executes your program
2306 with no arguments. Once you have run your program with arguments,
2307 using @code{set args} before the next @code{run} is the only way to run
2308 it again without arguments.
2309
2310 @kindex show args
2311 @item show args
2312 Show the arguments to give your program when it is started.
2313 @end table
2314
2315 @node Environment
2316 @section Your Program's Environment
2317
2318 @cindex environment (of your program)
2319 The @dfn{environment} consists of a set of environment variables and
2320 their values. Environment variables conventionally record such things as
2321 your user name, your home directory, your terminal type, and your search
2322 path for programs to run. Usually you set up environment variables with
2323 the shell and they are inherited by all the other programs you run. When
2324 debugging, it can be useful to try running your program with a modified
2325 environment without having to start @value{GDBN} over again.
2326
2327 @table @code
2328 @kindex path
2329 @item path @var{directory}
2330 Add @var{directory} to the front of the @code{PATH} environment variable
2331 (the search path for executables) that will be passed to your program.
2332 The value of @code{PATH} used by @value{GDBN} does not change.
2333 You may specify several directory names, separated by whitespace or by a
2334 system-dependent separator character (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on
2335 MS-DOS and MS-Windows). If @var{directory} is already in the path, it
2336 is moved to the front, so it is searched sooner.
2337
2338 You can use the string @samp{$cwd} to refer to whatever is the current
2339 working directory at the time @value{GDBN} searches the path. If you
2340 use @samp{.} instead, it refers to the directory where you executed the
2341 @code{path} command. @value{GDBN} replaces @samp{.} in the
2342 @var{directory} argument (with the current path) before adding
2343 @var{directory} to the search path.
2344 @c 'path' is explicitly nonrepeatable, but RMS points out it is silly to
2345 @c document that, since repeating it would be a no-op.
2346
2347 @kindex show paths
2348 @item show paths
2349 Display the list of search paths for executables (the @code{PATH}
2350 environment variable).
2351
2352 @kindex show environment
2353 @item show environment @r{[}@var{varname}@r{]}
2354 Print the value of environment variable @var{varname} to be given to
2355 your program when it starts. If you do not supply @var{varname},
2356 print the names and values of all environment variables to be given to
2357 your program. You can abbreviate @code{environment} as @code{env}.
2358
2359 @kindex set environment
2360 @item set environment @var{varname} @r{[}=@var{value}@r{]}
2361 Set environment variable @var{varname} to @var{value}. The value
2362 changes for your program (and the shell @value{GDBN} uses to launch
2363 it), not for @value{GDBN} itself. The @var{value} may be any string; the
2364 values of environment variables are just strings, and any
2365 interpretation is supplied by your program itself. The @var{value}
2366 parameter is optional; if it is eliminated, the variable is set to a
2367 null value.
2368 @c "any string" here does not include leading, trailing
2369 @c blanks. Gnu asks: does anyone care?
2370
2371 For example, this command:
2372
2373 @smallexample
2374 set env USER = foo
2375 @end smallexample
2376
2377 @noindent
2378 tells the debugged program, when subsequently run, that its user is named
2379 @samp{foo}. (The spaces around @samp{=} are used for clarity here; they
2380 are not actually required.)
2381
2382 Note that on Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program via a shell,
2383 which also inherits the environment set with @code{set environment}.
2384 If necessary, you can avoid that by using the @samp{env} program as a
2385 wrapper instead of using @code{set environment}. @xref{set
2386 exec-wrapper}, for an example doing just that.
2387
2388 @kindex unset environment
2389 @item unset environment @var{varname}
2390 Remove variable @var{varname} from the environment to be passed to your
2391 program. This is different from @samp{set env @var{varname} =};
2392 @code{unset environment} removes the variable from the environment,
2393 rather than assigning it an empty value.
2394 @end table
2395
2396 @emph{Warning:} On Unix systems, @value{GDBN} runs your program using
2397 the shell indicated by your @code{SHELL} environment variable if it
2398 exists (or @code{/bin/sh} if not). If your @code{SHELL} variable
2399 names a shell that runs an initialization file when started
2400 non-interactively---such as @file{.cshrc} for C-shell, $@file{.zshenv}
2401 for the Z shell, or the file specified in the @samp{BASH_ENV}
2402 environment variable for BASH---any variables you set in that file
2403 affect your program. You may wish to move setting of environment
2404 variables to files that are only run when you sign on, such as
2405 @file{.login} or @file{.profile}.
2406
2407 @node Working Directory
2408 @section Your Program's Working Directory
2409
2410 @cindex working directory (of your program)
2411 Each time you start your program with @code{run}, it inherits its
2412 working directory from the current working directory of @value{GDBN}.
2413 The @value{GDBN} working directory is initially whatever it inherited
2414 from its parent process (typically the shell), but you can specify a new
2415 working directory in @value{GDBN} with the @code{cd} command.
2416
2417 The @value{GDBN} working directory also serves as a default for the commands
2418 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2419 Specify Files}.
2420
2421 @table @code
2422 @kindex cd
2423 @cindex change working directory
2424 @item cd @r{[}@var{directory}@r{]}
2425 Set the @value{GDBN} working directory to @var{directory}. If not
2426 given, @var{directory} uses @file{'~'}.
2427
2428 @kindex pwd
2429 @item pwd
2430 Print the @value{GDBN} working directory.
2431 @end table
2432
2433 It is generally impossible to find the current working directory of
2434 the process being debugged (since a program can change its directory
2435 during its run). If you work on a system where @value{GDBN} is
2436 configured with the @file{/proc} support, you can use the @code{info
2437 proc} command (@pxref{SVR4 Process Information}) to find out the
2438 current working directory of the debuggee.
2439
2440 @node Input/Output
2441 @section Your Program's Input and Output
2442
2443 @cindex redirection
2444 @cindex i/o
2445 @cindex terminal
2446 By default, the program you run under @value{GDBN} does input and output to
2447 the same terminal that @value{GDBN} uses. @value{GDBN} switches the terminal
2448 to its own terminal modes to interact with you, but it records the terminal
2449 modes your program was using and switches back to them when you continue
2450 running your program.
2451
2452 @table @code
2453 @kindex info terminal
2454 @item info terminal
2455 Displays information recorded by @value{GDBN} about the terminal modes your
2456 program is using.
2457 @end table
2458
2459 You can redirect your program's input and/or output using shell
2460 redirection with the @code{run} command. For example,
2461
2462 @smallexample
2463 run > outfile
2464 @end smallexample
2465
2466 @noindent
2467 starts your program, diverting its output to the file @file{outfile}.
2468
2469 @kindex tty
2470 @cindex controlling terminal
2471 Another way to specify where your program should do input and output is
2472 with the @code{tty} command. This command accepts a file name as
2473 argument, and causes this file to be the default for future @code{run}
2474 commands. It also resets the controlling terminal for the child
2475 process, for future @code{run} commands. For example,
2476
2477 @smallexample
2478 tty /dev/ttyb
2479 @end smallexample
2480
2481 @noindent
2482 directs that processes started with subsequent @code{run} commands
2483 default to do input and output on the terminal @file{/dev/ttyb} and have
2484 that as their controlling terminal.
2485
2486 An explicit redirection in @code{run} overrides the @code{tty} command's
2487 effect on the input/output device, but not its effect on the controlling
2488 terminal.
2489
2490 When you use the @code{tty} command or redirect input in the @code{run}
2491 command, only the input @emph{for your program} is affected. The input
2492 for @value{GDBN} still comes from your terminal. @code{tty} is an alias
2493 for @code{set inferior-tty}.
2494
2495 @cindex inferior tty
2496 @cindex set inferior controlling terminal
2497 You can use the @code{show inferior-tty} command to tell @value{GDBN} to
2498 display the name of the terminal that will be used for future runs of your
2499 program.
2500
2501 @table @code
2502 @item set inferior-tty /dev/ttyb
2503 @kindex set inferior-tty
2504 Set the tty for the program being debugged to /dev/ttyb.
2505
2506 @item show inferior-tty
2507 @kindex show inferior-tty
2508 Show the current tty for the program being debugged.
2509 @end table
2510
2511 @node Attach
2512 @section Debugging an Already-running Process
2513 @kindex attach
2514 @cindex attach
2515
2516 @table @code
2517 @item attach @var{process-id}
2518 This command attaches to a running process---one that was started
2519 outside @value{GDBN}. (@code{info files} shows your active
2520 targets.) The command takes as argument a process ID. The usual way to
2521 find out the @var{process-id} of a Unix process is with the @code{ps} utility,
2522 or with the @samp{jobs -l} shell command.
2523
2524 @code{attach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} a second time after
2525 executing the command.
2526 @end table
2527
2528 To use @code{attach}, your program must be running in an environment
2529 which supports processes; for example, @code{attach} does not work for
2530 programs on bare-board targets that lack an operating system. You must
2531 also have permission to send the process a signal.
2532
2533 When you use @code{attach}, the debugger finds the program running in
2534 the process first by looking in the current working directory, then (if
2535 the program is not found) by using the source file search path
2536 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}). You can also use
2537 the @code{file} command to load the program. @xref{Files, ,Commands to
2538 Specify Files}.
2539
2540 The first thing @value{GDBN} does after arranging to debug the specified
2541 process is to stop it. You can examine and modify an attached process
2542 with all the @value{GDBN} commands that are ordinarily available when
2543 you start processes with @code{run}. You can insert breakpoints; you
2544 can step and continue; you can modify storage. If you would rather the
2545 process continue running, you may use the @code{continue} command after
2546 attaching @value{GDBN} to the process.
2547
2548 @table @code
2549 @kindex detach
2550 @item detach
2551 When you have finished debugging the attached process, you can use the
2552 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control. Detaching
2553 the process continues its execution. After the @code{detach} command,
2554 that process and @value{GDBN} become completely independent once more, and you
2555 are ready to @code{attach} another process or start one with @code{run}.
2556 @code{detach} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
2557 executing the command.
2558 @end table
2559
2560 If you exit @value{GDBN} while you have an attached process, you detach
2561 that process. If you use the @code{run} command, you kill that process.
2562 By default, @value{GDBN} asks for confirmation if you try to do either of these
2563 things; you can control whether or not you need to confirm by using the
2564 @code{set confirm} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
2565 Messages}).
2566
2567 @node Kill Process
2568 @section Killing the Child Process
2569
2570 @table @code
2571 @kindex kill
2572 @item kill
2573 Kill the child process in which your program is running under @value{GDBN}.
2574 @end table
2575
2576 This command is useful if you wish to debug a core dump instead of a
2577 running process. @value{GDBN} ignores any core dump file while your program
2578 is running.
2579
2580 On some operating systems, a program cannot be executed outside @value{GDBN}
2581 while you have breakpoints set on it inside @value{GDBN}. You can use the
2582 @code{kill} command in this situation to permit running your program
2583 outside the debugger.
2584
2585 The @code{kill} command is also useful if you wish to recompile and
2586 relink your program, since on many systems it is impossible to modify an
2587 executable file while it is running in a process. In this case, when you
2588 next type @code{run}, @value{GDBN} notices that the file has changed, and
2589 reads the symbol table again (while trying to preserve your current
2590 breakpoint settings).
2591
2592 @node Inferiors and Programs
2593 @section Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs
2594
2595 @value{GDBN} lets you run and debug multiple programs in a single
2596 session. In addition, @value{GDBN} on some systems may let you run
2597 several programs simultaneously (otherwise you have to exit from one
2598 before starting another). In the most general case, you can have
2599 multiple threads of execution in each of multiple processes, launched
2600 from multiple executables.
2601
2602 @cindex inferior
2603 @value{GDBN} represents the state of each program execution with an
2604 object called an @dfn{inferior}. An inferior typically corresponds to
2605 a process, but is more general and applies also to targets that do not
2606 have processes. Inferiors may be created before a process runs, and
2607 may be retained after a process exits. Inferiors have unique
2608 identifiers that are different from process ids. Usually each
2609 inferior will also have its own distinct address space, although some
2610 embedded targets may have several inferiors running in different parts
2611 of a single address space. Each inferior may in turn have multiple
2612 threads running in it.
2613
2614 To find out what inferiors exist at any moment, use @w{@code{info
2615 inferiors}}:
2616
2617 @table @code
2618 @kindex info inferiors
2619 @item info inferiors
2620 Print a list of all inferiors currently being managed by @value{GDBN}.
2621
2622 @value{GDBN} displays for each inferior (in this order):
2623
2624 @enumerate
2625 @item
2626 the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2627
2628 @item
2629 the target system's inferior identifier
2630
2631 @item
2632 the name of the executable the inferior is running.
2633
2634 @end enumerate
2635
2636 @noindent
2637 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} inferior number
2638 indicates the current inferior.
2639
2640 For example,
2641 @end table
2642 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
2643
2644 @smallexample
2645 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2646 Num Description Executable
2647 2 process 2307 hello
2648 * 1 process 3401 goodbye
2649 @end smallexample
2650
2651 To switch focus between inferiors, use the @code{inferior} command:
2652
2653 @table @code
2654 @kindex inferior @var{infno}
2655 @item inferior @var{infno}
2656 Make inferior number @var{infno} the current inferior. The argument
2657 @var{infno} is the inferior number assigned by @value{GDBN}, as shown
2658 in the first field of the @samp{info inferiors} display.
2659 @end table
2660
2661 @vindex $_inferior@r{, convenience variable}
2662 The debugger convenience variable @samp{$_inferior} contains the
2663 number of the current inferior. You may find this useful in writing
2664 breakpoint conditional expressions, command scripts, and so forth.
2665 @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for general
2666 information on convenience variables.
2667
2668 You can get multiple executables into a debugging session via the
2669 @code{add-inferior} and @w{@code{clone-inferior}} commands. On some
2670 systems @value{GDBN} can add inferiors to the debug session
2671 automatically by following calls to @code{fork} and @code{exec}. To
2672 remove inferiors from the debugging session use the
2673 @w{@code{remove-inferiors}} command.
2674
2675 @table @code
2676 @kindex add-inferior
2677 @item add-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ -exec @var{executable} ]
2678 Adds @var{n} inferiors to be run using @var{executable} as the
2679 executable; @var{n} defaults to 1. If no executable is specified,
2680 the inferiors begins empty, with no program. You can still assign or
2681 change the program assigned to the inferior at any time by using the
2682 @code{file} command with the executable name as its argument.
2683
2684 @kindex clone-inferior
2685 @item clone-inferior [ -copies @var{n} ] [ @var{infno} ]
2686 Adds @var{n} inferiors ready to execute the same program as inferior
2687 @var{infno}; @var{n} defaults to 1, and @var{infno} defaults to the
2688 number of the current inferior. This is a convenient command when you
2689 want to run another instance of the inferior you are debugging.
2690
2691 @smallexample
2692 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2693 Num Description Executable
2694 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2695 (@value{GDBP}) clone-inferior
2696 Added inferior 2.
2697 1 inferiors added.
2698 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
2699 Num Description Executable
2700 2 <null> helloworld
2701 * 1 process 29964 helloworld
2702 @end smallexample
2703
2704 You can now simply switch focus to inferior 2 and run it.
2705
2706 @kindex remove-inferiors
2707 @item remove-inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2708 Removes the inferior or inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}. It is not
2709 possible to remove an inferior that is running with this command. For
2710 those, use the @code{kill} or @code{detach} command first.
2711
2712 @end table
2713
2714 To quit debugging one of the running inferiors that is not the current
2715 inferior, you can either detach from it by using the @w{@code{detach
2716 inferior}} command (allowing it to run independently), or kill it
2717 using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}} command:
2718
2719 @table @code
2720 @kindex detach inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2721 @item detach inferior @var{infno}@dots{}
2722 Detach from the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN}
2723 inferior number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry
2724 still stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors},
2725 but its Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2726
2727 @kindex kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2728 @item kill inferiors @var{infno}@dots{}
2729 Kill the inferior or inferiors identified by @value{GDBN} inferior
2730 number(s) @var{infno}@dots{}. Note that the inferior's entry still
2731 stays on the list of inferiors shown by @code{info inferiors}, but its
2732 Description will show @samp{<null>}.
2733 @end table
2734
2735 After the successful completion of a command such as @code{detach},
2736 @code{detach inferiors}, @code{kill} or @code{kill inferiors}, or after
2737 a normal process exit, the inferior is still valid and listed with
2738 @code{info inferiors}, ready to be restarted.
2739
2740
2741 To be notified when inferiors are started or exit under @value{GDBN}'s
2742 control use @w{@code{set print inferior-events}}:
2743
2744 @table @code
2745 @kindex set print inferior-events
2746 @cindex print messages on inferior start and exit
2747 @item set print inferior-events
2748 @itemx set print inferior-events on
2749 @itemx set print inferior-events off
2750 The @code{set print inferior-events} command allows you to enable or
2751 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new
2752 inferiors have started or that inferiors have exited or have been
2753 detached. By default, these messages will not be printed.
2754
2755 @kindex show print inferior-events
2756 @item show print inferior-events
2757 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that
2758 inferiors have started, exited or have been detached.
2759 @end table
2760
2761 Many commands will work the same with multiple programs as with a
2762 single program: e.g., @code{print myglobal} will simply display the
2763 value of @code{myglobal} in the current inferior.
2764
2765
2766 Occasionaly, when debugging @value{GDBN} itself, it may be useful to
2767 get more info about the relationship of inferiors, programs, address
2768 spaces in a debug session. You can do that with the @w{@code{maint
2769 info program-spaces}} command.
2770
2771 @table @code
2772 @kindex maint info program-spaces
2773 @item maint info program-spaces
2774 Print a list of all program spaces currently being managed by
2775 @value{GDBN}.
2776
2777 @value{GDBN} displays for each program space (in this order):
2778
2779 @enumerate
2780 @item
2781 the program space number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2782
2783 @item
2784 the name of the executable loaded into the program space, with e.g.,
2785 the @code{file} command.
2786
2787 @end enumerate
2788
2789 @noindent
2790 An asterisk @samp{*} preceding the @value{GDBN} program space number
2791 indicates the current program space.
2792
2793 In addition, below each program space line, @value{GDBN} prints extra
2794 information that isn't suitable to display in tabular form. For
2795 example, the list of inferiors bound to the program space.
2796
2797 @smallexample
2798 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2799 Id Executable
2800 * 1 hello
2801 2 goodbye
2802 Bound inferiors: ID 1 (process 21561)
2803 @end smallexample
2804
2805 Here we can see that no inferior is running the program @code{hello},
2806 while @code{process 21561} is running the program @code{goodbye}. On
2807 some targets, it is possible that multiple inferiors are bound to the
2808 same program space. The most common example is that of debugging both
2809 the parent and child processes of a @code{vfork} call. For example,
2810
2811 @smallexample
2812 (@value{GDBP}) maint info program-spaces
2813 Id Executable
2814 * 1 vfork-test
2815 Bound inferiors: ID 2 (process 18050), ID 1 (process 18045)
2816 @end smallexample
2817
2818 Here, both inferior 2 and inferior 1 are running in the same program
2819 space as a result of inferior 1 having executed a @code{vfork} call.
2820 @end table
2821
2822 @node Threads
2823 @section Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads
2824
2825 @cindex threads of execution
2826 @cindex multiple threads
2827 @cindex switching threads
2828 In some operating systems, such as GNU/Linux and Solaris, a single program
2829 may have more than one @dfn{thread} of execution. The precise semantics
2830 of threads differ from one operating system to another, but in general
2831 the threads of a single program are akin to multiple processes---except
2832 that they share one address space (that is, they can all examine and
2833 modify the same variables). On the other hand, each thread has its own
2834 registers and execution stack, and perhaps private memory.
2835
2836 @value{GDBN} provides these facilities for debugging multi-thread
2837 programs:
2838
2839 @itemize @bullet
2840 @item automatic notification of new threads
2841 @item @samp{thread @var{thread-id}}, a command to switch among threads
2842 @item @samp{info threads}, a command to inquire about existing threads
2843 @item @samp{thread apply [@var{thread-id-list}] [@var{all}] @var{args}},
2844 a command to apply a command to a list of threads
2845 @item thread-specific breakpoints
2846 @item @samp{set print thread-events}, which controls printing of
2847 messages on thread start and exit.
2848 @item @samp{set libthread-db-search-path @var{path}}, which lets
2849 the user specify which @code{libthread_db} to use if the default choice
2850 isn't compatible with the program.
2851 @end itemize
2852
2853 @cindex focus of debugging
2854 @cindex current thread
2855 The @value{GDBN} thread debugging facility allows you to observe all
2856 threads while your program runs---but whenever @value{GDBN} takes
2857 control, one thread in particular is always the focus of debugging.
2858 This thread is called the @dfn{current thread}. Debugging commands show
2859 program information from the perspective of the current thread.
2860
2861 @cindex @code{New} @var{systag} message
2862 @cindex thread identifier (system)
2863 @c FIXME-implementors!! It would be more helpful if the [New...] message
2864 @c included GDB's numeric thread handle, so you could just go to that
2865 @c thread without first checking `info threads'.
2866 Whenever @value{GDBN} detects a new thread in your program, it displays
2867 the target system's identification for the thread with a message in the
2868 form @samp{[New @var{systag}]}, where @var{systag} is a thread identifier
2869 whose form varies depending on the particular system. For example, on
2870 @sc{gnu}/Linux, you might see
2871
2872 @smallexample
2873 [New Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 25582)]
2874 @end smallexample
2875
2876 @noindent
2877 when @value{GDBN} notices a new thread. In contrast, on other systems,
2878 the @var{systag} is simply something like @samp{process 368}, with no
2879 further qualifier.
2880
2881 @c FIXME!! (1) Does the [New...] message appear even for the very first
2882 @c thread of a program, or does it only appear for the
2883 @c second---i.e.@: when it becomes obvious we have a multithread
2884 @c program?
2885 @c (2) *Is* there necessarily a first thread always? Or do some
2886 @c multithread systems permit starting a program with multiple
2887 @c threads ab initio?
2888
2889 @anchor{thread numbers}
2890 @cindex thread number, per inferior
2891 @cindex thread identifier (GDB)
2892 For debugging purposes, @value{GDBN} associates its own thread number
2893 ---always a single integer---with each thread of an inferior. This
2894 number is unique between all threads of an inferior, but not unique
2895 between threads of different inferiors.
2896
2897 @cindex qualified thread ID
2898 You can refer to a given thread in an inferior using the qualified
2899 @var{inferior-num}.@var{thread-num} syntax, also known as
2900 @dfn{qualified thread ID}, with @var{inferior-num} being the inferior
2901 number and @var{thread-num} being the thread number of the given
2902 inferior. For example, thread @code{2.3} refers to thread number 3 of
2903 inferior 2. If you omit @var{inferior-num} (e.g., @code{thread 3}),
2904 then @value{GDBN} infers you're referring to a thread of the current
2905 inferior.
2906
2907 Until you create a second inferior, @value{GDBN} does not show the
2908 @var{inferior-num} part of thread IDs, even though you can always use
2909 the full @var{inferior-num}.@var{thread-num} form to refer to threads
2910 of inferior 1, the initial inferior.
2911
2912 @anchor{thread ID lists}
2913 @cindex thread ID lists
2914 Some commands accept a space-separated @dfn{thread ID list} as
2915 argument. A list element can be:
2916
2917 @enumerate
2918 @item
2919 A thread ID as shown in the first field of the @samp{info threads}
2920 display, with or without an inferior qualifier. E.g., @samp{2.1} or
2921 @samp{1}.
2922
2923 @item
2924 A range of thread numbers, again with or without an inferior
2925 qualifier, as in @var{inf}.@var{thr1}-@var{thr2} or
2926 @var{thr1}-@var{thr2}. E.g., @samp{1.2-4} or @samp{2-4}.
2927
2928 @item
2929 All threads of an inferior, specified with a star wildcard, with or
2930 without an inferior qualifier, as in @var{inf}.@code{*} (e.g.,
2931 @samp{1.*}) or @code{*}. The former refers to all threads of the
2932 given inferior, and the latter form without an inferior qualifier
2933 refers to all threads of the current inferior.
2934
2935 @end enumerate
2936
2937 For example, if the current inferior is 1, and inferior 7 has one
2938 thread with ID 7.1, the thread list @samp{1 2-3 4.5 6.7-9 7.*}
2939 includes threads 1 to 3 of inferior 1, thread 5 of inferior 4, threads
2940 7 to 9 of inferior 6 and all threads of inferior 7. That is, in
2941 expanded qualified form, the same as @samp{1.1 1.2 1.3 4.5 6.7 6.8 6.9
2942 7.1}.
2943
2944
2945 @anchor{global thread numbers}
2946 @cindex global thread number
2947 @cindex global thread identifier (GDB)
2948 In addition to a @emph{per-inferior} number, each thread is also
2949 assigned a unique @emph{global} number, also known as @dfn{global
2950 thread ID}, a single integer. Unlike the thread number component of
2951 the thread ID, no two threads have the same global ID, even when
2952 you're debugging multiple inferiors.
2953
2954 From @value{GDBN}'s perspective, a process always has at least one
2955 thread. In other words, @value{GDBN} assigns a thread number to the
2956 program's ``main thread'' even if the program is not multi-threaded.
2957
2958 @vindex $_thread@r{, convenience variable}
2959 @vindex $_gthread@r{, convenience variable}
2960 The debugger convenience variables @samp{$_thread} and
2961 @samp{$_gthread} contain, respectively, the per-inferior thread number
2962 and the global thread number of the current thread. You may find this
2963 useful in writing breakpoint conditional expressions, command scripts,
2964 and so forth. @xref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for
2965 general information on convenience variables.
2966
2967 If @value{GDBN} detects the program is multi-threaded, it augments the
2968 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint with the ID and name of
2969 the thread that hit the breakpoint.
2970
2971 @smallexample
2972 Thread 2 "client" hit Breakpoint 1, send_message () at client.c:68
2973 @end smallexample
2974
2975 Likewise when the program receives a signal:
2976
2977 @smallexample
2978 Thread 1 "main" received signal SIGINT, Interrupt.
2979 @end smallexample
2980
2981 @table @code
2982 @kindex info threads
2983 @item info threads @r{[}@var{thread-id-list}@r{]}
2984
2985 Display information about one or more threads. With no arguments
2986 displays information about all threads. You can specify the list of
2987 threads that you want to display using the thread ID list syntax
2988 (@pxref{thread ID lists}).
2989
2990 @value{GDBN} displays for each thread (in this order):
2991
2992 @enumerate
2993 @item
2994 the per-inferior thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}
2995
2996 @item
2997 the global thread number assigned by @value{GDBN}, if the @samp{-gid}
2998 option was specified
2999
3000 @item
3001 the target system's thread identifier (@var{systag})
3002
3003 @item
3004 the thread's name, if one is known. A thread can either be named by
3005 the user (see @code{thread name}, below), or, in some cases, by the
3006 program itself.
3007
3008 @item
3009 the current stack frame summary for that thread
3010 @end enumerate
3011
3012 @noindent
3013 An asterisk @samp{*} to the left of the @value{GDBN} thread number
3014 indicates the current thread.
3015
3016 For example,
3017 @end table
3018 @c end table here to get a little more width for example
3019
3020 @smallexample
3021 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
3022 Id Target Id Frame
3023 * 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
3024 2 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3025 3 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3026 at threadtest.c:68
3027 @end smallexample
3028
3029 If you're debugging multiple inferiors, @value{GDBN} displays thread
3030 IDs using the qualified @var{inferior-num}.@var{thread-num} format.
3031 Otherwise, only @var{thread-num} is shown.
3032
3033 If you specify the @samp{-gid} option, @value{GDBN} displays a column
3034 indicating each thread's global thread ID:
3035
3036 @smallexample
3037 (@value{GDBP}) info threads
3038 Id GId Target Id Frame
3039 1.1 1 process 35 thread 13 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
3040 1.2 3 process 35 thread 23 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3041 1.3 4 process 35 thread 27 0x34e5 in sigpause ()
3042 * 2.1 2 process 65 thread 1 main (argc=1, argv=0x7ffffff8)
3043 @end smallexample
3044
3045 On Solaris, you can display more information about user threads with a
3046 Solaris-specific command:
3047
3048 @table @code
3049 @item maint info sol-threads
3050 @kindex maint info sol-threads
3051 @cindex thread info (Solaris)
3052 Display info on Solaris user threads.
3053 @end table
3054
3055 @table @code
3056 @kindex thread @var{thread-id}
3057 @item thread @var{thread-id}
3058 Make thread ID @var{thread-id} the current thread. The command
3059 argument @var{thread-id} is the @value{GDBN} thread ID, as shown in
3060 the first field of the @samp{info threads} display, with or without an
3061 inferior qualifier (e.g., @samp{2.1} or @samp{1}).
3062
3063 @value{GDBN} responds by displaying the system identifier of the
3064 thread you selected, and its current stack frame summary:
3065
3066 @smallexample
3067 (@value{GDBP}) thread 2
3068 [Switching to thread 2 (Thread 0xb7fdab70 (LWP 12747))]
3069 #0 some_function (ignore=0x0) at example.c:8
3070 8 printf ("hello\n");
3071 @end smallexample
3072
3073 @noindent
3074 As with the @samp{[New @dots{}]} message, the form of the text after
3075 @samp{Switching to} depends on your system's conventions for identifying
3076 threads.
3077
3078 @kindex thread apply
3079 @cindex apply command to several threads
3080 @item thread apply [@var{thread-id-list} | all [-ascending]] @var{command}
3081 The @code{thread apply} command allows you to apply the named
3082 @var{command} to one or more threads. Specify the threads that you
3083 want affected using the thread ID list syntax (@pxref{thread ID
3084 lists}), or specify @code{all} to apply to all threads. To apply a
3085 command to all threads in descending order, type @kbd{thread apply all
3086 @var{command}}. To apply a command to all threads in ascending order,
3087 type @kbd{thread apply all -ascending @var{command}}.
3088
3089
3090 @kindex thread name
3091 @cindex name a thread
3092 @item thread name [@var{name}]
3093 This command assigns a name to the current thread. If no argument is
3094 given, any existing user-specified name is removed. The thread name
3095 appears in the @samp{info threads} display.
3096
3097 On some systems, such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, @value{GDBN} is able to
3098 determine the name of the thread as given by the OS. On these
3099 systems, a name specified with @samp{thread name} will override the
3100 system-give name, and removing the user-specified name will cause
3101 @value{GDBN} to once again display the system-specified name.
3102
3103 @kindex thread find
3104 @cindex search for a thread
3105 @item thread find [@var{regexp}]
3106 Search for and display thread ids whose name or @var{systag}
3107 matches the supplied regular expression.
3108
3109 As well as being the complement to the @samp{thread name} command,
3110 this command also allows you to identify a thread by its target
3111 @var{systag}. For instance, on @sc{gnu}/Linux, the target @var{systag}
3112 is the LWP id.
3113
3114 @smallexample
3115 (@value{GDBN}) thread find 26688
3116 Thread 4 has target id 'Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688)'
3117 (@value{GDBN}) info thread 4
3118 Id Target Id Frame
3119 4 Thread 0x41e02940 (LWP 26688) 0x00000031ca6cd372 in select ()
3120 @end smallexample
3121
3122 @kindex set print thread-events
3123 @cindex print messages on thread start and exit
3124 @item set print thread-events
3125 @itemx set print thread-events on
3126 @itemx set print thread-events off
3127 The @code{set print thread-events} command allows you to enable or
3128 disable printing of messages when @value{GDBN} notices that new threads have
3129 started or that threads have exited. By default, these messages will
3130 be printed if detection of these events is supported by the target.
3131 Note that these messages cannot be disabled on all targets.
3132
3133 @kindex show print thread-events
3134 @item show print thread-events
3135 Show whether messages will be printed when @value{GDBN} detects that threads
3136 have started and exited.
3137 @end table
3138
3139 @xref{Thread Stops,,Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs}, for
3140 more information about how @value{GDBN} behaves when you stop and start
3141 programs with multiple threads.
3142
3143 @xref{Set Watchpoints,,Setting Watchpoints}, for information about
3144 watchpoints in programs with multiple threads.
3145
3146 @anchor{set libthread-db-search-path}
3147 @table @code
3148 @kindex set libthread-db-search-path
3149 @cindex search path for @code{libthread_db}
3150 @item set libthread-db-search-path @r{[}@var{path}@r{]}
3151 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
3152 directories @value{GDBN} will use to search for @code{libthread_db}.
3153 If you omit @var{path}, @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to
3154 its default value (@code{$sdir:$pdir} on @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems).
3155 Internally, the default value comes from the @code{LIBTHREAD_DB_SEARCH_PATH}
3156 macro.
3157
3158 On @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris systems, @value{GDBN} uses a ``helper''
3159 @code{libthread_db} library to obtain information about threads in the
3160 inferior process. @value{GDBN} will use @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3161 to find @code{libthread_db}. @value{GDBN} also consults first if inferior
3162 specific thread debugging library loading is enabled
3163 by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
3164
3165 A special entry @samp{$sdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3166 refers to the default system directories that are
3167 normally searched for loading shared libraries. The @samp{$sdir} entry
3168 is the only kind not needing to be enabled by @samp{set auto-load libthread-db}
3169 (@pxref{libthread_db.so.1 file}).
3170
3171 A special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path}
3172 refers to the directory from which @code{libpthread}
3173 was loaded in the inferior process.
3174
3175 For any @code{libthread_db} library @value{GDBN} finds in above directories,
3176 @value{GDBN} attempts to initialize it with the current inferior process.
3177 If this initialization fails (which could happen because of a version
3178 mismatch between @code{libthread_db} and @code{libpthread}), @value{GDBN}
3179 will unload @code{libthread_db}, and continue with the next directory.
3180 If none of @code{libthread_db} libraries initialize successfully,
3181 @value{GDBN} will issue a warning and thread debugging will be disabled.
3182
3183 Setting @code{libthread-db-search-path} is currently implemented
3184 only on some platforms.
3185
3186 @kindex show libthread-db-search-path
3187 @item show libthread-db-search-path
3188 Display current libthread_db search path.
3189
3190 @kindex set debug libthread-db
3191 @kindex show debug libthread-db
3192 @cindex debugging @code{libthread_db}
3193 @item set debug libthread-db
3194 @itemx show debug libthread-db
3195 Turns on or off display of @code{libthread_db}-related events.
3196 Use @code{1} to enable, @code{0} to disable.
3197 @end table
3198
3199 @node Forks
3200 @section Debugging Forks
3201
3202 @cindex fork, debugging programs which call
3203 @cindex multiple processes
3204 @cindex processes, multiple
3205 On most systems, @value{GDBN} has no special support for debugging
3206 programs which create additional processes using the @code{fork}
3207 function. When a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug the
3208 parent process and the child process will run unimpeded. If you have
3209 set a breakpoint in any code which the child then executes, the child
3210 will get a @code{SIGTRAP} signal which (unless it catches the signal)
3211 will cause it to terminate.
3212
3213 However, if you want to debug the child process there is a workaround
3214 which isn't too painful. Put a call to @code{sleep} in the code which
3215 the child process executes after the fork. It may be useful to sleep
3216 only if a certain environment variable is set, or a certain file exists,
3217 so that the delay need not occur when you don't want to run @value{GDBN}
3218 on the child. While the child is sleeping, use the @code{ps} program to
3219 get its process ID. Then tell @value{GDBN} (a new invocation of
3220 @value{GDBN} if you are also debugging the parent process) to attach to
3221 the child process (@pxref{Attach}). From that point on you can debug
3222 the child process just like any other process which you attached to.
3223
3224 On some systems, @value{GDBN} provides support for debugging programs
3225 that create additional processes using the @code{fork} or @code{vfork}
3226 functions. On @sc{gnu}/Linux platforms, this feature is supported
3227 with kernel version 2.5.46 and later.
3228
3229 The fork debugging commands are supported in native mode and when
3230 connected to @code{gdbserver} in either @code{target remote} mode or
3231 @code{target extended-remote} mode.
3232
3233 By default, when a program forks, @value{GDBN} will continue to debug
3234 the parent process and the child process will run unimpeded.
3235
3236 If you want to follow the child process instead of the parent process,
3237 use the command @w{@code{set follow-fork-mode}}.
3238
3239 @table @code
3240 @kindex set follow-fork-mode
3241 @item set follow-fork-mode @var{mode}
3242 Set the debugger response to a program call of @code{fork} or
3243 @code{vfork}. A call to @code{fork} or @code{vfork} creates a new
3244 process. The @var{mode} argument can be:
3245
3246 @table @code
3247 @item parent
3248 The original process is debugged after a fork. The child process runs
3249 unimpeded. This is the default.
3250
3251 @item child
3252 The new process is debugged after a fork. The parent process runs
3253 unimpeded.
3254
3255 @end table
3256
3257 @kindex show follow-fork-mode
3258 @item show follow-fork-mode
3259 Display the current debugger response to a @code{fork} or @code{vfork} call.
3260 @end table
3261
3262 @cindex debugging multiple processes
3263 On Linux, if you want to debug both the parent and child processes, use the
3264 command @w{@code{set detach-on-fork}}.
3265
3266 @table @code
3267 @kindex set detach-on-fork
3268 @item set detach-on-fork @var{mode}
3269 Tells gdb whether to detach one of the processes after a fork, or
3270 retain debugger control over them both.
3271
3272 @table @code
3273 @item on
3274 The child process (or parent process, depending on the value of
3275 @code{follow-fork-mode}) will be detached and allowed to run
3276 independently. This is the default.
3277
3278 @item off
3279 Both processes will be held under the control of @value{GDBN}.
3280 One process (child or parent, depending on the value of
3281 @code{follow-fork-mode}) is debugged as usual, while the other
3282 is held suspended.
3283
3284 @end table
3285
3286 @kindex show detach-on-fork
3287 @item show detach-on-fork
3288 Show whether detach-on-fork mode is on/off.
3289 @end table
3290
3291 If you choose to set @samp{detach-on-fork} mode off, then @value{GDBN}
3292 will retain control of all forked processes (including nested forks).
3293 You can list the forked processes under the control of @value{GDBN} by
3294 using the @w{@code{info inferiors}} command, and switch from one fork
3295 to another by using the @code{inferior} command (@pxref{Inferiors and
3296 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}).
3297
3298 To quit debugging one of the forked processes, you can either detach
3299 from it by using the @w{@code{detach inferiors}} command (allowing it
3300 to run independently), or kill it using the @w{@code{kill inferiors}}
3301 command. @xref{Inferiors and Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors
3302 and Programs}.
3303
3304 If you ask to debug a child process and a @code{vfork} is followed by an
3305 @code{exec}, @value{GDBN} executes the new target up to the first
3306 breakpoint in the new target. If you have a breakpoint set on
3307 @code{main} in your original program, the breakpoint will also be set on
3308 the child process's @code{main}.
3309
3310 On some systems, when a child process is spawned by @code{vfork}, you
3311 cannot debug the child or parent until an @code{exec} call completes.
3312
3313 If you issue a @code{run} command to @value{GDBN} after an @code{exec}
3314 call executes, the new target restarts. To restart the parent
3315 process, use the @code{file} command with the parent executable name
3316 as its argument. By default, after an @code{exec} call executes,
3317 @value{GDBN} discards the symbols of the previous executable image.
3318 You can change this behaviour with the @w{@code{set follow-exec-mode}}
3319 command.
3320
3321 @table @code
3322 @kindex set follow-exec-mode
3323 @item set follow-exec-mode @var{mode}
3324
3325 Set debugger response to a program call of @code{exec}. An
3326 @code{exec} call replaces the program image of a process.
3327
3328 @code{follow-exec-mode} can be:
3329
3330 @table @code
3331 @item new
3332 @value{GDBN} creates a new inferior and rebinds the process to this
3333 new inferior. The program the process was running before the
3334 @code{exec} call can be restarted afterwards by restarting the
3335 original inferior.
3336
3337 For example:
3338
3339 @smallexample
3340 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3341 (gdb) info inferior
3342 Id Description Executable
3343 * 1 <null> prog1
3344 (@value{GDBP}) run
3345 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3346 Program exited normally.
3347 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3348 Id Description Executable
3349 1 <null> prog1
3350 * 2 <null> prog2
3351 @end smallexample
3352
3353 @item same
3354 @value{GDBN} keeps the process bound to the same inferior. The new
3355 executable image replaces the previous executable loaded in the
3356 inferior. Restarting the inferior after the @code{exec} call, with
3357 e.g., the @code{run} command, restarts the executable the process was
3358 running after the @code{exec} call. This is the default mode.
3359
3360 For example:
3361
3362 @smallexample
3363 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3364 Id Description Executable
3365 * 1 <null> prog1
3366 (@value{GDBP}) run
3367 process 12020 is executing new program: prog2
3368 Program exited normally.
3369 (@value{GDBP}) info inferiors
3370 Id Description Executable
3371 * 1 <null> prog2
3372 @end smallexample
3373
3374 @end table
3375 @end table
3376
3377 @code{follow-exec-mode} is supported in native mode and
3378 @code{target extended-remote} mode.
3379
3380 You can use the @code{catch} command to make @value{GDBN} stop whenever
3381 a @code{fork}, @code{vfork}, or @code{exec} call is made. @xref{Set
3382 Catchpoints, ,Setting Catchpoints}.
3383
3384 @node Checkpoint/Restart
3385 @section Setting a @emph{Bookmark} to Return to Later
3386
3387 @cindex checkpoint
3388 @cindex restart
3389 @cindex bookmark
3390 @cindex snapshot of a process
3391 @cindex rewind program state
3392
3393 On certain operating systems@footnote{Currently, only
3394 @sc{gnu}/Linux.}, @value{GDBN} is able to save a @dfn{snapshot} of a
3395 program's state, called a @dfn{checkpoint}, and come back to it
3396 later.
3397
3398 Returning to a checkpoint effectively undoes everything that has
3399 happened in the program since the @code{checkpoint} was saved. This
3400 includes changes in memory, registers, and even (within some limits)
3401 system state. Effectively, it is like going back in time to the
3402 moment when the checkpoint was saved.
3403
3404 Thus, if you're stepping thru a program and you think you're
3405 getting close to the point where things go wrong, you can save
3406 a checkpoint. Then, if you accidentally go too far and miss
3407 the critical statement, instead of having to restart your program
3408 from the beginning, you can just go back to the checkpoint and
3409 start again from there.
3410
3411 This can be especially useful if it takes a lot of time or
3412 steps to reach the point where you think the bug occurs.
3413
3414 To use the @code{checkpoint}/@code{restart} method of debugging:
3415
3416 @table @code
3417 @kindex checkpoint
3418 @item checkpoint
3419 Save a snapshot of the debugged program's current execution state.
3420 The @code{checkpoint} command takes no arguments, but each checkpoint
3421 is assigned a small integer id, similar to a breakpoint id.
3422
3423 @kindex info checkpoints
3424 @item info checkpoints
3425 List the checkpoints that have been saved in the current debugging
3426 session. For each checkpoint, the following information will be
3427 listed:
3428
3429 @table @code
3430 @item Checkpoint ID
3431 @item Process ID
3432 @item Code Address
3433 @item Source line, or label
3434 @end table
3435
3436 @kindex restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3437 @item restart @var{checkpoint-id}
3438 Restore the program state that was saved as checkpoint number
3439 @var{checkpoint-id}. All program variables, registers, stack frames
3440 etc.@: will be returned to the values that they had when the checkpoint
3441 was saved. In essence, gdb will ``wind back the clock'' to the point
3442 in time when the checkpoint was saved.
3443
3444 Note that breakpoints, @value{GDBN} variables, command history etc.
3445 are not affected by restoring a checkpoint. In general, a checkpoint
3446 only restores things that reside in the program being debugged, not in
3447 the debugger.
3448
3449 @kindex delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3450 @item delete checkpoint @var{checkpoint-id}
3451 Delete the previously-saved checkpoint identified by @var{checkpoint-id}.
3452
3453 @end table
3454
3455 Returning to a previously saved checkpoint will restore the user state
3456 of the program being debugged, plus a significant subset of the system
3457 (OS) state, including file pointers. It won't ``un-write'' data from
3458 a file, but it will rewind the file pointer to the previous location,
3459 so that the previously written data can be overwritten. For files
3460 opened in read mode, the pointer will also be restored so that the
3461 previously read data can be read again.
3462
3463 Of course, characters that have been sent to a printer (or other
3464 external device) cannot be ``snatched back'', and characters received
3465 from eg.@: a serial device can be removed from internal program buffers,
3466 but they cannot be ``pushed back'' into the serial pipeline, ready to
3467 be received again. Similarly, the actual contents of files that have
3468 been changed cannot be restored (at this time).
3469
3470 However, within those constraints, you actually can ``rewind'' your
3471 program to a previously saved point in time, and begin debugging it
3472 again --- and you can change the course of events so as to debug a
3473 different execution path this time.
3474
3475 @cindex checkpoints and process id
3476 Finally, there is one bit of internal program state that will be
3477 different when you return to a checkpoint --- the program's process
3478 id. Each checkpoint will have a unique process id (or @var{pid}),
3479 and each will be different from the program's original @var{pid}.
3480 If your program has saved a local copy of its process id, this could
3481 potentially pose a problem.
3482
3483 @subsection A Non-obvious Benefit of Using Checkpoints
3484
3485 On some systems such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, address space randomization
3486 is performed on new processes for security reasons. This makes it
3487 difficult or impossible to set a breakpoint, or watchpoint, on an
3488 absolute address if you have to restart the program, since the
3489 absolute location of a symbol will change from one execution to the
3490 next.
3491
3492 A checkpoint, however, is an @emph{identical} copy of a process.
3493 Therefore if you create a checkpoint at (eg.@:) the start of main,
3494 and simply return to that checkpoint instead of restarting the
3495 process, you can avoid the effects of address randomization and
3496 your symbols will all stay in the same place.
3497
3498 @node Stopping
3499 @chapter Stopping and Continuing
3500
3501 The principal purposes of using a debugger are so that you can stop your
3502 program before it terminates; or so that, if your program runs into
3503 trouble, you can investigate and find out why.
3504
3505 Inside @value{GDBN}, your program may stop for any of several reasons,
3506 such as a signal, a breakpoint, or reaching a new line after a
3507 @value{GDBN} command such as @code{step}. You may then examine and
3508 change variables, set new breakpoints or remove old ones, and then
3509 continue execution. Usually, the messages shown by @value{GDBN} provide
3510 ample explanation of the status of your program---but you can also
3511 explicitly request this information at any time.
3512
3513 @table @code
3514 @kindex info program
3515 @item info program
3516 Display information about the status of your program: whether it is
3517 running or not, what process it is, and why it stopped.
3518 @end table
3519
3520 @menu
3521 * Breakpoints:: Breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints
3522 * Continuing and Stepping:: Resuming execution
3523 * Skipping Over Functions and Files::
3524 Skipping over functions and files
3525 * Signals:: Signals
3526 * Thread Stops:: Stopping and starting multi-thread programs
3527 @end menu
3528
3529 @node Breakpoints
3530 @section Breakpoints, Watchpoints, and Catchpoints
3531
3532 @cindex breakpoints
3533 A @dfn{breakpoint} makes your program stop whenever a certain point in
3534 the program is reached. For each breakpoint, you can add conditions to
3535 control in finer detail whether your program stops. You can set
3536 breakpoints with the @code{break} command and its variants (@pxref{Set
3537 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}), to specify the place where your program
3538 should stop by line number, function name or exact address in the
3539 program.
3540
3541 On some systems, you can set breakpoints in shared libraries before
3542 the executable is run.
3543
3544 @cindex watchpoints
3545 @cindex data breakpoints
3546 @cindex memory tracing
3547 @cindex breakpoint on memory address
3548 @cindex breakpoint on variable modification
3549 A @dfn{watchpoint} is a special breakpoint that stops your program
3550 when the value of an expression changes. The expression may be a value
3551 of a variable, or it could involve values of one or more variables
3552 combined by operators, such as @samp{a + b}. This is sometimes called
3553 @dfn{data breakpoints}. You must use a different command to set
3554 watchpoints (@pxref{Set Watchpoints, ,Setting Watchpoints}), but aside
3555 from that, you can manage a watchpoint like any other breakpoint: you
3556 enable, disable, and delete both breakpoints and watchpoints using the
3557 same commands.
3558
3559 You can arrange to have values from your program displayed automatically
3560 whenever @value{GDBN} stops at a breakpoint. @xref{Auto Display,,
3561 Automatic Display}.
3562
3563 @cindex catchpoints
3564 @cindex breakpoint on events
3565 A @dfn{catchpoint} is another special breakpoint that stops your program
3566 when a certain kind of event occurs, such as the throwing of a C@t{++}
3567 exception or the loading of a library. As with watchpoints, you use a
3568 different command to set a catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints, ,Setting
3569 Catchpoints}), but aside from that, you can manage a catchpoint like any
3570 other breakpoint. (To stop when your program receives a signal, use the
3571 @code{handle} command; see @ref{Signals, ,Signals}.)
3572
3573 @cindex breakpoint numbers
3574 @cindex numbers for breakpoints
3575 @value{GDBN} assigns a number to each breakpoint, watchpoint, or
3576 catchpoint when you create it; these numbers are successive integers
3577 starting with one. In many of the commands for controlling various
3578 features of breakpoints you use the breakpoint number to say which
3579 breakpoint you want to change. Each breakpoint may be @dfn{enabled} or
3580 @dfn{disabled}; if disabled, it has no effect on your program until you
3581 enable it again.
3582
3583 @cindex breakpoint ranges
3584 @cindex ranges of breakpoints
3585 Some @value{GDBN} commands accept a range of breakpoints on which to
3586 operate. A breakpoint range is either a single breakpoint number, like
3587 @samp{5}, or two such numbers, in increasing order, separated by a
3588 hyphen, like @samp{5-7}. When a breakpoint range is given to a command,
3589 all breakpoints in that range are operated on.
3590
3591 @menu
3592 * Set Breaks:: Setting breakpoints
3593 * Set Watchpoints:: Setting watchpoints
3594 * Set Catchpoints:: Setting catchpoints
3595 * Delete Breaks:: Deleting breakpoints
3596 * Disabling:: Disabling breakpoints
3597 * Conditions:: Break conditions
3598 * Break Commands:: Breakpoint command lists
3599 * Dynamic Printf:: Dynamic printf
3600 * Save Breakpoints:: How to save breakpoints in a file
3601 * Static Probe Points:: Listing static probe points
3602 * Error in Breakpoints:: ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
3603 * Breakpoint-related Warnings:: ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
3604 @end menu
3605
3606 @node Set Breaks
3607 @subsection Setting Breakpoints
3608
3609 @c FIXME LMB what does GDB do if no code on line of breakpt?
3610 @c consider in particular declaration with/without initialization.
3611 @c
3612 @c FIXME 2 is there stuff on this already? break at fun start, already init?
3613
3614 @kindex break
3615 @kindex b @r{(@code{break})}
3616 @vindex $bpnum@r{, convenience variable}
3617 @cindex latest breakpoint
3618 Breakpoints are set with the @code{break} command (abbreviated
3619 @code{b}). The debugger convenience variable @samp{$bpnum} records the
3620 number of the breakpoint you've set most recently; see @ref{Convenience
3621 Vars,, Convenience Variables}, for a discussion of what you can do with
3622 convenience variables.
3623
3624 @table @code
3625 @item break @var{location}
3626 Set a breakpoint at the given @var{location}, which can specify a
3627 function name, a line number, or an address of an instruction.
3628 (@xref{Specify Location}, for a list of all the possible ways to
3629 specify a @var{location}.) The breakpoint will stop your program just
3630 before it executes any of the code in the specified @var{location}.
3631
3632 When using source languages that permit overloading of symbols, such as
3633 C@t{++}, a function name may refer to more than one possible place to break.
3634 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}, for a discussion of
3635 that situation.
3636
3637 It is also possible to insert a breakpoint that will stop the program
3638 only if a specific thread (@pxref{Thread-Specific Breakpoints})
3639 or a specific task (@pxref{Ada Tasks}) hits that breakpoint.
3640
3641 @item break
3642 When called without any arguments, @code{break} sets a breakpoint at
3643 the next instruction to be executed in the selected stack frame
3644 (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the Stack}). In any selected frame but the
3645 innermost, this makes your program stop as soon as control
3646 returns to that frame. This is similar to the effect of a
3647 @code{finish} command in the frame inside the selected frame---except
3648 that @code{finish} does not leave an active breakpoint. If you use
3649 @code{break} without an argument in the innermost frame, @value{GDBN} stops
3650 the next time it reaches the current location; this may be useful
3651 inside loops.
3652
3653 @value{GDBN} normally ignores breakpoints when it resumes execution, until at
3654 least one instruction has been executed. If it did not do this, you
3655 would be unable to proceed past a breakpoint without first disabling the
3656 breakpoint. This rule applies whether or not the breakpoint already
3657 existed when your program stopped.
3658
3659 @item break @dots{} if @var{cond}
3660 Set a breakpoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
3661 @var{cond} each time the breakpoint is reached, and stop only if the
3662 value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
3663 @samp{@dots{}} stands for one of the possible arguments described
3664 above (or no argument) specifying where to break. @xref{Conditions,
3665 ,Break Conditions}, for more information on breakpoint conditions.
3666
3667 @kindex tbreak
3668 @item tbreak @var{args}
3669 Set a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. The @var{args} are the
3670 same as for the @code{break} command, and the breakpoint is set in the same
3671 way, but the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the first time your
3672 program stops there. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3673
3674 @kindex hbreak
3675 @cindex hardware breakpoints
3676 @item hbreak @var{args}
3677 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint. The @var{args} are the same as for the
3678 @code{break} command and the breakpoint is set in the same way, but the
3679 breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware may not
3680 have this support. The main purpose of this is EPROM/ROM code
3681 debugging, so you can set a breakpoint at an instruction without
3682 changing the instruction. This can be used with the new trap-generation
3683 provided by SPARClite DSU and most x86-based targets. These targets
3684 will generate traps when a program accesses some data or instruction
3685 address that is assigned to the debug registers. However the hardware
3686 breakpoint registers can take a limited number of breakpoints. For
3687 example, on the DSU, only two data breakpoints can be set at a time, and
3688 @value{GDBN} will reject this command if more than two are used. Delete
3689 or disable unused hardware breakpoints before setting new ones
3690 (@pxref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}).
3691 @xref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3692 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
3693 breakpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
3694 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
3695
3696 @kindex thbreak
3697 @item thbreak @var{args}
3698 Set a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. The @var{args}
3699 are the same as for the @code{hbreak} command and the breakpoint is set in
3700 the same way. However, like the @code{tbreak} command,
3701 the breakpoint is automatically deleted after the
3702 first time your program stops there. Also, like the @code{hbreak}
3703 command, the breakpoint requires hardware support and some target hardware
3704 may not have this support. @xref{Disabling, ,Disabling Breakpoints}.
3705 See also @ref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}.
3706
3707 @kindex rbreak
3708 @cindex regular expression
3709 @cindex breakpoints at functions matching a regexp
3710 @cindex set breakpoints in many functions
3711 @item rbreak @var{regex}
3712 Set breakpoints on all functions matching the regular expression
3713 @var{regex}. This command sets an unconditional breakpoint on all
3714 matches, printing a list of all breakpoints it set. Once these
3715 breakpoints are set, they are treated just like the breakpoints set with
3716 the @code{break} command. You can delete them, disable them, or make
3717 them conditional the same way as any other breakpoint.
3718
3719 The syntax of the regular expression is the standard one used with tools
3720 like @file{grep}. Note that this is different from the syntax used by
3721 shells, so for instance @code{foo*} matches all functions that include
3722 an @code{fo} followed by zero or more @code{o}s. There is an implicit
3723 @code{.*} leading and trailing the regular expression you supply, so to
3724 match only functions that begin with @code{foo}, use @code{^foo}.
3725
3726 @cindex non-member C@t{++} functions, set breakpoint in
3727 When debugging C@t{++} programs, @code{rbreak} is useful for setting
3728 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
3729 classes.
3730
3731 @cindex set breakpoints on all functions
3732 The @code{rbreak} command can be used to set breakpoints in
3733 @strong{all} the functions in a program, like this:
3734
3735 @smallexample
3736 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak .
3737 @end smallexample
3738
3739 @item rbreak @var{file}:@var{regex}
3740 If @code{rbreak} is called with a filename qualification, it limits
3741 the search for functions matching the given regular expression to the
3742 specified @var{file}. This can be used, for example, to set breakpoints on
3743 every function in a given file:
3744
3745 @smallexample
3746 (@value{GDBP}) rbreak file.c:.
3747 @end smallexample
3748
3749 The colon separating the filename qualifier from the regex may
3750 optionally be surrounded by spaces.
3751
3752 @kindex info breakpoints
3753 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info breakpoints}
3754 @item info breakpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3755 @itemx info break @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
3756 Print a table of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints set and
3757 not deleted. Optional argument @var{n} means print information only
3758 about the specified breakpoint(s) (or watchpoint(s) or catchpoint(s)).
3759 For each breakpoint, following columns are printed:
3760
3761 @table @emph
3762 @item Breakpoint Numbers
3763 @item Type
3764 Breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint.
3765 @item Disposition
3766 Whether the breakpoint is marked to be disabled or deleted when hit.
3767 @item Enabled or Disabled
3768 Enabled breakpoints are marked with @samp{y}. @samp{n} marks breakpoints
3769 that are not enabled.
3770 @item Address
3771 Where the breakpoint is in your program, as a memory address. For a
3772 pending breakpoint whose address is not yet known, this field will
3773 contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Such breakpoint won't fire until a shared
3774 library that has the symbol or line referred by breakpoint is loaded.
3775 See below for details. A breakpoint with several locations will
3776 have @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in this field---see below for details.
3777 @item What
3778 Where the breakpoint is in the source for your program, as a file and
3779 line number. For a pending breakpoint, the original string passed to
3780 the breakpoint command will be listed as it cannot be resolved until
3781 the appropriate shared library is loaded in the future.
3782 @end table
3783
3784 @noindent
3785 If a breakpoint is conditional, there are two evaluation modes: ``host'' and
3786 ``target''. If mode is ``host'', breakpoint condition evaluation is done by
3787 @value{GDBN} on the host's side. If it is ``target'', then the condition
3788 is evaluated by the target. The @code{info break} command shows
3789 the condition on the line following the affected breakpoint, together with
3790 its condition evaluation mode in between parentheses.
3791
3792 Breakpoint commands, if any, are listed after that. A pending breakpoint is
3793 allowed to have a condition specified for it. The condition is not parsed for
3794 validity until a shared library is loaded that allows the pending
3795 breakpoint to resolve to a valid location.
3796
3797 @noindent
3798 @code{info break} with a breakpoint
3799 number @var{n} as argument lists only that breakpoint. The
3800 convenience variable @code{$_} and the default examining-address for
3801 the @code{x} command are set to the address of the last breakpoint
3802 listed (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}).
3803
3804 @noindent
3805 @code{info break} displays a count of the number of times the breakpoint
3806 has been hit. This is especially useful in conjunction with the
3807 @code{ignore} command. You can ignore a large number of breakpoint
3808 hits, look at the breakpoint info to see how many times the breakpoint
3809 was hit, and then run again, ignoring one less than that number. This
3810 will get you quickly to the last hit of that breakpoint.
3811
3812 @noindent
3813 For a breakpoints with an enable count (xref) greater than 1,
3814 @code{info break} also displays that count.
3815
3816 @end table
3817
3818 @value{GDBN} allows you to set any number of breakpoints at the same place in
3819 your program. There is nothing silly or meaningless about this. When
3820 the breakpoints are conditional, this is even useful
3821 (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
3822
3823 @cindex multiple locations, breakpoints
3824 @cindex breakpoints, multiple locations
3825 It is possible that a breakpoint corresponds to several locations
3826 in your program. Examples of this situation are:
3827
3828 @itemize @bullet
3829 @item
3830 Multiple functions in the program may have the same name.
3831
3832 @item
3833 For a C@t{++} constructor, the @value{NGCC} compiler generates several
3834 instances of the function body, used in different cases.
3835
3836 @item
3837 For a C@t{++} template function, a given line in the function can
3838 correspond to any number of instantiations.
3839
3840 @item
3841 For an inlined function, a given source line can correspond to
3842 several places where that function is inlined.
3843 @end itemize
3844
3845 In all those cases, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at all
3846 the relevant locations.
3847
3848 A breakpoint with multiple locations is displayed in the breakpoint
3849 table using several rows---one header row, followed by one row for
3850 each breakpoint location. The header row has @samp{<MULTIPLE>} in the
3851 address column. The rows for individual locations contain the actual
3852 addresses for locations, and show the functions to which those
3853 locations belong. The number column for a location is of the form
3854 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number}.
3855
3856 For example:
3857
3858 @smallexample
3859 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
3860 1 breakpoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
3861 stop only if i==1
3862 breakpoint already hit 1 time
3863 1.1 y 0x080486a2 in void foo<int>() at t.cc:8
3864 1.2 y 0x080486ca in void foo<double>() at t.cc:8
3865 @end smallexample
3866
3867 Each location can be individually enabled or disabled by passing
3868 @var{breakpoint-number}.@var{location-number} as argument to the
3869 @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands. Note that you cannot
3870 delete the individual locations from the list, you can only delete the
3871 entire list of locations that belong to their parent breakpoint (with
3872 the @kbd{delete @var{num}} command, where @var{num} is the number of
3873 the parent breakpoint, 1 in the above example). Disabling or enabling
3874 the parent breakpoint (@pxref{Disabling}) affects all of the locations
3875 that belong to that breakpoint.
3876
3877 @cindex pending breakpoints
3878 It's quite common to have a breakpoint inside a shared library.
3879 Shared libraries can be loaded and unloaded explicitly,
3880 and possibly repeatedly, as the program is executed. To support
3881 this use case, @value{GDBN} updates breakpoint locations whenever
3882 any shared library is loaded or unloaded. Typically, you would
3883 set a breakpoint in a shared library at the beginning of your
3884 debugging session, when the library is not loaded, and when the
3885 symbols from the library are not available. When you try to set
3886 breakpoint, @value{GDBN} will ask you if you want to set
3887 a so called @dfn{pending breakpoint}---breakpoint whose address
3888 is not yet resolved.
3889
3890 After the program is run, whenever a new shared library is loaded,
3891 @value{GDBN} reevaluates all the breakpoints. When a newly loaded
3892 shared library contains the symbol or line referred to by some
3893 pending breakpoint, that breakpoint is resolved and becomes an
3894 ordinary breakpoint. When a library is unloaded, all breakpoints
3895 that refer to its symbols or source lines become pending again.
3896
3897 This logic works for breakpoints with multiple locations, too. For
3898 example, if you have a breakpoint in a C@t{++} template function, and
3899 a newly loaded shared library has an instantiation of that template,
3900 a new location is added to the list of locations for the breakpoint.
3901
3902 Except for having unresolved address, pending breakpoints do not
3903 differ from regular breakpoints. You can set conditions or commands,
3904 enable and disable them and perform other breakpoint operations.
3905
3906 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling what
3907 happens when the @samp{break} command cannot resolve breakpoint
3908 address specification to an address:
3909
3910 @kindex set breakpoint pending
3911 @kindex show breakpoint pending
3912 @table @code
3913 @item set breakpoint pending auto
3914 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} cannot find the breakpoint
3915 location, it queries you whether a pending breakpoint should be created.
3916
3917 @item set breakpoint pending on
3918 This indicates that an unrecognized breakpoint location should automatically
3919 result in a pending breakpoint being created.
3920
3921 @item set breakpoint pending off
3922 This indicates that pending breakpoints are not to be created. Any
3923 unrecognized breakpoint location results in an error. This setting does
3924 not affect any pending breakpoints previously created.
3925
3926 @item show breakpoint pending
3927 Show the current behavior setting for creating pending breakpoints.
3928 @end table
3929
3930 The settings above only affect the @code{break} command and its
3931 variants. Once breakpoint is set, it will be automatically updated
3932 as shared libraries are loaded and unloaded.
3933
3934 @cindex automatic hardware breakpoints
3935 For some targets, @value{GDBN} can automatically decide if hardware or
3936 software breakpoints should be used, depending on whether the
3937 breakpoint address is read-only or read-write. This applies to
3938 breakpoints set with the @code{break} command as well as to internal
3939 breakpoints set by commands like @code{next} and @code{finish}. For
3940 breakpoints set with @code{hbreak}, @value{GDBN} will always use hardware
3941 breakpoints.
3942
3943 You can control this automatic behaviour with the following commands::
3944
3945 @kindex set breakpoint auto-hw
3946 @kindex show breakpoint auto-hw
3947 @table @code
3948 @item set breakpoint auto-hw on
3949 This is the default behavior. When @value{GDBN} sets a breakpoint, it
3950 will try to use the target memory map to decide if software or hardware
3951 breakpoint must be used.
3952
3953 @item set breakpoint auto-hw off
3954 This indicates @value{GDBN} should not automatically select breakpoint
3955 type. If the target provides a memory map, @value{GDBN} will warn when
3956 trying to set software breakpoint at a read-only address.
3957 @end table
3958
3959 @value{GDBN} normally implements breakpoints by replacing the program code
3960 at the breakpoint address with a special instruction, which, when
3961 executed, given control to the debugger. By default, the program
3962 code is so modified only when the program is resumed. As soon as
3963 the program stops, @value{GDBN} restores the original instructions. This
3964 behaviour guards against leaving breakpoints inserted in the
3965 target should gdb abrubptly disconnect. However, with slow remote
3966 targets, inserting and removing breakpoint can reduce the performance.
3967 This behavior can be controlled with the following commands::
3968
3969 @kindex set breakpoint always-inserted
3970 @kindex show breakpoint always-inserted
3971 @table @code
3972 @item set breakpoint always-inserted off
3973 All breakpoints, including newly added by the user, are inserted in
3974 the target only when the target is resumed. All breakpoints are
3975 removed from the target when it stops. This is the default mode.
3976
3977 @item set breakpoint always-inserted on
3978 Causes all breakpoints to be inserted in the target at all times. If
3979 the user adds a new breakpoint, or changes an existing breakpoint, the
3980 breakpoints in the target are updated immediately. A breakpoint is
3981 removed from the target only when breakpoint itself is deleted.
3982 @end table
3983
3984 @value{GDBN} handles conditional breakpoints by evaluating these conditions
3985 when a breakpoint breaks. If the condition is true, then the process being
3986 debugged stops, otherwise the process is resumed.
3987
3988 If the target supports evaluating conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} may
3989 download the breakpoint, together with its conditions, to it.
3990
3991 This feature can be controlled via the following commands:
3992
3993 @kindex set breakpoint condition-evaluation
3994 @kindex show breakpoint condition-evaluation
3995 @table @code
3996 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation host
3997 This option commands @value{GDBN} to evaluate the breakpoint
3998 conditions on the host's side. Unconditional breakpoints are sent to
3999 the target which in turn receives the triggers and reports them back to GDB
4000 for condition evaluation. This is the standard evaluation mode.
4001
4002 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation target
4003 This option commands @value{GDBN} to download breakpoint conditions
4004 to the target at the moment of their insertion. The target
4005 is responsible for evaluating the conditional expression and reporting
4006 breakpoint stop events back to @value{GDBN} whenever the condition
4007 is true. Due to limitations of target-side evaluation, some conditions
4008 cannot be evaluated there, e.g., conditions that depend on local data
4009 that is only known to the host. Examples include
4010 conditional expressions involving convenience variables, complex types
4011 that cannot be handled by the agent expression parser and expressions
4012 that are too long to be sent over to the target, specially when the
4013 target is a remote system. In these cases, the conditions will be
4014 evaluated by @value{GDBN}.
4015
4016 @item set breakpoint condition-evaluation auto
4017 This is the default mode. If the target supports evaluating breakpoint
4018 conditions on its end, @value{GDBN} will download breakpoint conditions to
4019 the target (limitations mentioned previously apply). If the target does
4020 not support breakpoint condition evaluation, then @value{GDBN} will fallback
4021 to evaluating all these conditions on the host's side.
4022 @end table
4023
4024
4025 @cindex negative breakpoint numbers
4026 @cindex internal @value{GDBN} breakpoints
4027 @value{GDBN} itself sometimes sets breakpoints in your program for
4028 special purposes, such as proper handling of @code{longjmp} (in C
4029 programs). These internal breakpoints are assigned negative numbers,
4030 starting with @code{-1}; @samp{info breakpoints} does not display them.
4031 You can see these breakpoints with the @value{GDBN} maintenance command
4032 @samp{maint info breakpoints} (@pxref{maint info breakpoints}).
4033
4034
4035 @node Set Watchpoints
4036 @subsection Setting Watchpoints
4037
4038 @cindex setting watchpoints
4039 You can use a watchpoint to stop execution whenever the value of an
4040 expression changes, without having to predict a particular place where
4041 this may happen. (This is sometimes called a @dfn{data breakpoint}.)
4042 The expression may be as simple as the value of a single variable, or
4043 as complex as many variables combined by operators. Examples include:
4044
4045 @itemize @bullet
4046 @item
4047 A reference to the value of a single variable.
4048
4049 @item
4050 An address cast to an appropriate data type. For example,
4051 @samp{*(int *)0x12345678} will watch a 4-byte region at the specified
4052 address (assuming an @code{int} occupies 4 bytes).
4053
4054 @item
4055 An arbitrarily complex expression, such as @samp{a*b + c/d}. The
4056 expression can use any operators valid in the program's native
4057 language (@pxref{Languages}).
4058 @end itemize
4059
4060 You can set a watchpoint on an expression even if the expression can
4061 not be evaluated yet. For instance, you can set a watchpoint on
4062 @samp{*global_ptr} before @samp{global_ptr} is initialized.
4063 @value{GDBN} will stop when your program sets @samp{global_ptr} and
4064 the expression produces a valid value. If the expression becomes
4065 valid in some other way than changing a variable (e.g.@: if the memory
4066 pointed to by @samp{*global_ptr} becomes readable as the result of a
4067 @code{malloc} call), @value{GDBN} may not stop until the next time
4068 the expression changes.
4069
4070 @cindex software watchpoints
4071 @cindex hardware watchpoints
4072 Depending on your system, watchpoints may be implemented in software or
4073 hardware. @value{GDBN} does software watchpointing by single-stepping your
4074 program and testing the variable's value each time, which is hundreds of
4075 times slower than normal execution. (But this may still be worth it, to
4076 catch errors where you have no clue what part of your program is the
4077 culprit.)
4078
4079 On some systems, such as most PowerPC or x86-based targets,
4080 @value{GDBN} includes support for hardware watchpoints, which do not
4081 slow down the running of your program.
4082
4083 @table @code
4084 @kindex watch
4085 @item watch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4086 Set a watchpoint for an expression. @value{GDBN} will break when the
4087 expression @var{expr} is written into by the program and its value
4088 changes. The simplest (and the most popular) use of this command is
4089 to watch the value of a single variable:
4090
4091 @smallexample
4092 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo
4093 @end smallexample
4094
4095 If the command includes a @code{@r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]}}
4096 argument, @value{GDBN} breaks only when the thread identified by
4097 @var{thread-id} changes the value of @var{expr}. If any other threads
4098 change the value of @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} will not break. Note
4099 that watchpoints restricted to a single thread in this way only work
4100 with Hardware Watchpoints.
4101
4102 Ordinarily a watchpoint respects the scope of variables in @var{expr}
4103 (see below). The @code{-location} argument tells @value{GDBN} to
4104 instead watch the memory referred to by @var{expr}. In this case,
4105 @value{GDBN} will evaluate @var{expr}, take the address of the result,
4106 and watch the memory at that address. The type of the result is used
4107 to determine the size of the watched memory. If the expression's
4108 result does not have an address, then @value{GDBN} will print an
4109 error.
4110
4111 The @code{@r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}} argument allows creation
4112 of masked watchpoints, if the current architecture supports this
4113 feature (e.g., PowerPC Embedded architecture, see @ref{PowerPC
4114 Embedded}.) A @dfn{masked watchpoint} specifies a mask in addition
4115 to an address to watch. The mask specifies that some bits of an address
4116 (the bits which are reset in the mask) should be ignored when matching
4117 the address accessed by the inferior against the watchpoint address.
4118 Thus, a masked watchpoint watches many addresses simultaneously---those
4119 addresses whose unmasked bits are identical to the unmasked bits in the
4120 watchpoint address. The @code{mask} argument implies @code{-location}.
4121 Examples:
4122
4123 @smallexample
4124 (@value{GDBP}) watch foo mask 0xffff00ff
4125 (@value{GDBP}) watch *0xdeadbeef mask 0xffffff00
4126 @end smallexample
4127
4128 @kindex rwatch
4129 @item rwatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4130 Set a watchpoint that will break when the value of @var{expr} is read
4131 by the program.
4132
4133 @kindex awatch
4134 @item awatch @r{[}-l@r{|}-location@r{]} @var{expr} @r{[}thread @var{thread-id}@r{]} @r{[}mask @var{maskvalue}@r{]}
4135 Set a watchpoint that will break when @var{expr} is either read from
4136 or written into by the program.
4137
4138 @kindex info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
4139 @item info watchpoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
4140 This command prints a list of watchpoints, using the same format as
4141 @code{info break} (@pxref{Set Breaks}).
4142 @end table
4143
4144 If you watch for a change in a numerically entered address you need to
4145 dereference it, as the address itself is just a constant number which will
4146 never change. @value{GDBN} refuses to create a watchpoint that watches
4147 a never-changing value:
4148
4149 @smallexample
4150 (@value{GDBP}) watch 0x600850
4151 Cannot watch constant value 0x600850.
4152 (@value{GDBP}) watch *(int *) 0x600850
4153 Watchpoint 1: *(int *) 6293584
4154 @end smallexample
4155
4156 @value{GDBN} sets a @dfn{hardware watchpoint} if possible. Hardware
4157 watchpoints execute very quickly, and the debugger reports a change in
4158 value at the exact instruction where the change occurs. If @value{GDBN}
4159 cannot set a hardware watchpoint, it sets a software watchpoint, which
4160 executes more slowly and reports the change in value at the next
4161 @emph{statement}, not the instruction, after the change occurs.
4162
4163 @cindex use only software watchpoints
4164 You can force @value{GDBN} to use only software watchpoints with the
4165 @kbd{set can-use-hw-watchpoints 0} command. With this variable set to
4166 zero, @value{GDBN} will never try to use hardware watchpoints, even if
4167 the underlying system supports them. (Note that hardware-assisted
4168 watchpoints that were set @emph{before} setting
4169 @code{can-use-hw-watchpoints} to zero will still use the hardware
4170 mechanism of watching expression values.)
4171
4172 @table @code
4173 @item set can-use-hw-watchpoints
4174 @kindex set can-use-hw-watchpoints
4175 Set whether or not to use hardware watchpoints.
4176
4177 @item show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4178 @kindex show can-use-hw-watchpoints
4179 Show the current mode of using hardware watchpoints.
4180 @end table
4181
4182 For remote targets, you can restrict the number of hardware
4183 watchpoints @value{GDBN} will use, see @ref{set remote
4184 hardware-breakpoint-limit}.
4185
4186 When you issue the @code{watch} command, @value{GDBN} reports
4187
4188 @smallexample
4189 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: @var{expr}
4190 @end smallexample
4191
4192 @noindent
4193 if it was able to set a hardware watchpoint.
4194
4195 Currently, the @code{awatch} and @code{rwatch} commands can only set
4196 hardware watchpoints, because accesses to data that don't change the
4197 value of the watched expression cannot be detected without examining
4198 every instruction as it is being executed, and @value{GDBN} does not do
4199 that currently. If @value{GDBN} finds that it is unable to set a
4200 hardware breakpoint with the @code{awatch} or @code{rwatch} command, it
4201 will print a message like this:
4202
4203 @smallexample
4204 Expression cannot be implemented with read/access watchpoint.
4205 @end smallexample
4206
4207 Sometimes, @value{GDBN} cannot set a hardware watchpoint because the
4208 data type of the watched expression is wider than what a hardware
4209 watchpoint on the target machine can handle. For example, some systems
4210 can only watch regions that are up to 4 bytes wide; on such systems you
4211 cannot set hardware watchpoints for an expression that yields a
4212 double-precision floating-point number (which is typically 8 bytes
4213 wide). As a work-around, it might be possible to break the large region
4214 into a series of smaller ones and watch them with separate watchpoints.
4215
4216 If you set too many hardware watchpoints, @value{GDBN} might be unable
4217 to insert all of them when you resume the execution of your program.
4218 Since the precise number of active watchpoints is unknown until such
4219 time as the program is about to be resumed, @value{GDBN} might not be
4220 able to warn you about this when you set the watchpoints, and the
4221 warning will be printed only when the program is resumed:
4222
4223 @smallexample
4224 Hardware watchpoint @var{num}: Could not insert watchpoint
4225 @end smallexample
4226
4227 @noindent
4228 If this happens, delete or disable some of the watchpoints.
4229
4230 Watching complex expressions that reference many variables can also
4231 exhaust the resources available for hardware-assisted watchpoints.
4232 That's because @value{GDBN} needs to watch every variable in the
4233 expression with separately allocated resources.
4234
4235 If you call a function interactively using @code{print} or @code{call},
4236 any watchpoints you have set will be inactive until @value{GDBN} reaches another
4237 kind of breakpoint or the call completes.
4238
4239 @value{GDBN} automatically deletes watchpoints that watch local
4240 (automatic) variables, or expressions that involve such variables, when
4241 they go out of scope, that is, when the execution leaves the block in
4242 which these variables were defined. In particular, when the program
4243 being debugged terminates, @emph{all} local variables go out of scope,
4244 and so only watchpoints that watch global variables remain set. If you
4245 rerun the program, you will need to set all such watchpoints again. One
4246 way of doing that would be to set a code breakpoint at the entry to the
4247 @code{main} function and when it breaks, set all the watchpoints.
4248
4249 @cindex watchpoints and threads
4250 @cindex threads and watchpoints
4251 In multi-threaded programs, watchpoints will detect changes to the
4252 watched expression from every thread.
4253
4254 @quotation
4255 @emph{Warning:} In multi-threaded programs, software watchpoints
4256 have only limited usefulness. If @value{GDBN} creates a software
4257 watchpoint, it can only watch the value of an expression @emph{in a
4258 single thread}. If you are confident that the expression can only
4259 change due to the current thread's activity (and if you are also
4260 confident that no other thread can become current), then you can use
4261 software watchpoints as usual. However, @value{GDBN} may not notice
4262 when a non-current thread's activity changes the expression. (Hardware
4263 watchpoints, in contrast, watch an expression in all threads.)
4264 @end quotation
4265
4266 @xref{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}.
4267
4268 @node Set Catchpoints
4269 @subsection Setting Catchpoints
4270 @cindex catchpoints, setting
4271 @cindex exception handlers
4272 @cindex event handling
4273
4274 You can use @dfn{catchpoints} to cause the debugger to stop for certain
4275 kinds of program events, such as C@t{++} exceptions or the loading of a
4276 shared library. Use the @code{catch} command to set a catchpoint.
4277
4278 @table @code
4279 @kindex catch
4280 @item catch @var{event}
4281 Stop when @var{event} occurs. The @var{event} can be any of the following:
4282
4283 @table @code
4284 @item throw @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4285 @itemx rethrow @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4286 @itemx catch @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
4287 @kindex catch throw
4288 @kindex catch rethrow
4289 @kindex catch catch
4290 @cindex stop on C@t{++} exceptions
4291 The throwing, re-throwing, or catching of a C@t{++} exception.
4292
4293 If @var{regexp} is given, then only exceptions whose type matches the
4294 regular expression will be caught.
4295
4296 @vindex $_exception@r{, convenience variable}
4297 The convenience variable @code{$_exception} is available at an
4298 exception-related catchpoint, on some systems. This holds the
4299 exception being thrown.
4300
4301 There are currently some limitations to C@t{++} exception handling in
4302 @value{GDBN}:
4303
4304 @itemize @bullet
4305 @item
4306 The support for these commands is system-dependent. Currently, only
4307 systems using the @samp{gnu-v3} C@t{++} ABI (@pxref{ABI}) are
4308 supported.
4309
4310 @item
4311 The regular expression feature and the @code{$_exception} convenience
4312 variable rely on the presence of some SDT probes in @code{libstdc++}.
4313 If these probes are not present, then these features cannot be used.
4314 These probes were first available in the GCC 4.8 release, but whether
4315 or not they are available in your GCC also depends on how it was
4316 built.
4317
4318 @item
4319 The @code{$_exception} convenience variable is only valid at the
4320 instruction at which an exception-related catchpoint is set.
4321
4322 @item
4323 When an exception-related catchpoint is hit, @value{GDBN} stops at a
4324 location in the system library which implements runtime exception
4325 support for C@t{++}, usually @code{libstdc++}. You can use @code{up}
4326 (@pxref{Selection}) to get to your code.
4327
4328 @item
4329 If you call a function interactively, @value{GDBN} normally returns
4330 control to you when the function has finished executing. If the call
4331 raises an exception, however, the call may bypass the mechanism that
4332 returns control to you and cause your program either to abort or to
4333 simply continue running until it hits a breakpoint, catches a signal
4334 that @value{GDBN} is listening for, or exits. This is the case even if
4335 you set a catchpoint for the exception; catchpoints on exceptions are
4336 disabled within interactive calls. @xref{Calling}, for information on
4337 controlling this with @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception}.
4338
4339 @item
4340 You cannot raise an exception interactively.
4341
4342 @item
4343 You cannot install an exception handler interactively.
4344 @end itemize
4345
4346 @item exception
4347 @kindex catch exception
4348 @cindex Ada exception catching
4349 @cindex catch Ada exceptions
4350 An Ada exception being raised. If an exception name is specified
4351 at the end of the command (eg @code{catch exception Program_Error}),
4352 the debugger will stop only when this specific exception is raised.
4353 Otherwise, the debugger stops execution when any Ada exception is raised.
4354
4355 When inserting an exception catchpoint on a user-defined exception whose
4356 name is identical to one of the exceptions defined by the language, the
4357 fully qualified name must be used as the exception name. Otherwise,
4358 @value{GDBN} will assume that it should stop on the pre-defined exception
4359 rather than the user-defined one. For instance, assuming an exception
4360 called @code{Constraint_Error} is defined in package @code{Pck}, then
4361 the command to use to catch such exceptions is @kbd{catch exception
4362 Pck.Constraint_Error}.
4363
4364 @item exception unhandled
4365 @kindex catch exception unhandled
4366 An exception that was raised but is not handled by the program.
4367
4368 @item assert
4369 @kindex catch assert
4370 A failed Ada assertion.
4371
4372 @item exec
4373 @kindex catch exec
4374 @cindex break on fork/exec
4375 A call to @code{exec}.
4376
4377 @item syscall
4378 @itemx syscall @r{[}@var{name} @r{|} @var{number}@r{]} @dots{}
4379 @kindex catch syscall
4380 @cindex break on a system call.
4381 A call to or return from a system call, a.k.a.@: @dfn{syscall}. A
4382 syscall is a mechanism for application programs to request a service
4383 from the operating system (OS) or one of the OS system services.
4384 @value{GDBN} can catch some or all of the syscalls issued by the
4385 debuggee, and show the related information for each syscall. If no
4386 argument is specified, calls to and returns from all system calls
4387 will be caught.
4388
4389 @var{name} can be any system call name that is valid for the
4390 underlying OS. Just what syscalls are valid depends on the OS. On
4391 GNU and Unix systems, you can find the full list of valid syscall
4392 names on @file{/usr/include/asm/unistd.h}.
4393
4394 @c For MS-Windows, the syscall names and the corresponding numbers
4395 @c can be found, e.g., on this URL:
4396 @c http://www.metasploit.com/users/opcode/syscalls.html
4397 @c but we don't support Windows syscalls yet.
4398
4399 Normally, @value{GDBN} knows in advance which syscalls are valid for
4400 each OS, so you can use the @value{GDBN} command-line completion
4401 facilities (@pxref{Completion,, command completion}) to list the
4402 available choices.
4403
4404 You may also specify the system call numerically. A syscall's
4405 number is the value passed to the OS's syscall dispatcher to
4406 identify the requested service. When you specify the syscall by its
4407 name, @value{GDBN} uses its database of syscalls to convert the name
4408 into the corresponding numeric code, but using the number directly
4409 may be useful if @value{GDBN}'s database does not have the complete
4410 list of syscalls on your system (e.g., because @value{GDBN} lags
4411 behind the OS upgrades).
4412
4413 The example below illustrates how this command works if you don't provide
4414 arguments to it:
4415
4416 @smallexample
4417 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4418 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4419 (@value{GDBP}) r
4420 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4421
4422 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'close'), \
4423 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4424 (@value{GDBP}) c
4425 Continuing.
4426
4427 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'close'), \
4428 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4429 (@value{GDBP})
4430 @end smallexample
4431
4432 Here is an example of catching a system call by name:
4433
4434 @smallexample
4435 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall chroot
4436 Catchpoint 1 (syscall 'chroot' [61])
4437 (@value{GDBP}) r
4438 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4439
4440 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'chroot'), \
4441 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4442 (@value{GDBP}) c
4443 Continuing.
4444
4445 Catchpoint 1 (returned from syscall 'chroot'), \
4446 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4447 (@value{GDBP})
4448 @end smallexample
4449
4450 An example of specifying a system call numerically. In the case
4451 below, the syscall number has a corresponding entry in the XML
4452 file, so @value{GDBN} finds its name and prints it:
4453
4454 @smallexample
4455 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4456 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 'exit_group')
4457 (@value{GDBP}) r
4458 Starting program: /tmp/catch-syscall
4459
4460 Catchpoint 1 (call to syscall 'exit_group'), \
4461 0xffffe424 in __kernel_vsyscall ()
4462 (@value{GDBP}) c
4463 Continuing.
4464
4465 Program exited normally.
4466 (@value{GDBP})
4467 @end smallexample
4468
4469 However, there can be situations when there is no corresponding name
4470 in XML file for that syscall number. In this case, @value{GDBN} prints
4471 a warning message saying that it was not able to find the syscall name,
4472 but the catchpoint will be set anyway. See the example below:
4473
4474 @smallexample
4475 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 764
4476 warning: The number '764' does not represent a known syscall.
4477 Catchpoint 2 (syscall 764)
4478 (@value{GDBP})
4479 @end smallexample
4480
4481 If you configure @value{GDBN} using the @samp{--without-expat} option,
4482 it will not be able to display syscall names. Also, if your
4483 architecture does not have an XML file describing its system calls,
4484 you will not be able to see the syscall names. It is important to
4485 notice that these two features are used for accessing the syscall
4486 name database. In either case, you will see a warning like this:
4487
4488 @smallexample
4489 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall
4490 warning: Could not open "syscalls/i386-linux.xml"
4491 warning: Could not load the syscall XML file 'syscalls/i386-linux.xml'.
4492 GDB will not be able to display syscall names.
4493 Catchpoint 1 (syscall)
4494 (@value{GDBP})
4495 @end smallexample
4496
4497 Of course, the file name will change depending on your architecture and system.
4498
4499 Still using the example above, you can also try to catch a syscall by its
4500 number. In this case, you would see something like:
4501
4502 @smallexample
4503 (@value{GDBP}) catch syscall 252
4504 Catchpoint 1 (syscall(s) 252)
4505 @end smallexample
4506
4507 Again, in this case @value{GDBN} would not be able to display syscall's names.
4508
4509 @item fork
4510 @kindex catch fork
4511 A call to @code{fork}.
4512
4513 @item vfork
4514 @kindex catch vfork
4515 A call to @code{vfork}.
4516
4517 @item load @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4518 @itemx unload @r{[}regexp@r{]}
4519 @kindex catch load
4520 @kindex catch unload
4521 The loading or unloading of a shared library. If @var{regexp} is
4522 given, then the catchpoint will stop only if the regular expression
4523 matches one of the affected libraries.
4524
4525 @item signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
4526 @kindex catch signal
4527 The delivery of a signal.
4528
4529 With no arguments, this catchpoint will catch any signal that is not
4530 used internally by @value{GDBN}, specifically, all signals except
4531 @samp{SIGTRAP} and @samp{SIGINT}.
4532
4533 With the argument @samp{all}, all signals, including those used by
4534 @value{GDBN}, will be caught. This argument cannot be used with other
4535 signal names.
4536
4537 Otherwise, the arguments are a list of signal names as given to
4538 @code{handle} (@pxref{Signals}). Only signals specified in this list
4539 will be caught.
4540
4541 One reason that @code{catch signal} can be more useful than
4542 @code{handle} is that you can attach commands and conditions to the
4543 catchpoint.
4544
4545 When a signal is caught by a catchpoint, the signal's @code{stop} and
4546 @code{print} settings, as specified by @code{handle}, are ignored.
4547 However, whether the signal is still delivered to the inferior depends
4548 on the @code{pass} setting; this can be changed in the catchpoint's
4549 commands.
4550
4551 @end table
4552
4553 @item tcatch @var{event}
4554 @kindex tcatch
4555 Set a catchpoint that is enabled only for one stop. The catchpoint is
4556 automatically deleted after the first time the event is caught.
4557
4558 @end table
4559
4560 Use the @code{info break} command to list the current catchpoints.
4561
4562
4563 @node Delete Breaks
4564 @subsection Deleting Breakpoints
4565
4566 @cindex clearing breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4567 @cindex deleting breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints
4568 It is often necessary to eliminate a breakpoint, watchpoint, or
4569 catchpoint once it has done its job and you no longer want your program
4570 to stop there. This is called @dfn{deleting} the breakpoint. A
4571 breakpoint that has been deleted no longer exists; it is forgotten.
4572
4573 With the @code{clear} command you can delete breakpoints according to
4574 where they are in your program. With the @code{delete} command you can
4575 delete individual breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints by specifying
4576 their breakpoint numbers.
4577
4578 It is not necessary to delete a breakpoint to proceed past it. @value{GDBN}
4579 automatically ignores breakpoints on the first instruction to be executed
4580 when you continue execution without changing the execution address.
4581
4582 @table @code
4583 @kindex clear
4584 @item clear
4585 Delete any breakpoints at the next instruction to be executed in the
4586 selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). When
4587 the innermost frame is selected, this is a good way to delete a
4588 breakpoint where your program just stopped.
4589
4590 @item clear @var{location}
4591 Delete any breakpoints set at the specified @var{location}.
4592 @xref{Specify Location}, for the various forms of @var{location}; the
4593 most useful ones are listed below:
4594
4595 @table @code
4596 @item clear @var{function}
4597 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{function}
4598 Delete any breakpoints set at entry to the named @var{function}.
4599
4600 @item clear @var{linenum}
4601 @itemx clear @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
4602 Delete any breakpoints set at or within the code of the specified
4603 @var{linenum} of the specified @var{filename}.
4604 @end table
4605
4606 @cindex delete breakpoints
4607 @kindex delete
4608 @kindex d @r{(@code{delete})}
4609 @item delete @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4610 Delete the breakpoints, watchpoints, or catchpoints of the breakpoint
4611 ranges specified as arguments. If no argument is specified, delete all
4612 breakpoints (@value{GDBN} asks confirmation, unless you have @code{set
4613 confirm off}). You can abbreviate this command as @code{d}.
4614 @end table
4615
4616 @node Disabling
4617 @subsection Disabling Breakpoints
4618
4619 @cindex enable/disable a breakpoint
4620 Rather than deleting a breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint, you might
4621 prefer to @dfn{disable} it. This makes the breakpoint inoperative as if
4622 it had been deleted, but remembers the information on the breakpoint so
4623 that you can @dfn{enable} it again later.
4624
4625 You disable and enable breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints with
4626 the @code{enable} and @code{disable} commands, optionally specifying
4627 one or more breakpoint numbers as arguments. Use @code{info break} to
4628 print a list of all breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints if you
4629 do not know which numbers to use.
4630
4631 Disabling and enabling a breakpoint that has multiple locations
4632 affects all of its locations.
4633
4634 A breakpoint, watchpoint, or catchpoint can have any of several
4635 different states of enablement:
4636
4637 @itemize @bullet
4638 @item
4639 Enabled. The breakpoint stops your program. A breakpoint set
4640 with the @code{break} command starts out in this state.
4641 @item
4642 Disabled. The breakpoint has no effect on your program.
4643 @item
4644 Enabled once. The breakpoint stops your program, but then becomes
4645 disabled.
4646 @item
4647 Enabled for a count. The breakpoint stops your program for the next
4648 N times, then becomes disabled.
4649 @item
4650 Enabled for deletion. The breakpoint stops your program, but
4651 immediately after it does so it is deleted permanently. A breakpoint
4652 set with the @code{tbreak} command starts out in this state.
4653 @end itemize
4654
4655 You can use the following commands to enable or disable breakpoints,
4656 watchpoints, and catchpoints:
4657
4658 @table @code
4659 @kindex disable
4660 @kindex dis @r{(@code{disable})}
4661 @item disable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4662 Disable the specified breakpoints---or all breakpoints, if none are
4663 listed. A disabled breakpoint has no effect but is not forgotten. All
4664 options such as ignore-counts, conditions and commands are remembered in
4665 case the breakpoint is enabled again later. You may abbreviate
4666 @code{disable} as @code{dis}.
4667
4668 @kindex enable
4669 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4670 Enable the specified breakpoints (or all defined breakpoints). They
4671 become effective once again in stopping your program.
4672
4673 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} once @var{range}@dots{}
4674 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} disables any
4675 of these breakpoints immediately after stopping your program.
4676
4677 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} count @var{count} @var{range}@dots{}
4678 Enable the specified breakpoints temporarily. @value{GDBN} records
4679 @var{count} with each of the specified breakpoints, and decrements a
4680 breakpoint's count when it is hit. When any count reaches 0,
4681 @value{GDBN} disables that breakpoint. If a breakpoint has an ignore
4682 count (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}), that will be
4683 decremented to 0 before @var{count} is affected.
4684
4685 @item enable @r{[}breakpoints@r{]} delete @var{range}@dots{}
4686 Enable the specified breakpoints to work once, then die. @value{GDBN}
4687 deletes any of these breakpoints as soon as your program stops there.
4688 Breakpoints set by the @code{tbreak} command start out in this state.
4689 @end table
4690
4691 @c FIXME: I think the following ``Except for [...] @code{tbreak}'' is
4692 @c confusing: tbreak is also initially enabled.
4693 Except for a breakpoint set with @code{tbreak} (@pxref{Set Breaks,
4694 ,Setting Breakpoints}), breakpoints that you set are initially enabled;
4695 subsequently, they become disabled or enabled only when you use one of
4696 the commands above. (The command @code{until} can set and delete a
4697 breakpoint of its own, but it does not change the state of your other
4698 breakpoints; see @ref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and
4699 Stepping}.)
4700
4701 @node Conditions
4702 @subsection Break Conditions
4703 @cindex conditional breakpoints
4704 @cindex breakpoint conditions
4705
4706 @c FIXME what is scope of break condition expr? Context where wanted?
4707 @c in particular for a watchpoint?
4708 The simplest sort of breakpoint breaks every time your program reaches a
4709 specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for a
4710 breakpoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
4711 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A breakpoint with
4712 a condition evaluates the expression each time your program reaches it,
4713 and your program stops only if the condition is @emph{true}.
4714
4715 This is the converse of using assertions for program validation; in that
4716 situation, you want to stop when the assertion is violated---that is,
4717 when the condition is false. In C, if you want to test an assertion expressed
4718 by the condition @var{assert}, you should set the condition
4719 @samp{! @var{assert}} on the appropriate breakpoint.
4720
4721 Conditions are also accepted for watchpoints; you may not need them,
4722 since a watchpoint is inspecting the value of an expression anyhow---but
4723 it might be simpler, say, to just set a watchpoint on a variable name,
4724 and specify a condition that tests whether the new value is an interesting
4725 one.
4726
4727 Break conditions can have side effects, and may even call functions in
4728 your program. This can be useful, for example, to activate functions
4729 that log program progress, or to use your own print functions to
4730 format special data structures. The effects are completely predictable
4731 unless there is another enabled breakpoint at the same address. (In
4732 that case, @value{GDBN} might see the other breakpoint first and stop your
4733 program without checking the condition of this one.) Note that
4734 breakpoint commands are usually more convenient and flexible than break
4735 conditions for the
4736 purpose of performing side effects when a breakpoint is reached
4737 (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}).
4738
4739 Breakpoint conditions can also be evaluated on the target's side if
4740 the target supports it. Instead of evaluating the conditions locally,
4741 @value{GDBN} encodes the expression into an agent expression
4742 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) suitable for execution on the target,
4743 independently of @value{GDBN}. Global variables become raw memory
4744 locations, locals become stack accesses, and so forth.
4745
4746 In this case, @value{GDBN} will only be notified of a breakpoint trigger
4747 when its condition evaluates to true. This mechanism may provide faster
4748 response times depending on the performance characteristics of the target
4749 since it does not need to keep @value{GDBN} informed about
4750 every breakpoint trigger, even those with false conditions.
4751
4752 Break conditions can be specified when a breakpoint is set, by using
4753 @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{break} command. @xref{Set
4754 Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}. They can also be changed at any time
4755 with the @code{condition} command.
4756
4757 You can also use the @code{if} keyword with the @code{watch} command.
4758 The @code{catch} command does not recognize the @code{if} keyword;
4759 @code{condition} is the only way to impose a further condition on a
4760 catchpoint.
4761
4762 @table @code
4763 @kindex condition
4764 @item condition @var{bnum} @var{expression}
4765 Specify @var{expression} as the break condition for breakpoint,
4766 watchpoint, or catchpoint number @var{bnum}. After you set a condition,
4767 breakpoint @var{bnum} stops your program only if the value of
4768 @var{expression} is true (nonzero, in C). When you use
4769 @code{condition}, @value{GDBN} checks @var{expression} immediately for
4770 syntactic correctness, and to determine whether symbols in it have
4771 referents in the context of your breakpoint. If @var{expression} uses
4772 symbols not referenced in the context of the breakpoint, @value{GDBN}
4773 prints an error message:
4774
4775 @smallexample
4776 No symbol "foo" in current context.
4777 @end smallexample
4778
4779 @noindent
4780 @value{GDBN} does
4781 not actually evaluate @var{expression} at the time the @code{condition}
4782 command (or a command that sets a breakpoint with a condition, like
4783 @code{break if @dots{}}) is given, however. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
4784
4785 @item condition @var{bnum}
4786 Remove the condition from breakpoint number @var{bnum}. It becomes
4787 an ordinary unconditional breakpoint.
4788 @end table
4789
4790 @cindex ignore count (of breakpoint)
4791 A special case of a breakpoint condition is to stop only when the
4792 breakpoint has been reached a certain number of times. This is so
4793 useful that there is a special way to do it, using the @dfn{ignore
4794 count} of the breakpoint. Every breakpoint has an ignore count, which
4795 is an integer. Most of the time, the ignore count is zero, and
4796 therefore has no effect. But if your program reaches a breakpoint whose
4797 ignore count is positive, then instead of stopping, it just decrements
4798 the ignore count by one and continues. As a result, if the ignore count
4799 value is @var{n}, the breakpoint does not stop the next @var{n} times
4800 your program reaches it.
4801
4802 @table @code
4803 @kindex ignore
4804 @item ignore @var{bnum} @var{count}
4805 Set the ignore count of breakpoint number @var{bnum} to @var{count}.
4806 The next @var{count} times the breakpoint is reached, your program's
4807 execution does not stop; other than to decrement the ignore count, @value{GDBN}
4808 takes no action.
4809
4810 To make the breakpoint stop the next time it is reached, specify
4811 a count of zero.
4812
4813 When you use @code{continue} to resume execution of your program from a
4814 breakpoint, you can specify an ignore count directly as an argument to
4815 @code{continue}, rather than using @code{ignore}. @xref{Continuing and
4816 Stepping,,Continuing and Stepping}.
4817
4818 If a breakpoint has a positive ignore count and a condition, the
4819 condition is not checked. Once the ignore count reaches zero,
4820 @value{GDBN} resumes checking the condition.
4821
4822 You could achieve the effect of the ignore count with a condition such
4823 as @w{@samp{$foo-- <= 0}} using a debugger convenience variable that
4824 is decremented each time. @xref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
4825 Variables}.
4826 @end table
4827
4828 Ignore counts apply to breakpoints, watchpoints, and catchpoints.
4829
4830
4831 @node Break Commands
4832 @subsection Breakpoint Command Lists
4833
4834 @cindex breakpoint commands
4835 You can give any breakpoint (or watchpoint or catchpoint) a series of
4836 commands to execute when your program stops due to that breakpoint. For
4837 example, you might want to print the values of certain expressions, or
4838 enable other breakpoints.
4839
4840 @table @code
4841 @kindex commands
4842 @kindex end@r{ (breakpoint commands)}
4843 @item commands @r{[}@var{range}@dots{}@r{]}
4844 @itemx @dots{} @var{command-list} @dots{}
4845 @itemx end
4846 Specify a list of commands for the given breakpoints. The commands
4847 themselves appear on the following lines. Type a line containing just
4848 @code{end} to terminate the commands.
4849
4850 To remove all commands from a breakpoint, type @code{commands} and
4851 follow it immediately with @code{end}; that is, give no commands.
4852
4853 With no argument, @code{commands} refers to the last breakpoint,
4854 watchpoint, or catchpoint set (not to the breakpoint most recently
4855 encountered). If the most recent breakpoints were set with a single
4856 command, then the @code{commands} will apply to all the breakpoints
4857 set by that command. This applies to breakpoints set by
4858 @code{rbreak}, and also applies when a single @code{break} command
4859 creates multiple breakpoints (@pxref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous
4860 Expressions}).
4861 @end table
4862
4863 Pressing @key{RET} as a means of repeating the last @value{GDBN} command is
4864 disabled within a @var{command-list}.
4865
4866 You can use breakpoint commands to start your program up again. Simply
4867 use the @code{continue} command, or @code{step}, or any other command
4868 that resumes execution.
4869
4870 Any other commands in the command list, after a command that resumes
4871 execution, are ignored. This is because any time you resume execution
4872 (even with a simple @code{next} or @code{step}), you may encounter
4873 another breakpoint---which could have its own command list, leading to
4874 ambiguities about which list to execute.
4875
4876 @kindex silent
4877 If the first command you specify in a command list is @code{silent}, the
4878 usual message about stopping at a breakpoint is not printed. This may
4879 be desirable for breakpoints that are to print a specific message and
4880 then continue. If none of the remaining commands print anything, you
4881 see no sign that the breakpoint was reached. @code{silent} is
4882 meaningful only at the beginning of a breakpoint command list.
4883
4884 The commands @code{echo}, @code{output}, and @code{printf} allow you to
4885 print precisely controlled output, and are often useful in silent
4886 breakpoints. @xref{Output, ,Commands for Controlled Output}.
4887
4888 For example, here is how you could use breakpoint commands to print the
4889 value of @code{x} at entry to @code{foo} whenever @code{x} is positive.
4890
4891 @smallexample
4892 break foo if x>0
4893 commands
4894 silent
4895 printf "x is %d\n",x
4896 cont
4897 end
4898 @end smallexample
4899
4900 One application for breakpoint commands is to compensate for one bug so
4901 you can test for another. Put a breakpoint just after the erroneous line
4902 of code, give it a condition to detect the case in which something
4903 erroneous has been done, and give it commands to assign correct values
4904 to any variables that need them. End with the @code{continue} command
4905 so that your program does not stop, and start with the @code{silent}
4906 command so that no output is produced. Here is an example:
4907
4908 @smallexample
4909 break 403
4910 commands
4911 silent
4912 set x = y + 4
4913 cont
4914 end
4915 @end smallexample
4916
4917 @node Dynamic Printf
4918 @subsection Dynamic Printf
4919
4920 @cindex dynamic printf
4921 @cindex dprintf
4922 The dynamic printf command @code{dprintf} combines a breakpoint with
4923 formatted printing of your program's data to give you the effect of
4924 inserting @code{printf} calls into your program on-the-fly, without
4925 having to recompile it.
4926
4927 In its most basic form, the output goes to the GDB console. However,
4928 you can set the variable @code{dprintf-style} for alternate handling.
4929 For instance, you can ask to format the output by calling your
4930 program's @code{printf} function. This has the advantage that the
4931 characters go to the program's output device, so they can recorded in
4932 redirects to files and so forth.
4933
4934 If you are doing remote debugging with a stub or agent, you can also
4935 ask to have the printf handled by the remote agent. In addition to
4936 ensuring that the output goes to the remote program's device along
4937 with any other output the program might produce, you can also ask that
4938 the dprintf remain active even after disconnecting from the remote
4939 target. Using the stub/agent is also more efficient, as it can do
4940 everything without needing to communicate with @value{GDBN}.
4941
4942 @table @code
4943 @kindex dprintf
4944 @item dprintf @var{location},@var{template},@var{expression}[,@var{expression}@dots{}]
4945 Whenever execution reaches @var{location}, print the values of one or
4946 more @var{expressions} under the control of the string @var{template}.
4947 To print several values, separate them with commas.
4948
4949 @item set dprintf-style @var{style}
4950 Set the dprintf output to be handled in one of several different
4951 styles enumerated below. A change of style affects all existing
4952 dynamic printfs immediately. (If you need individual control over the
4953 print commands, simply define normal breakpoints with
4954 explicitly-supplied command lists.)
4955
4956 @item gdb
4957 @kindex dprintf-style gdb
4958 Handle the output using the @value{GDBN} @code{printf} command.
4959
4960 @item call
4961 @kindex dprintf-style call
4962 Handle the output by calling a function in your program (normally
4963 @code{printf}).
4964
4965 @item agent
4966 @kindex dprintf-style agent
4967 Have the remote debugging agent (such as @code{gdbserver}) handle
4968 the output itself. This style is only available for agents that
4969 support running commands on the target.
4970
4971 @item set dprintf-function @var{function}
4972 Set the function to call if the dprintf style is @code{call}. By
4973 default its value is @code{printf}. You may set it to any expression.
4974 that @value{GDBN} can evaluate to a function, as per the @code{call}
4975 command.
4976
4977 @item set dprintf-channel @var{channel}
4978 Set a ``channel'' for dprintf. If set to a non-empty value,
4979 @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as an expression and pass the result as
4980 a first argument to the @code{dprintf-function}, in the manner of
4981 @code{fprintf} and similar functions. Otherwise, the dprintf format
4982 string will be the first argument, in the manner of @code{printf}.
4983
4984 As an example, if you wanted @code{dprintf} output to go to a logfile
4985 that is a standard I/O stream assigned to the variable @code{mylog},
4986 you could do the following:
4987
4988 @example
4989 (gdb) set dprintf-style call
4990 (gdb) set dprintf-function fprintf
4991 (gdb) set dprintf-channel mylog
4992 (gdb) dprintf 25,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob
4993 Dprintf 1 at 0x123456: file main.c, line 25.
4994 (gdb) info break
4995 1 dprintf keep y 0x00123456 in main at main.c:25
4996 call (void) fprintf (mylog,"at line 25, glob=%d\n",glob)
4997 continue
4998 (gdb)
4999 @end example
5000
5001 Note that the @code{info break} displays the dynamic printf commands
5002 as normal breakpoint commands; you can thus easily see the effect of
5003 the variable settings.
5004
5005 @item set disconnected-dprintf on
5006 @itemx set disconnected-dprintf off
5007 @kindex set disconnected-dprintf
5008 Choose whether @code{dprintf} commands should continue to run if
5009 @value{GDBN} has disconnected from the target. This only applies
5010 if the @code{dprintf-style} is @code{agent}.
5011
5012 @item show disconnected-dprintf off
5013 @kindex show disconnected-dprintf
5014 Show the current choice for disconnected @code{dprintf}.
5015
5016 @end table
5017
5018 @value{GDBN} does not check the validity of function and channel,
5019 relying on you to supply values that are meaningful for the contexts
5020 in which they are being used. For instance, the function and channel
5021 may be the values of local variables, but if that is the case, then
5022 all enabled dynamic prints must be at locations within the scope of
5023 those locals. If evaluation fails, @value{GDBN} will report an error.
5024
5025 @node Save Breakpoints
5026 @subsection How to save breakpoints to a file
5027
5028 To save breakpoint definitions to a file use the @w{@code{save
5029 breakpoints}} command.
5030
5031 @table @code
5032 @kindex save breakpoints
5033 @cindex save breakpoints to a file for future sessions
5034 @item save breakpoints [@var{filename}]
5035 This command saves all current breakpoint definitions together with
5036 their commands and ignore counts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
5037 suitable for use in a later debugging session. This includes all
5038 types of breakpoints (breakpoints, watchpoints, catchpoints,
5039 tracepoints). To read the saved breakpoint definitions, use the
5040 @code{source} command (@pxref{Command Files}). Note that watchpoints
5041 with expressions involving local variables may fail to be recreated
5042 because it may not be possible to access the context where the
5043 watchpoint is valid anymore. Because the saved breakpoint definitions
5044 are simply a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands that recreate the
5045 breakpoints, you can edit the file in your favorite editing program,
5046 and remove the breakpoint definitions you're not interested in, or
5047 that can no longer be recreated.
5048 @end table
5049
5050 @node Static Probe Points
5051 @subsection Static Probe Points
5052
5053 @cindex static probe point, SystemTap
5054 @cindex static probe point, DTrace
5055 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{SDT} probes in the code. @acronym{SDT} stands
5056 for Statically Defined Tracing, and the probes are designed to have a tiny
5057 runtime code and data footprint, and no dynamic relocations.
5058
5059 Currently, the following types of probes are supported on
5060 ELF-compatible systems:
5061
5062 @itemize @bullet
5063
5064 @item @code{SystemTap} (@uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/})
5065 @acronym{SDT} probes@footnote{See
5066 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/AddingUserSpaceProbingToApps}
5067 for more information on how to add @code{SystemTap} @acronym{SDT}
5068 probes in your applications.}. @code{SystemTap} probes are usable
5069 from assembly, C and C@t{++} languages@footnote{See
5070 @uref{http://sourceware.org/systemtap/wiki/UserSpaceProbeImplementation}
5071 for a good reference on how the @acronym{SDT} probes are implemented.}.
5072
5073 @item @code{DTrace} (@uref{http://oss.oracle.com/projects/DTrace})
5074 @acronym{USDT} probes. @code{DTrace} probes are usable from C and
5075 C@t{++} languages.
5076 @end itemize
5077
5078 @cindex semaphores on static probe points
5079 Some @code{SystemTap} probes have an associated semaphore variable;
5080 for instance, this happens automatically if you defined your probe
5081 using a DTrace-style @file{.d} file. If your probe has a semaphore,
5082 @value{GDBN} will automatically enable it when you specify a
5083 breakpoint using the @samp{-probe-stap} notation. But, if you put a
5084 breakpoint at a probe's location by some other method (e.g.,
5085 @code{break file:line}), then @value{GDBN} will not automatically set
5086 the semaphore. @code{DTrace} probes do not support semaphores.
5087
5088 You can examine the available static static probes using @code{info
5089 probes}, with optional arguments:
5090
5091 @table @code
5092 @kindex info probes
5093 @item info probes @r{[}@var{type}@r{]} @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
5094 If given, @var{type} is either @code{stap} for listing
5095 @code{SystemTap} probes or @code{dtrace} for listing @code{DTrace}
5096 probes. If omitted all probes are listed regardless of their types.
5097
5098 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against provider
5099 names when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probes by all
5100 probes from all providers are listed.
5101
5102 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe names
5103 when selecting which probes to list. If omitted, probe names are not
5104 considered when deciding whether to display them.
5105
5106 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
5107 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
5108 given, all object files are considered.
5109
5110 @item info probes all
5111 List the available static probes, from all types.
5112 @end table
5113
5114 @cindex enabling and disabling probes
5115 Some probe points can be enabled and/or disabled. The effect of
5116 enabling or disabling a probe depends on the type of probe being
5117 handled. Some @code{DTrace} probes can be enabled or
5118 disabled, but @code{SystemTap} probes cannot be disabled.
5119
5120 You can enable (or disable) one or more probes using the following
5121 commands, with optional arguments:
5122
5123 @table @code
5124 @kindex enable probes
5125 @item enable probes @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
5126 If given, @var{provider} is a regular expression used to match against
5127 provider names when selecting which probes to enable. If omitted,
5128 all probes from all providers are enabled.
5129
5130 If given, @var{name} is a regular expression to match against probe
5131 names when selecting which probes to enable. If omitted, probe names
5132 are not considered when deciding whether to enable them.
5133
5134 If given, @var{objfile} is a regular expression used to select which
5135 object files (executable or shared libraries) to examine. If not
5136 given, all object files are considered.
5137
5138 @kindex disable probes
5139 @item disable probes @r{[}@var{provider} @r{[}@var{name} @r{[}@var{objfile}@r{]}@r{]}@r{]}
5140 See the @code{enable probes} command above for a description of the
5141 optional arguments accepted by this command.
5142 @end table
5143
5144 @vindex $_probe_arg@r{, convenience variable}
5145 A probe may specify up to twelve arguments. These are available at the
5146 point at which the probe is defined---that is, when the current PC is
5147 at the probe's location. The arguments are available using the
5148 convenience variables (@pxref{Convenience Vars})
5149 @code{$_probe_arg0}@dots{}@code{$_probe_arg11}. In @code{SystemTap}
5150 probes each probe argument is an integer of the appropriate size;
5151 types are not preserved. In @code{DTrace} probes types are preserved
5152 provided that they are recognized as such by @value{GDBN}; otherwise
5153 the value of the probe argument will be a long integer. The
5154 convenience variable @code{$_probe_argc} holds the number of arguments
5155 at the current probe point.
5156
5157 These variables are always available, but attempts to access them at
5158 any location other than a probe point will cause @value{GDBN} to give
5159 an error message.
5160
5161
5162 @c @ifclear BARETARGET
5163 @node Error in Breakpoints
5164 @subsection ``Cannot insert breakpoints''
5165
5166 If you request too many active hardware-assisted breakpoints and
5167 watchpoints, you will see this error message:
5168
5169 @c FIXME: the precise wording of this message may change; the relevant
5170 @c source change is not committed yet (Sep 3, 1999).
5171 @smallexample
5172 Stopped; cannot insert breakpoints.
5173 You may have requested too many hardware breakpoints and watchpoints.
5174 @end smallexample
5175
5176 @noindent
5177 This message is printed when you attempt to resume the program, since
5178 only then @value{GDBN} knows exactly how many hardware breakpoints and
5179 watchpoints it needs to insert.
5180
5181 When this message is printed, you need to disable or remove some of the
5182 hardware-assisted breakpoints and watchpoints, and then continue.
5183
5184 @node Breakpoint-related Warnings
5185 @subsection ``Breakpoint address adjusted...''
5186 @cindex breakpoint address adjusted
5187
5188 Some processor architectures place constraints on the addresses at
5189 which breakpoints may be placed. For architectures thus constrained,
5190 @value{GDBN} will attempt to adjust the breakpoint's address to comply
5191 with the constraints dictated by the architecture.
5192
5193 One example of such an architecture is the Fujitsu FR-V. The FR-V is
5194 a VLIW architecture in which a number of RISC-like instructions may be
5195 bundled together for parallel execution. The FR-V architecture
5196 constrains the location of a breakpoint instruction within such a
5197 bundle to the instruction with the lowest address. @value{GDBN}
5198 honors this constraint by adjusting a breakpoint's address to the
5199 first in the bundle.
5200
5201 It is not uncommon for optimized code to have bundles which contain
5202 instructions from different source statements, thus it may happen that
5203 a breakpoint's address will be adjusted from one source statement to
5204 another. Since this adjustment may significantly alter @value{GDBN}'s
5205 breakpoint related behavior from what the user expects, a warning is
5206 printed when the breakpoint is first set and also when the breakpoint
5207 is hit.
5208
5209 A warning like the one below is printed when setting a breakpoint
5210 that's been subject to address adjustment:
5211
5212 @smallexample
5213 warning: Breakpoint address adjusted from 0x00010414 to 0x00010410.
5214 @end smallexample
5215
5216 Such warnings are printed both for user settable and @value{GDBN}'s
5217 internal breakpoints. If you see one of these warnings, you should
5218 verify that a breakpoint set at the adjusted address will have the
5219 desired affect. If not, the breakpoint in question may be removed and
5220 other breakpoints may be set which will have the desired behavior.
5221 E.g., it may be sufficient to place the breakpoint at a later
5222 instruction. A conditional breakpoint may also be useful in some
5223 cases to prevent the breakpoint from triggering too often.
5224
5225 @value{GDBN} will also issue a warning when stopping at one of these
5226 adjusted breakpoints:
5227
5228 @smallexample
5229 warning: Breakpoint 1 address previously adjusted from 0x00010414
5230 to 0x00010410.
5231 @end smallexample
5232
5233 When this warning is encountered, it may be too late to take remedial
5234 action except in cases where the breakpoint is hit earlier or more
5235 frequently than expected.
5236
5237 @node Continuing and Stepping
5238 @section Continuing and Stepping
5239
5240 @cindex stepping
5241 @cindex continuing
5242 @cindex resuming execution
5243 @dfn{Continuing} means resuming program execution until your program
5244 completes normally. In contrast, @dfn{stepping} means executing just
5245 one more ``step'' of your program, where ``step'' may mean either one
5246 line of source code, or one machine instruction (depending on what
5247 particular command you use). Either when continuing or when stepping,
5248 your program may stop even sooner, due to a breakpoint or a signal. (If
5249 it stops due to a signal, you may want to use @code{handle}, or use
5250 @samp{signal 0} to resume execution (@pxref{Signals, ,Signals}),
5251 or you may step into the signal's handler (@pxref{stepping and signal
5252 handlers}).)
5253
5254 @table @code
5255 @kindex continue
5256 @kindex c @r{(@code{continue})}
5257 @kindex fg @r{(resume foreground execution)}
5258 @item continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5259 @itemx c @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5260 @itemx fg @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
5261 Resume program execution, at the address where your program last stopped;
5262 any breakpoints set at that address are bypassed. The optional argument
5263 @var{ignore-count} allows you to specify a further number of times to
5264 ignore a breakpoint at this location; its effect is like that of
5265 @code{ignore} (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
5266
5267 The argument @var{ignore-count} is meaningful only when your program
5268 stopped due to a breakpoint. At other times, the argument to
5269 @code{continue} is ignored.
5270
5271 The synonyms @code{c} and @code{fg} (for @dfn{foreground}, as the
5272 debugged program is deemed to be the foreground program) are provided
5273 purely for convenience, and have exactly the same behavior as
5274 @code{continue}.
5275 @end table
5276
5277 To resume execution at a different place, you can use @code{return}
5278 (@pxref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}) to go back to the
5279 calling function; or @code{jump} (@pxref{Jumping, ,Continuing at a
5280 Different Address}) to go to an arbitrary location in your program.
5281
5282 A typical technique for using stepping is to set a breakpoint
5283 (@pxref{Breakpoints, ,Breakpoints; Watchpoints; and Catchpoints}) at the
5284 beginning of the function or the section of your program where a problem
5285 is believed to lie, run your program until it stops at that breakpoint,
5286 and then step through the suspect area, examining the variables that are
5287 interesting, until you see the problem happen.
5288
5289 @table @code
5290 @kindex step
5291 @kindex s @r{(@code{step})}
5292 @item step
5293 Continue running your program until control reaches a different source
5294 line, then stop it and return control to @value{GDBN}. This command is
5295 abbreviated @code{s}.
5296
5297 @quotation
5298 @c "without debugging information" is imprecise; actually "without line
5299 @c numbers in the debugging information". (gcc -g1 has debugging info but
5300 @c not line numbers). But it seems complex to try to make that
5301 @c distinction here.
5302 @emph{Warning:} If you use the @code{step} command while control is
5303 within a function that was compiled without debugging information,
5304 execution proceeds until control reaches a function that does have
5305 debugging information. Likewise, it will not step into a function which
5306 is compiled without debugging information. To step through functions
5307 without debugging information, use the @code{stepi} command, described
5308 below.
5309 @end quotation
5310
5311 The @code{step} command only stops at the first instruction of a source
5312 line. This prevents the multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5313 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc. @code{step} continues
5314 to stop if a function that has debugging information is called within
5315 the line. In other words, @code{step} @emph{steps inside} any functions
5316 called within the line.
5317
5318 Also, the @code{step} command only enters a function if there is line
5319 number information for the function. Otherwise it acts like the
5320 @code{next} command. This avoids problems when using @code{cc -gl}
5321 on @acronym{MIPS} machines. Previously, @code{step} entered subroutines if there
5322 was any debugging information about the routine.
5323
5324 @item step @var{count}
5325 Continue running as in @code{step}, but do so @var{count} times. If a
5326 breakpoint is reached, or a signal not related to stepping occurs before
5327 @var{count} steps, stepping stops right away.
5328
5329 @kindex next
5330 @kindex n @r{(@code{next})}
5331 @item next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
5332 Continue to the next source line in the current (innermost) stack frame.
5333 This is similar to @code{step}, but function calls that appear within
5334 the line of code are executed without stopping. Execution stops when
5335 control reaches a different line of code at the original stack level
5336 that was executing when you gave the @code{next} command. This command
5337 is abbreviated @code{n}.
5338
5339 An argument @var{count} is a repeat count, as for @code{step}.
5340
5341
5342 @c FIX ME!! Do we delete this, or is there a way it fits in with
5343 @c the following paragraph? --- Vctoria
5344 @c
5345 @c @code{next} within a function that lacks debugging information acts like
5346 @c @code{step}, but any function calls appearing within the code of the
5347 @c function are executed without stopping.
5348
5349 The @code{next} command only stops at the first instruction of a
5350 source line. This prevents multiple stops that could otherwise occur in
5351 @code{switch} statements, @code{for} loops, etc.
5352
5353 @kindex set step-mode
5354 @item set step-mode
5355 @cindex functions without line info, and stepping
5356 @cindex stepping into functions with no line info
5357 @itemx set step-mode on
5358 The @code{set step-mode on} command causes the @code{step} command to
5359 stop at the first instruction of a function which contains no debug line
5360 information rather than stepping over it.
5361
5362 This is useful in cases where you may be interested in inspecting the
5363 machine instructions of a function which has no symbolic info and do not
5364 want @value{GDBN} to automatically skip over this function.
5365
5366 @item set step-mode off
5367 Causes the @code{step} command to step over any functions which contains no
5368 debug information. This is the default.
5369
5370 @item show step-mode
5371 Show whether @value{GDBN} will stop in or step over functions without
5372 source line debug information.
5373
5374 @kindex finish
5375 @kindex fin @r{(@code{finish})}
5376 @item finish
5377 Continue running until just after function in the selected stack frame
5378 returns. Print the returned value (if any). This command can be
5379 abbreviated as @code{fin}.
5380
5381 Contrast this with the @code{return} command (@pxref{Returning,
5382 ,Returning from a Function}).
5383
5384 @kindex until
5385 @kindex u @r{(@code{until})}
5386 @cindex run until specified location
5387 @item until
5388 @itemx u
5389 Continue running until a source line past the current line, in the
5390 current stack frame, is reached. This command is used to avoid single
5391 stepping through a loop more than once. It is like the @code{next}
5392 command, except that when @code{until} encounters a jump, it
5393 automatically continues execution until the program counter is greater
5394 than the address of the jump.
5395
5396 This means that when you reach the end of a loop after single stepping
5397 though it, @code{until} makes your program continue execution until it
5398 exits the loop. In contrast, a @code{next} command at the end of a loop
5399 simply steps back to the beginning of the loop, which forces you to step
5400 through the next iteration.
5401
5402 @code{until} always stops your program if it attempts to exit the current
5403 stack frame.
5404
5405 @code{until} may produce somewhat counterintuitive results if the order
5406 of machine code does not match the order of the source lines. For
5407 example, in the following excerpt from a debugging session, the @code{f}
5408 (@code{frame}) command shows that execution is stopped at line
5409 @code{206}; yet when we use @code{until}, we get to line @code{195}:
5410
5411 @smallexample
5412 (@value{GDBP}) f
5413 #0 main (argc=4, argv=0xf7fffae8) at m4.c:206
5414 206 expand_input();
5415 (@value{GDBP}) until
5416 195 for ( ; argc > 0; NEXTARG) @{
5417 @end smallexample
5418
5419 This happened because, for execution efficiency, the compiler had
5420 generated code for the loop closure test at the end, rather than the
5421 start, of the loop---even though the test in a C @code{for}-loop is
5422 written before the body of the loop. The @code{until} command appeared
5423 to step back to the beginning of the loop when it advanced to this
5424 expression; however, it has not really gone to an earlier
5425 statement---not in terms of the actual machine code.
5426
5427 @code{until} with no argument works by means of single
5428 instruction stepping, and hence is slower than @code{until} with an
5429 argument.
5430
5431 @item until @var{location}
5432 @itemx u @var{location}
5433 Continue running your program until either the specified @var{location} is
5434 reached, or the current stack frame returns. The location is any of
5435 the forms described in @ref{Specify Location}.
5436 This form of the command uses temporary breakpoints, and
5437 hence is quicker than @code{until} without an argument. The specified
5438 location is actually reached only if it is in the current frame. This
5439 implies that @code{until} can be used to skip over recursive function
5440 invocations. For instance in the code below, if the current location is
5441 line @code{96}, issuing @code{until 99} will execute the program up to
5442 line @code{99} in the same invocation of factorial, i.e., after the inner
5443 invocations have returned.
5444
5445 @smallexample
5446 94 int factorial (int value)
5447 95 @{
5448 96 if (value > 1) @{
5449 97 value *= factorial (value - 1);
5450 98 @}
5451 99 return (value);
5452 100 @}
5453 @end smallexample
5454
5455
5456 @kindex advance @var{location}
5457 @item advance @var{location}
5458 Continue running the program up to the given @var{location}. An argument is
5459 required, which should be of one of the forms described in
5460 @ref{Specify Location}.
5461 Execution will also stop upon exit from the current stack
5462 frame. This command is similar to @code{until}, but @code{advance} will
5463 not skip over recursive function calls, and the target location doesn't
5464 have to be in the same frame as the current one.
5465
5466
5467 @kindex stepi
5468 @kindex si @r{(@code{stepi})}
5469 @item stepi
5470 @itemx stepi @var{arg}
5471 @itemx si
5472 Execute one machine instruction, then stop and return to the debugger.
5473
5474 It is often useful to do @samp{display/i $pc} when stepping by machine
5475 instructions. This makes @value{GDBN} automatically display the next
5476 instruction to be executed, each time your program stops. @xref{Auto
5477 Display,, Automatic Display}.
5478
5479 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{step}.
5480
5481 @need 750
5482 @kindex nexti
5483 @kindex ni @r{(@code{nexti})}
5484 @item nexti
5485 @itemx nexti @var{arg}
5486 @itemx ni
5487 Execute one machine instruction, but if it is a function call,
5488 proceed until the function returns.
5489
5490 An argument is a repeat count, as in @code{next}.
5491
5492 @end table
5493
5494 @anchor{range stepping}
5495 @cindex range stepping
5496 @cindex target-assisted range stepping
5497 By default, and if available, @value{GDBN} makes use of
5498 target-assisted @dfn{range stepping}. In other words, whenever you
5499 use a stepping command (e.g., @code{step}, @code{next}), @value{GDBN}
5500 tells the target to step the corresponding range of instruction
5501 addresses instead of issuing multiple single-steps. This speeds up
5502 line stepping, particularly for remote targets. Ideally, there should
5503 be no reason you would want to turn range stepping off. However, it's
5504 possible that a bug in the debug info, a bug in the remote stub (for
5505 remote targets), or even a bug in @value{GDBN} could make line
5506 stepping behave incorrectly when target-assisted range stepping is
5507 enabled. You can use the following command to turn off range stepping
5508 if necessary:
5509
5510 @table @code
5511 @kindex set range-stepping
5512 @kindex show range-stepping
5513 @item set range-stepping
5514 @itemx show range-stepping
5515 Control whether range stepping is enabled.
5516
5517 If @code{on}, and the target supports it, @value{GDBN} tells the
5518 target to step a range of addresses itself, instead of issuing
5519 multiple single-steps. If @code{off}, @value{GDBN} always issues
5520 single-steps, even if range stepping is supported by the target. The
5521 default is @code{on}.
5522
5523 @end table
5524
5525 @node Skipping Over Functions and Files
5526 @section Skipping Over Functions and Files
5527 @cindex skipping over functions and files
5528
5529 The program you are debugging may contain some functions which are
5530 uninteresting to debug. The @code{skip} command lets you tell @value{GDBN} to
5531 skip a function or all functions in a file when stepping.
5532
5533 For example, consider the following C function:
5534
5535 @smallexample
5536 101 int func()
5537 102 @{
5538 103 foo(boring());
5539 104 bar(boring());
5540 105 @}
5541 @end smallexample
5542
5543 @noindent
5544 Suppose you wish to step into the functions @code{foo} and @code{bar}, but you
5545 are not interested in stepping through @code{boring}. If you run @code{step}
5546 at line 103, you'll enter @code{boring()}, but if you run @code{next}, you'll
5547 step over both @code{foo} and @code{boring}!
5548
5549 One solution is to @code{step} into @code{boring} and use the @code{finish}
5550 command to immediately exit it. But this can become tedious if @code{boring}
5551 is called from many places.
5552
5553 A more flexible solution is to execute @kbd{skip boring}. This instructs
5554 @value{GDBN} never to step into @code{boring}. Now when you execute
5555 @code{step} at line 103, you'll step over @code{boring} and directly into
5556 @code{foo}.
5557
5558 You can also instruct @value{GDBN} to skip all functions in a file, with, for
5559 example, @code{skip file boring.c}.
5560
5561 @table @code
5562 @kindex skip function
5563 @item skip @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5564 @itemx skip function @r{[}@var{linespec}@r{]}
5565 After running this command, the function named by @var{linespec} or the
5566 function containing the line named by @var{linespec} will be skipped over when
5567 stepping. @xref{Specify Location}.
5568
5569 If you do not specify @var{linespec}, the function you're currently debugging
5570 will be skipped.
5571
5572 (If you have a function called @code{file} that you want to skip, use
5573 @kbd{skip function file}.)
5574
5575 @kindex skip file
5576 @item skip file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
5577 After running this command, any function whose source lives in @var{filename}
5578 will be skipped over when stepping.
5579
5580 If you do not specify @var{filename}, functions whose source lives in the file
5581 you're currently debugging will be skipped.
5582 @end table
5583
5584 Skips can be listed, deleted, disabled, and enabled, much like breakpoints.
5585 These are the commands for managing your list of skips:
5586
5587 @table @code
5588 @kindex info skip
5589 @item info skip @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5590 Print details about the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified,
5591 print a table with details about all functions and files marked for skipping.
5592 @code{info skip} prints the following information about each skip:
5593
5594 @table @emph
5595 @item Identifier
5596 A number identifying this skip.
5597 @item Type
5598 The type of this skip, either @samp{function} or @samp{file}.
5599 @item Enabled or Disabled
5600 Enabled skips are marked with @samp{y}. Disabled skips are marked with @samp{n}.
5601 @item Address
5602 For function skips, this column indicates the address in memory of the function
5603 being skipped. If you've set a function skip on a function which has not yet
5604 been loaded, this field will contain @samp{<PENDING>}. Once a shared library
5605 which has the function is loaded, @code{info skip} will show the function's
5606 address here.
5607 @item What
5608 For file skips, this field contains the filename being skipped. For functions
5609 skips, this field contains the function name and its line number in the file
5610 where it is defined.
5611 @end table
5612
5613 @kindex skip delete
5614 @item skip delete @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5615 Delete the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, delete all
5616 skips.
5617
5618 @kindex skip enable
5619 @item skip enable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5620 Enable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, enable all
5621 skips.
5622
5623 @kindex skip disable
5624 @item skip disable @r{[}@var{range}@r{]}
5625 Disable the specified skip(s). If @var{range} is not specified, disable all
5626 skips.
5627
5628 @end table
5629
5630 @node Signals
5631 @section Signals
5632 @cindex signals
5633
5634 A signal is an asynchronous event that can happen in a program. The
5635 operating system defines the possible kinds of signals, and gives each
5636 kind a name and a number. For example, in Unix @code{SIGINT} is the
5637 signal a program gets when you type an interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c});
5638 @code{SIGSEGV} is the signal a program gets from referencing a place in
5639 memory far away from all the areas in use; @code{SIGALRM} occurs when
5640 the alarm clock timer goes off (which happens only if your program has
5641 requested an alarm).
5642
5643 @cindex fatal signals
5644 Some signals, including @code{SIGALRM}, are a normal part of the
5645 functioning of your program. Others, such as @code{SIGSEGV}, indicate
5646 errors; these signals are @dfn{fatal} (they kill your program immediately) if the
5647 program has not specified in advance some other way to handle the signal.
5648 @code{SIGINT} does not indicate an error in your program, but it is normally
5649 fatal so it can carry out the purpose of the interrupt: to kill the program.
5650
5651 @value{GDBN} has the ability to detect any occurrence of a signal in your
5652 program. You can tell @value{GDBN} in advance what to do for each kind of
5653 signal.
5654
5655 @cindex handling signals
5656 Normally, @value{GDBN} is set up to let the non-erroneous signals like
5657 @code{SIGALRM} be silently passed to your program
5658 (so as not to interfere with their role in the program's functioning)
5659 but to stop your program immediately whenever an error signal happens.
5660 You can change these settings with the @code{handle} command.
5661
5662 @table @code
5663 @kindex info signals
5664 @kindex info handle
5665 @item info signals
5666 @itemx info handle
5667 Print a table of all the kinds of signals and how @value{GDBN} has been told to
5668 handle each one. You can use this to see the signal numbers of all
5669 the defined types of signals.
5670
5671 @item info signals @var{sig}
5672 Similar, but print information only about the specified signal number.
5673
5674 @code{info handle} is an alias for @code{info signals}.
5675
5676 @item catch signal @r{[}@var{signal}@dots{} @r{|} @samp{all}@r{]}
5677 Set a catchpoint for the indicated signals. @xref{Set Catchpoints},
5678 for details about this command.
5679
5680 @kindex handle
5681 @item handle @var{signal} @r{[}@var{keywords}@dots{}@r{]}
5682 Change the way @value{GDBN} handles signal @var{signal}. The @var{signal}
5683 can be the number of a signal or its name (with or without the
5684 @samp{SIG} at the beginning); a list of signal numbers of the form
5685 @samp{@var{low}-@var{high}}; or the word @samp{all}, meaning all the
5686 known signals. Optional arguments @var{keywords}, described below,
5687 say what change to make.
5688 @end table
5689
5690 @c @group
5691 The keywords allowed by the @code{handle} command can be abbreviated.
5692 Their full names are:
5693
5694 @table @code
5695 @item nostop
5696 @value{GDBN} should not stop your program when this signal happens. It may
5697 still print a message telling you that the signal has come in.
5698
5699 @item stop
5700 @value{GDBN} should stop your program when this signal happens. This implies
5701 the @code{print} keyword as well.
5702
5703 @item print
5704 @value{GDBN} should print a message when this signal happens.
5705
5706 @item noprint
5707 @value{GDBN} should not mention the occurrence of the signal at all. This
5708 implies the @code{nostop} keyword as well.
5709
5710 @item pass
5711 @itemx noignore
5712 @value{GDBN} should allow your program to see this signal; your program
5713 can handle the signal, or else it may terminate if the signal is fatal
5714 and not handled. @code{pass} and @code{noignore} are synonyms.
5715
5716 @item nopass
5717 @itemx ignore
5718 @value{GDBN} should not allow your program to see this signal.
5719 @code{nopass} and @code{ignore} are synonyms.
5720 @end table
5721 @c @end group
5722
5723 When a signal stops your program, the signal is not visible to the
5724 program until you
5725 continue. Your program sees the signal then, if @code{pass} is in
5726 effect for the signal in question @emph{at that time}. In other words,
5727 after @value{GDBN} reports a signal, you can use the @code{handle}
5728 command with @code{pass} or @code{nopass} to control whether your
5729 program sees that signal when you continue.
5730
5731 The default is set to @code{nostop}, @code{noprint}, @code{pass} for
5732 non-erroneous signals such as @code{SIGALRM}, @code{SIGWINCH} and
5733 @code{SIGCHLD}, and to @code{stop}, @code{print}, @code{pass} for the
5734 erroneous signals.
5735
5736 You can also use the @code{signal} command to prevent your program from
5737 seeing a signal, or cause it to see a signal it normally would not see,
5738 or to give it any signal at any time. For example, if your program stopped
5739 due to some sort of memory reference error, you might store correct
5740 values into the erroneous variables and continue, hoping to see more
5741 execution; but your program would probably terminate immediately as
5742 a result of the fatal signal once it saw the signal. To prevent this,
5743 you can continue with @samp{signal 0}. @xref{Signaling, ,Giving your
5744 Program a Signal}.
5745
5746 @cindex stepping and signal handlers
5747 @anchor{stepping and signal handlers}
5748
5749 @value{GDBN} optimizes for stepping the mainline code. If a signal
5750 that has @code{handle nostop} and @code{handle pass} set arrives while
5751 a stepping command (e.g., @code{stepi}, @code{step}, @code{next}) is
5752 in progress, @value{GDBN} lets the signal handler run and then resumes
5753 stepping the mainline code once the signal handler returns. In other
5754 words, @value{GDBN} steps over the signal handler. This prevents
5755 signals that you've specified as not interesting (with @code{handle
5756 nostop}) from changing the focus of debugging unexpectedly. Note that
5757 the signal handler itself may still hit a breakpoint, stop for another
5758 signal that has @code{handle stop} in effect, or for any other event
5759 that normally results in stopping the stepping command sooner. Also
5760 note that @value{GDBN} still informs you that the program received a
5761 signal if @code{handle print} is set.
5762
5763 @anchor{stepping into signal handlers}
5764
5765 If you set @code{handle pass} for a signal, and your program sets up a
5766 handler for it, then issuing a stepping command, such as @code{step}
5767 or @code{stepi}, when your program is stopped due to the signal will
5768 step @emph{into} the signal handler (if the target supports that).
5769
5770 Likewise, if you use the @code{queue-signal} command to queue a signal
5771 to be delivered to the current thread when execution of the thread
5772 resumes (@pxref{Signaling, ,Giving your Program a Signal}), then a
5773 stepping command will step into the signal handler.
5774
5775 Here's an example, using @code{stepi} to step to the first instruction
5776 of @code{SIGUSR1}'s handler:
5777
5778 @smallexample
5779 (@value{GDBP}) handle SIGUSR1
5780 Signal Stop Print Pass to program Description
5781 SIGUSR1 Yes Yes Yes User defined signal 1
5782 (@value{GDBP}) c
5783 Continuing.
5784
5785 Program received signal SIGUSR1, User defined signal 1.
5786 main () sigusr1.c:28
5787 28 p = 0;
5788 (@value{GDBP}) si
5789 sigusr1_handler () at sigusr1.c:9
5790 9 @{
5791 @end smallexample
5792
5793 The same, but using @code{queue-signal} instead of waiting for the
5794 program to receive the signal first:
5795
5796 @smallexample
5797 (@value{GDBP}) n
5798 28 p = 0;
5799 (@value{GDBP}) queue-signal SIGUSR1
5800 (@value{GDBP}) si
5801 sigusr1_handler () at sigusr1.c:9
5802 9 @{
5803 (@value{GDBP})
5804 @end smallexample
5805
5806 @cindex extra signal information
5807 @anchor{extra signal information}
5808
5809 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can inspect extra signal information
5810 associated with the intercepted signal, before it is actually
5811 delivered to the program being debugged. This information is exported
5812 by the convenience variable @code{$_siginfo}, and consists of data
5813 that is passed by the kernel to the signal handler at the time of the
5814 receipt of a signal. The data type of the information itself is
5815 target dependent. You can see the data type using the @code{ptype
5816 $_siginfo} command. On Unix systems, it typically corresponds to the
5817 standard @code{siginfo_t} type, as defined in the @file{signal.h}
5818 system header.
5819
5820 Here's an example, on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, printing the stray
5821 referenced address that raised a segmentation fault.
5822
5823 @smallexample
5824 @group
5825 (@value{GDBP}) continue
5826 Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
5827 0x0000000000400766 in main ()
5828 69 *(int *)p = 0;
5829 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo
5830 type = struct @{
5831 int si_signo;
5832 int si_errno;
5833 int si_code;
5834 union @{
5835 int _pad[28];
5836 struct @{...@} _kill;
5837 struct @{...@} _timer;
5838 struct @{...@} _rt;
5839 struct @{...@} _sigchld;
5840 struct @{...@} _sigfault;
5841 struct @{...@} _sigpoll;
5842 @} _sifields;
5843 @}
5844 (@value{GDBP}) ptype $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault
5845 type = struct @{
5846 void *si_addr;
5847 @}
5848 (@value{GDBP}) p $_siginfo._sifields._sigfault.si_addr
5849 $1 = (void *) 0x7ffff7ff7000
5850 @end group
5851 @end smallexample
5852
5853 Depending on target support, @code{$_siginfo} may also be writable.
5854
5855 @node Thread Stops
5856 @section Stopping and Starting Multi-thread Programs
5857
5858 @cindex stopped threads
5859 @cindex threads, stopped
5860
5861 @cindex continuing threads
5862 @cindex threads, continuing
5863
5864 @value{GDBN} supports debugging programs with multiple threads
5865 (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging Programs with Multiple Threads}). There
5866 are two modes of controlling execution of your program within the
5867 debugger. In the default mode, referred to as @dfn{all-stop mode},
5868 when any thread in your program stops (for example, at a breakpoint
5869 or while being stepped), all other threads in the program are also stopped by
5870 @value{GDBN}. On some targets, @value{GDBN} also supports
5871 @dfn{non-stop mode}, in which other threads can continue to run freely while
5872 you examine the stopped thread in the debugger.
5873
5874 @menu
5875 * All-Stop Mode:: All threads stop when GDB takes control
5876 * Non-Stop Mode:: Other threads continue to execute
5877 * Background Execution:: Running your program asynchronously
5878 * Thread-Specific Breakpoints:: Controlling breakpoints
5879 * Interrupted System Calls:: GDB may interfere with system calls
5880 * Observer Mode:: GDB does not alter program behavior
5881 @end menu
5882
5883 @node All-Stop Mode
5884 @subsection All-Stop Mode
5885
5886 @cindex all-stop mode
5887
5888 In all-stop mode, whenever your program stops under @value{GDBN} for any reason,
5889 @emph{all} threads of execution stop, not just the current thread. This
5890 allows you to examine the overall state of the program, including
5891 switching between threads, without worrying that things may change
5892 underfoot.
5893
5894 Conversely, whenever you restart the program, @emph{all} threads start
5895 executing. @emph{This is true even when single-stepping} with commands
5896 like @code{step} or @code{next}.
5897
5898 In particular, @value{GDBN} cannot single-step all threads in lockstep.
5899 Since thread scheduling is up to your debugging target's operating
5900 system (not controlled by @value{GDBN}), other threads may
5901 execute more than one statement while the current thread completes a
5902 single step. Moreover, in general other threads stop in the middle of a
5903 statement, rather than at a clean statement boundary, when the program
5904 stops.
5905
5906 You might even find your program stopped in another thread after
5907 continuing or even single-stepping. This happens whenever some other
5908 thread runs into a breakpoint, a signal, or an exception before the
5909 first thread completes whatever you requested.
5910
5911 @cindex automatic thread selection
5912 @cindex switching threads automatically
5913 @cindex threads, automatic switching
5914 Whenever @value{GDBN} stops your program, due to a breakpoint or a
5915 signal, it automatically selects the thread where that breakpoint or
5916 signal happened. @value{GDBN} alerts you to the context switch with a
5917 message such as @samp{[Switching to Thread @var{n}]} to identify the
5918 thread.
5919
5920 On some OSes, you can modify @value{GDBN}'s default behavior by
5921 locking the OS scheduler to allow only a single thread to run.
5922
5923 @table @code
5924 @item set scheduler-locking @var{mode}
5925 @cindex scheduler locking mode
5926 @cindex lock scheduler
5927 Set the scheduler locking mode. It applies to normal execution,
5928 record mode, and replay mode. If it is @code{off}, then there is no
5929 locking and any thread may run at any time. If @code{on}, then only
5930 the current thread may run when the inferior is resumed. The
5931 @code{step} mode optimizes for single-stepping; it prevents other
5932 threads from preempting the current thread while you are stepping, so
5933 that the focus of debugging does not change unexpectedly. Other
5934 threads never get a chance to run when you step, and they are
5935 completely free to run when you use commands like @samp{continue},
5936 @samp{until}, or @samp{finish}. However, unless another thread hits a
5937 breakpoint during its timeslice, @value{GDBN} does not change the
5938 current thread away from the thread that you are debugging. The
5939 @code{replay} mode behaves like @code{off} in record mode and like
5940 @code{on} in replay mode.
5941
5942 @item show scheduler-locking
5943 Display the current scheduler locking mode.
5944 @end table
5945
5946 @cindex resume threads of multiple processes simultaneously
5947 By default, when you issue one of the execution commands such as
5948 @code{continue}, @code{next} or @code{step}, @value{GDBN} allows only
5949 threads of the current inferior to run. For example, if @value{GDBN}
5950 is attached to two inferiors, each with two threads, the
5951 @code{continue} command resumes only the two threads of the current
5952 inferior. This is useful, for example, when you debug a program that
5953 forks and you want to hold the parent stopped (so that, for instance,
5954 it doesn't run to exit), while you debug the child. In other
5955 situations, you may not be interested in inspecting the current state
5956 of any of the processes @value{GDBN} is attached to, and you may want
5957 to resume them all until some breakpoint is hit. In the latter case,
5958 you can instruct @value{GDBN} to allow all threads of all the
5959 inferiors to run with the @w{@code{set schedule-multiple}} command.
5960
5961 @table @code
5962 @kindex set schedule-multiple
5963 @item set schedule-multiple
5964 Set the mode for allowing threads of multiple processes to be resumed
5965 when an execution command is issued. When @code{on}, all threads of
5966 all processes are allowed to run. When @code{off}, only the threads
5967 of the current process are resumed. The default is @code{off}. The
5968 @code{scheduler-locking} mode takes precedence when set to @code{on},
5969 or while you are stepping and set to @code{step}.
5970
5971 @item show schedule-multiple
5972 Display the current mode for resuming the execution of threads of
5973 multiple processes.
5974 @end table
5975
5976 @node Non-Stop Mode
5977 @subsection Non-Stop Mode
5978
5979 @cindex non-stop mode
5980
5981 @c This section is really only a place-holder, and needs to be expanded
5982 @c with more details.
5983
5984 For some multi-threaded targets, @value{GDBN} supports an optional
5985 mode of operation in which you can examine stopped program threads in
5986 the debugger while other threads continue to execute freely. This
5987 minimizes intrusion when debugging live systems, such as programs
5988 where some threads have real-time constraints or must continue to
5989 respond to external events. This is referred to as @dfn{non-stop} mode.
5990
5991 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops to report a debugging event,
5992 @emph{only} that thread is stopped; @value{GDBN} does not stop other
5993 threads as well, in contrast to the all-stop mode behavior. Additionally,
5994 execution commands such as @code{continue} and @code{step} apply by default
5995 only to the current thread in non-stop mode, rather than all threads as
5996 in all-stop mode. This allows you to control threads explicitly in
5997 ways that are not possible in all-stop mode --- for example, stepping
5998 one thread while allowing others to run freely, stepping
5999 one thread while holding all others stopped, or stepping several threads
6000 independently and simultaneously.
6001
6002 To enter non-stop mode, use this sequence of commands before you run
6003 or attach to your program:
6004
6005 @smallexample
6006 # If using the CLI, pagination breaks non-stop.
6007 set pagination off
6008
6009 # Finally, turn it on!
6010 set non-stop on
6011 @end smallexample
6012
6013 You can use these commands to manipulate the non-stop mode setting:
6014
6015 @table @code
6016 @kindex set non-stop
6017 @item set non-stop on
6018 Enable selection of non-stop mode.
6019 @item set non-stop off
6020 Disable selection of non-stop mode.
6021 @kindex show non-stop
6022 @item show non-stop
6023 Show the current non-stop enablement setting.
6024 @end table
6025
6026 Note these commands only reflect whether non-stop mode is enabled,
6027 not whether the currently-executing program is being run in non-stop mode.
6028 In particular, the @code{set non-stop} preference is only consulted when
6029 @value{GDBN} starts or connects to the target program, and it is generally
6030 not possible to switch modes once debugging has started. Furthermore,
6031 since not all targets support non-stop mode, even when you have enabled
6032 non-stop mode, @value{GDBN} may still fall back to all-stop operation by
6033 default.
6034
6035 In non-stop mode, all execution commands apply only to the current thread
6036 by default. That is, @code{continue} only continues one thread.
6037 To continue all threads, issue @code{continue -a} or @code{c -a}.
6038
6039 You can use @value{GDBN}'s background execution commands
6040 (@pxref{Background Execution}) to run some threads in the background
6041 while you continue to examine or step others from @value{GDBN}.
6042 The MI execution commands (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}) are
6043 always executed asynchronously in non-stop mode.
6044
6045 Suspending execution is done with the @code{interrupt} command when
6046 running in the background, or @kbd{Ctrl-c} during foreground execution.
6047 In all-stop mode, this stops the whole process;
6048 but in non-stop mode the interrupt applies only to the current thread.
6049 To stop the whole program, use @code{interrupt -a}.
6050
6051 Other execution commands do not currently support the @code{-a} option.
6052
6053 In non-stop mode, when a thread stops, @value{GDBN} doesn't automatically make
6054 that thread current, as it does in all-stop mode. This is because the
6055 thread stop notifications are asynchronous with respect to @value{GDBN}'s
6056 command interpreter, and it would be confusing if @value{GDBN} unexpectedly
6057 changed to a different thread just as you entered a command to operate on the
6058 previously current thread.
6059
6060 @node Background Execution
6061 @subsection Background Execution
6062
6063 @cindex foreground execution
6064 @cindex background execution
6065 @cindex asynchronous execution
6066 @cindex execution, foreground, background and asynchronous
6067
6068 @value{GDBN}'s execution commands have two variants: the normal
6069 foreground (synchronous) behavior, and a background
6070 (asynchronous) behavior. In foreground execution, @value{GDBN} waits for
6071 the program to report that some thread has stopped before prompting for
6072 another command. In background execution, @value{GDBN} immediately gives
6073 a command prompt so that you can issue other commands while your program runs.
6074
6075 If the target doesn't support async mode, @value{GDBN} issues an error
6076 message if you attempt to use the background execution commands.
6077
6078 To specify background execution, add a @code{&} to the command. For example,
6079 the background form of the @code{continue} command is @code{continue&}, or
6080 just @code{c&}. The execution commands that accept background execution
6081 are:
6082
6083 @table @code
6084 @kindex run&
6085 @item run
6086 @xref{Starting, , Starting your Program}.
6087
6088 @item attach
6089 @kindex attach&
6090 @xref{Attach, , Debugging an Already-running Process}.
6091
6092 @item step
6093 @kindex step&
6094 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, step}.
6095
6096 @item stepi
6097 @kindex stepi&
6098 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, stepi}.
6099
6100 @item next
6101 @kindex next&
6102 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, next}.
6103
6104 @item nexti
6105 @kindex nexti&
6106 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, nexti}.
6107
6108 @item continue
6109 @kindex continue&
6110 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, continue}.
6111
6112 @item finish
6113 @kindex finish&
6114 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, finish}.
6115
6116 @item until
6117 @kindex until&
6118 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, until}.
6119
6120 @end table
6121
6122 Background execution is especially useful in conjunction with non-stop
6123 mode for debugging programs with multiple threads; see @ref{Non-Stop Mode}.
6124 However, you can also use these commands in the normal all-stop mode with
6125 the restriction that you cannot issue another execution command until the
6126 previous one finishes. Examples of commands that are valid in all-stop
6127 mode while the program is running include @code{help} and @code{info break}.
6128
6129 You can interrupt your program while it is running in the background by
6130 using the @code{interrupt} command.
6131
6132 @table @code
6133 @kindex interrupt
6134 @item interrupt
6135 @itemx interrupt -a
6136
6137 Suspend execution of the running program. In all-stop mode,
6138 @code{interrupt} stops the whole process, but in non-stop mode, it stops
6139 only the current thread. To stop the whole program in non-stop mode,
6140 use @code{interrupt -a}.
6141 @end table
6142
6143 @node Thread-Specific Breakpoints
6144 @subsection Thread-Specific Breakpoints
6145
6146 When your program has multiple threads (@pxref{Threads,, Debugging
6147 Programs with Multiple Threads}), you can choose whether to set
6148 breakpoints on all threads, or on a particular thread.
6149
6150 @table @code
6151 @cindex breakpoints and threads
6152 @cindex thread breakpoints
6153 @kindex break @dots{} thread @var{thread-id}
6154 @item break @var{location} thread @var{thread-id}
6155 @itemx break @var{location} thread @var{thread-id} if @dots{}
6156 @var{location} specifies source lines; there are several ways of
6157 writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always to
6158 specify some source line.
6159
6160 Use the qualifier @samp{thread @var{thread-id}} with a breakpoint command
6161 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
6162 particular thread reaches this breakpoint. The @var{thread-id} specifier
6163 is one of the thread identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown
6164 in the first column of the @samp{info threads} display.
6165
6166 If you do not specify @samp{thread @var{thread-id}} when you set a
6167 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} threads of your
6168 program.
6169
6170 You can use the @code{thread} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
6171 well; in this case, place @samp{thread @var{thread-id}} before or
6172 after the breakpoint condition, like this:
6173
6174 @smallexample
6175 (@value{GDBP}) break frik.c:13 thread 28 if bartab > lim
6176 @end smallexample
6177
6178 @end table
6179
6180 Thread-specific breakpoints are automatically deleted when
6181 @value{GDBN} detects the corresponding thread is no longer in the
6182 thread list. For example:
6183
6184 @smallexample
6185 (@value{GDBP}) c
6186 Thread-specific breakpoint 3 deleted - thread 28 no longer in the thread list.
6187 @end smallexample
6188
6189 There are several ways for a thread to disappear, such as a regular
6190 thread exit, but also when you detach from the process with the
6191 @code{detach} command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running
6192 Process}), or if @value{GDBN} loses the remote connection
6193 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), etc. Note that with some targets,
6194 @value{GDBN} is only able to detect a thread has exited when the user
6195 explictly asks for the thread list with the @code{info threads}
6196 command.
6197
6198 @node Interrupted System Calls
6199 @subsection Interrupted System Calls
6200
6201 @cindex thread breakpoints and system calls
6202 @cindex system calls and thread breakpoints
6203 @cindex premature return from system calls
6204 There is an unfortunate side effect when using @value{GDBN} to debug
6205 multi-threaded programs. If one thread stops for a
6206 breakpoint, or for some other reason, and another thread is blocked in a
6207 system call, then the system call may return prematurely. This is a
6208 consequence of the interaction between multiple threads and the signals
6209 that @value{GDBN} uses to implement breakpoints and other events that
6210 stop execution.
6211
6212 To handle this problem, your program should check the return value of
6213 each system call and react appropriately. This is good programming
6214 style anyways.
6215
6216 For example, do not write code like this:
6217
6218 @smallexample
6219 sleep (10);
6220 @end smallexample
6221
6222 The call to @code{sleep} will return early if a different thread stops
6223 at a breakpoint or for some other reason.
6224
6225 Instead, write this:
6226
6227 @smallexample
6228 int unslept = 10;
6229 while (unslept > 0)
6230 unslept = sleep (unslept);
6231 @end smallexample
6232
6233 A system call is allowed to return early, so the system is still
6234 conforming to its specification. But @value{GDBN} does cause your
6235 multi-threaded program to behave differently than it would without
6236 @value{GDBN}.
6237
6238 Also, @value{GDBN} uses internal breakpoints in the thread library to
6239 monitor certain events such as thread creation and thread destruction.
6240 When such an event happens, a system call in another thread may return
6241 prematurely, even though your program does not appear to stop.
6242
6243 @node Observer Mode
6244 @subsection Observer Mode
6245
6246 If you want to build on non-stop mode and observe program behavior
6247 without any chance of disruption by @value{GDBN}, you can set
6248 variables to disable all of the debugger's attempts to modify state,
6249 whether by writing memory, inserting breakpoints, etc. These operate
6250 at a low level, intercepting operations from all commands.
6251
6252 When all of these are set to @code{off}, then @value{GDBN} is said to
6253 be @dfn{observer mode}. As a convenience, the variable
6254 @code{observer} can be set to disable these, plus enable non-stop
6255 mode.
6256
6257 Note that @value{GDBN} will not prevent you from making nonsensical
6258 combinations of these settings. For instance, if you have enabled
6259 @code{may-insert-breakpoints} but disabled @code{may-write-memory},
6260 then breakpoints that work by writing trap instructions into the code
6261 stream will still not be able to be placed.
6262
6263 @table @code
6264
6265 @kindex observer
6266 @item set observer on
6267 @itemx set observer off
6268 When set to @code{on}, this disables all the permission variables
6269 below (except for @code{insert-fast-tracepoints}), plus enables
6270 non-stop debugging. Setting this to @code{off} switches back to
6271 normal debugging, though remaining in non-stop mode.
6272
6273 @item show observer
6274 Show whether observer mode is on or off.
6275
6276 @kindex may-write-registers
6277 @item set may-write-registers on
6278 @itemx set may-write-registers off
6279 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the values of
6280 registers, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}, or the
6281 @code{jump} command. It defaults to @code{on}.
6282
6283 @item show may-write-registers
6284 Show the current permission to write registers.
6285
6286 @kindex may-write-memory
6287 @item set may-write-memory on
6288 @itemx set may-write-memory off
6289 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to alter the contents
6290 of memory, such as with assignment expressions in @code{print}. It
6291 defaults to @code{on}.
6292
6293 @item show may-write-memory
6294 Show the current permission to write memory.
6295
6296 @kindex may-insert-breakpoints
6297 @item set may-insert-breakpoints on
6298 @itemx set may-insert-breakpoints off
6299 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert breakpoints.
6300 This affects all breakpoints, including internal breakpoints defined
6301 by @value{GDBN}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6302
6303 @item show may-insert-breakpoints
6304 Show the current permission to insert breakpoints.
6305
6306 @kindex may-insert-tracepoints
6307 @item set may-insert-tracepoints on
6308 @itemx set may-insert-tracepoints off
6309 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert (regular)
6310 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6311 non-fast tracepoints, fast tracepoints being under the control of
6312 @code{may-insert-fast-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6313
6314 @item show may-insert-tracepoints
6315 Show the current permission to insert tracepoints.
6316
6317 @kindex may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6318 @item set may-insert-fast-tracepoints on
6319 @itemx set may-insert-fast-tracepoints off
6320 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to insert fast
6321 tracepoints at the beginning of a tracing experiment. It affects only
6322 fast tracepoints, regular (non-fast) tracepoints being under the
6323 control of @code{may-insert-tracepoints}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6324
6325 @item show may-insert-fast-tracepoints
6326 Show the current permission to insert fast tracepoints.
6327
6328 @kindex may-interrupt
6329 @item set may-interrupt on
6330 @itemx set may-interrupt off
6331 This controls whether @value{GDBN} will attempt to interrupt or stop
6332 program execution. When this variable is @code{off}, the
6333 @code{interrupt} command will have no effect, nor will
6334 @kbd{Ctrl-c}. It defaults to @code{on}.
6335
6336 @item show may-interrupt
6337 Show the current permission to interrupt or stop the program.
6338
6339 @end table
6340
6341 @node Reverse Execution
6342 @chapter Running programs backward
6343 @cindex reverse execution
6344 @cindex running programs backward
6345
6346 When you are debugging a program, it is not unusual to realize that
6347 you have gone too far, and some event of interest has already happened.
6348 If the target environment supports it, @value{GDBN} can allow you to
6349 ``rewind'' the program by running it backward.
6350
6351 A target environment that supports reverse execution should be able
6352 to ``undo'' the changes in machine state that have taken place as the
6353 program was executing normally. Variables, registers etc.@: should
6354 revert to their previous values. Obviously this requires a great
6355 deal of sophistication on the part of the target environment; not
6356 all target environments can support reverse execution.
6357
6358 When a program is executed in reverse, the instructions that
6359 have most recently been executed are ``un-executed'', in reverse
6360 order. The program counter runs backward, following the previous
6361 thread of execution in reverse. As each instruction is ``un-executed'',
6362 the values of memory and/or registers that were changed by that
6363 instruction are reverted to their previous states. After executing
6364 a piece of source code in reverse, all side effects of that code
6365 should be ``undone'', and all variables should be returned to their
6366 prior values@footnote{
6367 Note that some side effects are easier to undo than others. For instance,
6368 memory and registers are relatively easy, but device I/O is hard. Some
6369 targets may be able undo things like device I/O, and some may not.
6370
6371 The contract between @value{GDBN} and the reverse executing target
6372 requires only that the target do something reasonable when
6373 @value{GDBN} tells it to execute backwards, and then report the
6374 results back to @value{GDBN}. Whatever the target reports back to
6375 @value{GDBN}, @value{GDBN} will report back to the user. @value{GDBN}
6376 assumes that the memory and registers that the target reports are in a
6377 consistant state, but @value{GDBN} accepts whatever it is given.
6378 }.
6379
6380 If you are debugging in a target environment that supports
6381 reverse execution, @value{GDBN} provides the following commands.
6382
6383 @table @code
6384 @kindex reverse-continue
6385 @kindex rc @r{(@code{reverse-continue})}
6386 @item reverse-continue @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6387 @itemx rc @r{[}@var{ignore-count}@r{]}
6388 Beginning at the point where your program last stopped, start executing
6389 in reverse. Reverse execution will stop for breakpoints and synchronous
6390 exceptions (signals), just like normal execution. Behavior of
6391 asynchronous signals depends on the target environment.
6392
6393 @kindex reverse-step
6394 @kindex rs @r{(@code{step})}
6395 @item reverse-step @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6396 Run the program backward until control reaches the start of a
6397 different source line; then stop it, and return control to @value{GDBN}.
6398
6399 Like the @code{step} command, @code{reverse-step} will only stop
6400 at the beginning of a source line. It ``un-executes'' the previously
6401 executed source line. If the previous source line included calls to
6402 debuggable functions, @code{reverse-step} will step (backward) into
6403 the called function, stopping at the beginning of the @emph{last}
6404 statement in the called function (typically a return statement).
6405
6406 Also, as with the @code{step} command, if non-debuggable functions are
6407 called, @code{reverse-step} will run thru them backward without stopping.
6408
6409 @kindex reverse-stepi
6410 @kindex rsi @r{(@code{reverse-stepi})}
6411 @item reverse-stepi @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6412 Reverse-execute one machine instruction. Note that the instruction
6413 to be reverse-executed is @emph{not} the one pointed to by the program
6414 counter, but the instruction executed prior to that one. For instance,
6415 if the last instruction was a jump, @code{reverse-stepi} will take you
6416 back from the destination of the jump to the jump instruction itself.
6417
6418 @kindex reverse-next
6419 @kindex rn @r{(@code{reverse-next})}
6420 @item reverse-next @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6421 Run backward to the beginning of the previous line executed in
6422 the current (innermost) stack frame. If the line contains function
6423 calls, they will be ``un-executed'' without stopping. Starting from
6424 the first line of a function, @code{reverse-next} will take you back
6425 to the caller of that function, @emph{before} the function was called,
6426 just as the normal @code{next} command would take you from the last
6427 line of a function back to its return to its caller
6428 @footnote{Unless the code is too heavily optimized.}.
6429
6430 @kindex reverse-nexti
6431 @kindex rni @r{(@code{reverse-nexti})}
6432 @item reverse-nexti @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
6433 Like @code{nexti}, @code{reverse-nexti} executes a single instruction
6434 in reverse, except that called functions are ``un-executed'' atomically.
6435 That is, if the previously executed instruction was a return from
6436 another function, @code{reverse-nexti} will continue to execute
6437 in reverse until the call to that function (from the current stack
6438 frame) is reached.
6439
6440 @kindex reverse-finish
6441 @item reverse-finish
6442 Just as the @code{finish} command takes you to the point where the
6443 current function returns, @code{reverse-finish} takes you to the point
6444 where it was called. Instead of ending up at the end of the current
6445 function invocation, you end up at the beginning.
6446
6447 @kindex set exec-direction
6448 @item set exec-direction
6449 Set the direction of target execution.
6450 @item set exec-direction reverse
6451 @cindex execute forward or backward in time
6452 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in reverse, until the
6453 exec-direction mode is changed to ``forward''. Affected commands include
6454 @code{step, stepi, next, nexti, continue, and finish}. The @code{return}
6455 command cannot be used in reverse mode.
6456 @item set exec-direction forward
6457 @value{GDBN} will perform all execution commands in the normal fashion.
6458 This is the default.
6459 @end table
6460
6461
6462 @node Process Record and Replay
6463 @chapter Recording Inferior's Execution and Replaying It
6464 @cindex process record and replay
6465 @cindex recording inferior's execution and replaying it
6466
6467 On some platforms, @value{GDBN} provides a special @dfn{process record
6468 and replay} target that can record a log of the process execution, and
6469 replay it later with both forward and reverse execution commands.
6470
6471 @cindex replay mode
6472 When this target is in use, if the execution log includes the record
6473 for the next instruction, @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{replay
6474 mode}. In the replay mode, the inferior does not really execute code
6475 instructions. Instead, all the events that normally happen during
6476 code execution are taken from the execution log. While code is not
6477 really executed in replay mode, the values of registers (including the
6478 program counter register) and the memory of the inferior are still
6479 changed as they normally would. Their contents are taken from the
6480 execution log.
6481
6482 @cindex record mode
6483 If the record for the next instruction is not in the execution log,
6484 @value{GDBN} will debug in @dfn{record mode}. In this mode, the
6485 inferior executes normally, and @value{GDBN} records the execution log
6486 for future replay.
6487
6488 The process record and replay target supports reverse execution
6489 (@pxref{Reverse Execution}), even if the platform on which the
6490 inferior runs does not. However, the reverse execution is limited in
6491 this case by the range of the instructions recorded in the execution
6492 log. In other words, reverse execution on platforms that don't
6493 support it directly can only be done in the replay mode.
6494
6495 When debugging in the reverse direction, @value{GDBN} will work in
6496 replay mode as long as the execution log includes the record for the
6497 previous instruction; otherwise, it will work in record mode, if the
6498 platform supports reverse execution, or stop if not.
6499
6500 For architecture environments that support process record and replay,
6501 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands:
6502
6503 @table @code
6504 @kindex target record
6505 @kindex target record-full
6506 @kindex target record-btrace
6507 @kindex record
6508 @kindex record full
6509 @kindex record btrace
6510 @kindex record btrace bts
6511 @kindex record btrace pt
6512 @kindex record bts
6513 @kindex record pt
6514 @kindex rec
6515 @kindex rec full
6516 @kindex rec btrace
6517 @kindex rec btrace bts
6518 @kindex rec btrace pt
6519 @kindex rec bts
6520 @kindex rec pt
6521 @item record @var{method}
6522 This command starts the process record and replay target. The
6523 recording method can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6524 the command uses the @code{full} recording method. The following
6525 recording methods are available:
6526
6527 @table @code
6528 @item full
6529 Full record/replay recording using @value{GDBN}'s software record and
6530 replay implementation. This method allows replaying and reverse
6531 execution.
6532
6533 @item btrace @var{format}
6534 Hardware-supported instruction recording. This method does not record
6535 data. Further, the data is collected in a ring buffer so old data will
6536 be overwritten when the buffer is full. It allows limited reverse
6537 execution. Variables and registers are not available during reverse
6538 execution.
6539
6540 The recording format can be specified as parameter. Without a parameter
6541 the command chooses the recording format. The following recording
6542 formats are available:
6543
6544 @table @code
6545 @item bts
6546 @cindex branch trace store
6547 Use the @dfn{Branch Trace Store} (@acronym{BTS}) recording format. In
6548 this format, the processor stores a from/to record for each executed
6549 branch in the btrace ring buffer.
6550
6551 @item pt
6552 @cindex Intel Processor Trace
6553 Use the @dfn{Intel Processor Trace} recording format. In this
6554 format, the processor stores the execution trace in a compressed form
6555 that is afterwards decoded by @value{GDBN}.
6556
6557 The trace can be recorded with very low overhead. The compressed
6558 trace format also allows small trace buffers to already contain a big
6559 number of instructions compared to @acronym{BTS}.
6560
6561 Decoding the recorded execution trace, on the other hand, is more
6562 expensive than decoding @acronym{BTS} trace. This is mostly due to the
6563 increased number of instructions to process. You should increase the
6564 buffer-size with care.
6565 @end table
6566
6567 Not all recording formats may be available on all processors.
6568 @end table
6569
6570 The process record and replay target can only debug a process that is
6571 already running. Therefore, you need first to start the process with
6572 the @kbd{run} or @kbd{start} commands, and then start the recording
6573 with the @kbd{record @var{method}} command.
6574
6575 @cindex displaced stepping, and process record and replay
6576 Displaced stepping (@pxref{Maintenance Commands,, displaced stepping})
6577 will be automatically disabled when process record and replay target
6578 is started. That's because the process record and replay target
6579 doesn't support displaced stepping.
6580
6581 @cindex non-stop mode, and process record and replay
6582 @cindex asynchronous execution, and process record and replay
6583 If the inferior is in the non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) or in
6584 the asynchronous execution mode (@pxref{Background Execution}), not
6585 all recording methods are available. The @code{full} recording method
6586 does not support these two modes.
6587
6588 @kindex record stop
6589 @kindex rec s
6590 @item record stop
6591 Stop the process record and replay target. When process record and
6592 replay target stops, the entire execution log will be deleted and the
6593 inferior will either be terminated, or will remain in its final state.
6594
6595 When you stop the process record and replay target in record mode (at
6596 the end of the execution log), the inferior will be stopped at the
6597 next instruction that would have been recorded. In other words, if
6598 you record for a while and then stop recording, the inferior process
6599 will be left in the same state as if the recording never happened.
6600
6601 On the other hand, if the process record and replay target is stopped
6602 while in replay mode (that is, not at the end of the execution log,
6603 but at some earlier point), the inferior process will become ``live''
6604 at that earlier state, and it will then be possible to continue the
6605 usual ``live'' debugging of the process from that state.
6606
6607 When the inferior process exits, or @value{GDBN} detaches from it,
6608 process record and replay target will automatically stop itself.
6609
6610 @kindex record goto
6611 @item record goto
6612 Go to a specific location in the execution log. There are several
6613 ways to specify the location to go to:
6614
6615 @table @code
6616 @item record goto begin
6617 @itemx record goto start
6618 Go to the beginning of the execution log.
6619
6620 @item record goto end
6621 Go to the end of the execution log.
6622
6623 @item record goto @var{n}
6624 Go to instruction number @var{n} in the execution log.
6625 @end table
6626
6627 @kindex record save
6628 @item record save @var{filename}
6629 Save the execution log to a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6630 Default filename is @file{gdb_record.@var{process_id}}, where
6631 @var{process_id} is the process ID of the inferior.
6632
6633 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6634
6635 @kindex record restore
6636 @item record restore @var{filename}
6637 Restore the execution log from a file @file{@var{filename}}.
6638 File must have been created with @code{record save}.
6639
6640 @kindex set record full
6641 @item set record full insn-number-max @var{limit}
6642 @itemx set record full insn-number-max unlimited
6643 Set the limit of instructions to be recorded for the @code{full}
6644 recording method. Default value is 200000.
6645
6646 If @var{limit} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will start
6647 deleting instructions from the log once the number of the record
6648 instructions becomes greater than @var{limit}. For every new recorded
6649 instruction, @value{GDBN} will delete the earliest recorded
6650 instruction to keep the number of recorded instructions at the limit.
6651 (Since deleting recorded instructions loses information, @value{GDBN}
6652 lets you control what happens when the limit is reached, by means of
6653 the @code{stop-at-limit} option, described below.)
6654
6655 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will never
6656 delete recorded instructions from the execution log. The number of
6657 recorded instructions is limited only by the available memory.
6658
6659 @kindex show record full
6660 @item show record full insn-number-max
6661 Show the limit of instructions to be recorded with the @code{full}
6662 recording method.
6663
6664 @item set record full stop-at-limit
6665 Control the behavior of the @code{full} recording method when the
6666 number of recorded instructions reaches the limit. If ON (the
6667 default), @value{GDBN} will stop when the limit is reached for the
6668 first time and ask you whether you want to stop the inferior or
6669 continue running it and recording the execution log. If you decide
6670 to continue recording, each new recorded instruction will cause the
6671 oldest one to be deleted.
6672
6673 If this option is OFF, @value{GDBN} will automatically delete the
6674 oldest record to make room for each new one, without asking.
6675
6676 @item show record full stop-at-limit
6677 Show the current setting of @code{stop-at-limit}.
6678
6679 @item set record full memory-query
6680 Control the behavior when @value{GDBN} is unable to record memory
6681 changes caused by an instruction for the @code{full} recording method.
6682 If ON, @value{GDBN} will query whether to stop the inferior in that
6683 case.
6684
6685 If this option is OFF (the default), @value{GDBN} will automatically
6686 ignore the effect of such instructions on memory. Later, when
6687 @value{GDBN} replays this execution log, it will mark the log of this
6688 instruction as not accessible, and it will not affect the replay
6689 results.
6690
6691 @item show record full memory-query
6692 Show the current setting of @code{memory-query}.
6693
6694 @kindex set record btrace
6695 The @code{btrace} record target does not trace data. As a
6696 convenience, when replaying, @value{GDBN} reads read-only memory off
6697 the live program directly, assuming that the addresses of the
6698 read-only areas don't change. This for example makes it possible to
6699 disassemble code while replaying, but not to print variables.
6700 In some cases, being able to inspect variables might be useful.
6701 You can use the following command for that:
6702
6703 @item set record btrace replay-memory-access
6704 Control the behavior of the @code{btrace} recording method when
6705 accessing memory during replay. If @code{read-only} (the default),
6706 @value{GDBN} will only allow accesses to read-only memory.
6707 If @code{read-write}, @value{GDBN} will allow accesses to read-only
6708 and to read-write memory. Beware that the accessed memory corresponds
6709 to the live target and not necessarily to the current replay
6710 position.
6711
6712 @kindex show record btrace
6713 @item show record btrace replay-memory-access
6714 Show the current setting of @code{replay-memory-access}.
6715
6716 @kindex set record btrace bts
6717 @item set record btrace bts buffer-size @var{size}
6718 @itemx set record btrace bts buffer-size unlimited
6719 Set the requested ring buffer size for branch tracing in @acronym{BTS}
6720 format. Default is 64KB.
6721
6722 If @var{size} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will try to
6723 allocate a buffer of at least @var{size} bytes for each new thread
6724 that uses the btrace recording method and the @acronym{BTS} format.
6725 The actually obtained buffer size may differ from the requested
6726 @var{size}. Use the @code{info record} command to see the actual
6727 buffer size for each thread that uses the btrace recording method and
6728 the @acronym{BTS} format.
6729
6730 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will try to
6731 allocate a buffer of 4MB.
6732
6733 Bigger buffers mean longer traces. On the other hand, @value{GDBN} will
6734 also need longer to process the branch trace data before it can be used.
6735
6736 @item show record btrace bts buffer-size @var{size}
6737 Show the current setting of the requested ring buffer size for branch
6738 tracing in @acronym{BTS} format.
6739
6740 @kindex set record btrace pt
6741 @item set record btrace pt buffer-size @var{size}
6742 @itemx set record btrace pt buffer-size unlimited
6743 Set the requested ring buffer size for branch tracing in Intel
6744 Processor Trace format. Default is 16KB.
6745
6746 If @var{size} is a positive number, then @value{GDBN} will try to
6747 allocate a buffer of at least @var{size} bytes for each new thread
6748 that uses the btrace recording method and the Intel Processor Trace
6749 format. The actually obtained buffer size may differ from the
6750 requested @var{size}. Use the @code{info record} command to see the
6751 actual buffer size for each thread.
6752
6753 If @var{limit} is @code{unlimited} or zero, @value{GDBN} will try to
6754 allocate a buffer of 4MB.
6755
6756 Bigger buffers mean longer traces. On the other hand, @value{GDBN} will
6757 also need longer to process the branch trace data before it can be used.
6758
6759 @item show record btrace pt buffer-size @var{size}
6760 Show the current setting of the requested ring buffer size for branch
6761 tracing in Intel Processor Trace format.
6762
6763 @kindex info record
6764 @item info record
6765 Show various statistics about the recording depending on the recording
6766 method:
6767
6768 @table @code
6769 @item full
6770 For the @code{full} recording method, it shows the state of process
6771 record and its in-memory execution log buffer, including:
6772
6773 @itemize @bullet
6774 @item
6775 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6776 @item
6777 Lowest recorded instruction number (counting from when the current execution log started recording instructions).
6778 @item
6779 Highest recorded instruction number.
6780 @item
6781 Current instruction about to be replayed (if in replay mode).
6782 @item
6783 Number of instructions contained in the execution log.
6784 @item
6785 Maximum number of instructions that may be contained in the execution log.
6786 @end itemize
6787
6788 @item btrace
6789 For the @code{btrace} recording method, it shows:
6790
6791 @itemize @bullet
6792 @item
6793 Recording format.
6794 @item
6795 Number of instructions that have been recorded.
6796 @item
6797 Number of blocks of sequential control-flow formed by the recorded
6798 instructions.
6799 @item
6800 Whether in record mode or replay mode.
6801 @end itemize
6802
6803 For the @code{bts} recording format, it also shows:
6804 @itemize @bullet
6805 @item
6806 Size of the perf ring buffer.
6807 @end itemize
6808
6809 For the @code{pt} recording format, it also shows:
6810 @itemize @bullet
6811 @item
6812 Size of the perf ring buffer.
6813 @end itemize
6814 @end table
6815
6816 @kindex record delete
6817 @kindex rec del
6818 @item record delete
6819 When record target runs in replay mode (``in the past''), delete the
6820 subsequent execution log and begin to record a new execution log starting
6821 from the current address. This means you will abandon the previously
6822 recorded ``future'' and begin recording a new ``future''.
6823
6824 @kindex record instruction-history
6825 @kindex rec instruction-history
6826 @item record instruction-history
6827 Disassembles instructions from the recorded execution log. By
6828 default, ten instructions are disassembled. This can be changed using
6829 the @code{set record instruction-history-size} command. Instructions
6830 are printed in execution order.
6831
6832 It can also print mixed source+disassembly if you specify the the
6833 @code{/m} or @code{/s} modifier, and print the raw instructions in hex
6834 as well as in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r} modifier.
6835
6836 The current position marker is printed for the instruction at the
6837 current program counter value. This instruction can appear multiple
6838 times in the trace and the current position marker will be printed
6839 every time. To omit the current position marker, specify the
6840 @code{/p} modifier.
6841
6842 To better align the printed instructions when the trace contains
6843 instructions from more than one function, the function name may be
6844 omitted by specifying the @code{/f} modifier.
6845
6846 Speculatively executed instructions are prefixed with @samp{?}. This
6847 feature is not available for all recording formats.
6848
6849 There are several ways to specify what part of the execution log to
6850 disassemble:
6851
6852 @table @code
6853 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}
6854 Disassembles ten instructions starting from instruction number
6855 @var{insn}.
6856
6857 @item record instruction-history @var{insn}, +/-@var{n}
6858 Disassembles @var{n} instructions around instruction number
6859 @var{insn}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, disassembles
6860 @var{n} instructions after instruction number @var{insn}. If
6861 @var{n} is preceded with @code{-}, disassembles @var{n}
6862 instructions before instruction number @var{insn}.
6863
6864 @item record instruction-history
6865 Disassembles ten more instructions after the last disassembly.
6866
6867 @item record instruction-history -
6868 Disassembles ten more instructions before the last disassembly.
6869
6870 @item record instruction-history @var{begin}, @var{end}
6871 Disassembles instructions beginning with instruction number
6872 @var{begin} until instruction number @var{end}. The instruction
6873 number @var{end} is included.
6874 @end table
6875
6876 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6877
6878 @kindex set record
6879 @item set record instruction-history-size @var{size}
6880 @itemx set record instruction-history-size unlimited
6881 Define how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6882 instruction-history} command. The default value is 10.
6883 A @var{size} of @code{unlimited} means unlimited instructions.
6884
6885 @kindex show record
6886 @item show record instruction-history-size
6887 Show how many instructions to disassemble in the @code{record
6888 instruction-history} command.
6889
6890 @kindex record function-call-history
6891 @kindex rec function-call-history
6892 @item record function-call-history
6893 Prints the execution history at function granularity. It prints one
6894 line for each sequence of instructions that belong to the same
6895 function giving the name of that function, the source lines
6896 for this instruction sequence (if the @code{/l} modifier is
6897 specified), and the instructions numbers that form the sequence (if
6898 the @code{/i} modifier is specified). The function names are indented
6899 to reflect the call stack depth if the @code{/c} modifier is
6900 specified. The @code{/l}, @code{/i}, and @code{/c} modifiers can be
6901 given together.
6902
6903 @smallexample
6904 (@value{GDBP}) @b{list 1, 10}
6905 1 void foo (void)
6906 2 @{
6907 3 @}
6908 4
6909 5 void bar (void)
6910 6 @{
6911 7 ...
6912 8 foo ();
6913 9 ...
6914 10 @}
6915 (@value{GDBP}) @b{record function-call-history /ilc}
6916 1 bar inst 1,4 at foo.c:6,8
6917 2 foo inst 5,10 at foo.c:2,3
6918 3 bar inst 11,13 at foo.c:9,10
6919 @end smallexample
6920
6921 By default, ten lines are printed. This can be changed using the
6922 @code{set record function-call-history-size} command. Functions are
6923 printed in execution order. There are several ways to specify what
6924 to print:
6925
6926 @table @code
6927 @item record function-call-history @var{func}
6928 Prints ten functions starting from function number @var{func}.
6929
6930 @item record function-call-history @var{func}, +/-@var{n}
6931 Prints @var{n} functions around function number @var{func}. If
6932 @var{n} is preceded with @code{+}, prints @var{n} functions after
6933 function number @var{func}. If @var{n} is preceded with @code{-},
6934 prints @var{n} functions before function number @var{func}.
6935
6936 @item record function-call-history
6937 Prints ten more functions after the last ten-line print.
6938
6939 @item record function-call-history -
6940 Prints ten more functions before the last ten-line print.
6941
6942 @item record function-call-history @var{begin}, @var{end}
6943 Prints functions beginning with function number @var{begin} until
6944 function number @var{end}. The function number @var{end} is included.
6945 @end table
6946
6947 This command may not be available for all recording methods.
6948
6949 @item set record function-call-history-size @var{size}
6950 @itemx set record function-call-history-size unlimited
6951 Define how many lines to print in the
6952 @code{record function-call-history} command. The default value is 10.
6953 A size of @code{unlimited} means unlimited lines.
6954
6955 @item show record function-call-history-size
6956 Show how many lines to print in the
6957 @code{record function-call-history} command.
6958 @end table
6959
6960
6961 @node Stack
6962 @chapter Examining the Stack
6963
6964 When your program has stopped, the first thing you need to know is where it
6965 stopped and how it got there.
6966
6967 @cindex call stack
6968 Each time your program performs a function call, information about the call
6969 is generated.
6970 That information includes the location of the call in your program,
6971 the arguments of the call,
6972 and the local variables of the function being called.
6973 The information is saved in a block of data called a @dfn{stack frame}.
6974 The stack frames are allocated in a region of memory called the @dfn{call
6975 stack}.
6976
6977 When your program stops, the @value{GDBN} commands for examining the
6978 stack allow you to see all of this information.
6979
6980 @cindex selected frame
6981 One of the stack frames is @dfn{selected} by @value{GDBN} and many
6982 @value{GDBN} commands refer implicitly to the selected frame. In
6983 particular, whenever you ask @value{GDBN} for the value of a variable in
6984 your program, the value is found in the selected frame. There are
6985 special @value{GDBN} commands to select whichever frame you are
6986 interested in. @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
6987
6988 When your program stops, @value{GDBN} automatically selects the
6989 currently executing frame and describes it briefly, similar to the
6990 @code{frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}).
6991
6992 @menu
6993 * Frames:: Stack frames
6994 * Backtrace:: Backtraces
6995 * Selection:: Selecting a frame
6996 * Frame Info:: Information on a frame
6997 * Frame Filter Management:: Managing frame filters
6998
6999 @end menu
7000
7001 @node Frames
7002 @section Stack Frames
7003
7004 @cindex frame, definition
7005 @cindex stack frame
7006 The call stack is divided up into contiguous pieces called @dfn{stack
7007 frames}, or @dfn{frames} for short; each frame is the data associated
7008 with one call to one function. The frame contains the arguments given
7009 to the function, the function's local variables, and the address at
7010 which the function is executing.
7011
7012 @cindex initial frame
7013 @cindex outermost frame
7014 @cindex innermost frame
7015 When your program is started, the stack has only one frame, that of the
7016 function @code{main}. This is called the @dfn{initial} frame or the
7017 @dfn{outermost} frame. Each time a function is called, a new frame is
7018 made. Each time a function returns, the frame for that function invocation
7019 is eliminated. If a function is recursive, there can be many frames for
7020 the same function. The frame for the function in which execution is
7021 actually occurring is called the @dfn{innermost} frame. This is the most
7022 recently created of all the stack frames that still exist.
7023
7024 @cindex frame pointer
7025 Inside your program, stack frames are identified by their addresses. A
7026 stack frame consists of many bytes, each of which has its own address; each
7027 kind of computer has a convention for choosing one byte whose
7028 address serves as the address of the frame. Usually this address is kept
7029 in a register called the @dfn{frame pointer register}
7030 (@pxref{Registers, $fp}) while execution is going on in that frame.
7031
7032 @cindex frame number
7033 @value{GDBN} assigns numbers to all existing stack frames, starting with
7034 zero for the innermost frame, one for the frame that called it,
7035 and so on upward. These numbers do not really exist in your program;
7036 they are assigned by @value{GDBN} to give you a way of designating stack
7037 frames in @value{GDBN} commands.
7038
7039 @c The -fomit-frame-pointer below perennially causes hbox overflow
7040 @c underflow problems.
7041 @cindex frameless execution
7042 Some compilers provide a way to compile functions so that they operate
7043 without stack frames. (For example, the @value{NGCC} option
7044 @smallexample
7045 @samp{-fomit-frame-pointer}
7046 @end smallexample
7047 generates functions without a frame.)
7048 This is occasionally done with heavily used library functions to save
7049 the frame setup time. @value{GDBN} has limited facilities for dealing
7050 with these function invocations. If the innermost function invocation
7051 has no stack frame, @value{GDBN} nevertheless regards it as though
7052 it had a separate frame, which is numbered zero as usual, allowing
7053 correct tracing of the function call chain. However, @value{GDBN} has
7054 no provision for frameless functions elsewhere in the stack.
7055
7056 @node Backtrace
7057 @section Backtraces
7058
7059 @cindex traceback
7060 @cindex call stack traces
7061 A backtrace is a summary of how your program got where it is. It shows one
7062 line per frame, for many frames, starting with the currently executing
7063 frame (frame zero), followed by its caller (frame one), and on up the
7064 stack.
7065
7066 @anchor{backtrace-command}
7067 @table @code
7068 @kindex backtrace
7069 @kindex bt @r{(@code{backtrace})}
7070 @item backtrace
7071 @itemx bt
7072 Print a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all
7073 frames in the stack.
7074
7075 You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt
7076 character, normally @kbd{Ctrl-c}.
7077
7078 @item backtrace @var{n}
7079 @itemx bt @var{n}
7080 Similar, but print only the innermost @var{n} frames.
7081
7082 @item backtrace -@var{n}
7083 @itemx bt -@var{n}
7084 Similar, but print only the outermost @var{n} frames.
7085
7086 @item backtrace full
7087 @itemx bt full
7088 @itemx bt full @var{n}
7089 @itemx bt full -@var{n}
7090 Print the values of the local variables also. As described above,
7091 @var{n} specifies the number of frames to print.
7092
7093 @item backtrace no-filters
7094 @itemx bt no-filters
7095 @itemx bt no-filters @var{n}
7096 @itemx bt no-filters -@var{n}
7097 @itemx bt no-filters full
7098 @itemx bt no-filters full @var{n}
7099 @itemx bt no-filters full -@var{n}
7100 Do not run Python frame filters on this backtrace. @xref{Frame
7101 Filter API}, for more information. Additionally use @ref{disable
7102 frame-filter all} to turn off all frame filters. This is only
7103 relevant when @value{GDBN} has been configured with @code{Python}
7104 support.
7105 @end table
7106
7107 @kindex where
7108 @kindex info stack
7109 The names @code{where} and @code{info stack} (abbreviated @code{info s})
7110 are additional aliases for @code{backtrace}.
7111
7112 @cindex multiple threads, backtrace
7113 In a multi-threaded program, @value{GDBN} by default shows the
7114 backtrace only for the current thread. To display the backtrace for
7115 several or all of the threads, use the command @code{thread apply}
7116 (@pxref{Threads, thread apply}). For example, if you type @kbd{thread
7117 apply all backtrace}, @value{GDBN} will display the backtrace for all
7118 the threads; this is handy when you debug a core dump of a
7119 multi-threaded program.
7120
7121 Each line in the backtrace shows the frame number and the function name.
7122 The program counter value is also shown---unless you use @code{set
7123 print address off}. The backtrace also shows the source file name and
7124 line number, as well as the arguments to the function. The program
7125 counter value is omitted if it is at the beginning of the code for that
7126 line number.
7127
7128 Here is an example of a backtrace. It was made with the command
7129 @samp{bt 3}, so it shows the innermost three frames.
7130
7131 @smallexample
7132 @group
7133 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
7134 at builtin.c:993
7135 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=0x2b600, data=...) at macro.c:242
7136 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=177664, td=0xf7fffb08)
7137 at macro.c:71
7138 (More stack frames follow...)
7139 @end group
7140 @end smallexample
7141
7142 @noindent
7143 The display for frame zero does not begin with a program counter
7144 value, indicating that your program has stopped at the beginning of the
7145 code for line @code{993} of @code{builtin.c}.
7146
7147 @noindent
7148 The value of parameter @code{data} in frame 1 has been replaced by
7149 @code{@dots{}}. By default, @value{GDBN} prints the value of a parameter
7150 only if it is a scalar (integer, pointer, enumeration, etc). See command
7151 @kbd{set print frame-arguments} in @ref{Print Settings} for more details
7152 on how to configure the way function parameter values are printed.
7153
7154 @cindex optimized out, in backtrace
7155 @cindex function call arguments, optimized out
7156 If your program was compiled with optimizations, some compilers will
7157 optimize away arguments passed to functions if those arguments are
7158 never used after the call. Such optimizations generate code that
7159 passes arguments through registers, but doesn't store those arguments
7160 in the stack frame. @value{GDBN} has no way of displaying such
7161 arguments in stack frames other than the innermost one. Here's what
7162 such a backtrace might look like:
7163
7164 @smallexample
7165 @group
7166 #0 m4_traceon (obs=0x24eb0, argc=1, argv=0x2b8c8)
7167 at builtin.c:993
7168 #1 0x6e38 in expand_macro (sym=<optimized out>) at macro.c:242
7169 #2 0x6840 in expand_token (obs=0x0, t=<optimized out>, td=0xf7fffb08)
7170 at macro.c:71
7171 (More stack frames follow...)
7172 @end group
7173 @end smallexample
7174
7175 @noindent
7176 The values of arguments that were not saved in their stack frames are
7177 shown as @samp{<optimized out>}.
7178
7179 If you need to display the values of such optimized-out arguments,
7180 either deduce that from other variables whose values depend on the one
7181 you are interested in, or recompile without optimizations.
7182
7183 @cindex backtrace beyond @code{main} function
7184 @cindex program entry point
7185 @cindex startup code, and backtrace
7186 Most programs have a standard user entry point---a place where system
7187 libraries and startup code transition into user code. For C this is
7188 @code{main}@footnote{
7189 Note that embedded programs (the so-called ``free-standing''
7190 environment) are not required to have a @code{main} function as the
7191 entry point. They could even have multiple entry points.}.
7192 When @value{GDBN} finds the entry function in a backtrace
7193 it will terminate the backtrace, to avoid tracing into highly
7194 system-specific (and generally uninteresting) code.
7195
7196 If you need to examine the startup code, or limit the number of levels
7197 in a backtrace, you can change this behavior:
7198
7199 @table @code
7200 @item set backtrace past-main
7201 @itemx set backtrace past-main on
7202 @kindex set backtrace
7203 Backtraces will continue past the user entry point.
7204
7205 @item set backtrace past-main off
7206 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the user entry point. This is the
7207 default.
7208
7209 @item show backtrace past-main
7210 @kindex show backtrace
7211 Display the current user entry point backtrace policy.
7212
7213 @item set backtrace past-entry
7214 @itemx set backtrace past-entry on
7215 Backtraces will continue past the internal entry point of an application.
7216 This entry point is encoded by the linker when the application is built,
7217 and is likely before the user entry point @code{main} (or equivalent) is called.
7218
7219 @item set backtrace past-entry off
7220 Backtraces will stop when they encounter the internal entry point of an
7221 application. This is the default.
7222
7223 @item show backtrace past-entry
7224 Display the current internal entry point backtrace policy.
7225
7226 @item set backtrace limit @var{n}
7227 @itemx set backtrace limit 0
7228 @itemx set backtrace limit unlimited
7229 @cindex backtrace limit
7230 Limit the backtrace to @var{n} levels. A value of @code{unlimited}
7231 or zero means unlimited levels.
7232
7233 @item show backtrace limit
7234 Display the current limit on backtrace levels.
7235 @end table
7236
7237 You can control how file names are displayed.
7238
7239 @table @code
7240 @item set filename-display
7241 @itemx set filename-display relative
7242 @cindex filename-display
7243 Display file names relative to the compilation directory. This is the default.
7244
7245 @item set filename-display basename
7246 Display only basename of a filename.
7247
7248 @item set filename-display absolute
7249 Display an absolute filename.
7250
7251 @item show filename-display
7252 Show the current way to display filenames.
7253 @end table
7254
7255 @node Selection
7256 @section Selecting a Frame
7257
7258 Most commands for examining the stack and other data in your program work on
7259 whichever stack frame is selected at the moment. Here are the commands for
7260 selecting a stack frame; all of them finish by printing a brief description
7261 of the stack frame just selected.
7262
7263 @table @code
7264 @kindex frame@r{, selecting}
7265 @kindex f @r{(@code{frame})}
7266 @item frame @var{n}
7267 @itemx f @var{n}
7268 Select frame number @var{n}. Recall that frame zero is the innermost
7269 (currently executing) frame, frame one is the frame that called the
7270 innermost one, and so on. The highest-numbered frame is the one for
7271 @code{main}.
7272
7273 @item frame @var{stack-addr} [ @var{pc-addr} ]
7274 @itemx f @var{stack-addr} [ @var{pc-addr} ]
7275 Select the frame at address @var{stack-addr}. This is useful mainly if the
7276 chaining of stack frames has been damaged by a bug, making it
7277 impossible for @value{GDBN} to assign numbers properly to all frames. In
7278 addition, this can be useful when your program has multiple stacks and
7279 switches between them. The optional @var{pc-addr} can also be given to
7280 specify the value of PC for the stack frame.
7281
7282 @kindex up
7283 @item up @var{n}
7284 Move @var{n} frames up the stack; @var{n} defaults to 1. For positive
7285 numbers @var{n}, this advances toward the outermost frame, to higher
7286 frame numbers, to frames that have existed longer.
7287
7288 @kindex down
7289 @kindex do @r{(@code{down})}
7290 @item down @var{n}
7291 Move @var{n} frames down the stack; @var{n} defaults to 1. For
7292 positive numbers @var{n}, this advances toward the innermost frame, to
7293 lower frame numbers, to frames that were created more recently.
7294 You may abbreviate @code{down} as @code{do}.
7295 @end table
7296
7297 All of these commands end by printing two lines of output describing the
7298 frame. The first line shows the frame number, the function name, the
7299 arguments, and the source file and line number of execution in that
7300 frame. The second line shows the text of that source line.
7301
7302 @need 1000
7303 For example:
7304
7305 @smallexample
7306 @group
7307 (@value{GDBP}) up
7308 #1 0x22f0 in main (argc=1, argv=0xf7fffbf4, env=0xf7fffbfc)
7309 at env.c:10
7310 10 read_input_file (argv[i]);
7311 @end group
7312 @end smallexample
7313
7314 After such a printout, the @code{list} command with no arguments
7315 prints ten lines centered on the point of execution in the frame.
7316 You can also edit the program at the point of execution with your favorite
7317 editing program by typing @code{edit}.
7318 @xref{List, ,Printing Source Lines},
7319 for details.
7320
7321 @table @code
7322 @kindex select-frame
7323 @item select-frame
7324 The @code{select-frame} command is a variant of @code{frame} that does
7325 not display the new frame after selecting it. This command is
7326 intended primarily for use in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the
7327 output might be unnecessary and distracting.
7328
7329 @kindex down-silently
7330 @kindex up-silently
7331 @item up-silently @var{n}
7332 @itemx down-silently @var{n}
7333 These two commands are variants of @code{up} and @code{down},
7334 respectively; they differ in that they do their work silently, without
7335 causing display of the new frame. They are intended primarily for use
7336 in @value{GDBN} command scripts, where the output might be unnecessary and
7337 distracting.
7338 @end table
7339
7340 @node Frame Info
7341 @section Information About a Frame
7342
7343 There are several other commands to print information about the selected
7344 stack frame.
7345
7346 @table @code
7347 @item frame
7348 @itemx f
7349 When used without any argument, this command does not change which
7350 frame is selected, but prints a brief description of the currently
7351 selected stack frame. It can be abbreviated @code{f}. With an
7352 argument, this command is used to select a stack frame.
7353 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7354
7355 @kindex info frame
7356 @kindex info f @r{(@code{info frame})}
7357 @item info frame
7358 @itemx info f
7359 This command prints a verbose description of the selected stack frame,
7360 including:
7361
7362 @itemize @bullet
7363 @item
7364 the address of the frame
7365 @item
7366 the address of the next frame down (called by this frame)
7367 @item
7368 the address of the next frame up (caller of this frame)
7369 @item
7370 the language in which the source code corresponding to this frame is written
7371 @item
7372 the address of the frame's arguments
7373 @item
7374 the address of the frame's local variables
7375 @item
7376 the program counter saved in it (the address of execution in the caller frame)
7377 @item
7378 which registers were saved in the frame
7379 @end itemize
7380
7381 @noindent The verbose description is useful when
7382 something has gone wrong that has made the stack format fail to fit
7383 the usual conventions.
7384
7385 @item info frame @var{addr}
7386 @itemx info f @var{addr}
7387 Print a verbose description of the frame at address @var{addr}, without
7388 selecting that frame. The selected frame remains unchanged by this
7389 command. This requires the same kind of address (more than one for some
7390 architectures) that you specify in the @code{frame} command.
7391 @xref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}.
7392
7393 @kindex info args
7394 @item info args
7395 Print the arguments of the selected frame, each on a separate line.
7396
7397 @item info locals
7398 @kindex info locals
7399 Print the local variables of the selected frame, each on a separate
7400 line. These are all variables (declared either static or automatic)
7401 accessible at the point of execution of the selected frame.
7402
7403 @end table
7404
7405 @node Frame Filter Management
7406 @section Management of Frame Filters.
7407 @cindex managing frame filters
7408
7409 Frame filters are Python based utilities to manage and decorate the
7410 output of frames. @xref{Frame Filter API}, for further information.
7411
7412 Managing frame filters is performed by several commands available
7413 within @value{GDBN}, detailed here.
7414
7415 @table @code
7416 @kindex info frame-filter
7417 @item info frame-filter
7418 Print a list of installed frame filters from all dictionaries, showing
7419 their name, priority and enabled status.
7420
7421 @kindex disable frame-filter
7422 @anchor{disable frame-filter all}
7423 @item disable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7424 Disable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7425 @var{filter-dictionary} and @var{filter-name}. The
7426 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
7427 @code{progspace}, or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7428 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters
7429 across all dictionaries are disabled. The @var{filter-name} is the name
7430 of the frame filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
7431 @var{filter-dictionary}. A disabled frame-filter is not deleted, it
7432 may be enabled again later.
7433
7434 @kindex enable frame-filter
7435 @item enable frame-filter @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7436 Enable a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7437 @var{filter-dictionary} and @var{filter-name}. The
7438 @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{all}, @code{global},
7439 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7440 dictionary resides. When @code{all} is specified, all frame filters across
7441 all dictionaries are enabled. The @var{filter-name} is the name of the frame
7442 filter and is used when @code{all} is not the option for
7443 @var{filter-dictionary}.
7444
7445 Example:
7446
7447 @smallexample
7448 (gdb) info frame-filter
7449
7450 global frame-filters:
7451 Priority Enabled Name
7452 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
7453 100 Yes Reverse
7454
7455 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7456 Priority Enabled Name
7457 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7458
7459 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7460 Priority Enabled Name
7461 999 Yes BuildProgra Filter
7462
7463 (gdb) disable frame-filter /build/test BuildProgramFilter
7464 (gdb) info frame-filter
7465
7466 global frame-filters:
7467 Priority Enabled Name
7468 1000 No PrimaryFunctionFilter
7469 100 Yes Reverse
7470
7471 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7472 Priority Enabled Name
7473 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7474
7475 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7476 Priority Enabled Name
7477 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7478
7479 (gdb) enable frame-filter global PrimaryFunctionFilter
7480 (gdb) info frame-filter
7481
7482 global frame-filters:
7483 Priority Enabled Name
7484 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7485 100 Yes Reverse
7486
7487 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7488 Priority Enabled Name
7489 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7490
7491 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7492 Priority Enabled Name
7493 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7494 @end smallexample
7495
7496 @kindex set frame-filter priority
7497 @item set frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name} @var{priority}
7498 Set the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7499 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
7500 @var{filter-name}. The @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
7501 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7502 dictionary resides. The @var{priority} is an integer.
7503
7504 @kindex show frame-filter priority
7505 @item show frame-filter priority @var{filter-dictionary} @var{filter-name}
7506 Show the @var{priority} of a frame filter in the dictionary matching
7507 @var{filter-dictionary}, and the frame filter name matching
7508 @var{filter-name}. The @var{filter-dictionary} may be @code{global},
7509 @code{progspace} or the name of the object file where the frame filter
7510 dictionary resides.
7511
7512 Example:
7513
7514 @smallexample
7515 (gdb) info frame-filter
7516
7517 global frame-filters:
7518 Priority Enabled Name
7519 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7520 100 Yes Reverse
7521
7522 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7523 Priority Enabled Name
7524 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7525
7526 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7527 Priority Enabled Name
7528 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7529
7530 (gdb) set frame-filter priority global Reverse 50
7531 (gdb) info frame-filter
7532
7533 global frame-filters:
7534 Priority Enabled Name
7535 1000 Yes PrimaryFunctionFilter
7536 50 Yes Reverse
7537
7538 progspace /build/test frame-filters:
7539 Priority Enabled Name
7540 100 Yes ProgspaceFilter
7541
7542 objfile /build/test frame-filters:
7543 Priority Enabled Name
7544 999 No BuildProgramFilter
7545 @end smallexample
7546 @end table
7547
7548 @node Source
7549 @chapter Examining Source Files
7550
7551 @value{GDBN} can print parts of your program's source, since the debugging
7552 information recorded in the program tells @value{GDBN} what source files were
7553 used to build it. When your program stops, @value{GDBN} spontaneously prints
7554 the line where it stopped. Likewise, when you select a stack frame
7555 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}), @value{GDBN} prints the line where
7556 execution in that frame has stopped. You can print other portions of
7557 source files by explicit command.
7558
7559 If you use @value{GDBN} through its @sc{gnu} Emacs interface, you may
7560 prefer to use Emacs facilities to view source; see @ref{Emacs, ,Using
7561 @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs}.
7562
7563 @menu
7564 * List:: Printing source lines
7565 * Specify Location:: How to specify code locations
7566 * Edit:: Editing source files
7567 * Search:: Searching source files
7568 * Source Path:: Specifying source directories
7569 * Machine Code:: Source and machine code
7570 @end menu
7571
7572 @node List
7573 @section Printing Source Lines
7574
7575 @kindex list
7576 @kindex l @r{(@code{list})}
7577 To print lines from a source file, use the @code{list} command
7578 (abbreviated @code{l}). By default, ten lines are printed.
7579 There are several ways to specify what part of the file you want to
7580 print; see @ref{Specify Location}, for the full list.
7581
7582 Here are the forms of the @code{list} command most commonly used:
7583
7584 @table @code
7585 @item list @var{linenum}
7586 Print lines centered around line number @var{linenum} in the
7587 current source file.
7588
7589 @item list @var{function}
7590 Print lines centered around the beginning of function
7591 @var{function}.
7592
7593 @item list
7594 Print more lines. If the last lines printed were printed with a
7595 @code{list} command, this prints lines following the last lines
7596 printed; however, if the last line printed was a solitary line printed
7597 as part of displaying a stack frame (@pxref{Stack, ,Examining the
7598 Stack}), this prints lines centered around that line.
7599
7600 @item list -
7601 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7602 @end table
7603
7604 @cindex @code{list}, how many lines to display
7605 By default, @value{GDBN} prints ten source lines with any of these forms of
7606 the @code{list} command. You can change this using @code{set listsize}:
7607
7608 @table @code
7609 @kindex set listsize
7610 @item set listsize @var{count}
7611 @itemx set listsize unlimited
7612 Make the @code{list} command display @var{count} source lines (unless
7613 the @code{list} argument explicitly specifies some other number).
7614 Setting @var{count} to @code{unlimited} or 0 means there's no limit.
7615
7616 @kindex show listsize
7617 @item show listsize
7618 Display the number of lines that @code{list} prints.
7619 @end table
7620
7621 Repeating a @code{list} command with @key{RET} discards the argument,
7622 so it is equivalent to typing just @code{list}. This is more useful
7623 than listing the same lines again. An exception is made for an
7624 argument of @samp{-}; that argument is preserved in repetition so that
7625 each repetition moves up in the source file.
7626
7627 In general, the @code{list} command expects you to supply zero, one or two
7628 @dfn{locations}. Locations specify source lines; there are several ways
7629 of writing them (@pxref{Specify Location}), but the effect is always
7630 to specify some source line.
7631
7632 Here is a complete description of the possible arguments for @code{list}:
7633
7634 @table @code
7635 @item list @var{location}
7636 Print lines centered around the line specified by @var{location}.
7637
7638 @item list @var{first},@var{last}
7639 Print lines from @var{first} to @var{last}. Both arguments are
7640 locations. When a @code{list} command has two locations, and the
7641 source file of the second location is omitted, this refers to
7642 the same source file as the first location.
7643
7644 @item list ,@var{last}
7645 Print lines ending with @var{last}.
7646
7647 @item list @var{first},
7648 Print lines starting with @var{first}.
7649
7650 @item list +
7651 Print lines just after the lines last printed.
7652
7653 @item list -
7654 Print lines just before the lines last printed.
7655
7656 @item list
7657 As described in the preceding table.
7658 @end table
7659
7660 @node Specify Location
7661 @section Specifying a Location
7662 @cindex specifying location
7663 @cindex location
7664 @cindex source location
7665
7666 @menu
7667 * Linespec Locations:: Linespec locations
7668 * Explicit Locations:: Explicit locations
7669 * Address Locations:: Address locations
7670 @end menu
7671
7672 Several @value{GDBN} commands accept arguments that specify a location
7673 of your program's code. Since @value{GDBN} is a source-level
7674 debugger, a location usually specifies some line in the source code.
7675 Locations may be specified using three different formats:
7676 linespec locations, explicit locations, or address locations.
7677
7678 @node Linespec Locations
7679 @subsection Linespec Locations
7680 @cindex linespec locations
7681
7682 A @dfn{linespec} is a colon-separated list of source location parameters such
7683 as file name, function name, etc. Here are all the different ways of
7684 specifying a linespec:
7685
7686 @table @code
7687 @item @var{linenum}
7688 Specifies the line number @var{linenum} of the current source file.
7689
7690 @item -@var{offset}
7691 @itemx +@var{offset}
7692 Specifies the line @var{offset} lines before or after the @dfn{current
7693 line}. For the @code{list} command, the current line is the last one
7694 printed; for the breakpoint commands, this is the line at which
7695 execution stopped in the currently selected @dfn{stack frame}
7696 (@pxref{Frames, ,Frames}, for a description of stack frames.) When
7697 used as the second of the two linespecs in a @code{list} command,
7698 this specifies the line @var{offset} lines up or down from the first
7699 linespec.
7700
7701 @item @var{filename}:@var{linenum}
7702 Specifies the line @var{linenum} in the source file @var{filename}.
7703 If @var{filename} is a relative file name, then it will match any
7704 source file name with the same trailing components. For example, if
7705 @var{filename} is @samp{gcc/expr.c}, then it will match source file
7706 name of @file{/build/trunk/gcc/expr.c}, but not
7707 @file{/build/trunk/libcpp/expr.c} or @file{/build/trunk/gcc/x-expr.c}.
7708
7709 @item @var{function}
7710 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}.
7711 For example, in C, this is the line with the open brace.
7712
7713 @item @var{function}:@var{label}
7714 Specifies the line where @var{label} appears in @var{function}.
7715
7716 @item @var{filename}:@var{function}
7717 Specifies the line that begins the body of the function @var{function}
7718 in the file @var{filename}. You only need the file name with a
7719 function name to avoid ambiguity when there are identically named
7720 functions in different source files.
7721
7722 @item @var{label}
7723 Specifies the line at which the label named @var{label} appears
7724 in the function corresponding to the currently selected stack frame.
7725 If there is no current selected stack frame (for instance, if the inferior
7726 is not running), then @value{GDBN} will not search for a label.
7727
7728 @cindex breakpoint at static probe point
7729 @item -pstap|-probe-stap @r{[}@var{objfile}:@r{[}@var{provider}:@r{]}@r{]}@var{name}
7730 The @sc{gnu}/Linux tool @code{SystemTap} provides a way for
7731 applications to embed static probes. @xref{Static Probe Points}, for more
7732 information on finding and using static probes. This form of linespec
7733 specifies the location of such a static probe.
7734
7735 If @var{objfile} is given, only probes coming from that shared library
7736 or executable matching @var{objfile} as a regular expression are considered.
7737 If @var{provider} is given, then only probes from that provider are considered.
7738 If several probes match the spec, @value{GDBN} will insert a breakpoint at
7739 each one of those probes.
7740 @end table
7741
7742 @node Explicit Locations
7743 @subsection Explicit Locations
7744 @cindex explicit locations
7745
7746 @dfn{Explicit locations} allow the user to directly specify the source
7747 location's parameters using option-value pairs.
7748
7749 Explicit locations are useful when several functions, labels, or
7750 file names have the same name (base name for files) in the program's
7751 sources. In these cases, explicit locations point to the source
7752 line you meant more accurately and unambiguously. Also, using
7753 explicit locations might be faster in large programs.
7754
7755 For example, the linespec @samp{foo:bar} may refer to a function @code{bar}
7756 defined in the file named @file{foo} or the label @code{bar} in a function
7757 named @code{foo}. @value{GDBN} must search either the file system or
7758 the symbol table to know.
7759
7760 The list of valid explicit location options is summarized in the
7761 following table:
7762
7763 @table @code
7764 @item -source @var{filename}
7765 The value specifies the source file name. To differentiate between
7766 files with the same base name, prepend as many directories as is necessary
7767 to uniquely identify the desired file, e.g., @file{foo/bar/baz.c}. Otherwise
7768 @value{GDBN} will use the first file it finds with the given base
7769 name. This option requires the use of either @code{-function} or @code{-line}.
7770
7771 @item -function @var{function}
7772 The value specifies the name of a function. Operations
7773 on function locations unmodified by other options (such as @code{-label}
7774 or @code{-line}) refer to the line that begins the body of the function.
7775 In C, for example, this is the line with the open brace.
7776
7777 @item -label @var{label}
7778 The value specifies the name of a label. When the function
7779 name is not specified, the label is searched in the function of the currently
7780 selected stack frame.
7781
7782 @item -line @var{number}
7783 The value specifies a line offset for the location. The offset may either
7784 be absolute (@code{-line 3}) or relative (@code{-line +3}), depending on
7785 the command. When specified without any other options, the line offset is
7786 relative to the current line.
7787 @end table
7788
7789 Explicit location options may be abbreviated by omitting any non-unique
7790 trailing characters from the option name, e.g., @code{break -s main.c -li 3}.
7791
7792 @node Address Locations
7793 @subsection Address Locations
7794 @cindex address locations
7795
7796 @dfn{Address locations} indicate a specific program address. They have
7797 the generalized form *@var{address}.
7798
7799 For line-oriented commands, such as @code{list} and @code{edit}, this
7800 specifies a source line that contains @var{address}. For @code{break} and
7801 other breakpoint-oriented commands, this can be used to set breakpoints in
7802 parts of your program which do not have debugging information or
7803 source files.
7804
7805 Here @var{address} may be any expression valid in the current working
7806 language (@pxref{Languages, working language}) that specifies a code
7807 address. In addition, as a convenience, @value{GDBN} extends the
7808 semantics of expressions used in locations to cover several situations
7809 that frequently occur during debugging. Here are the various forms
7810 of @var{address}:
7811
7812 @table @code
7813 @item @var{expression}
7814 Any expression valid in the current working language.
7815
7816 @item @var{funcaddr}
7817 An address of a function or procedure derived from its name. In C,
7818 C@t{++}, Java, Objective-C, Fortran, minimal, and assembly, this is
7819 simply the function's name @var{function} (and actually a special case
7820 of a valid expression). In Pascal and Modula-2, this is
7821 @code{&@var{function}}. In Ada, this is @code{@var{function}'Address}
7822 (although the Pascal form also works).
7823
7824 This form specifies the address of the function's first instruction,
7825 before the stack frame and arguments have been set up.
7826
7827 @item '@var{filename}':@var{funcaddr}
7828 Like @var{funcaddr} above, but also specifies the name of the source
7829 file explicitly. This is useful if the name of the function does not
7830 specify the function unambiguously, e.g., if there are several
7831 functions with identical names in different source files.
7832 @end table
7833
7834 @node Edit
7835 @section Editing Source Files
7836 @cindex editing source files
7837
7838 @kindex edit
7839 @kindex e @r{(@code{edit})}
7840 To edit the lines in a source file, use the @code{edit} command.
7841 The editing program of your choice
7842 is invoked with the current line set to
7843 the active line in the program.
7844 Alternatively, there are several ways to specify what part of the file you
7845 want to print if you want to see other parts of the program:
7846
7847 @table @code
7848 @item edit @var{location}
7849 Edit the source file specified by @code{location}. Editing starts at
7850 that @var{location}, e.g., at the specified source line of the
7851 specified file. @xref{Specify Location}, for all the possible forms
7852 of the @var{location} argument; here are the forms of the @code{edit}
7853 command most commonly used:
7854
7855 @table @code
7856 @item edit @var{number}
7857 Edit the current source file with @var{number} as the active line number.
7858
7859 @item edit @var{function}
7860 Edit the file containing @var{function} at the beginning of its definition.
7861 @end table
7862
7863 @end table
7864
7865 @subsection Choosing your Editor
7866 You can customize @value{GDBN} to use any editor you want
7867 @footnote{
7868 The only restriction is that your editor (say @code{ex}), recognizes the
7869 following command-line syntax:
7870 @smallexample
7871 ex +@var{number} file
7872 @end smallexample
7873 The optional numeric value +@var{number} specifies the number of the line in
7874 the file where to start editing.}.
7875 By default, it is @file{@value{EDITOR}}, but you can change this
7876 by setting the environment variable @code{EDITOR} before using
7877 @value{GDBN}. For example, to configure @value{GDBN} to use the
7878 @code{vi} editor, you could use these commands with the @code{sh} shell:
7879 @smallexample
7880 EDITOR=/usr/bin/vi
7881 export EDITOR
7882 gdb @dots{}
7883 @end smallexample
7884 or in the @code{csh} shell,
7885 @smallexample
7886 setenv EDITOR /usr/bin/vi
7887 gdb @dots{}
7888 @end smallexample
7889
7890 @node Search
7891 @section Searching Source Files
7892 @cindex searching source files
7893
7894 There are two commands for searching through the current source file for a
7895 regular expression.
7896
7897 @table @code
7898 @kindex search
7899 @kindex forward-search
7900 @kindex fo @r{(@code{forward-search})}
7901 @item forward-search @var{regexp}
7902 @itemx search @var{regexp}
7903 The command @samp{forward-search @var{regexp}} checks each line,
7904 starting with the one following the last line listed, for a match for
7905 @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can use the
7906 synonym @samp{search @var{regexp}} or abbreviate the command name as
7907 @code{fo}.
7908
7909 @kindex reverse-search
7910 @item reverse-search @var{regexp}
7911 The command @samp{reverse-search @var{regexp}} checks each line, starting
7912 with the one before the last line listed and going backward, for a match
7913 for @var{regexp}. It lists the line that is found. You can abbreviate
7914 this command as @code{rev}.
7915 @end table
7916
7917 @node Source Path
7918 @section Specifying Source Directories
7919
7920 @cindex source path
7921 @cindex directories for source files
7922 Executable programs sometimes do not record the directories of the source
7923 files from which they were compiled, just the names. Even when they do,
7924 the directories could be moved between the compilation and your debugging
7925 session. @value{GDBN} has a list of directories to search for source files;
7926 this is called the @dfn{source path}. Each time @value{GDBN} wants a source file,
7927 it tries all the directories in the list, in the order they are present
7928 in the list, until it finds a file with the desired name.
7929
7930 For example, suppose an executable references the file
7931 @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}, and our source path is
7932 @file{/mnt/cross}. The file is first looked up literally; if this
7933 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} is tried; if this
7934 fails, @file{/mnt/cross/foo.c} is opened; if this fails, an error
7935 message is printed. @value{GDBN} does not look up the parts of the
7936 source file name, such as @file{/mnt/cross/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}.
7937 Likewise, the subdirectories of the source path are not searched: if
7938 the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the binary refers to
7939 @file{foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would not find it under
7940 @file{/mnt/cross/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib}.
7941
7942 Plain file names, relative file names with leading directories, file
7943 names containing dots, etc.@: are all treated as described above; for
7944 instance, if the source path is @file{/mnt/cross}, and the source file
7945 is recorded as @file{../lib/foo.c}, @value{GDBN} would first try
7946 @file{../lib/foo.c}, then @file{/mnt/cross/../lib/foo.c}, and after
7947 that---@file{/mnt/cross/foo.c}.
7948
7949 Note that the executable search path is @emph{not} used to locate the
7950 source files.
7951
7952 Whenever you reset or rearrange the source path, @value{GDBN} clears out
7953 any information it has cached about where source files are found and where
7954 each line is in the file.
7955
7956 @kindex directory
7957 @kindex dir
7958 When you start @value{GDBN}, its source path includes only @samp{cdir}
7959 and @samp{cwd}, in that order.
7960 To add other directories, use the @code{directory} command.
7961
7962 The search path is used to find both program source files and @value{GDBN}
7963 script files (read using the @samp{-command} option and @samp{source} command).
7964
7965 In addition to the source path, @value{GDBN} provides a set of commands
7966 that manage a list of source path substitution rules. A @dfn{substitution
7967 rule} specifies how to rewrite source directories stored in the program's
7968 debug information in case the sources were moved to a different
7969 directory between compilation and debugging. A rule is made of
7970 two strings, the first specifying what needs to be rewritten in
7971 the path, and the second specifying how it should be rewritten.
7972 In @ref{set substitute-path}, we name these two parts @var{from} and
7973 @var{to} respectively. @value{GDBN} does a simple string replacement
7974 of @var{from} with @var{to} at the start of the directory part of the
7975 source file name, and uses that result instead of the original file
7976 name to look up the sources.
7977
7978 Using the previous example, suppose the @file{foo-1.0} tree has been
7979 moved from @file{/usr/src} to @file{/mnt/cross}, then you can tell
7980 @value{GDBN} to replace @file{/usr/src} in all source path names with
7981 @file{/mnt/cross}. The first lookup will then be
7982 @file{/mnt/cross/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c} in place of the original location
7983 of @file{/usr/src/foo-1.0/lib/foo.c}. To define a source path
7984 substitution rule, use the @code{set substitute-path} command
7985 (@pxref{set substitute-path}).
7986
7987 To avoid unexpected substitution results, a rule is applied only if the
7988 @var{from} part of the directory name ends at a directory separator.
7989 For instance, a rule substituting @file{/usr/source} into
7990 @file{/mnt/cross} will be applied to @file{/usr/source/foo-1.0} but
7991 not to @file{/usr/sourceware/foo-2.0}. And because the substitution
7992 is applied only at the beginning of the directory name, this rule will
7993 not be applied to @file{/root/usr/source/baz.c} either.
7994
7995 In many cases, you can achieve the same result using the @code{directory}
7996 command. However, @code{set substitute-path} can be more efficient in
7997 the case where the sources are organized in a complex tree with multiple
7998 subdirectories. With the @code{directory} command, you need to add each
7999 subdirectory of your project. If you moved the entire tree while
8000 preserving its internal organization, then @code{set substitute-path}
8001 allows you to direct the debugger to all the sources with one single
8002 command.
8003
8004 @code{set substitute-path} is also more than just a shortcut command.
8005 The source path is only used if the file at the original location no
8006 longer exists. On the other hand, @code{set substitute-path} modifies
8007 the debugger behavior to look at the rewritten location instead. So, if
8008 for any reason a source file that is not relevant to your executable is
8009 located at the original location, a substitution rule is the only
8010 method available to point @value{GDBN} at the new location.
8011
8012 @cindex @samp{--with-relocated-sources}
8013 @cindex default source path substitution
8014 You can configure a default source path substitution rule by
8015 configuring @value{GDBN} with the
8016 @samp{--with-relocated-sources=@var{dir}} option. The @var{dir}
8017 should be the name of a directory under @value{GDBN}'s configured
8018 prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or @samp{--exec-prefix}), and
8019 directory names in debug information under @var{dir} will be adjusted
8020 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
8021 location. This is useful if @value{GDBN}, libraries or executables
8022 with debug information and corresponding source code are being moved
8023 together.
8024
8025 @table @code
8026 @item directory @var{dirname} @dots{}
8027 @item dir @var{dirname} @dots{}
8028 Add directory @var{dirname} to the front of the source path. Several
8029 directory names may be given to this command, separated by @samp{:}
8030 (@samp{;} on MS-DOS and MS-Windows, where @samp{:} usually appears as
8031 part of absolute file names) or
8032 whitespace. You may specify a directory that is already in the source
8033 path; this moves it forward, so @value{GDBN} searches it sooner.
8034
8035 @kindex cdir
8036 @kindex cwd
8037 @vindex $cdir@r{, convenience variable}
8038 @vindex $cwd@r{, convenience variable}
8039 @cindex compilation directory
8040 @cindex current directory
8041 @cindex working directory
8042 @cindex directory, current
8043 @cindex directory, compilation
8044 You can use the string @samp{$cdir} to refer to the compilation
8045 directory (if one is recorded), and @samp{$cwd} to refer to the current
8046 working directory. @samp{$cwd} is not the same as @samp{.}---the former
8047 tracks the current working directory as it changes during your @value{GDBN}
8048 session, while the latter is immediately expanded to the current
8049 directory at the time you add an entry to the source path.
8050
8051 @item directory
8052 Reset the source path to its default value (@samp{$cdir:$cwd} on Unix systems). This requires confirmation.
8053
8054 @c RET-repeat for @code{directory} is explicitly disabled, but since
8055 @c repeating it would be a no-op we do not say that. (thanks to RMS)
8056
8057 @item set directories @var{path-list}
8058 @kindex set directories
8059 Set the source path to @var{path-list}.
8060 @samp{$cdir:$cwd} are added if missing.
8061
8062 @item show directories
8063 @kindex show directories
8064 Print the source path: show which directories it contains.
8065
8066 @anchor{set substitute-path}
8067 @item set substitute-path @var{from} @var{to}
8068 @kindex set substitute-path
8069 Define a source path substitution rule, and add it at the end of the
8070 current list of existing substitution rules. If a rule with the same
8071 @var{from} was already defined, then the old rule is also deleted.
8072
8073 For example, if the file @file{/foo/bar/baz.c} was moved to
8074 @file{/mnt/cross/baz.c}, then the command
8075
8076 @smallexample
8077 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /foo/bar /mnt/cross
8078 @end smallexample
8079
8080 @noindent
8081 will tell @value{GDBN} to replace @samp{/foo/bar} with
8082 @samp{/mnt/cross}, which will allow @value{GDBN} to find the file
8083 @file{baz.c} even though it was moved.
8084
8085 In the case when more than one substitution rule have been defined,
8086 the rules are evaluated one by one in the order where they have been
8087 defined. The first one matching, if any, is selected to perform
8088 the substitution.
8089
8090 For instance, if we had entered the following commands:
8091
8092 @smallexample
8093 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src/include /mnt/include
8094 (@value{GDBP}) set substitute-path /usr/src /mnt/src
8095 @end smallexample
8096
8097 @noindent
8098 @value{GDBN} would then rewrite @file{/usr/src/include/defs.h} into
8099 @file{/mnt/include/defs.h} by using the first rule. However, it would
8100 use the second rule to rewrite @file{/usr/src/lib/foo.c} into
8101 @file{/mnt/src/lib/foo.c}.
8102
8103
8104 @item unset substitute-path [path]
8105 @kindex unset substitute-path
8106 If a path is specified, search the current list of substitution rules
8107 for a rule that would rewrite that path. Delete that rule if found.
8108 A warning is emitted by the debugger if no rule could be found.
8109
8110 If no path is specified, then all substitution rules are deleted.
8111
8112 @item show substitute-path [path]
8113 @kindex show substitute-path
8114 If a path is specified, then print the source path substitution rule
8115 which would rewrite that path, if any.
8116
8117 If no path is specified, then print all existing source path substitution
8118 rules.
8119
8120 @end table
8121
8122 If your source path is cluttered with directories that are no longer of
8123 interest, @value{GDBN} may sometimes cause confusion by finding the wrong
8124 versions of source. You can correct the situation as follows:
8125
8126 @enumerate
8127 @item
8128 Use @code{directory} with no argument to reset the source path to its default value.
8129
8130 @item
8131 Use @code{directory} with suitable arguments to reinstall the
8132 directories you want in the source path. You can add all the
8133 directories in one command.
8134 @end enumerate
8135
8136 @node Machine Code
8137 @section Source and Machine Code
8138 @cindex source line and its code address
8139
8140 You can use the command @code{info line} to map source lines to program
8141 addresses (and vice versa), and the command @code{disassemble} to display
8142 a range of addresses as machine instructions. You can use the command
8143 @code{set disassemble-next-line} to set whether to disassemble next
8144 source line when execution stops. When run under @sc{gnu} Emacs
8145 mode, the @code{info line} command causes the arrow to point to the
8146 line specified. Also, @code{info line} prints addresses in symbolic form as
8147 well as hex.
8148
8149 @table @code
8150 @kindex info line
8151 @item info line @var{location}
8152 Print the starting and ending addresses of the compiled code for
8153 source line @var{location}. You can specify source lines in any of
8154 the ways documented in @ref{Specify Location}.
8155 @end table
8156
8157 For example, we can use @code{info line} to discover the location of
8158 the object code for the first line of function
8159 @code{m4_changequote}:
8160
8161 @c FIXME: I think this example should also show the addresses in
8162 @c symbolic form, as they usually would be displayed.
8163 @smallexample
8164 (@value{GDBP}) info line m4_changequote
8165 Line 895 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x634c and ends at 0x6350.
8166 @end smallexample
8167
8168 @noindent
8169 @cindex code address and its source line
8170 We can also inquire (using @code{*@var{addr}} as the form for
8171 @var{location}) what source line covers a particular address:
8172 @smallexample
8173 (@value{GDBP}) info line *0x63ff
8174 Line 926 of "builtin.c" starts at pc 0x63e4 and ends at 0x6404.
8175 @end smallexample
8176
8177 @cindex @code{$_} and @code{info line}
8178 @cindex @code{x} command, default address
8179 @kindex x@r{(examine), and} info line
8180 After @code{info line}, the default address for the @code{x} command
8181 is changed to the starting address of the line, so that @samp{x/i} is
8182 sufficient to begin examining the machine code (@pxref{Memory,
8183 ,Examining Memory}). Also, this address is saved as the value of the
8184 convenience variable @code{$_} (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
8185 Variables}).
8186
8187 @table @code
8188 @kindex disassemble
8189 @cindex assembly instructions
8190 @cindex instructions, assembly
8191 @cindex machine instructions
8192 @cindex listing machine instructions
8193 @item disassemble
8194 @itemx disassemble /m
8195 @itemx disassemble /s
8196 @itemx disassemble /r
8197 This specialized command dumps a range of memory as machine
8198 instructions. It can also print mixed source+disassembly by specifying
8199 the @code{/m} or @code{/s} modifier and print the raw instructions in hex
8200 as well as in symbolic form by specifying the @code{/r} modifier.
8201 The default memory range is the function surrounding the
8202 program counter of the selected frame. A single argument to this
8203 command is a program counter value; @value{GDBN} dumps the function
8204 surrounding this value. When two arguments are given, they should
8205 be separated by a comma, possibly surrounded by whitespace. The
8206 arguments specify a range of addresses to dump, in one of two forms:
8207
8208 @table @code
8209 @item @var{start},@var{end}
8210 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to @var{end} (exclusive)
8211 @item @var{start},+@var{length}
8212 the addresses from @var{start} (inclusive) to
8213 @code{@var{start}+@var{length}} (exclusive).
8214 @end table
8215
8216 @noindent
8217 When 2 arguments are specified, the name of the function is also
8218 printed (since there could be several functions in the given range).
8219
8220 The argument(s) can be any expression yielding a numeric value, such as
8221 @samp{0x32c4}, @samp{&main+10} or @samp{$pc - 8}.
8222
8223 If the range of memory being disassembled contains current program counter,
8224 the instruction at that location is shown with a @code{=>} marker.
8225 @end table
8226
8227 The following example shows the disassembly of a range of addresses of
8228 HP PA-RISC 2.0 code:
8229
8230 @smallexample
8231 (@value{GDBP}) disas 0x32c4, 0x32e4
8232 Dump of assembler code from 0x32c4 to 0x32e4:
8233 0x32c4 <main+204>: addil 0,dp
8234 0x32c8 <main+208>: ldw 0x22c(sr0,r1),r26
8235 0x32cc <main+212>: ldil 0x3000,r31
8236 0x32d0 <main+216>: ble 0x3f8(sr4,r31)
8237 0x32d4 <main+220>: ldo 0(r31),rp
8238 0x32d8 <main+224>: addil -0x800,dp
8239 0x32dc <main+228>: ldo 0x588(r1),r26
8240 0x32e0 <main+232>: ldil 0x3000,r31
8241 End of assembler dump.
8242 @end smallexample
8243
8244 Here is an example showing mixed source+assembly for Intel x86
8245 with @code{/m} or @code{/s}, when the program is stopped just after
8246 function prologue in a non-optimized function with no inline code.
8247
8248 @smallexample
8249 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
8250 Dump of assembler code for function main:
8251 5 @{
8252 0x08048330 <+0>: push %ebp
8253 0x08048331 <+1>: mov %esp,%ebp
8254 0x08048333 <+3>: sub $0x8,%esp
8255 0x08048336 <+6>: and $0xfffffff0,%esp
8256 0x08048339 <+9>: sub $0x10,%esp
8257
8258 6 printf ("Hello.\n");
8259 => 0x0804833c <+12>: movl $0x8048440,(%esp)
8260 0x08048343 <+19>: call 0x8048284 <puts@@plt>
8261
8262 7 return 0;
8263 8 @}
8264 0x08048348 <+24>: mov $0x0,%eax
8265 0x0804834d <+29>: leave
8266 0x0804834e <+30>: ret
8267
8268 End of assembler dump.
8269 @end smallexample
8270
8271 The @code{/m} option is deprecated as its output is not useful when
8272 there is either inlined code or re-ordered code.
8273 The @code{/s} option is the preferred choice.
8274 Here is an example for AMD x86-64 showing the difference between
8275 @code{/m} output and @code{/s} output.
8276 This example has one inline function defined in a header file,
8277 and the code is compiled with @samp{-O2} optimization.
8278 Note how the @code{/m} output is missing the disassembly of
8279 several instructions that are present in the @code{/s} output.
8280
8281 @file{foo.h}:
8282
8283 @smallexample
8284 int
8285 foo (int a)
8286 @{
8287 if (a < 0)
8288 return a * 2;
8289 if (a == 0)
8290 return 1;
8291 return a + 10;
8292 @}
8293 @end smallexample
8294
8295 @file{foo.c}:
8296
8297 @smallexample
8298 #include "foo.h"
8299 volatile int x, y;
8300 int
8301 main ()
8302 @{
8303 x = foo (y);
8304 return 0;
8305 @}
8306 @end smallexample
8307
8308 @smallexample
8309 (@value{GDBP}) disas /m main
8310 Dump of assembler code for function main:
8311 5 @{
8312
8313 6 x = foo (y);
8314 0x0000000000400400 <+0>: mov 0x200c2e(%rip),%eax # 0x601034 <y>
8315 0x0000000000400417 <+23>: mov %eax,0x200c13(%rip) # 0x601030 <x>
8316
8317 7 return 0;
8318 8 @}
8319 0x000000000040041d <+29>: xor %eax,%eax
8320 0x000000000040041f <+31>: retq
8321 0x0000000000400420 <+32>: add %eax,%eax
8322 0x0000000000400422 <+34>: jmp 0x400417 <main+23>
8323
8324 End of assembler dump.
8325 (@value{GDBP}) disas /s main
8326 Dump of assembler code for function main:
8327 foo.c:
8328 5 @{
8329 6 x = foo (y);
8330 0x0000000000400400 <+0>: mov 0x200c2e(%rip),%eax # 0x601034 <y>
8331
8332 foo.h:
8333 4 if (a < 0)
8334 0x0000000000400406 <+6>: test %eax,%eax
8335 0x0000000000400408 <+8>: js 0x400420 <main+32>
8336
8337 6 if (a == 0)
8338 7 return 1;
8339 8 return a + 10;
8340 0x000000000040040a <+10>: lea 0xa(%rax),%edx
8341 0x000000000040040d <+13>: test %eax,%eax
8342 0x000000000040040f <+15>: mov $0x1,%eax
8343 0x0000000000400414 <+20>: cmovne %edx,%eax
8344
8345 foo.c:
8346 6 x = foo (y);
8347 0x0000000000400417 <+23>: mov %eax,0x200c13(%rip) # 0x601030 <x>
8348
8349 7 return 0;
8350 8 @}
8351 0x000000000040041d <+29>: xor %eax,%eax
8352 0x000000000040041f <+31>: retq
8353
8354 foo.h:
8355 5 return a * 2;
8356 0x0000000000400420 <+32>: add %eax,%eax
8357 0x0000000000400422 <+34>: jmp 0x400417 <main+23>
8358 End of assembler dump.
8359 @end smallexample
8360
8361 Here is another example showing raw instructions in hex for AMD x86-64,
8362
8363 @smallexample
8364 (gdb) disas /r 0x400281,+10
8365 Dump of assembler code from 0x400281 to 0x40028b:
8366 0x0000000000400281: 38 36 cmp %dh,(%rsi)
8367 0x0000000000400283: 2d 36 34 2e 73 sub $0x732e3436,%eax
8368 0x0000000000400288: 6f outsl %ds:(%rsi),(%dx)
8369 0x0000000000400289: 2e 32 00 xor %cs:(%rax),%al
8370 End of assembler dump.
8371 @end smallexample
8372
8373 Addresses cannot be specified as a location (@pxref{Specify Location}).
8374 So, for example, if you want to disassemble function @code{bar}
8375 in file @file{foo.c}, you must type @samp{disassemble 'foo.c'::bar}
8376 and not @samp{disassemble foo.c:bar}.
8377
8378 Some architectures have more than one commonly-used set of instruction
8379 mnemonics or other syntax.
8380
8381 For programs that were dynamically linked and use shared libraries,
8382 instructions that call functions or branch to locations in the shared
8383 libraries might show a seemingly bogus location---it's actually a
8384 location of the relocation table. On some architectures, @value{GDBN}
8385 might be able to resolve these to actual function names.
8386
8387 @table @code
8388 @kindex set disassembly-flavor
8389 @cindex Intel disassembly flavor
8390 @cindex AT&T disassembly flavor
8391 @item set disassembly-flavor @var{instruction-set}
8392 Select the instruction set to use when disassembling the
8393 program via the @code{disassemble} or @code{x/i} commands.
8394
8395 Currently this command is only defined for the Intel x86 family. You
8396 can set @var{instruction-set} to either @code{intel} or @code{att}.
8397 The default is @code{att}, the AT&T flavor used by default by Unix
8398 assemblers for x86-based targets.
8399
8400 @kindex show disassembly-flavor
8401 @item show disassembly-flavor
8402 Show the current setting of the disassembly flavor.
8403 @end table
8404
8405 @table @code
8406 @kindex set disassemble-next-line
8407 @kindex show disassemble-next-line
8408 @item set disassemble-next-line
8409 @itemx show disassemble-next-line
8410 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will disassemble the next source
8411 line or instruction when execution stops. If ON, @value{GDBN} will
8412 display disassembly of the next source line when execution of the
8413 program being debugged stops. This is @emph{in addition} to
8414 displaying the source line itself, which @value{GDBN} always does if
8415 possible. If the next source line cannot be displayed for some reason
8416 (e.g., if @value{GDBN} cannot find the source file, or there's no line
8417 info in the debug info), @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of the
8418 next @emph{instruction} instead of showing the next source line. If
8419 AUTO, @value{GDBN} will display disassembly of next instruction only
8420 if the source line cannot be displayed. This setting causes
8421 @value{GDBN} to display some feedback when you step through a function
8422 with no line info or whose source file is unavailable. The default is
8423 OFF, which means never display the disassembly of the next line or
8424 instruction.
8425 @end table
8426
8427
8428 @node Data
8429 @chapter Examining Data
8430
8431 @cindex printing data
8432 @cindex examining data
8433 @kindex print
8434 @kindex inspect
8435 The usual way to examine data in your program is with the @code{print}
8436 command (abbreviated @code{p}), or its synonym @code{inspect}. It
8437 evaluates and prints the value of an expression of the language your
8438 program is written in (@pxref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with
8439 Different Languages}). It may also print the expression using a
8440 Python-based pretty-printer (@pxref{Pretty Printing}).
8441
8442 @table @code
8443 @item print @var{expr}
8444 @itemx print /@var{f} @var{expr}
8445 @var{expr} is an expression (in the source language). By default the
8446 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
8447 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
8448 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
8449 Formats}.
8450
8451 @item print
8452 @itemx print /@var{f}
8453 @cindex reprint the last value
8454 If you omit @var{expr}, @value{GDBN} displays the last value again (from the
8455 @dfn{value history}; @pxref{Value History, ,Value History}). This allows you to
8456 conveniently inspect the same value in an alternative format.
8457 @end table
8458
8459 A more low-level way of examining data is with the @code{x} command.
8460 It examines data in memory at a specified address and prints it in a
8461 specified format. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
8462
8463 If you are interested in information about types, or about how the
8464 fields of a struct or a class are declared, use the @code{ptype @var{exp}}
8465 command rather than @code{print}. @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol
8466 Table}.
8467
8468 @cindex exploring hierarchical data structures
8469 @kindex explore
8470 Another way of examining values of expressions and type information is
8471 through the Python extension command @code{explore} (available only if
8472 the @value{GDBN} build is configured with @code{--with-python}). It
8473 offers an interactive way to start at the highest level (or, the most
8474 abstract level) of the data type of an expression (or, the data type
8475 itself) and explore all the way down to leaf scalar values/fields
8476 embedded in the higher level data types.
8477
8478 @table @code
8479 @item explore @var{arg}
8480 @var{arg} is either an expression (in the source language), or a type
8481 visible in the current context of the program being debugged.
8482 @end table
8483
8484 The working of the @code{explore} command can be illustrated with an
8485 example. If a data type @code{struct ComplexStruct} is defined in your
8486 C program as
8487
8488 @smallexample
8489 struct SimpleStruct
8490 @{
8491 int i;
8492 double d;
8493 @};
8494
8495 struct ComplexStruct
8496 @{
8497 struct SimpleStruct *ss_p;
8498 int arr[10];
8499 @};
8500 @end smallexample
8501
8502 @noindent
8503 followed by variable declarations as
8504
8505 @smallexample
8506 struct SimpleStruct ss = @{ 10, 1.11 @};
8507 struct ComplexStruct cs = @{ &ss, @{ 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 @} @};
8508 @end smallexample
8509
8510 @noindent
8511 then, the value of the variable @code{cs} can be explored using the
8512 @code{explore} command as follows.
8513
8514 @smallexample
8515 (gdb) explore cs
8516 The value of `cs' is a struct/class of type `struct ComplexStruct' with
8517 the following fields:
8518
8519 ss_p = <Enter 0 to explore this field of type `struct SimpleStruct *'>
8520 arr = <Enter 1 to explore this field of type `int [10]'>
8521
8522 Enter the field number of choice:
8523 @end smallexample
8524
8525 @noindent
8526 Since the fields of @code{cs} are not scalar values, you are being
8527 prompted to chose the field you want to explore. Let's say you choose
8528 the field @code{ss_p} by entering @code{0}. Then, since this field is a
8529 pointer, you will be asked if it is pointing to a single value. From
8530 the declaration of @code{cs} above, it is indeed pointing to a single
8531 value, hence you enter @code{y}. If you enter @code{n}, then you will
8532 be asked if it were pointing to an array of values, in which case this
8533 field will be explored as if it were an array.
8534
8535 @smallexample
8536 `cs.ss_p' is a pointer to a value of type `struct SimpleStruct'
8537 Continue exploring it as a pointer to a single value [y/n]: y
8538 The value of `*(cs.ss_p)' is a struct/class of type `struct
8539 SimpleStruct' with the following fields:
8540
8541 i = 10 .. (Value of type `int')
8542 d = 1.1100000000000001 .. (Value of type `double')
8543
8544 Press enter to return to parent value:
8545 @end smallexample
8546
8547 @noindent
8548 If the field @code{arr} of @code{cs} was chosen for exploration by
8549 entering @code{1} earlier, then since it is as array, you will be
8550 prompted to enter the index of the element in the array that you want
8551 to explore.
8552
8553 @smallexample
8554 `cs.arr' is an array of `int'.
8555 Enter the index of the element you want to explore in `cs.arr': 5
8556
8557 `(cs.arr)[5]' is a scalar value of type `int'.
8558
8559 (cs.arr)[5] = 4
8560
8561 Press enter to return to parent value:
8562 @end smallexample
8563
8564 In general, at any stage of exploration, you can go deeper towards the
8565 leaf values by responding to the prompts appropriately, or hit the
8566 return key to return to the enclosing data structure (the @i{higher}
8567 level data structure).
8568
8569 Similar to exploring values, you can use the @code{explore} command to
8570 explore types. Instead of specifying a value (which is typically a
8571 variable name or an expression valid in the current context of the
8572 program being debugged), you specify a type name. If you consider the
8573 same example as above, your can explore the type
8574 @code{struct ComplexStruct} by passing the argument
8575 @code{struct ComplexStruct} to the @code{explore} command.
8576
8577 @smallexample
8578 (gdb) explore struct ComplexStruct
8579 @end smallexample
8580
8581 @noindent
8582 By responding to the prompts appropriately in the subsequent interactive
8583 session, you can explore the type @code{struct ComplexStruct} in a
8584 manner similar to how the value @code{cs} was explored in the above
8585 example.
8586
8587 The @code{explore} command also has two sub-commands,
8588 @code{explore value} and @code{explore type}. The former sub-command is
8589 a way to explicitly specify that value exploration of the argument is
8590 being invoked, while the latter is a way to explicitly specify that type
8591 exploration of the argument is being invoked.
8592
8593 @table @code
8594 @item explore value @var{expr}
8595 @cindex explore value
8596 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the value of the
8597 expression @var{expr} (if @var{expr} is an expression valid in the
8598 current context of the program being debugged). The behavior of this
8599 command is identical to that of the behavior of the @code{explore}
8600 command being passed the argument @var{expr}.
8601
8602 @item explore type @var{arg}
8603 @cindex explore type
8604 This sub-command of @code{explore} explores the type of @var{arg} (if
8605 @var{arg} is a type visible in the current context of program being
8606 debugged), or the type of the value/expression @var{arg} (if @var{arg}
8607 is an expression valid in the current context of the program being
8608 debugged). If @var{arg} is a type, then the behavior of this command is
8609 identical to that of the @code{explore} command being passed the
8610 argument @var{arg}. If @var{arg} is an expression, then the behavior of
8611 this command will be identical to that of the @code{explore} command
8612 being passed the type of @var{arg} as the argument.
8613 @end table
8614
8615 @menu
8616 * Expressions:: Expressions
8617 * Ambiguous Expressions:: Ambiguous Expressions
8618 * Variables:: Program variables
8619 * Arrays:: Artificial arrays
8620 * Output Formats:: Output formats
8621 * Memory:: Examining memory
8622 * Auto Display:: Automatic display
8623 * Print Settings:: Print settings
8624 * Pretty Printing:: Python pretty printing
8625 * Value History:: Value history
8626 * Convenience Vars:: Convenience variables
8627 * Convenience Funs:: Convenience functions
8628 * Registers:: Registers
8629 * Floating Point Hardware:: Floating point hardware
8630 * Vector Unit:: Vector Unit
8631 * OS Information:: Auxiliary data provided by operating system
8632 * Memory Region Attributes:: Memory region attributes
8633 * Dump/Restore Files:: Copy between memory and a file
8634 * Core File Generation:: Cause a program dump its core
8635 * Character Sets:: Debugging programs that use a different
8636 character set than GDB does
8637 * Caching Target Data:: Data caching for targets
8638 * Searching Memory:: Searching memory for a sequence of bytes
8639 * Value Sizes:: Managing memory allocated for values
8640 @end menu
8641
8642 @node Expressions
8643 @section Expressions
8644
8645 @cindex expressions
8646 @code{print} and many other @value{GDBN} commands accept an expression and
8647 compute its value. Any kind of constant, variable or operator defined
8648 by the programming language you are using is valid in an expression in
8649 @value{GDBN}. This includes conditional expressions, function calls,
8650 casts, and string constants. It also includes preprocessor macros, if
8651 you compiled your program to include this information; see
8652 @ref{Compilation}.
8653
8654 @cindex arrays in expressions
8655 @value{GDBN} supports array constants in expressions input by
8656 the user. The syntax is @{@var{element}, @var{element}@dots{}@}. For example,
8657 you can use the command @code{print @{1, 2, 3@}} to create an array
8658 of three integers. If you pass an array to a function or assign it
8659 to a program variable, @value{GDBN} copies the array to memory that
8660 is @code{malloc}ed in the target program.
8661
8662 Because C is so widespread, most of the expressions shown in examples in
8663 this manual are in C. @xref{Languages, , Using @value{GDBN} with Different
8664 Languages}, for information on how to use expressions in other
8665 languages.
8666
8667 In this section, we discuss operators that you can use in @value{GDBN}
8668 expressions regardless of your programming language.
8669
8670 @cindex casts, in expressions
8671 Casts are supported in all languages, not just in C, because it is so
8672 useful to cast a number into a pointer in order to examine a structure
8673 at that address in memory.
8674 @c FIXME: casts supported---Mod2 true?
8675
8676 @value{GDBN} supports these operators, in addition to those common
8677 to programming languages:
8678
8679 @table @code
8680 @item @@
8681 @samp{@@} is a binary operator for treating parts of memory as arrays.
8682 @xref{Arrays, ,Artificial Arrays}, for more information.
8683
8684 @item ::
8685 @samp{::} allows you to specify a variable in terms of the file or
8686 function where it is defined. @xref{Variables, ,Program Variables}.
8687
8688 @cindex @{@var{type}@}
8689 @cindex type casting memory
8690 @cindex memory, viewing as typed object
8691 @cindex casts, to view memory
8692 @item @{@var{type}@} @var{addr}
8693 Refers to an object of type @var{type} stored at address @var{addr} in
8694 memory. The address @var{addr} may be any expression whose value is
8695 an integer or pointer (but parentheses are required around binary
8696 operators, just as in a cast). This construct is allowed regardless
8697 of what kind of data is normally supposed to reside at @var{addr}.
8698 @end table
8699
8700 @node Ambiguous Expressions
8701 @section Ambiguous Expressions
8702 @cindex ambiguous expressions
8703
8704 Expressions can sometimes contain some ambiguous elements. For instance,
8705 some programming languages (notably Ada, C@t{++} and Objective-C) permit
8706 a single function name to be defined several times, for application in
8707 different contexts. This is called @dfn{overloading}. Another example
8708 involving Ada is generics. A @dfn{generic package} is similar to C@t{++}
8709 templates and is typically instantiated several times, resulting in
8710 the same function name being defined in different contexts.
8711
8712 In some cases and depending on the language, it is possible to adjust
8713 the expression to remove the ambiguity. For instance in C@t{++}, you
8714 can specify the signature of the function you want to break on, as in
8715 @kbd{break @var{function}(@var{types})}. In Ada, using the fully
8716 qualified name of your function often makes the expression unambiguous
8717 as well.
8718
8719 When an ambiguity that needs to be resolved is detected, the debugger
8720 has the capability to display a menu of numbered choices for each
8721 possibility, and then waits for the selection with the prompt @samp{>}.
8722 The first option is always @samp{[0] cancel}, and typing @kbd{0 @key{RET}}
8723 aborts the current command. If the command in which the expression was
8724 used allows more than one choice to be selected, the next option in the
8725 menu is @samp{[1] all}, and typing @kbd{1 @key{RET}} selects all possible
8726 choices.
8727
8728 For example, the following session excerpt shows an attempt to set a
8729 breakpoint at the overloaded symbol @code{String::after}.
8730 We choose three particular definitions of that function name:
8731
8732 @c FIXME! This is likely to change to show arg type lists, at least
8733 @smallexample
8734 @group
8735 (@value{GDBP}) b String::after
8736 [0] cancel
8737 [1] all
8738 [2] file:String.cc; line number:867
8739 [3] file:String.cc; line number:860
8740 [4] file:String.cc; line number:875
8741 [5] file:String.cc; line number:853
8742 [6] file:String.cc; line number:846
8743 [7] file:String.cc; line number:735
8744 > 2 4 6
8745 Breakpoint 1 at 0xb26c: file String.cc, line 867.
8746 Breakpoint 2 at 0xb344: file String.cc, line 875.
8747 Breakpoint 3 at 0xafcc: file String.cc, line 846.
8748 Multiple breakpoints were set.
8749 Use the "delete" command to delete unwanted
8750 breakpoints.
8751 (@value{GDBP})
8752 @end group
8753 @end smallexample
8754
8755 @table @code
8756 @kindex set multiple-symbols
8757 @item set multiple-symbols @var{mode}
8758 @cindex multiple-symbols menu
8759
8760 This option allows you to adjust the debugger behavior when an expression
8761 is ambiguous.
8762
8763 By default, @var{mode} is set to @code{all}. If the command with which
8764 the expression is used allows more than one choice, then @value{GDBN}
8765 automatically selects all possible choices. For instance, inserting
8766 a breakpoint on a function using an ambiguous name results in a breakpoint
8767 inserted on each possible match. However, if a unique choice must be made,
8768 then @value{GDBN} uses the menu to help you disambiguate the expression.
8769 For instance, printing the address of an overloaded function will result
8770 in the use of the menu.
8771
8772 When @var{mode} is set to @code{ask}, the debugger always uses the menu
8773 when an ambiguity is detected.
8774
8775 Finally, when @var{mode} is set to @code{cancel}, the debugger reports
8776 an error due to the ambiguity and the command is aborted.
8777
8778 @kindex show multiple-symbols
8779 @item show multiple-symbols
8780 Show the current value of the @code{multiple-symbols} setting.
8781 @end table
8782
8783 @node Variables
8784 @section Program Variables
8785
8786 The most common kind of expression to use is the name of a variable
8787 in your program.
8788
8789 Variables in expressions are understood in the selected stack frame
8790 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}); they must be either:
8791
8792 @itemize @bullet
8793 @item
8794 global (or file-static)
8795 @end itemize
8796
8797 @noindent or
8798
8799 @itemize @bullet
8800 @item
8801 visible according to the scope rules of the
8802 programming language from the point of execution in that frame
8803 @end itemize
8804
8805 @noindent This means that in the function
8806
8807 @smallexample
8808 foo (a)
8809 int a;
8810 @{
8811 bar (a);
8812 @{
8813 int b = test ();
8814 bar (b);
8815 @}
8816 @}
8817 @end smallexample
8818
8819 @noindent
8820 you can examine and use the variable @code{a} whenever your program is
8821 executing within the function @code{foo}, but you can only use or
8822 examine the variable @code{b} while your program is executing inside
8823 the block where @code{b} is declared.
8824
8825 @cindex variable name conflict
8826 There is an exception: you can refer to a variable or function whose
8827 scope is a single source file even if the current execution point is not
8828 in this file. But it is possible to have more than one such variable or
8829 function with the same name (in different source files). If that
8830 happens, referring to that name has unpredictable effects. If you wish,
8831 you can specify a static variable in a particular function or file by
8832 using the colon-colon (@code{::}) notation:
8833
8834 @cindex colon-colon, context for variables/functions
8835 @ifnotinfo
8836 @c info cannot cope with a :: index entry, but why deprive hard copy readers?
8837 @cindex @code{::}, context for variables/functions
8838 @end ifnotinfo
8839 @smallexample
8840 @var{file}::@var{variable}
8841 @var{function}::@var{variable}
8842 @end smallexample
8843
8844 @noindent
8845 Here @var{file} or @var{function} is the name of the context for the
8846 static @var{variable}. In the case of file names, you can use quotes to
8847 make sure @value{GDBN} parses the file name as a single word---for example,
8848 to print a global value of @code{x} defined in @file{f2.c}:
8849
8850 @smallexample
8851 (@value{GDBP}) p 'f2.c'::x
8852 @end smallexample
8853
8854 The @code{::} notation is normally used for referring to
8855 static variables, since you typically disambiguate uses of local variables
8856 in functions by selecting the appropriate frame and using the
8857 simple name of the variable. However, you may also use this notation
8858 to refer to local variables in frames enclosing the selected frame:
8859
8860 @smallexample
8861 void
8862 foo (int a)
8863 @{
8864 if (a < 10)
8865 bar (a);
8866 else
8867 process (a); /* Stop here */
8868 @}
8869
8870 int
8871 bar (int a)
8872 @{
8873 foo (a + 5);
8874 @}
8875 @end smallexample
8876
8877 @noindent
8878 For example, if there is a breakpoint at the commented line,
8879 here is what you might see
8880 when the program stops after executing the call @code{bar(0)}:
8881
8882 @smallexample
8883 (@value{GDBP}) p a
8884 $1 = 10
8885 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8886 $2 = 5
8887 (@value{GDBP}) up 2
8888 #2 0x080483d0 in foo (a=5) at foobar.c:12
8889 (@value{GDBP}) p a
8890 $3 = 5
8891 (@value{GDBP}) p bar::a
8892 $4 = 0
8893 @end smallexample
8894
8895 @cindex C@t{++} scope resolution
8896 These uses of @samp{::} are very rarely in conflict with the very
8897 similar use of the same notation in C@t{++}. When they are in
8898 conflict, the C@t{++} meaning takes precedence; however, this can be
8899 overridden by quoting the file or function name with single quotes.
8900
8901 For example, suppose the program is stopped in a method of a class
8902 that has a field named @code{includefile}, and there is also an
8903 include file named @file{includefile} that defines a variable,
8904 @code{some_global}.
8905
8906 @smallexample
8907 (@value{GDBP}) p includefile
8908 $1 = 23
8909 (@value{GDBP}) p includefile::some_global
8910 A syntax error in expression, near `'.
8911 (@value{GDBP}) p 'includefile'::some_global
8912 $2 = 27
8913 @end smallexample
8914
8915 @cindex wrong values
8916 @cindex variable values, wrong
8917 @cindex function entry/exit, wrong values of variables
8918 @cindex optimized code, wrong values of variables
8919 @quotation
8920 @emph{Warning:} Occasionally, a local variable may appear to have the
8921 wrong value at certain points in a function---just after entry to a new
8922 scope, and just before exit.
8923 @end quotation
8924 You may see this problem when you are stepping by machine instructions.
8925 This is because, on most machines, it takes more than one instruction to
8926 set up a stack frame (including local variable definitions); if you are
8927 stepping by machine instructions, variables may appear to have the wrong
8928 values until the stack frame is completely built. On exit, it usually
8929 also takes more than one machine instruction to destroy a stack frame;
8930 after you begin stepping through that group of instructions, local
8931 variable definitions may be gone.
8932
8933 This may also happen when the compiler does significant optimizations.
8934 To be sure of always seeing accurate values, turn off all optimization
8935 when compiling.
8936
8937 @cindex ``No symbol "foo" in current context''
8938 Another possible effect of compiler optimizations is to optimize
8939 unused variables out of existence, or assign variables to registers (as
8940 opposed to memory addresses). Depending on the support for such cases
8941 offered by the debug info format used by the compiler, @value{GDBN}
8942 might not be able to display values for such local variables. If that
8943 happens, @value{GDBN} will print a message like this:
8944
8945 @smallexample
8946 No symbol "foo" in current context.
8947 @end smallexample
8948
8949 To solve such problems, either recompile without optimizations, or use a
8950 different debug info format, if the compiler supports several such
8951 formats. @xref{Compilation}, for more information on choosing compiler
8952 options. @xref{C, ,C and C@t{++}}, for more information about debug
8953 info formats that are best suited to C@t{++} programs.
8954
8955 If you ask to print an object whose contents are unknown to
8956 @value{GDBN}, e.g., because its data type is not completely specified
8957 by the debug information, @value{GDBN} will say @samp{<incomplete
8958 type>}. @xref{Symbols, incomplete type}, for more about this.
8959
8960 If you append @kbd{@@entry} string to a function parameter name you get its
8961 value at the time the function got called. If the value is not available an
8962 error message is printed. Entry values are available only with some compilers.
8963 Entry values are normally also printed at the function parameter list according
8964 to @ref{set print entry-values}.
8965
8966 @smallexample
8967 Breakpoint 1, d (i=30) at gdb.base/entry-value.c:29
8968 29 i++;
8969 (gdb) next
8970 30 e (i);
8971 (gdb) print i
8972 $1 = 31
8973 (gdb) print i@@entry
8974 $2 = 30
8975 @end smallexample
8976
8977 Strings are identified as arrays of @code{char} values without specified
8978 signedness. Arrays of either @code{signed char} or @code{unsigned char} get
8979 printed as arrays of 1 byte sized integers. @code{-fsigned-char} or
8980 @code{-funsigned-char} @value{NGCC} options have no effect as @value{GDBN}
8981 defines literal string type @code{"char"} as @code{char} without a sign.
8982 For program code
8983
8984 @smallexample
8985 char var0[] = "A";
8986 signed char var1[] = "A";
8987 @end smallexample
8988
8989 You get during debugging
8990 @smallexample
8991 (gdb) print var0
8992 $1 = "A"
8993 (gdb) print var1
8994 $2 = @{65 'A', 0 '\0'@}
8995 @end smallexample
8996
8997 @node Arrays
8998 @section Artificial Arrays
8999
9000 @cindex artificial array
9001 @cindex arrays
9002 @kindex @@@r{, referencing memory as an array}
9003 It is often useful to print out several successive objects of the
9004 same type in memory; a section of an array, or an array of
9005 dynamically determined size for which only a pointer exists in the
9006 program.
9007
9008 You can do this by referring to a contiguous span of memory as an
9009 @dfn{artificial array}, using the binary operator @samp{@@}. The left
9010 operand of @samp{@@} should be the first element of the desired array
9011 and be an individual object. The right operand should be the desired length
9012 of the array. The result is an array value whose elements are all of
9013 the type of the left argument. The first element is actually the left
9014 argument; the second element comes from bytes of memory immediately
9015 following those that hold the first element, and so on. Here is an
9016 example. If a program says
9017
9018 @smallexample
9019 int *array = (int *) malloc (len * sizeof (int));
9020 @end smallexample
9021
9022 @noindent
9023 you can print the contents of @code{array} with
9024
9025 @smallexample
9026 p *array@@len
9027 @end smallexample
9028
9029 The left operand of @samp{@@} must reside in memory. Array values made
9030 with @samp{@@} in this way behave just like other arrays in terms of
9031 subscripting, and are coerced to pointers when used in expressions.
9032 Artificial arrays most often appear in expressions via the value history
9033 (@pxref{Value History, ,Value History}), after printing one out.
9034
9035 Another way to create an artificial array is to use a cast.
9036 This re-interprets a value as if it were an array.
9037 The value need not be in memory:
9038 @smallexample
9039 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[2])0x12345678
9040 $1 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
9041 @end smallexample
9042
9043 As a convenience, if you leave the array length out (as in
9044 @samp{(@var{type}[])@var{value}}) @value{GDBN} calculates the size to fill
9045 the value (as @samp{sizeof(@var{value})/sizeof(@var{type})}:
9046 @smallexample
9047 (@value{GDBP}) p/x (short[])0x12345678
9048 $2 = @{0x1234, 0x5678@}
9049 @end smallexample
9050
9051 Sometimes the artificial array mechanism is not quite enough; in
9052 moderately complex data structures, the elements of interest may not
9053 actually be adjacent---for example, if you are interested in the values
9054 of pointers in an array. One useful work-around in this situation is
9055 to use a convenience variable (@pxref{Convenience Vars, ,Convenience
9056 Variables}) as a counter in an expression that prints the first
9057 interesting value, and then repeat that expression via @key{RET}. For
9058 instance, suppose you have an array @code{dtab} of pointers to
9059 structures, and you are interested in the values of a field @code{fv}
9060 in each structure. Here is an example of what you might type:
9061
9062 @smallexample
9063 set $i = 0
9064 p dtab[$i++]->fv
9065 @key{RET}
9066 @key{RET}
9067 @dots{}
9068 @end smallexample
9069
9070 @node Output Formats
9071 @section Output Formats
9072
9073 @cindex formatted output
9074 @cindex output formats
9075 By default, @value{GDBN} prints a value according to its data type. Sometimes
9076 this is not what you want. For example, you might want to print a number
9077 in hex, or a pointer in decimal. Or you might want to view data in memory
9078 at a certain address as a character string or as an instruction. To do
9079 these things, specify an @dfn{output format} when you print a value.
9080
9081 The simplest use of output formats is to say how to print a value
9082 already computed. This is done by starting the arguments of the
9083 @code{print} command with a slash and a format letter. The format
9084 letters supported are:
9085
9086 @table @code
9087 @item x
9088 Regard the bits of the value as an integer, and print the integer in
9089 hexadecimal.
9090
9091 @item d
9092 Print as integer in signed decimal.
9093
9094 @item u
9095 Print as integer in unsigned decimal.
9096
9097 @item o
9098 Print as integer in octal.
9099
9100 @item t
9101 Print as integer in binary. The letter @samp{t} stands for ``two''.
9102 @footnote{@samp{b} cannot be used because these format letters are also
9103 used with the @code{x} command, where @samp{b} stands for ``byte'';
9104 see @ref{Memory,,Examining Memory}.}
9105
9106 @item a
9107 @cindex unknown address, locating
9108 @cindex locate address
9109 Print as an address, both absolute in hexadecimal and as an offset from
9110 the nearest preceding symbol. You can use this format used to discover
9111 where (in what function) an unknown address is located:
9112
9113 @smallexample
9114 (@value{GDBP}) p/a 0x54320
9115 $3 = 0x54320 <_initialize_vx+396>
9116 @end smallexample
9117
9118 @noindent
9119 The command @code{info symbol 0x54320} yields similar results.
9120 @xref{Symbols, info symbol}.
9121
9122 @item c
9123 Regard as an integer and print it as a character constant. This
9124 prints both the numerical value and its character representation. The
9125 character representation is replaced with the octal escape @samp{\nnn}
9126 for characters outside the 7-bit @sc{ascii} range.
9127
9128 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays @code{char},
9129 @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} data as character
9130 constants. Single-byte members of vectors are displayed as integer
9131 data.
9132
9133 @item f
9134 Regard the bits of the value as a floating point number and print
9135 using typical floating point syntax.
9136
9137 @item s
9138 @cindex printing strings
9139 @cindex printing byte arrays
9140 Regard as a string, if possible. With this format, pointers to single-byte
9141 data are displayed as null-terminated strings and arrays of single-byte data
9142 are displayed as fixed-length strings. Other values are displayed in their
9143 natural types.
9144
9145 Without this format, @value{GDBN} displays pointers to and arrays of
9146 @code{char}, @w{@code{unsigned char}}, and @w{@code{signed char}} as
9147 strings. Single-byte members of a vector are displayed as an integer
9148 array.
9149
9150 @item z
9151 Like @samp{x} formatting, the value is treated as an integer and
9152 printed as hexadecimal, but leading zeros are printed to pad the value
9153 to the size of the integer type.
9154
9155 @item r
9156 @cindex raw printing
9157 Print using the @samp{raw} formatting. By default, @value{GDBN} will
9158 use a Python-based pretty-printer, if one is available (@pxref{Pretty
9159 Printing}). This typically results in a higher-level display of the
9160 value's contents. The @samp{r} format bypasses any Python
9161 pretty-printer which might exist.
9162 @end table
9163
9164 For example, to print the program counter in hex (@pxref{Registers}), type
9165
9166 @smallexample
9167 p/x $pc
9168 @end smallexample
9169
9170 @noindent
9171 Note that no space is required before the slash; this is because command
9172 names in @value{GDBN} cannot contain a slash.
9173
9174 To reprint the last value in the value history with a different format,
9175 you can use the @code{print} command with just a format and no
9176 expression. For example, @samp{p/x} reprints the last value in hex.
9177
9178 @node Memory
9179 @section Examining Memory
9180
9181 You can use the command @code{x} (for ``examine'') to examine memory in
9182 any of several formats, independently of your program's data types.
9183
9184 @cindex examining memory
9185 @table @code
9186 @kindex x @r{(examine memory)}
9187 @item x/@var{nfu} @var{addr}
9188 @itemx x @var{addr}
9189 @itemx x
9190 Use the @code{x} command to examine memory.
9191 @end table
9192
9193 @var{n}, @var{f}, and @var{u} are all optional parameters that specify how
9194 much memory to display and how to format it; @var{addr} is an
9195 expression giving the address where you want to start displaying memory.
9196 If you use defaults for @var{nfu}, you need not type the slash @samp{/}.
9197 Several commands set convenient defaults for @var{addr}.
9198
9199 @table @r
9200 @item @var{n}, the repeat count
9201 The repeat count is a decimal integer; the default is 1. It specifies
9202 how much memory (counting by units @var{u}) to display.
9203 @c This really is **decimal**; unaffected by 'set radix' as of GDB
9204 @c 4.1.2.
9205
9206 @item @var{f}, the display format
9207 The display format is one of the formats used by @code{print}
9208 (@samp{x}, @samp{d}, @samp{u}, @samp{o}, @samp{t}, @samp{a}, @samp{c},
9209 @samp{f}, @samp{s}), and in addition @samp{i} (for machine instructions).
9210 The default is @samp{x} (hexadecimal) initially. The default changes
9211 each time you use either @code{x} or @code{print}.
9212
9213 @item @var{u}, the unit size
9214 The unit size is any of
9215
9216 @table @code
9217 @item b
9218 Bytes.
9219 @item h
9220 Halfwords (two bytes).
9221 @item w
9222 Words (four bytes). This is the initial default.
9223 @item g
9224 Giant words (eight bytes).
9225 @end table
9226
9227 Each time you specify a unit size with @code{x}, that size becomes the
9228 default unit the next time you use @code{x}. For the @samp{i} format,
9229 the unit size is ignored and is normally not written. For the @samp{s} format,
9230 the unit size defaults to @samp{b}, unless it is explicitly given.
9231 Use @kbd{x /hs} to display 16-bit char strings and @kbd{x /ws} to display
9232 32-bit strings. The next use of @kbd{x /s} will again display 8-bit strings.
9233 Note that the results depend on the programming language of the
9234 current compilation unit. If the language is C, the @samp{s}
9235 modifier will use the UTF-16 encoding while @samp{w} will use
9236 UTF-32. The encoding is set by the programming language and cannot
9237 be altered.
9238
9239 @item @var{addr}, starting display address
9240 @var{addr} is the address where you want @value{GDBN} to begin displaying
9241 memory. The expression need not have a pointer value (though it may);
9242 it is always interpreted as an integer address of a byte of memory.
9243 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information on expressions. The default for
9244 @var{addr} is usually just after the last address examined---but several
9245 other commands also set the default address: @code{info breakpoints} (to
9246 the address of the last breakpoint listed), @code{info line} (to the
9247 starting address of a line), and @code{print} (if you use it to display
9248 a value from memory).
9249 @end table
9250
9251 For example, @samp{x/3uh 0x54320} is a request to display three halfwords
9252 (@code{h}) of memory, formatted as unsigned decimal integers (@samp{u}),
9253 starting at address @code{0x54320}. @samp{x/4xw $sp} prints the four
9254 words (@samp{w}) of memory above the stack pointer (here, @samp{$sp};
9255 @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}) in hexadecimal (@samp{x}).
9256
9257 Since the letters indicating unit sizes are all distinct from the
9258 letters specifying output formats, you do not have to remember whether
9259 unit size or format comes first; either order works. The output
9260 specifications @samp{4xw} and @samp{4wx} mean exactly the same thing.
9261 (However, the count @var{n} must come first; @samp{wx4} does not work.)
9262
9263 Even though the unit size @var{u} is ignored for the formats @samp{s}
9264 and @samp{i}, you might still want to use a count @var{n}; for example,
9265 @samp{3i} specifies that you want to see three machine instructions,
9266 including any operands. For convenience, especially when used with
9267 the @code{display} command, the @samp{i} format also prints branch delay
9268 slot instructions, if any, beyond the count specified, which immediately
9269 follow the last instruction that is within the count. The command
9270 @code{disassemble} gives an alternative way of inspecting machine
9271 instructions; see @ref{Machine Code,,Source and Machine Code}.
9272
9273 All the defaults for the arguments to @code{x} are designed to make it
9274 easy to continue scanning memory with minimal specifications each time
9275 you use @code{x}. For example, after you have inspected three machine
9276 instructions with @samp{x/3i @var{addr}}, you can inspect the next seven
9277 with just @samp{x/7}. If you use @key{RET} to repeat the @code{x} command,
9278 the repeat count @var{n} is used again; the other arguments default as
9279 for successive uses of @code{x}.
9280
9281 When examining machine instructions, the instruction at current program
9282 counter is shown with a @code{=>} marker. For example:
9283
9284 @smallexample
9285 (@value{GDBP}) x/5i $pc-6
9286 0x804837f <main+11>: mov %esp,%ebp
9287 0x8048381 <main+13>: push %ecx
9288 0x8048382 <main+14>: sub $0x4,%esp
9289 => 0x8048385 <main+17>: movl $0x8048460,(%esp)
9290 0x804838c <main+24>: call 0x80482d4 <puts@@plt>
9291 @end smallexample
9292
9293 @cindex @code{$_}, @code{$__}, and value history
9294 The addresses and contents printed by the @code{x} command are not saved
9295 in the value history because there is often too much of them and they
9296 would get in the way. Instead, @value{GDBN} makes these values available for
9297 subsequent use in expressions as values of the convenience variables
9298 @code{$_} and @code{$__}. After an @code{x} command, the last address
9299 examined is available for use in expressions in the convenience variable
9300 @code{$_}. The contents of that address, as examined, are available in
9301 the convenience variable @code{$__}.
9302
9303 If the @code{x} command has a repeat count, the address and contents saved
9304 are from the last memory unit printed; this is not the same as the last
9305 address printed if several units were printed on the last line of output.
9306
9307 @anchor{addressable memory unit}
9308 @cindex addressable memory unit
9309 Most targets have an addressable memory unit size of 8 bits. This means
9310 that to each memory address are associated 8 bits of data. Some
9311 targets, however, have other addressable memory unit sizes.
9312 Within @value{GDBN} and this document, the term
9313 @dfn{addressable memory unit} (or @dfn{memory unit} for short) is used
9314 when explicitly referring to a chunk of data of that size. The word
9315 @dfn{byte} is used to refer to a chunk of data of 8 bits, regardless of
9316 the addressable memory unit size of the target. For most systems,
9317 addressable memory unit is a synonym of byte.
9318
9319 @cindex remote memory comparison
9320 @cindex target memory comparison
9321 @cindex verify remote memory image
9322 @cindex verify target memory image
9323 When you are debugging a program running on a remote target machine
9324 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), you may wish to verify the program's image
9325 in the remote machine's memory against the executable file you
9326 downloaded to the target. Or, on any target, you may want to check
9327 whether the program has corrupted its own read-only sections. The
9328 @code{compare-sections} command is provided for such situations.
9329
9330 @table @code
9331 @kindex compare-sections
9332 @item compare-sections @r{[}@var{section-name}@r{|}@code{-r}@r{]}
9333 Compare the data of a loadable section @var{section-name} in the
9334 executable file of the program being debugged with the same section in
9335 the target machine's memory, and report any mismatches. With no
9336 arguments, compares all loadable sections. With an argument of
9337 @code{-r}, compares all loadable read-only sections.
9338
9339 Note: for remote targets, this command can be accelerated if the
9340 target supports computing the CRC checksum of a block of memory
9341 (@pxref{qCRC packet}).
9342 @end table
9343
9344 @node Auto Display
9345 @section Automatic Display
9346 @cindex automatic display
9347 @cindex display of expressions
9348
9349 If you find that you want to print the value of an expression frequently
9350 (to see how it changes), you might want to add it to the @dfn{automatic
9351 display list} so that @value{GDBN} prints its value each time your program stops.
9352 Each expression added to the list is given a number to identify it;
9353 to remove an expression from the list, you specify that number.
9354 The automatic display looks like this:
9355
9356 @smallexample
9357 2: foo = 38
9358 3: bar[5] = (struct hack *) 0x3804
9359 @end smallexample
9360
9361 @noindent
9362 This display shows item numbers, expressions and their current values. As with
9363 displays you request manually using @code{x} or @code{print}, you can
9364 specify the output format you prefer; in fact, @code{display} decides
9365 whether to use @code{print} or @code{x} depending your format
9366 specification---it uses @code{x} if you specify either the @samp{i}
9367 or @samp{s} format, or a unit size; otherwise it uses @code{print}.
9368
9369 @table @code
9370 @kindex display
9371 @item display @var{expr}
9372 Add the expression @var{expr} to the list of expressions to display
9373 each time your program stops. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
9374
9375 @code{display} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
9376
9377 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{expr}
9378 For @var{fmt} specifying only a display format and not a size or
9379 count, add the expression @var{expr} to the auto-display list but
9380 arrange to display it each time in the specified format @var{fmt}.
9381 @xref{Output Formats,,Output Formats}.
9382
9383 @item display/@var{fmt} @var{addr}
9384 For @var{fmt} @samp{i} or @samp{s}, or including a unit-size or a
9385 number of units, add the expression @var{addr} as a memory address to
9386 be examined each time your program stops. Examining means in effect
9387 doing @samp{x/@var{fmt} @var{addr}}. @xref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}.
9388 @end table
9389
9390 For example, @samp{display/i $pc} can be helpful, to see the machine
9391 instruction about to be executed each time execution stops (@samp{$pc}
9392 is a common name for the program counter; @pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
9393
9394 @table @code
9395 @kindex delete display
9396 @kindex undisplay
9397 @item undisplay @var{dnums}@dots{}
9398 @itemx delete display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9399 Remove items from the list of expressions to display. Specify the
9400 numbers of the displays that you want affected with the command
9401 argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one of the
9402 numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display} display;
9403 or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9404
9405 @code{undisplay} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
9406 (Otherwise you would just get the error @samp{No display number @dots{}}.)
9407
9408 @kindex disable display
9409 @item disable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9410 Disable the display of item numbers @var{dnums}. A disabled display
9411 item is not printed automatically, but is not forgotten. It may be
9412 enabled again later. Specify the numbers of the displays that you
9413 want affected with the command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a
9414 single display number, one of the numbers shown in the first field of
9415 the @samp{info display} display; or it could be a range of display
9416 numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9417
9418 @kindex enable display
9419 @item enable display @var{dnums}@dots{}
9420 Enable display of item numbers @var{dnums}. It becomes effective once
9421 again in auto display of its expression, until you specify otherwise.
9422 Specify the numbers of the displays that you want affected with the
9423 command argument @var{dnums}. It can be a single display number, one
9424 of the numbers shown in the first field of the @samp{info display}
9425 display; or it could be a range of display numbers, as in @code{2-4}.
9426
9427 @item display
9428 Display the current values of the expressions on the list, just as is
9429 done when your program stops.
9430
9431 @kindex info display
9432 @item info display
9433 Print the list of expressions previously set up to display
9434 automatically, each one with its item number, but without showing the
9435 values. This includes disabled expressions, which are marked as such.
9436 It also includes expressions which would not be displayed right now
9437 because they refer to automatic variables not currently available.
9438 @end table
9439
9440 @cindex display disabled out of scope
9441 If a display expression refers to local variables, then it does not make
9442 sense outside the lexical context for which it was set up. Such an
9443 expression is disabled when execution enters a context where one of its
9444 variables is not defined. For example, if you give the command
9445 @code{display last_char} while inside a function with an argument
9446 @code{last_char}, @value{GDBN} displays this argument while your program
9447 continues to stop inside that function. When it stops elsewhere---where
9448 there is no variable @code{last_char}---the display is disabled
9449 automatically. The next time your program stops where @code{last_char}
9450 is meaningful, you can enable the display expression once again.
9451
9452 @node Print Settings
9453 @section Print Settings
9454
9455 @cindex format options
9456 @cindex print settings
9457 @value{GDBN} provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
9458 and symbols are printed.
9459
9460 @noindent
9461 These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
9462
9463 @table @code
9464 @kindex set print
9465 @item set print address
9466 @itemx set print address on
9467 @cindex print/don't print memory addresses
9468 @value{GDBN} prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
9469 traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
9470 even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
9471 is @code{on}. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
9472 @code{set print address on}:
9473
9474 @smallexample
9475 @group
9476 (@value{GDBP}) f
9477 #0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "<<", rq=0x34c88 ">>")
9478 at input.c:530
9479 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
9480 @end group
9481 @end smallexample
9482
9483 @item set print address off
9484 Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
9485 this is the same stack frame displayed with @code{set print address off}:
9486
9487 @smallexample
9488 @group
9489 (@value{GDBP}) set print addr off
9490 (@value{GDBP}) f
9491 #0 set_quotes (lq="<<", rq=">>") at input.c:530
9492 530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
9493 @end group
9494 @end smallexample
9495
9496 You can use @samp{set print address off} to eliminate all machine
9497 dependent displays from the @value{GDBN} interface. For example, with
9498 @code{print address off}, you should get the same text for backtraces on
9499 all machines---whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
9500
9501 @kindex show print
9502 @item show print address
9503 Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
9504 @end table
9505
9506 When @value{GDBN} prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
9507 closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
9508 identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
9509 source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
9510 @code{info line}, for example @samp{info line *0x4537}. Alternately,
9511 you can set @value{GDBN} to print the source file and line number when
9512 it prints a symbolic address:
9513
9514 @table @code
9515 @item set print symbol-filename on
9516 @cindex source file and line of a symbol
9517 @cindex symbol, source file and line
9518 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the source file name and line number of a
9519 symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
9520
9521 @item set print symbol-filename off
9522 Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
9523 default.
9524
9525 @item show print symbol-filename
9526 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} will print the source file name and
9527 line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
9528 @end table
9529
9530 Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
9531 numbers is when disassembling code; @value{GDBN} shows you the line
9532 number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
9533
9534 Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
9535 printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
9536
9537 @table @code
9538 @item set print max-symbolic-offset @var{max-offset}
9539 @itemx set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited
9540 @cindex maximum value for offset of closest symbol
9541 Tell @value{GDBN} to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
9542 offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
9543 @var{max-offset}. The default is @code{unlimited}, which tells @value{GDBN}
9544 to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
9545 it. Zero is equivalent to @code{unlimited}.
9546
9547 @item show print max-symbolic-offset
9548 Ask how large the maximum offset is that @value{GDBN} prints in a
9549 symbolic address.
9550 @end table
9551
9552 @cindex wild pointer, interpreting
9553 @cindex pointer, finding referent
9554 If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
9555 @samp{set print symbol-filename on}. Then you can determine the name
9556 and source file location of the variable where it points, using
9557 @samp{p/a @var{pointer}}. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
9558 For example, here @value{GDBN} shows that a variable @code{ptt} points
9559 at another variable @code{t}, defined in @file{hi2.c}:
9560
9561 @smallexample
9562 (@value{GDBP}) set print symbol-filename on
9563 (@value{GDBP}) p/a ptt
9564 $4 = 0xe008 <t in hi2.c>
9565 @end smallexample
9566
9567 @quotation
9568 @emph{Warning:} For pointers that point to a local variable, @samp{p/a}
9569 does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
9570 the appropriate @code{set print} options turned on.
9571 @end quotation
9572
9573 You can also enable @samp{/a}-like formatting all the time using
9574 @samp{set print symbol on}:
9575
9576 @table @code
9577 @item set print symbol on
9578 Tell @value{GDBN} to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
9579 one exists.
9580
9581 @item set print symbol off
9582 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print the symbol corresponding to an
9583 address. In this mode, @value{GDBN} will still print the symbol
9584 corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
9585
9586 @item show print symbol
9587 Show whether @value{GDBN} will display the symbol corresponding to an
9588 address.
9589 @end table
9590
9591 Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
9592
9593 @table @code
9594 @item set print array
9595 @itemx set print array on
9596 @cindex pretty print arrays
9597 Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
9598 but uses more space. The default is off.
9599
9600 @item set print array off
9601 Return to compressed format for arrays.
9602
9603 @item show print array
9604 Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
9605 arrays.
9606
9607 @cindex print array indexes
9608 @item set print array-indexes
9609 @itemx set print array-indexes on
9610 Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
9611 convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
9612 index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
9613
9614 @item set print array-indexes off
9615 Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
9616
9617 @item show print array-indexes
9618 Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
9619 arrays.
9620
9621 @item set print elements @var{number-of-elements}
9622 @itemx set print elements unlimited
9623 @cindex number of array elements to print
9624 @cindex limit on number of printed array elements
9625 Set a limit on how many elements of an array @value{GDBN} will print.
9626 If @value{GDBN} is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
9627 printed the number of elements set by the @code{set print elements} command.
9628 This limit also applies to the display of strings.
9629 When @value{GDBN} starts, this limit is set to 200.
9630 Setting @var{number-of-elements} to @code{unlimited} or zero means
9631 that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
9632
9633 @item show print elements
9634 Display the number of elements of a large array that @value{GDBN} will print.
9635 If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
9636
9637 @item set print frame-arguments @var{value}
9638 @kindex set print frame-arguments
9639 @cindex printing frame argument values
9640 @cindex print all frame argument values
9641 @cindex print frame argument values for scalars only
9642 @cindex do not print frame argument values
9643 This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
9644 when the debugger prints a frame (@pxref{Frames}). The possible
9645 values are:
9646
9647 @table @code
9648 @item all
9649 The values of all arguments are printed.
9650
9651 @item scalars
9652 Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
9653 complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
9654 by @code{@dots{}}. This is the default. Here is an example where
9655 only scalar arguments are shown:
9656
9657 @smallexample
9658 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=@dots{}, ss=0xbf8d508c, u=@dots{}, e=green)
9659 at frame-args.c:23
9660 @end smallexample
9661
9662 @item none
9663 None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
9664 is replaced by @code{@dots{}}. In this case, the example above now becomes:
9665
9666 @smallexample
9667 #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=@dots{}, s=@dots{}, ss=@dots{}, u=@dots{}, e=@dots{})
9668 at frame-args.c:23
9669 @end smallexample
9670 @end table
9671
9672 By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
9673 to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
9674 of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
9675 of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
9676 information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
9677 Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
9678 the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
9679 especially in large applications. Setting @code{print frame-arguments}
9680 to @code{scalars} (the default) or @code{none} avoids this computation,
9681 thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
9682
9683 @item show print frame-arguments
9684 Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
9685
9686 @item set print raw frame-arguments on
9687 Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
9688
9689 @item set print raw frame-arguments off
9690 Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
9691 for the value (@pxref{Pretty Printing}),
9692 otherwise print the value in raw form.
9693 This is the default.
9694
9695 @item show print raw frame-arguments
9696 Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
9697
9698 @anchor{set print entry-values}
9699 @item set print entry-values @var{value}
9700 @kindex set print entry-values
9701 Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
9702 @value{GDBN} can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
9703 the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
9704 and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
9705 unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
9706
9707 The default value is @code{default} (see below for its description). Older
9708 @value{GDBN} behaved as with the setting @code{no}. Compilers not supporting
9709 this feature will behave in the @code{default} setting the same way as with the
9710 @code{no} setting.
9711
9712 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
9713 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
9714 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
9715 this information.
9716
9717 The @var{value} parameter can be one of the following:
9718
9719 @table @code
9720 @item no
9721 Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
9722 point.
9723 @smallexample
9724 #0 equal (val=5)
9725 #0 different (val=6)
9726 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>)
9727 #0 born (val=10)
9728 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9729 @end smallexample
9730
9731 @item only
9732 Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
9733 values are never printed.
9734 @smallexample
9735 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9736 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9737 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9738 #0 born (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9739 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9740 @end smallexample
9741
9742 @item preferred
9743 Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
9744 entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
9745 value for such parameter.
9746 @smallexample
9747 #0 equal (val@@entry=5)
9748 #0 different (val@@entry=5)
9749 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9750 #0 born (val=10)
9751 #0 invalid (val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9752 @end smallexample
9753
9754 @item if-needed
9755 Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
9756 value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
9757 parameter.
9758 @smallexample
9759 #0 equal (val=5)
9760 #0 different (val=6)
9761 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9762 #0 born (val=10)
9763 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9764 @end smallexample
9765
9766 @item both
9767 Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
9768 point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
9769 optimizations.
9770 @smallexample
9771 #0 equal (val=5, val@@entry=5)
9772 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9773 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9774 #0 born (val=10, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9775 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=<optimized out>)
9776 @end smallexample
9777
9778 @item compact
9779 Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
9780 function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
9781 value @code{<optimized out>}. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and if both
9782 values are known and identical, print the shortened
9783 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9784 @smallexample
9785 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9786 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9787 #0 lost (val@@entry=5)
9788 #0 born (val=10)
9789 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9790 @end smallexample
9791
9792 @item default
9793 Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
9794 entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (@pxref{GDB/MI}) and
9795 if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
9796 @code{param=param@@entry=VALUE} notation.
9797 @smallexample
9798 #0 equal (val=val@@entry=5)
9799 #0 different (val=6, val@@entry=5)
9800 #0 lost (val=<optimized out>, val@@entry=5)
9801 #0 born (val=10)
9802 #0 invalid (val=<optimized out>)
9803 @end smallexample
9804 @end table
9805
9806 For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
9807 entry resolution see @ref{set debug entry-values}.
9808
9809 @item show print entry-values
9810 Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
9811 entry.
9812
9813 @item set print repeats @var{number-of-repeats}
9814 @itemx set print repeats unlimited
9815 @cindex repeated array elements
9816 Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
9817 elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
9818 array exceeds the threshold, @value{GDBN} prints the string
9819 @code{"<repeats @var{n} times>"}, where @var{n} is the number of
9820 identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
9821 themselves. Setting the threshold to @code{unlimited} or zero will
9822 cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
9823 is 10.
9824
9825 @item show print repeats
9826 Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
9827 elements.
9828
9829 @item set print null-stop
9830 @cindex @sc{null} elements in arrays
9831 Cause @value{GDBN} to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
9832 @sc{null} is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
9833 contain only short strings.
9834 The default is off.
9835
9836 @item show print null-stop
9837 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops printing an array on the first
9838 @sc{null} character.
9839
9840 @item set print pretty on
9841 @cindex print structures in indented form
9842 @cindex indentation in structure display
9843 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in an indented format with one member
9844 per line, like this:
9845
9846 @smallexample
9847 @group
9848 $1 = @{
9849 next = 0x0,
9850 flags = @{
9851 sweet = 1,
9852 sour = 1
9853 @},
9854 meat = 0x54 "Pork"
9855 @}
9856 @end group
9857 @end smallexample
9858
9859 @item set print pretty off
9860 Cause @value{GDBN} to print structures in a compact format, like this:
9861
9862 @smallexample
9863 @group
9864 $1 = @{next = 0x0, flags = @{sweet = 1, sour = 1@}, \
9865 meat = 0x54 "Pork"@}
9866 @end group
9867 @end smallexample
9868
9869 @noindent
9870 This is the default format.
9871
9872 @item show print pretty
9873 Show which format @value{GDBN} is using to print structures.
9874
9875 @item set print sevenbit-strings on
9876 @cindex eight-bit characters in strings
9877 @cindex octal escapes in strings
9878 Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
9879 @value{GDBN} displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
9880 character values) using the notation @code{\}@var{nnn}. This setting is
9881 best if you are working in English (@sc{ascii}) and you use the
9882 high-order bit of characters as a marker or ``meta'' bit.
9883
9884 @item set print sevenbit-strings off
9885 Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
9886 international character sets, and is the default.
9887
9888 @item show print sevenbit-strings
9889 Show whether or not @value{GDBN} is printing only seven-bit characters.
9890
9891 @item set print union on
9892 @cindex unions in structures, printing
9893 Tell @value{GDBN} to print unions which are contained in structures
9894 and other unions. This is the default setting.
9895
9896 @item set print union off
9897 Tell @value{GDBN} not to print unions which are contained in
9898 structures and other unions. @value{GDBN} will print @code{"@{...@}"}
9899 instead.
9900
9901 @item show print union
9902 Ask @value{GDBN} whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
9903 structures and other unions.
9904
9905 For example, given the declarations
9906
9907 @smallexample
9908 typedef enum @{Tree, Bug@} Species;
9909 typedef enum @{Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling@} Tree_forms;
9910 typedef enum @{Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly@}
9911 Bug_forms;
9912
9913 struct thing @{
9914 Species it;
9915 union @{
9916 Tree_forms tree;
9917 Bug_forms bug;
9918 @} form;
9919 @};
9920
9921 struct thing foo = @{Tree, @{Acorn@}@};
9922 @end smallexample
9923
9924 @noindent
9925 with @code{set print union on} in effect @samp{p foo} would print
9926
9927 @smallexample
9928 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon@}@}
9929 @end smallexample
9930
9931 @noindent
9932 and with @code{set print union off} in effect it would print
9933
9934 @smallexample
9935 $1 = @{it = Tree, form = @{...@}@}
9936 @end smallexample
9937
9938 @noindent
9939 @code{set print union} affects programs written in C-like languages
9940 and in Pascal.
9941 @end table
9942
9943 @need 1000
9944 @noindent
9945 These settings are of interest when debugging C@t{++} programs:
9946
9947 @table @code
9948 @cindex demangling C@t{++} names
9949 @item set print demangle
9950 @itemx set print demangle on
9951 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than in the encoded
9952 (``mangled'') form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
9953 linkage. The default is on.
9954
9955 @item show print demangle
9956 Show whether C@t{++} names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
9957
9958 @item set print asm-demangle
9959 @itemx set print asm-demangle on
9960 Print C@t{++} names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
9961 in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
9962 The default is off.
9963
9964 @item show print asm-demangle
9965 Show whether C@t{++} names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
9966 or demangled form.
9967
9968 @cindex C@t{++} symbol decoding style
9969 @cindex symbol decoding style, C@t{++}
9970 @kindex set demangle-style
9971 @item set demangle-style @var{style}
9972 Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to
9973 represent C@t{++} names. The choices for @var{style} are currently:
9974
9975 @table @code
9976 @item auto
9977 Allow @value{GDBN} to choose a decoding style by inspecting your program.
9978 This is the default.
9979
9980 @item gnu
9981 Decode based on the @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler (@code{g++}) encoding algorithm.
9982
9983 @item hp
9984 Decode based on the HP ANSI C@t{++} (@code{aCC}) encoding algorithm.
9985
9986 @item lucid
9987 Decode based on the Lucid C@t{++} compiler (@code{lcc}) encoding algorithm.
9988
9989 @item arm
9990 Decode using the algorithm in the @cite{C@t{++} Annotated Reference Manual}.
9991 @strong{Warning:} this setting alone is not sufficient to allow
9992 debugging @code{cfront}-generated executables. @value{GDBN} would
9993 require further enhancement to permit that.
9994
9995 @end table
9996 If you omit @var{style}, you will see a list of possible formats.
9997
9998 @item show demangle-style
9999 Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C@t{++} symbols.
10000
10001 @item set print object
10002 @itemx set print object on
10003 @cindex derived type of an object, printing
10004 @cindex display derived types
10005 When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the @emph{actual}
10006 (derived) type of the object rather than the @emph{declared} type, using
10007 the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
10008 required---this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
10009 type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
10010 type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
10011 working with variable objects via MI (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
10012
10013 @item set print object off
10014 Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
10015 virtual function table. This is the default setting.
10016
10017 @item show print object
10018 Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
10019
10020 @item set print static-members
10021 @itemx set print static-members on
10022 @cindex static members of C@t{++} objects
10023 Print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object. The default is on.
10024
10025 @item set print static-members off
10026 Do not print static members when displaying a C@t{++} object.
10027
10028 @item show print static-members
10029 Show whether C@t{++} static members are printed or not.
10030
10031 @item set print pascal_static-members
10032 @itemx set print pascal_static-members on
10033 @cindex static members of Pascal objects
10034 @cindex Pascal objects, static members display
10035 Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
10036
10037 @item set print pascal_static-members off
10038 Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
10039
10040 @item show print pascal_static-members
10041 Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
10042
10043 @c These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet.
10044 @item set print vtbl
10045 @itemx set print vtbl on
10046 @cindex pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables
10047 @cindex virtual functions (C@t{++}) display
10048 @cindex VTBL display
10049 Pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables. The default is off.
10050 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
10051 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
10052
10053 @item set print vtbl off
10054 Do not pretty print C@t{++} virtual function tables.
10055
10056 @item show print vtbl
10057 Show whether C@t{++} virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
10058 @end table
10059
10060 @node Pretty Printing
10061 @section Pretty Printing
10062
10063 @value{GDBN} provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
10064 Python code. It greatly simplifies the display of complex objects. This
10065 mechanism works for both MI and the CLI.
10066
10067 @menu
10068 * Pretty-Printer Introduction:: Introduction to pretty-printers
10069 * Pretty-Printer Example:: An example pretty-printer
10070 * Pretty-Printer Commands:: Pretty-printer commands
10071 @end menu
10072
10073 @node Pretty-Printer Introduction
10074 @subsection Pretty-Printer Introduction
10075
10076 When @value{GDBN} prints a value, it first sees if there is a pretty-printer
10077 registered for the value. If there is then @value{GDBN} invokes the
10078 pretty-printer to print the value. Otherwise the value is printed normally.
10079
10080 Pretty-printers are normally named. This makes them easy to manage.
10081 The @samp{info pretty-printer} command will list all the installed
10082 pretty-printers with their names.
10083 If a pretty-printer can handle multiple data types, then its
10084 @dfn{subprinters} are the printers for the individual data types.
10085 Each such subprinter has its own name.
10086 The format of the name is @var{printer-name};@var{subprinter-name}.
10087
10088 Pretty-printers are installed by @dfn{registering} them with @value{GDBN}.
10089 Typically they are automatically loaded and registered when the corresponding
10090 debug information is loaded, thus making them available without having to
10091 do anything special.
10092
10093 There are three places where a pretty-printer can be registered.
10094
10095 @itemize @bullet
10096 @item
10097 Pretty-printers registered globally are available when debugging
10098 all inferiors.
10099
10100 @item
10101 Pretty-printers registered with a program space are available only
10102 when debugging that program.
10103 @xref{Progspaces In Python}, for more details on program spaces in Python.
10104
10105 @item
10106 Pretty-printers registered with an objfile are loaded and unloaded
10107 with the corresponding objfile (e.g., shared library).
10108 @xref{Objfiles In Python}, for more details on objfiles in Python.
10109 @end itemize
10110
10111 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for further information on how
10112 pretty-printers are selected,
10113
10114 @xref{Writing a Pretty-Printer}, for implementing pretty printers
10115 for new types.
10116
10117 @node Pretty-Printer Example
10118 @subsection Pretty-Printer Example
10119
10120 Here is how a C@t{++} @code{std::string} looks without a pretty-printer:
10121
10122 @smallexample
10123 (@value{GDBP}) print s
10124 $1 = @{
10125 static npos = 4294967295,
10126 _M_dataplus = @{
10127 <std::allocator<char>> = @{
10128 <__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = @{
10129 <No data fields>@}, <No data fields>
10130 @},
10131 members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>,
10132 std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
10133 _M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
10134 @}
10135 @}
10136 @end smallexample
10137
10138 With a pretty-printer for @code{std::string} only the contents are printed:
10139
10140 @smallexample
10141 (@value{GDBP}) print s
10142 $2 = "abcd"
10143 @end smallexample
10144
10145 @node Pretty-Printer Commands
10146 @subsection Pretty-Printer Commands
10147 @cindex pretty-printer commands
10148
10149 @table @code
10150 @kindex info pretty-printer
10151 @item info pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
10152 Print the list of installed pretty-printers.
10153 This includes disabled pretty-printers, which are marked as such.
10154
10155 @var{object-regexp} is a regular expression matching the objects
10156 whose pretty-printers to list.
10157 Objects can be @code{global}, the program space's file
10158 (@pxref{Progspaces In Python}),
10159 and the object files within that program space (@pxref{Objfiles In Python}).
10160 @xref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}, for details on how @value{GDBN}
10161 looks up a printer from these three objects.
10162
10163 @var{name-regexp} is a regular expression matching the name of the printers
10164 to list.
10165
10166 @kindex disable pretty-printer
10167 @item disable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
10168 Disable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
10169 A disabled pretty-printer is not forgotten, it may be enabled again later.
10170
10171 @kindex enable pretty-printer
10172 @item enable pretty-printer [@var{object-regexp} [@var{name-regexp}]]
10173 Enable pretty-printers matching @var{object-regexp} and @var{name-regexp}.
10174 @end table
10175
10176 Example:
10177
10178 Suppose we have three pretty-printers installed: one from library1.so
10179 named @code{foo} that prints objects of type @code{foo}, and
10180 another from library2.so named @code{bar} that prints two types of objects,
10181 @code{bar1} and @code{bar2}.
10182
10183 @smallexample
10184 (gdb) info pretty-printer
10185 library1.so:
10186 foo
10187 library2.so:
10188 bar
10189 bar1
10190 bar2
10191 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
10192 library2.so:
10193 bar
10194 bar1
10195 bar2
10196 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library1
10197 1 printer disabled
10198 2 of 3 printers enabled
10199 (gdb) info pretty-printer
10200 library1.so:
10201 foo [disabled]
10202 library2.so:
10203 bar
10204 bar1
10205 bar2
10206 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar:bar1
10207 1 printer disabled
10208 1 of 3 printers enabled
10209 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
10210 library1.so:
10211 foo [disabled]
10212 library2.so:
10213 bar
10214 bar1 [disabled]
10215 bar2
10216 (gdb) disable pretty-printer library2 bar
10217 1 printer disabled
10218 0 of 3 printers enabled
10219 (gdb) info pretty-printer library2
10220 library1.so:
10221 foo [disabled]
10222 library2.so:
10223 bar [disabled]
10224 bar1 [disabled]
10225 bar2
10226 @end smallexample
10227
10228 Note that for @code{bar} the entire printer can be disabled,
10229 as can each individual subprinter.
10230
10231 @node Value History
10232 @section Value History
10233
10234 @cindex value history
10235 @cindex history of values printed by @value{GDBN}
10236 Values printed by the @code{print} command are saved in the @value{GDBN}
10237 @dfn{value history}. This allows you to refer to them in other expressions.
10238 Values are kept until the symbol table is re-read or discarded
10239 (for example with the @code{file} or @code{symbol-file} commands).
10240 When the symbol table changes, the value history is discarded,
10241 since the values may contain pointers back to the types defined in the
10242 symbol table.
10243
10244 @cindex @code{$}
10245 @cindex @code{$$}
10246 @cindex history number
10247 The values printed are given @dfn{history numbers} by which you can
10248 refer to them. These are successive integers starting with one.
10249 @code{print} shows you the history number assigned to a value by
10250 printing @samp{$@var{num} = } before the value; here @var{num} is the
10251 history number.
10252
10253 To refer to any previous value, use @samp{$} followed by the value's
10254 history number. The way @code{print} labels its output is designed to
10255 remind you of this. Just @code{$} refers to the most recent value in
10256 the history, and @code{$$} refers to the value before that.
10257 @code{$$@var{n}} refers to the @var{n}th value from the end; @code{$$2}
10258 is the value just prior to @code{$$}, @code{$$1} is equivalent to
10259 @code{$$}, and @code{$$0} is equivalent to @code{$}.
10260
10261 For example, suppose you have just printed a pointer to a structure and
10262 want to see the contents of the structure. It suffices to type
10263
10264 @smallexample
10265 p *$
10266 @end smallexample
10267
10268 If you have a chain of structures where the component @code{next} points
10269 to the next one, you can print the contents of the next one with this:
10270
10271 @smallexample
10272 p *$.next
10273 @end smallexample
10274
10275 @noindent
10276 You can print successive links in the chain by repeating this
10277 command---which you can do by just typing @key{RET}.
10278
10279 Note that the history records values, not expressions. If the value of
10280 @code{x} is 4 and you type these commands:
10281
10282 @smallexample
10283 print x
10284 set x=5
10285 @end smallexample
10286
10287 @noindent
10288 then the value recorded in the value history by the @code{print} command
10289 remains 4 even though the value of @code{x} has changed.
10290
10291 @table @code
10292 @kindex show values
10293 @item show values
10294 Print the last ten values in the value history, with their item numbers.
10295 This is like @samp{p@ $$9} repeated ten times, except that @code{show
10296 values} does not change the history.
10297
10298 @item show values @var{n}
10299 Print ten history values centered on history item number @var{n}.
10300
10301 @item show values +
10302 Print ten history values just after the values last printed. If no more
10303 values are available, @code{show values +} produces no display.
10304 @end table
10305
10306 Pressing @key{RET} to repeat @code{show values @var{n}} has exactly the
10307 same effect as @samp{show values +}.
10308
10309 @node Convenience Vars
10310 @section Convenience Variables
10311
10312 @cindex convenience variables
10313 @cindex user-defined variables
10314 @value{GDBN} provides @dfn{convenience variables} that you can use within
10315 @value{GDBN} to hold on to a value and refer to it later. These variables
10316 exist entirely within @value{GDBN}; they are not part of your program, and
10317 setting a convenience variable has no direct effect on further execution
10318 of your program. That is why you can use them freely.
10319
10320 Convenience variables are prefixed with @samp{$}. Any name preceded by
10321 @samp{$} can be used for a convenience variable, unless it is one of
10322 the predefined machine-specific register names (@pxref{Registers, ,Registers}).
10323 (Value history references, in contrast, are @emph{numbers} preceded
10324 by @samp{$}. @xref{Value History, ,Value History}.)
10325
10326 You can save a value in a convenience variable with an assignment
10327 expression, just as you would set a variable in your program.
10328 For example:
10329
10330 @smallexample
10331 set $foo = *object_ptr
10332 @end smallexample
10333
10334 @noindent
10335 would save in @code{$foo} the value contained in the object pointed to by
10336 @code{object_ptr}.
10337
10338 Using a convenience variable for the first time creates it, but its
10339 value is @code{void} until you assign a new value. You can alter the
10340 value with another assignment at any time.
10341
10342 Convenience variables have no fixed types. You can assign a convenience
10343 variable any type of value, including structures and arrays, even if
10344 that variable already has a value of a different type. The convenience
10345 variable, when used as an expression, has the type of its current value.
10346
10347 @table @code
10348 @kindex show convenience
10349 @cindex show all user variables and functions
10350 @item show convenience
10351 Print a list of convenience variables used so far, and their values,
10352 as well as a list of the convenience functions.
10353 Abbreviated @code{show conv}.
10354
10355 @kindex init-if-undefined
10356 @cindex convenience variables, initializing
10357 @item init-if-undefined $@var{variable} = @var{expression}
10358 Set a convenience variable if it has not already been set. This is useful
10359 for user-defined commands that keep some state. It is similar, in concept,
10360 to using local static variables with initializers in C (except that
10361 convenience variables are global). It can also be used to allow users to
10362 override default values used in a command script.
10363
10364 If the variable is already defined then the expression is not evaluated so
10365 any side-effects do not occur.
10366 @end table
10367
10368 One of the ways to use a convenience variable is as a counter to be
10369 incremented or a pointer to be advanced. For example, to print
10370 a field from successive elements of an array of structures:
10371
10372 @smallexample
10373 set $i = 0
10374 print bar[$i++]->contents
10375 @end smallexample
10376
10377 @noindent
10378 Repeat that command by typing @key{RET}.
10379
10380 Some convenience variables are created automatically by @value{GDBN} and given
10381 values likely to be useful.
10382
10383 @table @code
10384 @vindex $_@r{, convenience variable}
10385 @item $_
10386 The variable @code{$_} is automatically set by the @code{x} command to
10387 the last address examined (@pxref{Memory, ,Examining Memory}). Other
10388 commands which provide a default address for @code{x} to examine also
10389 set @code{$_} to that address; these commands include @code{info line}
10390 and @code{info breakpoint}. The type of @code{$_} is @code{void *}
10391 except when set by the @code{x} command, in which case it is a pointer
10392 to the type of @code{$__}.
10393
10394 @vindex $__@r{, convenience variable}
10395 @item $__
10396 The variable @code{$__} is automatically set by the @code{x} command
10397 to the value found in the last address examined. Its type is chosen
10398 to match the format in which the data was printed.
10399
10400 @item $_exitcode
10401 @vindex $_exitcode@r{, convenience variable}
10402 When the program being debugged terminates normally, @value{GDBN}
10403 automatically sets this variable to the exit code of the program, and
10404 resets @code{$_exitsignal} to @code{void}.
10405
10406 @item $_exitsignal
10407 @vindex $_exitsignal@r{, convenience variable}
10408 When the program being debugged dies due to an uncaught signal,
10409 @value{GDBN} automatically sets this variable to that signal's number,
10410 and resets @code{$_exitcode} to @code{void}.
10411
10412 To distinguish between whether the program being debugged has exited
10413 (i.e., @code{$_exitcode} is not @code{void}) or signalled (i.e.,
10414 @code{$_exitsignal} is not @code{void}), the convenience function
10415 @code{$_isvoid} can be used (@pxref{Convenience Funs,, Convenience
10416 Functions}). For example, considering the following source code:
10417
10418 @smallexample
10419 #include <signal.h>
10420
10421 int
10422 main (int argc, char *argv[])
10423 @{
10424 raise (SIGALRM);
10425 return 0;
10426 @}
10427 @end smallexample
10428
10429 A valid way of telling whether the program being debugged has exited
10430 or signalled would be:
10431
10432 @smallexample
10433 (@value{GDBP}) define has_exited_or_signalled
10434 Type commands for definition of ``has_exited_or_signalled''.
10435 End with a line saying just ``end''.
10436 >if $_isvoid ($_exitsignal)
10437 >echo The program has exited\n
10438 >else
10439 >echo The program has signalled\n
10440 >end
10441 >end
10442 (@value{GDBP}) run
10443 Starting program:
10444
10445 Program terminated with signal SIGALRM, Alarm clock.
10446 The program no longer exists.
10447 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
10448 The program has signalled
10449 @end smallexample
10450
10451 As can be seen, @value{GDBN} correctly informs that the program being
10452 debugged has signalled, since it calls @code{raise} and raises a
10453 @code{SIGALRM} signal. If the program being debugged had not called
10454 @code{raise}, then @value{GDBN} would report a normal exit:
10455
10456 @smallexample
10457 (@value{GDBP}) has_exited_or_signalled
10458 The program has exited
10459 @end smallexample
10460
10461 @item $_exception
10462 The variable @code{$_exception} is set to the exception object being
10463 thrown at an exception-related catchpoint. @xref{Set Catchpoints}.
10464
10465 @item $_probe_argc
10466 @itemx $_probe_arg0@dots{}$_probe_arg11
10467 Arguments to a static probe. @xref{Static Probe Points}.
10468
10469 @item $_sdata
10470 @vindex $_sdata@r{, inspect, convenience variable}
10471 The variable @code{$_sdata} contains extra collected static tracepoint
10472 data. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}. Note that
10473 @code{$_sdata} could be empty, if not inspecting a trace buffer, or
10474 if extra static tracepoint data has not been collected.
10475
10476 @item $_siginfo
10477 @vindex $_siginfo@r{, convenience variable}
10478 The variable @code{$_siginfo} contains extra signal information
10479 (@pxref{extra signal information}). Note that @code{$_siginfo}
10480 could be empty, if the application has not yet received any signals.
10481 For example, it will be empty before you execute the @code{run} command.
10482
10483 @item $_tlb
10484 @vindex $_tlb@r{, convenience variable}
10485 The variable @code{$_tlb} is automatically set when debugging
10486 applications running on MS-Windows in native mode or connected to
10487 gdbserver that supports the @code{qGetTIBAddr} request.
10488 @xref{General Query Packets}.
10489 This variable contains the address of the thread information block.
10490
10491 @item $_inferior
10492 The number of the current inferior. @xref{Inferiors and
10493 Programs, ,Debugging Multiple Inferiors and Programs}.
10494
10495 @item $_thread
10496 The thread number of the current thread. @xref{thread numbers}.
10497
10498 @item $_gthread
10499 The global number of the current thread. @xref{global thread numbers}.
10500
10501 @end table
10502
10503 @node Convenience Funs
10504 @section Convenience Functions
10505
10506 @cindex convenience functions
10507 @value{GDBN} also supplies some @dfn{convenience functions}. These
10508 have a syntax similar to convenience variables. A convenience
10509 function can be used in an expression just like an ordinary function;
10510 however, a convenience function is implemented internally to
10511 @value{GDBN}.
10512
10513 These functions do not require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
10514 @code{Python} support, which means that they are always available.
10515
10516 @table @code
10517
10518 @item $_isvoid (@var{expr})
10519 @findex $_isvoid@r{, convenience function}
10520 Return one if the expression @var{expr} is @code{void}. Otherwise it
10521 returns zero.
10522
10523 A @code{void} expression is an expression where the type of the result
10524 is @code{void}. For example, you can examine a convenience variable
10525 (see @ref{Convenience Vars,, Convenience Variables}) to check whether
10526 it is @code{void}:
10527
10528 @smallexample
10529 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
10530 $1 = void
10531 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
10532 $2 = 1
10533 (@value{GDBP}) run
10534 Starting program: ./a.out
10535 [Inferior 1 (process 29572) exited normally]
10536 (@value{GDBP}) print $_exitcode
10537 $3 = 0
10538 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($_exitcode)
10539 $4 = 0
10540 @end smallexample
10541
10542 In the example above, we used @code{$_isvoid} to check whether
10543 @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void} before and after the execution of the
10544 program being debugged. Before the execution there is no exit code to
10545 be examined, therefore @code{$_exitcode} is @code{void}. After the
10546 execution the program being debugged returned zero, therefore
10547 @code{$_exitcode} is zero, which means that it is not @code{void}
10548 anymore.
10549
10550 The @code{void} expression can also be a call of a function from the
10551 program being debugged. For example, given the following function:
10552
10553 @smallexample
10554 void
10555 foo (void)
10556 @{
10557 @}
10558 @end smallexample
10559
10560 The result of calling it inside @value{GDBN} is @code{void}:
10561
10562 @smallexample
10563 (@value{GDBP}) print foo ()
10564 $1 = void
10565 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid (foo ())
10566 $2 = 1
10567 (@value{GDBP}) set $v = foo ()
10568 (@value{GDBP}) print $v
10569 $3 = void
10570 (@value{GDBP}) print $_isvoid ($v)
10571 $4 = 1
10572 @end smallexample
10573
10574 @end table
10575
10576 These functions require @value{GDBN} to be configured with
10577 @code{Python} support.
10578
10579 @table @code
10580
10581 @item $_memeq(@var{buf1}, @var{buf2}, @var{length})
10582 @findex $_memeq@r{, convenience function}
10583 Returns one if the @var{length} bytes at the addresses given by
10584 @var{buf1} and @var{buf2} are equal.
10585 Otherwise it returns zero.
10586
10587 @item $_regex(@var{str}, @var{regex})
10588 @findex $_regex@r{, convenience function}
10589 Returns one if the string @var{str} matches the regular expression
10590 @var{regex}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10591 The syntax of the regular expression is that specified by @code{Python}'s
10592 regular expression support.
10593
10594 @item $_streq(@var{str1}, @var{str2})
10595 @findex $_streq@r{, convenience function}
10596 Returns one if the strings @var{str1} and @var{str2} are equal.
10597 Otherwise it returns zero.
10598
10599 @item $_strlen(@var{str})
10600 @findex $_strlen@r{, convenience function}
10601 Returns the length of string @var{str}.
10602
10603 @item $_caller_is(@var{name}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10604 @findex $_caller_is@r{, convenience function}
10605 Returns one if the calling function's name is equal to @var{name}.
10606 Otherwise it returns zero.
10607
10608 If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10609 it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10610 The default is 1.
10611
10612 Example:
10613
10614 @smallexample
10615 (gdb) backtrace
10616 #0 bottom_func ()
10617 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:21
10618 #1 0x00000000004005a0 in middle_func ()
10619 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:27
10620 #2 0x00000000004005ab in top_func ()
10621 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:33
10622 #3 0x00000000004005b6 in main ()
10623 at testsuite/gdb.python/py-caller-is.c:39
10624 (gdb) print $_caller_is ("middle_func")
10625 $1 = 1
10626 (gdb) print $_caller_is ("top_func", 2)
10627 $1 = 1
10628 @end smallexample
10629
10630 @item $_caller_matches(@var{regexp}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10631 @findex $_caller_matches@r{, convenience function}
10632 Returns one if the calling function's name matches the regular expression
10633 @var{regexp}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10634
10635 If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10636 it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10637 The default is 1.
10638
10639 @item $_any_caller_is(@var{name}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10640 @findex $_any_caller_is@r{, convenience function}
10641 Returns one if any calling function's name is equal to @var{name}.
10642 Otherwise it returns zero.
10643
10644 If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10645 it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10646 The default is 1.
10647
10648 This function differs from @code{$_caller_is} in that this function
10649 checks all stack frames from the immediate caller to the frame specified
10650 by @var{number_of_frames}, whereas @code{$_caller_is} only checks the
10651 frame specified by @var{number_of_frames}.
10652
10653 @item $_any_caller_matches(@var{regexp}@r{[}, @var{number_of_frames}@r{]})
10654 @findex $_any_caller_matches@r{, convenience function}
10655 Returns one if any calling function's name matches the regular expression
10656 @var{regexp}. Otherwise it returns zero.
10657
10658 If the optional argument @var{number_of_frames} is provided,
10659 it is the number of frames up in the stack to look.
10660 The default is 1.
10661
10662 This function differs from @code{$_caller_matches} in that this function
10663 checks all stack frames from the immediate caller to the frame specified
10664 by @var{number_of_frames}, whereas @code{$_caller_matches} only checks the
10665 frame specified by @var{number_of_frames}.
10666
10667 @end table
10668
10669 @value{GDBN} provides the ability to list and get help on
10670 convenience functions.
10671
10672 @table @code
10673 @item help function
10674 @kindex help function
10675 @cindex show all convenience functions
10676 Print a list of all convenience functions.
10677 @end table
10678
10679 @node Registers
10680 @section Registers
10681
10682 @cindex registers
10683 You can refer to machine register contents, in expressions, as variables
10684 with names starting with @samp{$}. The names of registers are different
10685 for each machine; use @code{info registers} to see the names used on
10686 your machine.
10687
10688 @table @code
10689 @kindex info registers
10690 @item info registers
10691 Print the names and values of all registers except floating-point
10692 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10693
10694 @kindex info all-registers
10695 @cindex floating point registers
10696 @item info all-registers
10697 Print the names and values of all registers, including floating-point
10698 and vector registers (in the selected stack frame).
10699
10700 @item info registers @var{regname} @dots{}
10701 Print the @dfn{relativized} value of each specified register @var{regname}.
10702 As discussed in detail below, register values are normally relative to
10703 the selected stack frame. The @var{regname} may be any register name valid on
10704 the machine you are using, with or without the initial @samp{$}.
10705 @end table
10706
10707 @anchor{standard registers}
10708 @cindex stack pointer register
10709 @cindex program counter register
10710 @cindex process status register
10711 @cindex frame pointer register
10712 @cindex standard registers
10713 @value{GDBN} has four ``standard'' register names that are available (in
10714 expressions) on most machines---whenever they do not conflict with an
10715 architecture's canonical mnemonics for registers. The register names
10716 @code{$pc} and @code{$sp} are used for the program counter register and
10717 the stack pointer. @code{$fp} is used for a register that contains a
10718 pointer to the current stack frame, and @code{$ps} is used for a
10719 register that contains the processor status. For example,
10720 you could print the program counter in hex with
10721
10722 @smallexample
10723 p/x $pc
10724 @end smallexample
10725
10726 @noindent
10727 or print the instruction to be executed next with
10728
10729 @smallexample
10730 x/i $pc
10731 @end smallexample
10732
10733 @noindent
10734 or add four to the stack pointer@footnote{This is a way of removing
10735 one word from the stack, on machines where stacks grow downward in
10736 memory (most machines, nowadays). This assumes that the innermost
10737 stack frame is selected; setting @code{$sp} is not allowed when other
10738 stack frames are selected. To pop entire frames off the stack,
10739 regardless of machine architecture, use @code{return};
10740 see @ref{Returning, ,Returning from a Function}.} with
10741
10742 @smallexample
10743 set $sp += 4
10744 @end smallexample
10745
10746 Whenever possible, these four standard register names are available on
10747 your machine even though the machine has different canonical mnemonics,
10748 so long as there is no conflict. The @code{info registers} command
10749 shows the canonical names. For example, on the SPARC, @code{info
10750 registers} displays the processor status register as @code{$psr} but you
10751 can also refer to it as @code{$ps}; and on x86-based machines @code{$ps}
10752 is an alias for the @sc{eflags} register.
10753
10754 @value{GDBN} always considers the contents of an ordinary register as an
10755 integer when the register is examined in this way. Some machines have
10756 special registers which can hold nothing but floating point; these
10757 registers are considered to have floating point values. There is no way
10758 to refer to the contents of an ordinary register as floating point value
10759 (although you can @emph{print} it as a floating point value with
10760 @samp{print/f $@var{regname}}).
10761
10762 Some registers have distinct ``raw'' and ``virtual'' data formats. This
10763 means that the data format in which the register contents are saved by
10764 the operating system is not the same one that your program normally
10765 sees. For example, the registers of the 68881 floating point
10766 coprocessor are always saved in ``extended'' (raw) format, but all C
10767 programs expect to work with ``double'' (virtual) format. In such
10768 cases, @value{GDBN} normally works with the virtual format only (the format
10769 that makes sense for your program), but the @code{info registers} command
10770 prints the data in both formats.
10771
10772 @cindex SSE registers (x86)
10773 @cindex MMX registers (x86)
10774 Some machines have special registers whose contents can be interpreted
10775 in several different ways. For example, modern x86-based machines
10776 have SSE and MMX registers that can hold several values packed
10777 together in several different formats. @value{GDBN} refers to such
10778 registers in @code{struct} notation:
10779
10780 @smallexample
10781 (@value{GDBP}) print $xmm1
10782 $1 = @{
10783 v4_float = @{0, 3.43859137e-038, 1.54142831e-044, 1.821688e-044@},
10784 v2_double = @{9.92129282474342e-303, 2.7585945287983262e-313@},
10785 v16_int8 = "\000\000\000\000\3706;\001\v\000\000\000\r\000\000",
10786 v8_int16 = @{0, 0, 14072, 315, 11, 0, 13, 0@},
10787 v4_int32 = @{0, 20657912, 11, 13@},
10788 v2_int64 = @{88725056443645952, 55834574859@},
10789 uint128 = 0x0000000d0000000b013b36f800000000
10790 @}
10791 @end smallexample
10792
10793 @noindent
10794 To set values of such registers, you need to tell @value{GDBN} which
10795 view of the register you wish to change, as if you were assigning
10796 value to a @code{struct} member:
10797
10798 @smallexample
10799 (@value{GDBP}) set $xmm1.uint128 = 0x000000000000000000000000FFFFFFFF
10800 @end smallexample
10801
10802 Normally, register values are relative to the selected stack frame
10803 (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a Frame}). This means that you get the
10804 value that the register would contain if all stack frames farther in
10805 were exited and their saved registers restored. In order to see the
10806 true contents of hardware registers, you must select the innermost
10807 frame (with @samp{frame 0}).
10808
10809 @cindex caller-saved registers
10810 @cindex call-clobbered registers
10811 @cindex volatile registers
10812 @cindex <not saved> values
10813 Usually ABIs reserve some registers as not needed to be saved by the
10814 callee (a.k.a.: ``caller-saved'', ``call-clobbered'' or ``volatile''
10815 registers). It may therefore not be possible for @value{GDBN} to know
10816 the value a register had before the call (in other words, in the outer
10817 frame), if the register value has since been changed by the callee.
10818 @value{GDBN} tries to deduce where the inner frame saved
10819 (``callee-saved'') registers, from the debug info, unwind info, or the
10820 machine code generated by your compiler. If some register is not
10821 saved, and @value{GDBN} knows the register is ``caller-saved'' (via
10822 its own knowledge of the ABI, or because the debug/unwind info
10823 explicitly says the register's value is undefined), @value{GDBN}
10824 displays @w{@samp{<not saved>}} as the register's value. With targets
10825 that @value{GDBN} has no knowledge of the register saving convention,
10826 if a register was not saved by the callee, then its value and location
10827 in the outer frame are assumed to be the same of the inner frame.
10828 This is usually harmless, because if the register is call-clobbered,
10829 the caller either does not care what is in the register after the
10830 call, or has code to restore the value that it does care about. Note,
10831 however, that if you change such a register in the outer frame, you
10832 may also be affecting the inner frame. Also, the more ``outer'' the
10833 frame is you're looking at, the more likely a call-clobbered
10834 register's value is to be wrong, in the sense that it doesn't actually
10835 represent the value the register had just before the call.
10836
10837 @node Floating Point Hardware
10838 @section Floating Point Hardware
10839 @cindex floating point
10840
10841 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give
10842 you more information about the status of the floating point hardware.
10843
10844 @table @code
10845 @kindex info float
10846 @item info float
10847 Display hardware-dependent information about the floating
10848 point unit. The exact contents and layout vary depending on the
10849 floating point chip. Currently, @samp{info float} is supported on
10850 the ARM and x86 machines.
10851 @end table
10852
10853 @node Vector Unit
10854 @section Vector Unit
10855 @cindex vector unit
10856
10857 Depending on the configuration, @value{GDBN} may be able to give you
10858 more information about the status of the vector unit.
10859
10860 @table @code
10861 @kindex info vector
10862 @item info vector
10863 Display information about the vector unit. The exact contents and
10864 layout vary depending on the hardware.
10865 @end table
10866
10867 @node OS Information
10868 @section Operating System Auxiliary Information
10869 @cindex OS information
10870
10871 @value{GDBN} provides interfaces to useful OS facilities that can help
10872 you debug your program.
10873
10874 @cindex auxiliary vector
10875 @cindex vector, auxiliary
10876 Some operating systems supply an @dfn{auxiliary vector} to programs at
10877 startup. This is akin to the arguments and environment that you
10878 specify for a program, but contains a system-dependent variety of
10879 binary values that tell system libraries important details about the
10880 hardware, operating system, and process. Each value's purpose is
10881 identified by an integer tag; the meanings are well-known but system-specific.
10882 Depending on the configuration and operating system facilities,
10883 @value{GDBN} may be able to show you this information. For remote
10884 targets, this functionality may further depend on the remote stub's
10885 support of the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet, see
10886 @ref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}.
10887
10888 @table @code
10889 @kindex info auxv
10890 @item info auxv
10891 Display the auxiliary vector of the inferior, which can be either a
10892 live process or a core dump file. @value{GDBN} prints each tag value
10893 numerically, and also shows names and text descriptions for recognized
10894 tags. Some values in the vector are numbers, some bit masks, and some
10895 pointers to strings or other data. @value{GDBN} displays each value in the
10896 most appropriate form for a recognized tag, and in hexadecimal for
10897 an unrecognized tag.
10898 @end table
10899
10900 On some targets, @value{GDBN} can access operating system-specific
10901 information and show it to you. The types of information available
10902 will differ depending on the type of operating system running on the
10903 target. The mechanism used to fetch the data is described in
10904 @ref{Operating System Information}. For remote targets, this
10905 functionality depends on the remote stub's support of the
10906 @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet, see @ref{qXfer osdata read}.
10907
10908 @table @code
10909 @kindex info os
10910 @item info os @var{infotype}
10911
10912 Display OS information of the requested type.
10913
10914 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, the following values of @var{infotype} are valid:
10915
10916 @anchor{linux info os infotypes}
10917 @table @code
10918 @kindex info os cpus
10919 @item cpus
10920 Display the list of all CPUs/cores. For each CPU/core, @value{GDBN} prints
10921 the available fields from /proc/cpuinfo. For each supported architecture
10922 different fields are available. Two common entries are processor which gives
10923 CPU number and bogomips; a system constant that is calculated during
10924 kernel initialization.
10925
10926 @kindex info os files
10927 @item files
10928 Display the list of open file descriptors on the target. For each
10929 file descriptor, @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process
10930 owning the descriptor, the command of the owning process, the value
10931 of the descriptor, and the target of the descriptor.
10932
10933 @kindex info os modules
10934 @item modules
10935 Display the list of all loaded kernel modules on the target. For each
10936 module, @value{GDBN} prints the module name, the size of the module in
10937 bytes, the number of times the module is used, the dependencies of the
10938 module, the status of the module, and the address of the loaded module
10939 in memory.
10940
10941 @kindex info os msg
10942 @item msg
10943 Display the list of all System V message queues on the target. For each
10944 message queue, @value{GDBN} prints the message queue key, the message
10945 queue identifier, the access permissions, the current number of bytes
10946 on the queue, the current number of messages on the queue, the processes
10947 that last sent and received a message on the queue, the user and group
10948 of the owner and creator of the message queue, the times at which a
10949 message was last sent and received on the queue, and the time at which
10950 the message queue was last changed.
10951
10952 @kindex info os processes
10953 @item processes
10954 Display the list of processes on the target. For each process,
10955 @value{GDBN} prints the process identifier, the name of the user, the
10956 command corresponding to the process, and the list of processor cores
10957 that the process is currently running on. (To understand what these
10958 properties mean, for this and the following info types, please consult
10959 the general @sc{gnu}/Linux documentation.)
10960
10961 @kindex info os procgroups
10962 @item procgroups
10963 Display the list of process groups on the target. For each process,
10964 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process group that it belongs
10965 to, the command corresponding to the process group leader, the process
10966 identifier, and the command line of the process. The list is sorted
10967 first by the process group identifier, then by the process identifier,
10968 so that processes belonging to the same process group are grouped together
10969 and the process group leader is listed first.
10970
10971 @kindex info os semaphores
10972 @item semaphores
10973 Display the list of all System V semaphore sets on the target. For each
10974 semaphore set, @value{GDBN} prints the semaphore set key, the semaphore
10975 set identifier, the access permissions, the number of semaphores in the
10976 set, the user and group of the owner and creator of the semaphore set,
10977 and the times at which the semaphore set was operated upon and changed.
10978
10979 @kindex info os shm
10980 @item shm
10981 Display the list of all System V shared-memory regions on the target.
10982 For each shared-memory region, @value{GDBN} prints the region key,
10983 the shared-memory identifier, the access permissions, the size of the
10984 region, the process that created the region, the process that last
10985 attached to or detached from the region, the current number of live
10986 attaches to the region, and the times at which the region was last
10987 attached to, detach from, and changed.
10988
10989 @kindex info os sockets
10990 @item sockets
10991 Display the list of Internet-domain sockets on the target. For each
10992 socket, @value{GDBN} prints the address and port of the local and
10993 remote endpoints, the current state of the connection, the creator of
10994 the socket, the IP address family of the socket, and the type of the
10995 connection.
10996
10997 @kindex info os threads
10998 @item threads
10999 Display the list of threads running on the target. For each thread,
11000 @value{GDBN} prints the identifier of the process that the thread
11001 belongs to, the command of the process, the thread identifier, and the
11002 processor core that it is currently running on. The main thread of a
11003 process is not listed.
11004 @end table
11005
11006 @item info os
11007 If @var{infotype} is omitted, then list the possible values for
11008 @var{infotype} and the kind of OS information available for each
11009 @var{infotype}. If the target does not return a list of possible
11010 types, this command will report an error.
11011 @end table
11012
11013 @node Memory Region Attributes
11014 @section Memory Region Attributes
11015 @cindex memory region attributes
11016
11017 @dfn{Memory region attributes} allow you to describe special handling
11018 required by regions of your target's memory. @value{GDBN} uses
11019 attributes to determine whether to allow certain types of memory
11020 accesses; whether to use specific width accesses; and whether to cache
11021 target memory. By default the description of memory regions is
11022 fetched from the target (if the current target supports this), but the
11023 user can override the fetched regions.
11024
11025 Defined memory regions can be individually enabled and disabled. When a
11026 memory region is disabled, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when
11027 accessing memory in that region. Similarly, if no memory regions have
11028 been defined, @value{GDBN} uses the default attributes when accessing
11029 all memory.
11030
11031 When a memory region is defined, it is given a number to identify it;
11032 to enable, disable, or remove a memory region, you specify that number.
11033
11034 @table @code
11035 @kindex mem
11036 @item mem @var{lower} @var{upper} @var{attributes}@dots{}
11037 Define a memory region bounded by @var{lower} and @var{upper} with
11038 attributes @var{attributes}@dots{}, and add it to the list of regions
11039 monitored by @value{GDBN}. Note that @var{upper} == 0 is a special
11040 case: it is treated as the target's maximum memory address.
11041 (0xffff on 16 bit targets, 0xffffffff on 32 bit targets, etc.)
11042
11043 @item mem auto
11044 Discard any user changes to the memory regions and use target-supplied
11045 regions, if available, or no regions if the target does not support.
11046
11047 @kindex delete mem
11048 @item delete mem @var{nums}@dots{}
11049 Remove memory regions @var{nums}@dots{} from the list of regions
11050 monitored by @value{GDBN}.
11051
11052 @kindex disable mem
11053 @item disable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
11054 Disable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
11055 A disabled memory region is not forgotten.
11056 It may be enabled again later.
11057
11058 @kindex enable mem
11059 @item enable mem @var{nums}@dots{}
11060 Enable monitoring of memory regions @var{nums}@dots{}.
11061
11062 @kindex info mem
11063 @item info mem
11064 Print a table of all defined memory regions, with the following columns
11065 for each region:
11066
11067 @table @emph
11068 @item Memory Region Number
11069 @item Enabled or Disabled.
11070 Enabled memory regions are marked with @samp{y}.
11071 Disabled memory regions are marked with @samp{n}.
11072
11073 @item Lo Address
11074 The address defining the inclusive lower bound of the memory region.
11075
11076 @item Hi Address
11077 The address defining the exclusive upper bound of the memory region.
11078
11079 @item Attributes
11080 The list of attributes set for this memory region.
11081 @end table
11082 @end table
11083
11084
11085 @subsection Attributes
11086
11087 @subsubsection Memory Access Mode
11088 The access mode attributes set whether @value{GDBN} may make read or
11089 write accesses to a memory region.
11090
11091 While these attributes prevent @value{GDBN} from performing invalid
11092 memory accesses, they do nothing to prevent the target system, I/O DMA,
11093 etc.@: from accessing memory.
11094
11095 @table @code
11096 @item ro
11097 Memory is read only.
11098 @item wo
11099 Memory is write only.
11100 @item rw
11101 Memory is read/write. This is the default.
11102 @end table
11103
11104 @subsubsection Memory Access Size
11105 The access size attribute tells @value{GDBN} to use specific sized
11106 accesses in the memory region. Often memory mapped device registers
11107 require specific sized accesses. If no access size attribute is
11108 specified, @value{GDBN} may use accesses of any size.
11109
11110 @table @code
11111 @item 8
11112 Use 8 bit memory accesses.
11113 @item 16
11114 Use 16 bit memory accesses.
11115 @item 32
11116 Use 32 bit memory accesses.
11117 @item 64
11118 Use 64 bit memory accesses.
11119 @end table
11120
11121 @c @subsubsection Hardware/Software Breakpoints
11122 @c The hardware/software breakpoint attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
11123 @c will use hardware or software breakpoints for the internal breakpoints
11124 @c used by the step, next, finish, until, etc. commands.
11125 @c
11126 @c @table @code
11127 @c @item hwbreak
11128 @c Always use hardware breakpoints
11129 @c @item swbreak (default)
11130 @c @end table
11131
11132 @subsubsection Data Cache
11133 The data cache attributes set whether @value{GDBN} will cache target
11134 memory. While this generally improves performance by reducing debug
11135 protocol overhead, it can lead to incorrect results because @value{GDBN}
11136 does not know about volatile variables or memory mapped device
11137 registers.
11138
11139 @table @code
11140 @item cache
11141 Enable @value{GDBN} to cache target memory.
11142 @item nocache
11143 Disable @value{GDBN} from caching target memory. This is the default.
11144 @end table
11145
11146 @subsection Memory Access Checking
11147 @value{GDBN} can be instructed to refuse accesses to memory that is
11148 not explicitly described. This can be useful if accessing such
11149 regions has undesired effects for a specific target, or to provide
11150 better error checking. The following commands control this behaviour.
11151
11152 @table @code
11153 @kindex set mem inaccessible-by-default
11154 @item set mem inaccessible-by-default [on|off]
11155 If @code{on} is specified, make @value{GDBN} treat memory not
11156 explicitly described by the memory ranges as non-existent and refuse accesses
11157 to such memory. The checks are only performed if there's at least one
11158 memory range defined. If @code{off} is specified, make @value{GDBN}
11159 treat the memory not explicitly described by the memory ranges as RAM.
11160 The default value is @code{on}.
11161 @kindex show mem inaccessible-by-default
11162 @item show mem inaccessible-by-default
11163 Show the current handling of accesses to unknown memory.
11164 @end table
11165
11166
11167 @c @subsubsection Memory Write Verification
11168 @c The memory write verification attributes set whether @value{GDBN}
11169 @c will re-reads data after each write to verify the write was successful.
11170 @c
11171 @c @table @code
11172 @c @item verify
11173 @c @item noverify (default)
11174 @c @end table
11175
11176 @node Dump/Restore Files
11177 @section Copy Between Memory and a File
11178 @cindex dump/restore files
11179 @cindex append data to a file
11180 @cindex dump data to a file
11181 @cindex restore data from a file
11182
11183 You can use the commands @code{dump}, @code{append}, and
11184 @code{restore} to copy data between target memory and a file. The
11185 @code{dump} and @code{append} commands write data to a file, and the
11186 @code{restore} command reads data from a file back into the inferior's
11187 memory. Files may be in binary, Motorola S-record, Intel hex,
11188 Tektronix Hex, or Verilog Hex format; however, @value{GDBN} can only
11189 append to binary files, and cannot read from Verilog Hex files.
11190
11191 @table @code
11192
11193 @kindex dump
11194 @item dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
11195 @itemx dump @r{[}@var{format}@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
11196 Dump the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
11197 or the value of @var{expr}, to @var{filename} in the given format.
11198
11199 The @var{format} parameter may be any one of:
11200 @table @code
11201 @item binary
11202 Raw binary form.
11203 @item ihex
11204 Intel hex format.
11205 @item srec
11206 Motorola S-record format.
11207 @item tekhex
11208 Tektronix Hex format.
11209 @item verilog
11210 Verilog Hex format.
11211 @end table
11212
11213 @value{GDBN} uses the same definitions of these formats as the
11214 @sc{gnu} binary utilities, like @samp{objdump} and @samp{objcopy}. If
11215 @var{format} is omitted, @value{GDBN} dumps the data in raw binary
11216 form.
11217
11218 @kindex append
11219 @item append @r{[}binary@r{]} memory @var{filename} @var{start_addr} @var{end_addr}
11220 @itemx append @r{[}binary@r{]} value @var{filename} @var{expr}
11221 Append the contents of memory from @var{start_addr} to @var{end_addr},
11222 or the value of @var{expr}, to the file @var{filename}, in raw binary form.
11223 (@value{GDBN} can only append data to files in raw binary form.)
11224
11225 @kindex restore
11226 @item restore @var{filename} @r{[}binary@r{]} @var{bias} @var{start} @var{end}
11227 Restore the contents of file @var{filename} into memory. The
11228 @code{restore} command can automatically recognize any known @sc{bfd}
11229 file format, except for raw binary. To restore a raw binary file you
11230 must specify the optional keyword @code{binary} after the filename.
11231
11232 If @var{bias} is non-zero, its value will be added to the addresses
11233 contained in the file. Binary files always start at address zero, so
11234 they will be restored at address @var{bias}. Other bfd files have
11235 a built-in location; they will be restored at offset @var{bias}
11236 from that location.
11237
11238 If @var{start} and/or @var{end} are non-zero, then only data between
11239 file offset @var{start} and file offset @var{end} will be restored.
11240 These offsets are relative to the addresses in the file, before
11241 the @var{bias} argument is applied.
11242
11243 @end table
11244
11245 @node Core File Generation
11246 @section How to Produce a Core File from Your Program
11247 @cindex dump core from inferior
11248
11249 A @dfn{core file} or @dfn{core dump} is a file that records the memory
11250 image of a running process and its process status (register values
11251 etc.). Its primary use is post-mortem debugging of a program that
11252 crashed while it ran outside a debugger. A program that crashes
11253 automatically produces a core file, unless this feature is disabled by
11254 the user. @xref{Files}, for information on invoking @value{GDBN} in
11255 the post-mortem debugging mode.
11256
11257 Occasionally, you may wish to produce a core file of the program you
11258 are debugging in order to preserve a snapshot of its state.
11259 @value{GDBN} has a special command for that.
11260
11261 @table @code
11262 @kindex gcore
11263 @kindex generate-core-file
11264 @item generate-core-file [@var{file}]
11265 @itemx gcore [@var{file}]
11266 Produce a core dump of the inferior process. The optional argument
11267 @var{file} specifies the file name where to put the core dump. If not
11268 specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}}, where
11269 @var{pid} is the inferior process ID.
11270
11271 Note that this command is implemented only for some systems (as of
11272 this writing, @sc{gnu}/Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris, and S390).
11273
11274 On @sc{gnu}/Linux, this command can take into account the value of the
11275 file @file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} when generating the core
11276 dump (@pxref{set use-coredump-filter}).
11277
11278 @kindex set use-coredump-filter
11279 @anchor{set use-coredump-filter}
11280 @item set use-coredump-filter on
11281 @itemx set use-coredump-filter off
11282 Enable or disable the use of the file
11283 @file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} when generating core dump
11284 files. This file is used by the Linux kernel to decide what types of
11285 memory mappings will be dumped or ignored when generating a core dump
11286 file. @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process.
11287
11288 To make use of this feature, you have to write in the
11289 @file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} file a value, in hexadecimal,
11290 which is a bit mask representing the memory mapping types. If a bit
11291 is set in the bit mask, then the memory mappings of the corresponding
11292 types will be dumped; otherwise, they will be ignored. This
11293 configuration is inherited by child processes. For more information
11294 about the bits that can be set in the
11295 @file{/proc/@var{pid}/coredump_filter} file, please refer to the
11296 manpage of @code{core(5)}.
11297
11298 By default, this option is @code{on}. If this option is turned
11299 @code{off}, @value{GDBN} does not read the @file{coredump_filter} file
11300 and instead uses the same default value as the Linux kernel in order
11301 to decide which pages will be dumped in the core dump file. This
11302 value is currently @code{0x33}, which means that bits @code{0}
11303 (anonymous private mappings), @code{1} (anonymous shared mappings),
11304 @code{4} (ELF headers) and @code{5} (private huge pages) are active.
11305 This will cause these memory mappings to be dumped automatically.
11306 @end table
11307
11308 @node Character Sets
11309 @section Character Sets
11310 @cindex character sets
11311 @cindex charset
11312 @cindex translating between character sets
11313 @cindex host character set
11314 @cindex target character set
11315
11316 If the program you are debugging uses a different character set to
11317 represent characters and strings than the one @value{GDBN} uses itself,
11318 @value{GDBN} can automatically translate between the character sets for
11319 you. The character set @value{GDBN} uses we call the @dfn{host
11320 character set}; the one the inferior program uses we call the
11321 @dfn{target character set}.
11322
11323 For example, if you are running @value{GDBN} on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, which
11324 uses the ISO Latin 1 character set, but you are using @value{GDBN}'s
11325 remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Debugging}) to debug a program
11326 running on an IBM mainframe, which uses the @sc{ebcdic} character set,
11327 then the host character set is Latin-1, and the target character set is
11328 @sc{ebcdic}. If you give @value{GDBN} the command @code{set
11329 target-charset EBCDIC-US}, then @value{GDBN} translates between
11330 @sc{ebcdic} and Latin 1 as you print character or string values, or use
11331 character and string literals in expressions.
11332
11333 @value{GDBN} has no way to automatically recognize which character set
11334 the inferior program uses; you must tell it, using the @code{set
11335 target-charset} command, described below.
11336
11337 Here are the commands for controlling @value{GDBN}'s character set
11338 support:
11339
11340 @table @code
11341 @item set target-charset @var{charset}
11342 @kindex set target-charset
11343 Set the current target character set to @var{charset}. To display the
11344 list of supported target character sets, type
11345 @kbd{@w{set target-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
11346
11347 @item set host-charset @var{charset}
11348 @kindex set host-charset
11349 Set the current host character set to @var{charset}.
11350
11351 By default, @value{GDBN} uses a host character set appropriate to the
11352 system it is running on; you can override that default using the
11353 @code{set host-charset} command. On some systems, @value{GDBN} cannot
11354 automatically determine the appropriate host character set. In this
11355 case, @value{GDBN} uses @samp{UTF-8}.
11356
11357 @value{GDBN} can only use certain character sets as its host character
11358 set. If you type @kbd{@w{set host-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
11359 @value{GDBN} will list the host character sets it supports.
11360
11361 @item set charset @var{charset}
11362 @kindex set charset
11363 Set the current host and target character sets to @var{charset}. As
11364 above, if you type @kbd{@w{set charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}},
11365 @value{GDBN} will list the names of the character sets that can be used
11366 for both host and target.
11367
11368 @item show charset
11369 @kindex show charset
11370 Show the names of the current host and target character sets.
11371
11372 @item show host-charset
11373 @kindex show host-charset
11374 Show the name of the current host character set.
11375
11376 @item show target-charset
11377 @kindex show target-charset
11378 Show the name of the current target character set.
11379
11380 @item set target-wide-charset @var{charset}
11381 @kindex set target-wide-charset
11382 Set the current target's wide character set to @var{charset}. This is
11383 the character set used by the target's @code{wchar_t} type. To
11384 display the list of supported wide character sets, type
11385 @kbd{@w{set target-wide-charset @key{TAB}@key{TAB}}}.
11386
11387 @item show target-wide-charset
11388 @kindex show target-wide-charset
11389 Show the name of the current target's wide character set.
11390 @end table
11391
11392 Here is an example of @value{GDBN}'s character set support in action.
11393 Assume that the following source code has been placed in the file
11394 @file{charset-test.c}:
11395
11396 @smallexample
11397 #include <stdio.h>
11398
11399 char ascii_hello[]
11400 = @{72, 101, 108, 108, 111, 44, 32, 119,
11401 111, 114, 108, 100, 33, 10, 0@};
11402 char ibm1047_hello[]
11403 = @{200, 133, 147, 147, 150, 107, 64, 166,
11404 150, 153, 147, 132, 90, 37, 0@};
11405
11406 main ()
11407 @{
11408 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
11409 @}
11410 @end smallexample
11411
11412 In this program, @code{ascii_hello} and @code{ibm1047_hello} are arrays
11413 containing the string @samp{Hello, world!} followed by a newline,
11414 encoded in the @sc{ascii} and @sc{ibm1047} character sets.
11415
11416 We compile the program, and invoke the debugger on it:
11417
11418 @smallexample
11419 $ gcc -g charset-test.c -o charset-test
11420 $ gdb -nw charset-test
11421 GNU gdb 2001-12-19-cvs
11422 Copyright 2001 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
11423 @dots{}
11424 (@value{GDBP})
11425 @end smallexample
11426
11427 We can use the @code{show charset} command to see what character sets
11428 @value{GDBN} is currently using to interpret and display characters and
11429 strings:
11430
11431 @smallexample
11432 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
11433 The current host and target character set is `ISO-8859-1'.
11434 (@value{GDBP})
11435 @end smallexample
11436
11437 For the sake of printing this manual, let's use @sc{ascii} as our
11438 initial character set:
11439 @smallexample
11440 (@value{GDBP}) set charset ASCII
11441 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
11442 The current host and target character set is `ASCII'.
11443 (@value{GDBP})
11444 @end smallexample
11445
11446 Let's assume that @sc{ascii} is indeed the correct character set for our
11447 host system --- in other words, let's assume that if @value{GDBN} prints
11448 characters using the @sc{ascii} character set, our terminal will display
11449 them properly. Since our current target character set is also
11450 @sc{ascii}, the contents of @code{ascii_hello} print legibly:
11451
11452 @smallexample
11453 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
11454 $1 = 0x401698 "Hello, world!\n"
11455 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
11456 $2 = 72 'H'
11457 (@value{GDBP})
11458 @end smallexample
11459
11460 @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and string
11461 literals you use in expressions:
11462
11463 @smallexample
11464 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
11465 $3 = 43 '+'
11466 (@value{GDBP})
11467 @end smallexample
11468
11469 The @sc{ascii} character set uses the number 43 to encode the @samp{+}
11470 character.
11471
11472 @value{GDBN} relies on the user to tell it which character set the
11473 target program uses. If we print @code{ibm1047_hello} while our target
11474 character set is still @sc{ascii}, we get jibberish:
11475
11476 @smallexample
11477 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
11478 $4 = 0x4016a8 "\310\205\223\223\226k@@\246\226\231\223\204Z%"
11479 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
11480 $5 = 200 '\310'
11481 (@value{GDBP})
11482 @end smallexample
11483
11484 If we invoke the @code{set target-charset} followed by @key{TAB}@key{TAB},
11485 @value{GDBN} tells us the character sets it supports:
11486
11487 @smallexample
11488 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
11489 ASCII EBCDIC-US IBM1047 ISO-8859-1
11490 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset
11491 @end smallexample
11492
11493 We can select @sc{ibm1047} as our target character set, and examine the
11494 program's strings again. Now the @sc{ascii} string is wrong, but
11495 @value{GDBN} translates the contents of @code{ibm1047_hello} from the
11496 target character set, @sc{ibm1047}, to the host character set,
11497 @sc{ascii}, and they display correctly:
11498
11499 @smallexample
11500 (@value{GDBP}) set target-charset IBM1047
11501 (@value{GDBP}) show charset
11502 The current host character set is `ASCII'.
11503 The current target character set is `IBM1047'.
11504 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello
11505 $6 = 0x401698 "\110\145%%?\054\040\167?\162%\144\041\012"
11506 (@value{GDBP}) print ascii_hello[0]
11507 $7 = 72 '\110'
11508 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello
11509 $8 = 0x4016a8 "Hello, world!\n"
11510 (@value{GDBP}) print ibm1047_hello[0]
11511 $9 = 200 'H'
11512 (@value{GDBP})
11513 @end smallexample
11514
11515 As above, @value{GDBN} uses the target character set for character and
11516 string literals you use in expressions:
11517
11518 @smallexample
11519 (@value{GDBP}) print '+'
11520 $10 = 78 '+'
11521 (@value{GDBP})
11522 @end smallexample
11523
11524 The @sc{ibm1047} character set uses the number 78 to encode the @samp{+}
11525 character.
11526
11527 @node Caching Target Data
11528 @section Caching Data of Targets
11529 @cindex caching data of targets
11530
11531 @value{GDBN} caches data exchanged between the debugger and a target.
11532 Each cache is associated with the address space of the inferior.
11533 @xref{Inferiors and Programs}, about inferior and address space.
11534 Such caching generally improves performance in remote debugging
11535 (@pxref{Remote Debugging}), because it reduces the overhead of the
11536 remote protocol by bundling memory reads and writes into large chunks.
11537 Unfortunately, simply caching everything would lead to incorrect results,
11538 since @value{GDBN} does not necessarily know anything about volatile
11539 values, memory-mapped I/O addresses, etc. Furthermore, in non-stop mode
11540 (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) memory can be changed @emph{while} a gdb command
11541 is executing.
11542 Therefore, by default, @value{GDBN} only caches data
11543 known to be on the stack@footnote{In non-stop mode, it is moderately
11544 rare for a running thread to modify the stack of a stopped thread
11545 in a way that would interfere with a backtrace, and caching of
11546 stack reads provides a significant speed up of remote backtraces.} or
11547 in the code segment.
11548 Other regions of memory can be explicitly marked as
11549 cacheable; @pxref{Memory Region Attributes}.
11550
11551 @table @code
11552 @kindex set remotecache
11553 @item set remotecache on
11554 @itemx set remotecache off
11555 This option no longer does anything; it exists for compatibility
11556 with old scripts.
11557
11558 @kindex show remotecache
11559 @item show remotecache
11560 Show the current state of the obsolete remotecache flag.
11561
11562 @kindex set stack-cache
11563 @item set stack-cache on
11564 @itemx set stack-cache off
11565 Enable or disable caching of stack accesses. When @code{on}, use
11566 caching. By default, this option is @code{on}.
11567
11568 @kindex show stack-cache
11569 @item show stack-cache
11570 Show the current state of data caching for memory accesses.
11571
11572 @kindex set code-cache
11573 @item set code-cache on
11574 @itemx set code-cache off
11575 Enable or disable caching of code segment accesses. When @code{on},
11576 use caching. By default, this option is @code{on}. This improves
11577 performance of disassembly in remote debugging.
11578
11579 @kindex show code-cache
11580 @item show code-cache
11581 Show the current state of target memory cache for code segment
11582 accesses.
11583
11584 @kindex info dcache
11585 @item info dcache @r{[}line@r{]}
11586 Print the information about the performance of data cache of the
11587 current inferior's address space. The information displayed
11588 includes the dcache width and depth, and for each cache line, its
11589 number, address, and how many times it was referenced. This
11590 command is useful for debugging the data cache operation.
11591
11592 If a line number is specified, the contents of that line will be
11593 printed in hex.
11594
11595 @item set dcache size @var{size}
11596 @cindex dcache size
11597 @kindex set dcache size
11598 Set maximum number of entries in dcache (dcache depth above).
11599
11600 @item set dcache line-size @var{line-size}
11601 @cindex dcache line-size
11602 @kindex set dcache line-size
11603 Set number of bytes each dcache entry caches (dcache width above).
11604 Must be a power of 2.
11605
11606 @item show dcache size
11607 @kindex show dcache size
11608 Show maximum number of dcache entries. @xref{Caching Target Data, info dcache}.
11609
11610 @item show dcache line-size
11611 @kindex show dcache line-size
11612 Show default size of dcache lines.
11613
11614 @end table
11615
11616 @node Searching Memory
11617 @section Search Memory
11618 @cindex searching memory
11619
11620 Memory can be searched for a particular sequence of bytes with the
11621 @code{find} command.
11622
11623 @table @code
11624 @kindex find
11625 @item find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, +@var{len}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
11626 @itemx find @r{[}/@var{sn}@r{]} @var{start_addr}, @var{end_addr}, @var{val1} @r{[}, @var{val2}, @dots{}@r{]}
11627 Search memory for the sequence of bytes specified by @var{val1}, @var{val2},
11628 etc. The search begins at address @var{start_addr} and continues for either
11629 @var{len} bytes or through to @var{end_addr} inclusive.
11630 @end table
11631
11632 @var{s} and @var{n} are optional parameters.
11633 They may be specified in either order, apart or together.
11634
11635 @table @r
11636 @item @var{s}, search query size
11637 The size of each search query value.
11638
11639 @table @code
11640 @item b
11641 bytes
11642 @item h
11643 halfwords (two bytes)
11644 @item w
11645 words (four bytes)
11646 @item g
11647 giant words (eight bytes)
11648 @end table
11649
11650 All values are interpreted in the current language.
11651 This means, for example, that if the current source language is C/C@t{++}
11652 then searching for the string ``hello'' includes the trailing '\0'.
11653
11654 If the value size is not specified, it is taken from the
11655 value's type in the current language.
11656 This is useful when one wants to specify the search
11657 pattern as a mixture of types.
11658 Note that this means, for example, that in the case of C-like languages
11659 a search for an untyped 0x42 will search for @samp{(int) 0x42}
11660 which is typically four bytes.
11661
11662 @item @var{n}, maximum number of finds
11663 The maximum number of matches to print. The default is to print all finds.
11664 @end table
11665
11666 You can use strings as search values. Quote them with double-quotes
11667 (@code{"}).
11668 The string value is copied into the search pattern byte by byte,
11669 regardless of the endianness of the target and the size specification.
11670
11671 The address of each match found is printed as well as a count of the
11672 number of matches found.
11673
11674 The address of the last value found is stored in convenience variable
11675 @samp{$_}.
11676 A count of the number of matches is stored in @samp{$numfound}.
11677
11678 For example, if stopped at the @code{printf} in this function:
11679
11680 @smallexample
11681 void
11682 hello ()
11683 @{
11684 static char hello[] = "hello-hello";
11685 static struct @{ char c; short s; int i; @}
11686 __attribute__ ((packed)) mixed
11687 = @{ 'c', 0x1234, 0x87654321 @};
11688 printf ("%s\n", hello);
11689 @}
11690 @end smallexample
11691
11692 @noindent
11693 you get during debugging:
11694
11695 @smallexample
11696 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), "hello"
11697 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
11698 1 pattern found
11699 (gdb) find &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 'e', 'l', 'l', 'o'
11700 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
11701 0x804956d <hello.1620+6>
11702 2 patterns found
11703 (gdb) find /b1 &hello[0], +sizeof(hello), 'h', 0x65, 'l'
11704 0x8049567 <hello.1620>
11705 1 pattern found
11706 (gdb) find &mixed, +sizeof(mixed), (char) 'c', (short) 0x1234, (int) 0x87654321
11707 0x8049560 <mixed.1625>
11708 1 pattern found
11709 (gdb) print $numfound
11710 $1 = 1
11711 (gdb) print $_
11712 $2 = (void *) 0x8049560
11713 @end smallexample
11714
11715 @node Value Sizes
11716 @section Value Sizes
11717
11718 Whenever @value{GDBN} prints a value memory will be allocated within
11719 @value{GDBN} to hold the contents of the value. It is possible in
11720 some languages with dynamic typing systems, that an invalid program
11721 may indicate a value that is incorrectly large, this in turn may cause
11722 @value{GDBN} to try and allocate an overly large ammount of memory.
11723
11724 @table @code
11725 @kindex set max-value-size
11726 @item set max-value-size @var{bytes}
11727 @itemx set max-value-size unlimited
11728 Set the maximum size of memory that @value{GDBN} will allocate for the
11729 contents of a value to @var{bytes}, trying to display a value that
11730 requires more memory than that will result in an error.
11731
11732 Setting this variable does not effect values that have already been
11733 allocated within @value{GDBN}, only future allocations.
11734
11735 There's a minimum size that @code{max-value-size} can be set to in
11736 order that @value{GDBN} can still operate correctly, this minimum is
11737 currently 16 bytes.
11738
11739 The limit applies to the results of some subexpressions as well as to
11740 complete expressions. For example, an expression denoting a simple
11741 integer component, such as @code{x.y.z}, may fail if the size of
11742 @var{x.y} is dynamic and exceeds @var{bytes}. On the other hand,
11743 @value{GDBN} is sometimes clever; the expression @code{A[i]}, where
11744 @var{A} is an array variable with non-constant size, will generally
11745 succeed regardless of the bounds on @var{A}, as long as the component
11746 size is less than @var{bytes}.
11747
11748 The default value of @code{max-value-size} is currently 64k.
11749
11750 @kindex show max-value-size
11751 @item show max-value-size
11752 Show the maximum size of memory, in bytes, that @value{GDBN} will
11753 allocate for the contents of a value.
11754 @end table
11755
11756 @node Optimized Code
11757 @chapter Debugging Optimized Code
11758 @cindex optimized code, debugging
11759 @cindex debugging optimized code
11760
11761 Almost all compilers support optimization. With optimization
11762 disabled, the compiler generates assembly code that corresponds
11763 directly to your source code, in a simplistic way. As the compiler
11764 applies more powerful optimizations, the generated assembly code
11765 diverges from your original source code. With help from debugging
11766 information generated by the compiler, @value{GDBN} can map from
11767 the running program back to constructs from your original source.
11768
11769 @value{GDBN} is more accurate with optimization disabled. If you
11770 can recompile without optimization, it is easier to follow the
11771 progress of your program during debugging. But, there are many cases
11772 where you may need to debug an optimized version.
11773
11774 When you debug a program compiled with @samp{-g -O}, remember that the
11775 optimizer has rearranged your code; the debugger shows you what is
11776 really there. Do not be too surprised when the execution path does not
11777 exactly match your source file! An extreme example: if you define a
11778 variable, but never use it, @value{GDBN} never sees that
11779 variable---because the compiler optimizes it out of existence.
11780
11781 Some things do not work as well with @samp{-g -O} as with just
11782 @samp{-g}, particularly on machines with instruction scheduling. If in
11783 doubt, recompile with @samp{-g} alone, and if this fixes the problem,
11784 please report it to us as a bug (including a test case!).
11785 @xref{Variables}, for more information about debugging optimized code.
11786
11787 @menu
11788 * Inline Functions:: How @value{GDBN} presents inlining
11789 * Tail Call Frames:: @value{GDBN} analysis of jumps to functions
11790 @end menu
11791
11792 @node Inline Functions
11793 @section Inline Functions
11794 @cindex inline functions, debugging
11795
11796 @dfn{Inlining} is an optimization that inserts a copy of the function
11797 body directly at each call site, instead of jumping to a shared
11798 routine. @value{GDBN} displays inlined functions just like
11799 non-inlined functions. They appear in backtraces. You can view their
11800 arguments and local variables, step into them with @code{step}, skip
11801 them with @code{next}, and escape from them with @code{finish}.
11802 You can check whether a function was inlined by using the
11803 @code{info frame} command.
11804
11805 For @value{GDBN} to support inlined functions, the compiler must
11806 record information about inlining in the debug information ---
11807 @value{NGCC} using the @sc{dwarf 2} format does this, and several
11808 other compilers do also. @value{GDBN} only supports inlined functions
11809 when using @sc{dwarf 2}. Versions of @value{NGCC} before 4.1
11810 do not emit two required attributes (@samp{DW_AT_call_file} and
11811 @samp{DW_AT_call_line}); @value{GDBN} does not display inlined
11812 function calls with earlier versions of @value{NGCC}. It instead
11813 displays the arguments and local variables of inlined functions as
11814 local variables in the caller.
11815
11816 The body of an inlined function is directly included at its call site;
11817 unlike a non-inlined function, there are no instructions devoted to
11818 the call. @value{GDBN} still pretends that the call site and the
11819 start of the inlined function are different instructions. Stepping to
11820 the call site shows the call site, and then stepping again shows
11821 the first line of the inlined function, even though no additional
11822 instructions are executed.
11823
11824 This makes source-level debugging much clearer; you can see both the
11825 context of the call and then the effect of the call. Only stepping by
11826 a single instruction using @code{stepi} or @code{nexti} does not do
11827 this; single instruction steps always show the inlined body.
11828
11829 There are some ways that @value{GDBN} does not pretend that inlined
11830 function calls are the same as normal calls:
11831
11832 @itemize @bullet
11833 @item
11834 Setting breakpoints at the call site of an inlined function may not
11835 work, because the call site does not contain any code. @value{GDBN}
11836 may incorrectly move the breakpoint to the next line of the enclosing
11837 function, after the call. This limitation will be removed in a future
11838 version of @value{GDBN}; until then, set a breakpoint on an earlier line
11839 or inside the inlined function instead.
11840
11841 @item
11842 @value{GDBN} cannot locate the return value of inlined calls after
11843 using the @code{finish} command. This is a limitation of compiler-generated
11844 debugging information; after @code{finish}, you can step to the next line
11845 and print a variable where your program stored the return value.
11846
11847 @end itemize
11848
11849 @node Tail Call Frames
11850 @section Tail Call Frames
11851 @cindex tail call frames, debugging
11852
11853 Function @code{B} can call function @code{C} in its very last statement. In
11854 unoptimized compilation the call of @code{C} is immediately followed by return
11855 instruction at the end of @code{B} code. Optimizing compiler may replace the
11856 call and return in function @code{B} into one jump to function @code{C}
11857 instead. Such use of a jump instruction is called @dfn{tail call}.
11858
11859 During execution of function @code{C}, there will be no indication in the
11860 function call stack frames that it was tail-called from @code{B}. If function
11861 @code{A} regularly calls function @code{B} which tail-calls function @code{C},
11862 then @value{GDBN} will see @code{A} as the caller of @code{C}. However, in
11863 some cases @value{GDBN} can determine that @code{C} was tail-called from
11864 @code{B}, and it will then create fictitious call frame for that, with the
11865 return address set up as if @code{B} called @code{C} normally.
11866
11867 This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
11868 the compiler has to produce @samp{DW_TAG_GNU_call_site} tags. With
11869 @value{NGCC}, you need to specify @option{-O -g} during compilation, to get
11870 this information.
11871
11872 @kbd{info frame} command (@pxref{Frame Info}) will indicate the tail call frame
11873 kind by text @code{tail call frame} such as in this sample @value{GDBN} output:
11874
11875 @smallexample
11876 (gdb) x/i $pc - 2
11877 0x40066b <b(int, double)+11>: jmp 0x400640 <c(int, double)>
11878 (gdb) info frame
11879 Stack level 1, frame at 0x7fffffffda30:
11880 rip = 0x40066d in b (amd64-entry-value.cc:59); saved rip 0x4004c5
11881 tail call frame, caller of frame at 0x7fffffffda30
11882 source language c++.
11883 Arglist at unknown address.
11884 Locals at unknown address, Previous frame's sp is 0x7fffffffda30
11885 @end smallexample
11886
11887 The detection of all the possible code path executions can find them ambiguous.
11888 There is no execution history stored (possible @ref{Reverse Execution} is never
11889 used for this purpose) and the last known caller could have reached the known
11890 callee by multiple different jump sequences. In such case @value{GDBN} still
11891 tries to show at least all the unambiguous top tail callers and all the
11892 unambiguous bottom tail calees, if any.
11893
11894 @table @code
11895 @anchor{set debug entry-values}
11896 @item set debug entry-values
11897 @kindex set debug entry-values
11898 When set to on, enables printing of analysis messages for both frame argument
11899 values at function entry and tail calls. It will show all the possible valid
11900 tail calls code paths it has considered. It will also print the intersection
11901 of them with the final unambiguous (possibly partial or even empty) code path
11902 result.
11903
11904 @item show debug entry-values
11905 @kindex show debug entry-values
11906 Show the current state of analysis messages printing for both frame argument
11907 values at function entry and tail calls.
11908 @end table
11909
11910 The analysis messages for tail calls can for example show why the virtual tail
11911 call frame for function @code{c} has not been recognized (due to the indirect
11912 reference by variable @code{x}):
11913
11914 @smallexample
11915 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void);
11916 void (*x) (void) = c;
11917 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11918 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ a (); @}
11919 int main (void) @{ x (); return 0; @}
11920
11921 Breakpoint 1, DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving cannot find
11922 DW_TAG_GNU_call_site 0x40039a in main
11923 a () at t.c:3
11924 3 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ x++; @}
11925 (gdb) bt
11926 #0 a () at t.c:3
11927 #1 0x000000000040039a in main () at t.c:5
11928 @end smallexample
11929
11930 Another possibility is an ambiguous virtual tail call frames resolution:
11931
11932 @smallexample
11933 int i;
11934 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) f (void) @{ i++; @}
11935 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) e (void) @{ f (); @}
11936 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) d (void) @{ f (); @}
11937 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (void) @{ d (); @}
11938 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (void)
11939 @{ if (i) c (); else e (); @}
11940 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (void) @{ b (); @}
11941 int main (void) @{ a (); return 0; @}
11942
11943 tailcall: initial: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004ce(b) 0x4004b2(c) 0x4004a2(d)
11944 tailcall: compare: 0x4004d2(a) 0x4004cc(b) 0x400492(e)
11945 tailcall: reduced: 0x4004d2(a) |
11946 (gdb) bt
11947 #0 f () at t.c:2
11948 #1 0x00000000004004d2 in a () at t.c:8
11949 #2 0x0000000000400395 in main () at t.c:9
11950 @end smallexample
11951
11952 @set CALLSEQ1A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}c@value{ARROW}d@value{ARROW}f}
11953 @set CALLSEQ2A @code{main@value{ARROW}a@value{ARROW}b@value{ARROW}e@value{ARROW}f}
11954
11955 @c Convert CALLSEQ#A to CALLSEQ#B depending on HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK.
11956 @ifset HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11957 @set ARROW @click{}
11958 @set CALLSEQ1B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ1A}}
11959 @set CALLSEQ2B @clicksequence{@value{CALLSEQ2A}}
11960 @end ifset
11961 @ifclear HAVE_MAKEINFO_CLICK
11962 @set ARROW ->
11963 @set CALLSEQ1B @value{CALLSEQ1A}
11964 @set CALLSEQ2B @value{CALLSEQ2A}
11965 @end ifclear
11966
11967 Frames #0 and #2 are real, #1 is a virtual tail call frame.
11968 The code can have possible execution paths @value{CALLSEQ1B} or
11969 @value{CALLSEQ2B}, @value{GDBN} cannot find which one from the inferior state.
11970
11971 @code{initial:} state shows some random possible calling sequence @value{GDBN}
11972 has found. It then finds another possible calling sequcen - that one is
11973 prefixed by @code{compare:}. The non-ambiguous intersection of these two is
11974 printed as the @code{reduced:} calling sequence. That one could have many
11975 futher @code{compare:} and @code{reduced:} statements as long as there remain
11976 any non-ambiguous sequence entries.
11977
11978 For the frame of function @code{b} in both cases there are different possible
11979 @code{$pc} values (@code{0x4004cc} or @code{0x4004ce}), therefore this frame is
11980 also ambigous. The only non-ambiguous frame is the one for function @code{a},
11981 therefore this one is displayed to the user while the ambiguous frames are
11982 omitted.
11983
11984 There can be also reasons why printing of frame argument values at function
11985 entry may fail:
11986
11987 @smallexample
11988 int v;
11989 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) c (int i) @{ v++; @}
11990 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i);
11991 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) b (int i) @{ a (i); @}
11992 static void __attribute__((noinline, noclone)) a (int i)
11993 @{ if (i) b (i - 1); else c (0); @}
11994 int main (void) @{ a (5); return 0; @}
11995
11996 (gdb) bt
11997 #0 c (i=i@@entry=0) at t.c:2
11998 #1 0x0000000000400428 in a (DW_OP_GNU_entry_value resolving has found
11999 function "a" at 0x400420 can call itself via tail calls
12000 i=<optimized out>) at t.c:6
12001 #2 0x000000000040036e in main () at t.c:7
12002 @end smallexample
12003
12004 @value{GDBN} cannot find out from the inferior state if and how many times did
12005 function @code{a} call itself (via function @code{b}) as these calls would be
12006 tail calls. Such tail calls would modify thue @code{i} variable, therefore
12007 @value{GDBN} cannot be sure the value it knows would be right - @value{GDBN}
12008 prints @code{<optimized out>} instead.
12009
12010 @node Macros
12011 @chapter C Preprocessor Macros
12012
12013 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, provide a way to define and invoke
12014 ``preprocessor macros'' which expand into strings of tokens.
12015 @value{GDBN} can evaluate expressions containing macro invocations, show
12016 the result of macro expansion, and show a macro's definition, including
12017 where it was defined.
12018
12019 You may need to compile your program specially to provide @value{GDBN}
12020 with information about preprocessor macros. Most compilers do not
12021 include macros in their debugging information, even when you compile
12022 with the @option{-g} flag. @xref{Compilation}.
12023
12024 A program may define a macro at one point, remove that definition later,
12025 and then provide a different definition after that. Thus, at different
12026 points in the program, a macro may have different definitions, or have
12027 no definition at all. If there is a current stack frame, @value{GDBN}
12028 uses the macros in scope at that frame's source code line. Otherwise,
12029 @value{GDBN} uses the macros in scope at the current listing location;
12030 see @ref{List}.
12031
12032 Whenever @value{GDBN} evaluates an expression, it always expands any
12033 macro invocations present in the expression. @value{GDBN} also provides
12034 the following commands for working with macros explicitly.
12035
12036 @table @code
12037
12038 @kindex macro expand
12039 @cindex macro expansion, showing the results of preprocessor
12040 @cindex preprocessor macro expansion, showing the results of
12041 @cindex expanding preprocessor macros
12042 @item macro expand @var{expression}
12043 @itemx macro exp @var{expression}
12044 Show the results of expanding all preprocessor macro invocations in
12045 @var{expression}. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does
12046 not parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression;
12047 it can be any string of tokens.
12048
12049 @kindex macro exp1
12050 @item macro expand-once @var{expression}
12051 @itemx macro exp1 @var{expression}
12052 @cindex expand macro once
12053 @i{(This command is not yet implemented.)} Show the results of
12054 expanding those preprocessor macro invocations that appear explicitly in
12055 @var{expression}. Macro invocations appearing in that expansion are
12056 left unchanged. This command allows you to see the effect of a
12057 particular macro more clearly, without being confused by further
12058 expansions. Since @value{GDBN} simply expands macros, but does not
12059 parse the result, @var{expression} need not be a valid expression; it
12060 can be any string of tokens.
12061
12062 @kindex info macro
12063 @cindex macro definition, showing
12064 @cindex definition of a macro, showing
12065 @cindex macros, from debug info
12066 @item info macro [-a|-all] [--] @var{macro}
12067 Show the current definition or all definitions of the named @var{macro},
12068 and describe the source location or compiler command-line where that
12069 definition was established. The optional double dash is to signify the end of
12070 argument processing and the beginning of @var{macro} for non C-like macros where
12071 the macro may begin with a hyphen.
12072
12073 @kindex info macros
12074 @item info macros @var{location}
12075 Show all macro definitions that are in effect at the location specified
12076 by @var{location}, and describe the source location or compiler
12077 command-line where those definitions were established.
12078
12079 @kindex macro define
12080 @cindex user-defined macros
12081 @cindex defining macros interactively
12082 @cindex macros, user-defined
12083 @item macro define @var{macro} @var{replacement-list}
12084 @itemx macro define @var{macro}(@var{arglist}) @var{replacement-list}
12085 Introduce a definition for a preprocessor macro named @var{macro},
12086 invocations of which are replaced by the tokens given in
12087 @var{replacement-list}. The first form of this command defines an
12088 ``object-like'' macro, which takes no arguments; the second form
12089 defines a ``function-like'' macro, which takes the arguments given in
12090 @var{arglist}.
12091
12092 A definition introduced by this command is in scope in every
12093 expression evaluated in @value{GDBN}, until it is removed with the
12094 @code{macro undef} command, described below. The definition overrides
12095 all definitions for @var{macro} present in the program being debugged,
12096 as well as any previous user-supplied definition.
12097
12098 @kindex macro undef
12099 @item macro undef @var{macro}
12100 Remove any user-supplied definition for the macro named @var{macro}.
12101 This command only affects definitions provided with the @code{macro
12102 define} command, described above; it cannot remove definitions present
12103 in the program being debugged.
12104
12105 @kindex macro list
12106 @item macro list
12107 List all the macros defined using the @code{macro define} command.
12108 @end table
12109
12110 @cindex macros, example of debugging with
12111 Here is a transcript showing the above commands in action. First, we
12112 show our source files:
12113
12114 @smallexample
12115 $ cat sample.c
12116 #include <stdio.h>
12117 #include "sample.h"
12118
12119 #define M 42
12120 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
12121
12122 main ()
12123 @{
12124 #define N 28
12125 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
12126 #undef N
12127 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
12128 #define N 1729
12129 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
12130 @}
12131 $ cat sample.h
12132 #define Q <
12133 $
12134 @end smallexample
12135
12136 Now, we compile the program using the @sc{gnu} C compiler,
12137 @value{NGCC}. We pass the @option{-gdwarf-2}@footnote{This is the
12138 minimum. Recent versions of @value{NGCC} support @option{-gdwarf-3}
12139 and @option{-gdwarf-4}; we recommend always choosing the most recent
12140 version of DWARF.} @emph{and} @option{-g3} flags to ensure the compiler
12141 includes information about preprocessor macros in the debugging
12142 information.
12143
12144 @smallexample
12145 $ gcc -gdwarf-2 -g3 sample.c -o sample
12146 $
12147 @end smallexample
12148
12149 Now, we start @value{GDBN} on our sample program:
12150
12151 @smallexample
12152 $ gdb -nw sample
12153 GNU gdb 2002-05-06-cvs
12154 Copyright 2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
12155 GDB is free software, @dots{}
12156 (@value{GDBP})
12157 @end smallexample
12158
12159 We can expand macros and examine their definitions, even when the
12160 program is not running. @value{GDBN} uses the current listing position
12161 to decide which macro definitions are in scope:
12162
12163 @smallexample
12164 (@value{GDBP}) list main
12165 3
12166 4 #define M 42
12167 5 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
12168 6
12169 7 main ()
12170 8 @{
12171 9 #define N 28
12172 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
12173 11 #undef N
12174 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
12175 (@value{GDBP}) info macro ADD
12176 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:5
12177 #define ADD(x) (M + x)
12178 (@value{GDBP}) info macro Q
12179 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.h:1
12180 included at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:2
12181 #define Q <
12182 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand ADD(1)
12183 expands to: (42 + 1)
12184 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand-once ADD(1)
12185 expands to: once (M + 1)
12186 (@value{GDBP})
12187 @end smallexample
12188
12189 In the example above, note that @code{macro expand-once} expands only
12190 the macro invocation explicit in the original text --- the invocation of
12191 @code{ADD} --- but does not expand the invocation of the macro @code{M},
12192 which was introduced by @code{ADD}.
12193
12194 Once the program is running, @value{GDBN} uses the macro definitions in
12195 force at the source line of the current stack frame:
12196
12197 @smallexample
12198 (@value{GDBP}) break main
12199 Breakpoint 1 at 0x8048370: file sample.c, line 10.
12200 (@value{GDBP}) run
12201 Starting program: /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample
12202
12203 Breakpoint 1, main () at sample.c:10
12204 10 printf ("Hello, world!\n");
12205 (@value{GDBP})
12206 @end smallexample
12207
12208 At line 10, the definition of the macro @code{N} at line 9 is in force:
12209
12210 @smallexample
12211 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
12212 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:9
12213 #define N 28
12214 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
12215 expands to: 28 < 42
12216 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
12217 $1 = 1
12218 (@value{GDBP})
12219 @end smallexample
12220
12221 As we step over directives that remove @code{N}'s definition, and then
12222 give it a new definition, @value{GDBN} finds the definition (or lack
12223 thereof) in force at each point:
12224
12225 @smallexample
12226 (@value{GDBP}) next
12227 Hello, world!
12228 12 printf ("We're so creative.\n");
12229 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
12230 The symbol `N' has no definition as a C/C++ preprocessor macro
12231 at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:12
12232 (@value{GDBP}) next
12233 We're so creative.
12234 14 printf ("Goodbye, world!\n");
12235 (@value{GDBP}) info macro N
12236 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:13
12237 #define N 1729
12238 (@value{GDBP}) macro expand N Q M
12239 expands to: 1729 < 42
12240 (@value{GDBP}) print N Q M
12241 $2 = 0
12242 (@value{GDBP})
12243 @end smallexample
12244
12245 In addition to source files, macros can be defined on the compilation command
12246 line using the @option{-D@var{name}=@var{value}} syntax. For macros defined in
12247 such a way, @value{GDBN} displays the location of their definition as line zero
12248 of the source file submitted to the compiler.
12249
12250 @smallexample
12251 (@value{GDBP}) info macro __STDC__
12252 Defined at /home/jimb/gdb/macros/play/sample.c:0
12253 -D__STDC__=1
12254 (@value{GDBP})
12255 @end smallexample
12256
12257
12258 @node Tracepoints
12259 @chapter Tracepoints
12260 @c This chapter is based on the documentation written by Michael
12261 @c Snyder, David Taylor, Jim Blandy, and Elena Zannoni.
12262
12263 @cindex tracepoints
12264 In some applications, it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt
12265 the program's execution long enough for the developer to learn
12266 anything helpful about its behavior. If the program's correctness
12267 depends on its real-time behavior, delays introduced by a debugger
12268 might cause the program to change its behavior drastically, or perhaps
12269 fail, even when the code itself is correct. It is useful to be able
12270 to observe the program's behavior without interrupting it.
12271
12272 Using @value{GDBN}'s @code{trace} and @code{collect} commands, you can
12273 specify locations in the program, called @dfn{tracepoints}, and
12274 arbitrary expressions to evaluate when those tracepoints are reached.
12275 Later, using the @code{tfind} command, you can examine the values
12276 those expressions had when the program hit the tracepoints. The
12277 expressions may also denote objects in memory---structures or arrays,
12278 for example---whose values @value{GDBN} should record; while visiting
12279 a particular tracepoint, you may inspect those objects as if they were
12280 in memory at that moment. However, because @value{GDBN} records these
12281 values without interacting with you, it can do so quickly and
12282 unobtrusively, hopefully not disturbing the program's behavior.
12283
12284 The tracepoint facility is currently available only for remote
12285 targets. @xref{Targets}. In addition, your remote target must know
12286 how to collect trace data. This functionality is implemented in the
12287 remote stub; however, none of the stubs distributed with @value{GDBN}
12288 support tracepoints as of this writing. The format of the remote
12289 packets used to implement tracepoints are described in @ref{Tracepoint
12290 Packets}.
12291
12292 It is also possible to get trace data from a file, in a manner reminiscent
12293 of corefiles; you specify the filename, and use @code{tfind} to search
12294 through the file. @xref{Trace Files}, for more details.
12295
12296 This chapter describes the tracepoint commands and features.
12297
12298 @menu
12299 * Set Tracepoints::
12300 * Analyze Collected Data::
12301 * Tracepoint Variables::
12302 * Trace Files::
12303 @end menu
12304
12305 @node Set Tracepoints
12306 @section Commands to Set Tracepoints
12307
12308 Before running such a @dfn{trace experiment}, an arbitrary number of
12309 tracepoints can be set. A tracepoint is actually a special type of
12310 breakpoint (@pxref{Set Breaks}), so you can manipulate it using
12311 standard breakpoint commands. For instance, as with breakpoints,
12312 tracepoint numbers are successive integers starting from one, and many
12313 of the commands associated with tracepoints take the tracepoint number
12314 as their argument, to identify which tracepoint to work on.
12315
12316 For each tracepoint, you can specify, in advance, some arbitrary set
12317 of data that you want the target to collect in the trace buffer when
12318 it hits that tracepoint. The collected data can include registers,
12319 local variables, or global data. Later, you can use @value{GDBN}
12320 commands to examine the values these data had at the time the
12321 tracepoint was hit.
12322
12323 Tracepoints do not support every breakpoint feature. Ignore counts on
12324 tracepoints have no effect, and tracepoints cannot run @value{GDBN}
12325 commands when they are hit. Tracepoints may not be thread-specific
12326 either.
12327
12328 @cindex fast tracepoints
12329 Some targets may support @dfn{fast tracepoints}, which are inserted in
12330 a different way (such as with a jump instead of a trap), that is
12331 faster but possibly restricted in where they may be installed.
12332
12333 @cindex static tracepoints
12334 @cindex markers, static tracepoints
12335 @cindex probing markers, static tracepoints
12336 Regular and fast tracepoints are dynamic tracing facilities, meaning
12337 that they can be used to insert tracepoints at (almost) any location
12338 in the target. Some targets may also support controlling @dfn{static
12339 tracepoints} from @value{GDBN}. With static tracing, a set of
12340 instrumentation points, also known as @dfn{markers}, are embedded in
12341 the target program, and can be activated or deactivated by name or
12342 address. These are usually placed at locations which facilitate
12343 investigating what the target is actually doing. @value{GDBN}'s
12344 support for static tracing includes being able to list instrumentation
12345 points, and attach them with @value{GDBN} defined high level
12346 tracepoints that expose the whole range of convenience of
12347 @value{GDBN}'s tracepoints support. Namely, support for collecting
12348 registers values and values of global or local (to the instrumentation
12349 point) variables; tracepoint conditions and trace state variables.
12350 The act of installing a @value{GDBN} static tracepoint on an
12351 instrumentation point, or marker, is referred to as @dfn{probing} a
12352 static tracepoint marker.
12353
12354 @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints on some target systems.
12355 @xref{Server,,Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}}.
12356
12357 This section describes commands to set tracepoints and associated
12358 conditions and actions.
12359
12360 @menu
12361 * Create and Delete Tracepoints::
12362 * Enable and Disable Tracepoints::
12363 * Tracepoint Passcounts::
12364 * Tracepoint Conditions::
12365 * Trace State Variables::
12366 * Tracepoint Actions::
12367 * Listing Tracepoints::
12368 * Listing Static Tracepoint Markers::
12369 * Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments::
12370 * Tracepoint Restrictions::
12371 @end menu
12372
12373 @node Create and Delete Tracepoints
12374 @subsection Create and Delete Tracepoints
12375
12376 @table @code
12377 @cindex set tracepoint
12378 @kindex trace
12379 @item trace @var{location}
12380 The @code{trace} command is very similar to the @code{break} command.
12381 Its argument @var{location} can be any valid location.
12382 @xref{Specify Location}. The @code{trace} command defines a tracepoint,
12383 which is a point in the target program where the debugger will briefly stop,
12384 collect some data, and then allow the program to continue. Setting a tracepoint
12385 or changing its actions takes effect immediately if the remote stub
12386 supports the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature (@pxref{install tracepoint
12387 in tracing}).
12388 If remote stub doesn't support the @samp{InstallInTrace} feature, all
12389 these changes don't take effect until the next @code{tstart}
12390 command, and once a trace experiment is running, further changes will
12391 not have any effect until the next trace experiment starts. In addition,
12392 @value{GDBN} supports @dfn{pending tracepoints}---tracepoints whose
12393 address is not yet resolved. (This is similar to pending breakpoints.)
12394 Pending tracepoints are not downloaded to the target and not installed
12395 until they are resolved. The resolution of pending tracepoints requires
12396 @value{GDBN} support---when debugging with the remote target, and
12397 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the remote stub (@pxref{disconnected
12398 tracing}), pending tracepoints can not be resolved (and downloaded to
12399 the remote stub) while @value{GDBN} is disconnected.
12400
12401 Here are some examples of using the @code{trace} command:
12402
12403 @smallexample
12404 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo.c:121} // a source file and line number
12405
12406 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace +2} // 2 lines forward
12407
12408 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace my_function} // first source line of function
12409
12410 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *my_function} // EXACT start address of function
12411
12412 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace *0x2117c4} // an address
12413 @end smallexample
12414
12415 @noindent
12416 You can abbreviate @code{trace} as @code{tr}.
12417
12418 @item trace @var{location} if @var{cond}
12419 Set a tracepoint with condition @var{cond}; evaluate the expression
12420 @var{cond} each time the tracepoint is reached, and collect data only
12421 if the value is nonzero---that is, if @var{cond} evaluates as true.
12422 @xref{Tracepoint Conditions, ,Tracepoint Conditions}, for more
12423 information on tracepoint conditions.
12424
12425 @item ftrace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
12426 @cindex set fast tracepoint
12427 @cindex fast tracepoints, setting
12428 @kindex ftrace
12429 The @code{ftrace} command sets a fast tracepoint. For targets that
12430 support them, fast tracepoints will use a more efficient but possibly
12431 less general technique to trigger data collection, such as a jump
12432 instruction instead of a trap, or some sort of hardware support. It
12433 may not be possible to create a fast tracepoint at the desired
12434 location, in which case the command will exit with an explanatory
12435 message.
12436
12437 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{ftrace} exactly as for
12438 @code{trace}.
12439
12440 On 32-bit x86-architecture systems, fast tracepoints normally need to
12441 be placed at an instruction that is 5 bytes or longer, but can be
12442 placed at 4-byte instructions if the low 64K of memory of the target
12443 program is available to install trampolines. Some Unix-type systems,
12444 such as @sc{gnu}/Linux, exclude low addresses from the program's
12445 address space; but for instance with the Linux kernel it is possible
12446 to let @value{GDBN} use this area by doing a @command{sysctl} command
12447 to set the @code{mmap_min_addr} kernel parameter, as in
12448
12449 @example
12450 sudo sysctl -w vm.mmap_min_addr=32768
12451 @end example
12452
12453 @noindent
12454 which sets the low address to 32K, which leaves plenty of room for
12455 trampolines. The minimum address should be set to a page boundary.
12456
12457 @item strace @var{location} [ if @var{cond} ]
12458 @cindex set static tracepoint
12459 @cindex static tracepoints, setting
12460 @cindex probe static tracepoint marker
12461 @kindex strace
12462 The @code{strace} command sets a static tracepoint. For targets that
12463 support it, setting a static tracepoint probes a static
12464 instrumentation point, or marker, found at @var{location}. It may not
12465 be possible to set a static tracepoint at the desired location, in
12466 which case the command will exit with an explanatory message.
12467
12468 @value{GDBN} handles arguments to @code{strace} exactly as for
12469 @code{trace}, with the addition that the user can also specify
12470 @code{-m @var{marker}} as @var{location}. This probes the marker
12471 identified by the @var{marker} string identifier. This identifier
12472 depends on the static tracepoint backend library your program is
12473 using. You can find all the marker identifiers in the @samp{ID} field
12474 of the @code{info static-tracepoint-markers} command output.
12475 @xref{Listing Static Tracepoint Markers,,Listing Static Tracepoint
12476 Markers}. For example, in the following small program using the UST
12477 tracing engine:
12478
12479 @smallexample
12480 main ()
12481 @{
12482 trace_mark(ust, bar33, "str %s", "FOOBAZ");
12483 @}
12484 @end smallexample
12485
12486 @noindent
12487 the marker id is composed of joining the first two arguments to the
12488 @code{trace_mark} call with a slash, which translates to:
12489
12490 @smallexample
12491 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12492 Cnt Enb ID Address What
12493 1 n ust/bar33 0x0000000000400ddc in main at stexample.c:22
12494 Data: "str %s"
12495 [etc...]
12496 @end smallexample
12497
12498 @noindent
12499 so you may probe the marker above with:
12500
12501 @smallexample
12502 (@value{GDBP}) strace -m ust/bar33
12503 @end smallexample
12504
12505 Static tracepoints accept an extra collect action --- @code{collect
12506 $_sdata}. This collects arbitrary user data passed in the probe point
12507 call to the tracing library. In the UST example above, you'll see
12508 that the third argument to @code{trace_mark} is a printf-like format
12509 string. The user data is then the result of running that formating
12510 string against the following arguments. Note that @code{info
12511 static-tracepoint-markers} command output lists that format string in
12512 the @samp{Data:} field.
12513
12514 You can inspect this data when analyzing the trace buffer, by printing
12515 the $_sdata variable like any other variable available to
12516 @value{GDBN}. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}.
12517
12518 @vindex $tpnum
12519 @cindex last tracepoint number
12520 @cindex recent tracepoint number
12521 @cindex tracepoint number
12522 The convenience variable @code{$tpnum} records the tracepoint number
12523 of the most recently set tracepoint.
12524
12525 @kindex delete tracepoint
12526 @cindex tracepoint deletion
12527 @item delete tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12528 Permanently delete one or more tracepoints. With no argument, the
12529 default is to delete all tracepoints. Note that the regular
12530 @code{delete} command can remove tracepoints also.
12531
12532 Examples:
12533
12534 @smallexample
12535 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace 1 2 3} // remove three tracepoints
12536
12537 (@value{GDBP}) @b{delete trace} // remove all tracepoints
12538 @end smallexample
12539
12540 @noindent
12541 You can abbreviate this command as @code{del tr}.
12542 @end table
12543
12544 @node Enable and Disable Tracepoints
12545 @subsection Enable and Disable Tracepoints
12546
12547 These commands are deprecated; they are equivalent to plain @code{disable} and @code{enable}.
12548
12549 @table @code
12550 @kindex disable tracepoint
12551 @item disable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12552 Disable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints if no argument
12553 @var{num} is given. A disabled tracepoint will have no effect during
12554 a trace experiment, but it is not forgotten. You can re-enable
12555 a disabled tracepoint using the @code{enable tracepoint} command.
12556 If the command is issued during a trace experiment and the debug target
12557 has support for disabling tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the
12558 change will be effective immediately. Otherwise, it will be applied to the
12559 next trace experiment.
12560
12561 @kindex enable tracepoint
12562 @item enable tracepoint @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12563 Enable tracepoint @var{num}, or all tracepoints. If this command is
12564 issued during a trace experiment and the debug target supports enabling
12565 tracepoints during a trace experiment, then the enabled tracepoints will
12566 become effective immediately. Otherwise, they will become effective the
12567 next time a trace experiment is run.
12568 @end table
12569
12570 @node Tracepoint Passcounts
12571 @subsection Tracepoint Passcounts
12572
12573 @table @code
12574 @kindex passcount
12575 @cindex tracepoint pass count
12576 @item passcount @r{[}@var{n} @r{[}@var{num}@r{]]}
12577 Set the @dfn{passcount} of a tracepoint. The passcount is a way to
12578 automatically stop a trace experiment. If a tracepoint's passcount is
12579 @var{n}, then the trace experiment will be automatically stopped on
12580 the @var{n}'th time that tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number
12581 @var{num} is not specified, the @code{passcount} command sets the
12582 passcount of the most recently defined tracepoint. If no passcount is
12583 given, the trace experiment will run until stopped explicitly by the
12584 user.
12585
12586 Examples:
12587
12588 @smallexample
12589 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 5 2} // Stop on the 5th execution of
12590 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// tracepoint 2}
12591
12592 (@value{GDBP}) @b{passcount 12} // Stop on the 12th execution of the
12593 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// most recently defined tracepoint.}
12594 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
12595 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 3}
12596 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace bar}
12597 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 2}
12598 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace baz}
12599 (@value{GDBP}) @b{pass 1} // Stop tracing when foo has been
12600 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// executed 3 times OR when bar has}
12601 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// been executed 2 times}
12602 @exdent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @code{// OR when baz has been executed 1 time.}
12603 @end smallexample
12604 @end table
12605
12606 @node Tracepoint Conditions
12607 @subsection Tracepoint Conditions
12608 @cindex conditional tracepoints
12609 @cindex tracepoint conditions
12610
12611 The simplest sort of tracepoint collects data every time your program
12612 reaches a specified place. You can also specify a @dfn{condition} for
12613 a tracepoint. A condition is just a Boolean expression in your
12614 programming language (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). A
12615 tracepoint with a condition evaluates the expression each time your
12616 program reaches it, and data collection happens only if the condition
12617 is true.
12618
12619 Tracepoint conditions can be specified when a tracepoint is set, by
12620 using @samp{if} in the arguments to the @code{trace} command.
12621 @xref{Create and Delete Tracepoints, ,Setting Tracepoints}. They can
12622 also be set or changed at any time with the @code{condition} command,
12623 just as with breakpoints.
12624
12625 Unlike breakpoint conditions, @value{GDBN} does not actually evaluate
12626 the conditional expression itself. Instead, @value{GDBN} encodes the
12627 expression into an agent expression (@pxref{Agent Expressions})
12628 suitable for execution on the target, independently of @value{GDBN}.
12629 Global variables become raw memory locations, locals become stack
12630 accesses, and so forth.
12631
12632 For instance, suppose you have a function that is usually called
12633 frequently, but should not be called after an error has occurred. You
12634 could use the following tracepoint command to collect data about calls
12635 of that function that happen while the error code is propagating
12636 through the program; an unconditional tracepoint could end up
12637 collecting thousands of useless trace frames that you would have to
12638 search through.
12639
12640 @smallexample
12641 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{trace normal_operation if errcode > 0}
12642 @end smallexample
12643
12644 @node Trace State Variables
12645 @subsection Trace State Variables
12646 @cindex trace state variables
12647
12648 A @dfn{trace state variable} is a special type of variable that is
12649 created and managed by target-side code. The syntax is the same as
12650 that for GDB's convenience variables (a string prefixed with ``$''),
12651 but they are stored on the target. They must be created explicitly,
12652 using a @code{tvariable} command. They are always 64-bit signed
12653 integers.
12654
12655 Trace state variables are remembered by @value{GDBN}, and downloaded
12656 to the target along with tracepoint information when the trace
12657 experiment starts. There are no intrinsic limits on the number of
12658 trace state variables, beyond memory limitations of the target.
12659
12660 @cindex convenience variables, and trace state variables
12661 Although trace state variables are managed by the target, you can use
12662 them in print commands and expressions as if they were convenience
12663 variables; @value{GDBN} will get the current value from the target
12664 while the trace experiment is running. Trace state variables share
12665 the same namespace as other ``$'' variables, which means that you
12666 cannot have trace state variables with names like @code{$23} or
12667 @code{$pc}, nor can you have a trace state variable and a convenience
12668 variable with the same name.
12669
12670 @table @code
12671
12672 @item tvariable $@var{name} [ = @var{expression} ]
12673 @kindex tvariable
12674 The @code{tvariable} command creates a new trace state variable named
12675 @code{$@var{name}}, and optionally gives it an initial value of
12676 @var{expression}. The @var{expression} is evaluated when this command is
12677 entered; the result will be converted to an integer if possible,
12678 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error. A subsequent
12679 @code{tvariable} command specifying the same name does not create a
12680 variable, but instead assigns the supplied initial value to the
12681 existing variable of that name, overwriting any previous initial
12682 value. The default initial value is 0.
12683
12684 @item info tvariables
12685 @kindex info tvariables
12686 List all the trace state variables along with their initial values.
12687 Their current values may also be displayed, if the trace experiment is
12688 currently running.
12689
12690 @item delete tvariable @r{[} $@var{name} @dots{} @r{]}
12691 @kindex delete tvariable
12692 Delete the given trace state variables, or all of them if no arguments
12693 are specified.
12694
12695 @end table
12696
12697 @node Tracepoint Actions
12698 @subsection Tracepoint Action Lists
12699
12700 @table @code
12701 @kindex actions
12702 @cindex tracepoint actions
12703 @item actions @r{[}@var{num}@r{]}
12704 This command will prompt for a list of actions to be taken when the
12705 tracepoint is hit. If the tracepoint number @var{num} is not
12706 specified, this command sets the actions for the one that was most
12707 recently defined (so that you can define a tracepoint and then say
12708 @code{actions} without bothering about its number). You specify the
12709 actions themselves on the following lines, one action at a time, and
12710 terminate the actions list with a line containing just @code{end}. So
12711 far, the only defined actions are @code{collect}, @code{teval}, and
12712 @code{while-stepping}.
12713
12714 @code{actions} is actually equivalent to @code{commands} (@pxref{Break
12715 Commands, ,Breakpoint Command Lists}), except that only the defined
12716 actions are allowed; any other @value{GDBN} command is rejected.
12717
12718 @cindex remove actions from a tracepoint
12719 To remove all actions from a tracepoint, type @samp{actions @var{num}}
12720 and follow it immediately with @samp{end}.
12721
12722 @smallexample
12723 (@value{GDBP}) @b{collect @var{data}} // collect some data
12724
12725 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while-stepping 5} // single-step 5 times, collect data
12726
12727 (@value{GDBP}) @b{end} // signals the end of actions.
12728 @end smallexample
12729
12730 In the following example, the action list begins with @code{collect}
12731 commands indicating the things to be collected when the tracepoint is
12732 hit. Then, in order to single-step and collect additional data
12733 following the tracepoint, a @code{while-stepping} command is used,
12734 followed by the list of things to be collected after each step in a
12735 sequence of single steps. The @code{while-stepping} command is
12736 terminated by its own separate @code{end} command. Lastly, the action
12737 list is terminated by an @code{end} command.
12738
12739 @smallexample
12740 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace foo}
12741 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
12742 Enter actions for tracepoint 1, one per line:
12743 > collect bar,baz
12744 > collect $regs
12745 > while-stepping 12
12746 > collect $pc, arr[i]
12747 > end
12748 end
12749 @end smallexample
12750
12751 @kindex collect @r{(tracepoints)}
12752 @item collect@r{[}/@var{mods}@r{]} @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12753 Collect values of the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit.
12754 This command accepts a comma-separated list of any valid expressions.
12755 In addition to global, static, or local variables, the following
12756 special arguments are supported:
12757
12758 @table @code
12759 @item $regs
12760 Collect all registers.
12761
12762 @item $args
12763 Collect all function arguments.
12764
12765 @item $locals
12766 Collect all local variables.
12767
12768 @item $_ret
12769 Collect the return address. This is helpful if you want to see more
12770 of a backtrace.
12771
12772 @item $_probe_argc
12773 Collects the number of arguments from the static probe at which the
12774 tracepoint is located.
12775 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
12776
12777 @item $_probe_arg@var{n}
12778 @var{n} is an integer between 0 and 11. Collects the @var{n}th argument
12779 from the static probe at which the tracepoint is located.
12780 @xref{Static Probe Points}.
12781
12782 @item $_sdata
12783 @vindex $_sdata@r{, collect}
12784 Collect static tracepoint marker specific data. Only available for
12785 static tracepoints. @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action
12786 Lists}. On the UST static tracepoints library backend, an
12787 instrumentation point resembles a @code{printf} function call. The
12788 tracing library is able to collect user specified data formatted to a
12789 character string using the format provided by the programmer that
12790 instrumented the program. Other backends have similar mechanisms.
12791 Here's an example of a UST marker call:
12792
12793 @smallexample
12794 const char master_name[] = "$your_name";
12795 trace_mark(channel1, marker1, "hello %s", master_name)
12796 @end smallexample
12797
12798 In this case, collecting @code{$_sdata} collects the string
12799 @samp{hello $yourname}. When analyzing the trace buffer, you can
12800 inspect @samp{$_sdata} like any other variable available to
12801 @value{GDBN}.
12802 @end table
12803
12804 You can give several consecutive @code{collect} commands, each one
12805 with a single argument, or one @code{collect} command with several
12806 arguments separated by commas; the effect is the same.
12807
12808 The optional @var{mods} changes the usual handling of the arguments.
12809 @code{s} requests that pointers to chars be handled as strings, in
12810 particular collecting the contents of the memory being pointed at, up
12811 to the first zero. The upper bound is by default the value of the
12812 @code{print elements} variable; if @code{s} is followed by a decimal
12813 number, that is the upper bound instead. So for instance
12814 @samp{collect/s25 mystr} collects as many as 25 characters at
12815 @samp{mystr}.
12816
12817 The command @code{info scope} (@pxref{Symbols, info scope}) is
12818 particularly useful for figuring out what data to collect.
12819
12820 @kindex teval @r{(tracepoints)}
12821 @item teval @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12822 Evaluate the given expressions when the tracepoint is hit. This
12823 command accepts a comma-separated list of expressions. The results
12824 are discarded, so this is mainly useful for assigning values to trace
12825 state variables (@pxref{Trace State Variables}) without adding those
12826 values to the trace buffer, as would be the case if the @code{collect}
12827 action were used.
12828
12829 @kindex while-stepping @r{(tracepoints)}
12830 @item while-stepping @var{n}
12831 Perform @var{n} single-step instruction traces after the tracepoint,
12832 collecting new data after each step. The @code{while-stepping}
12833 command is followed by the list of what to collect while stepping
12834 (followed by its own @code{end} command):
12835
12836 @smallexample
12837 > while-stepping 12
12838 > collect $regs, myglobal
12839 > end
12840 >
12841 @end smallexample
12842
12843 @noindent
12844 Note that @code{$pc} is not automatically collected by
12845 @code{while-stepping}; you need to explicitly collect that register if
12846 you need it. You may abbreviate @code{while-stepping} as @code{ws} or
12847 @code{stepping}.
12848
12849 @item set default-collect @var{expr1}, @var{expr2}, @dots{}
12850 @kindex set default-collect
12851 @cindex default collection action
12852 This variable is a list of expressions to collect at each tracepoint
12853 hit. It is effectively an additional @code{collect} action prepended
12854 to every tracepoint action list. The expressions are parsed
12855 individually for each tracepoint, so for instance a variable named
12856 @code{xyz} may be interpreted as a global for one tracepoint, and a
12857 local for another, as appropriate to the tracepoint's location.
12858
12859 @item show default-collect
12860 @kindex show default-collect
12861 Show the list of expressions that are collected by default at each
12862 tracepoint hit.
12863
12864 @end table
12865
12866 @node Listing Tracepoints
12867 @subsection Listing Tracepoints
12868
12869 @table @code
12870 @kindex info tracepoints @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12871 @kindex info tp @r{[}@var{n}@dots{}@r{]}
12872 @cindex information about tracepoints
12873 @item info tracepoints @r{[}@var{num}@dots{}@r{]}
12874 Display information about the tracepoint @var{num}. If you don't
12875 specify a tracepoint number, displays information about all the
12876 tracepoints defined so far. The format is similar to that used for
12877 @code{info breakpoints}; in fact, @code{info tracepoints} is the same
12878 command, simply restricting itself to tracepoints.
12879
12880 A tracepoint's listing may include additional information specific to
12881 tracing:
12882
12883 @itemize @bullet
12884 @item
12885 its passcount as given by the @code{passcount @var{n}} command
12886
12887 @item
12888 the state about installed on target of each location
12889 @end itemize
12890
12891 @smallexample
12892 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info trace}
12893 Num Type Disp Enb Address What
12894 1 tracepoint keep y 0x0804ab57 in foo() at main.cxx:7
12895 while-stepping 20
12896 collect globfoo, $regs
12897 end
12898 collect globfoo2
12899 end
12900 pass count 1200
12901 2 tracepoint keep y <MULTIPLE>
12902 collect $eip
12903 2.1 y 0x0804859c in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12904 installed on target
12905 2.2 y 0xb7ffc480 in func4 at change-loc.h:35
12906 installed on target
12907 2.3 y <PENDING> set_tracepoint
12908 3 tracepoint keep y 0x080485b1 in foo at change-loc.c:29
12909 not installed on target
12910 (@value{GDBP})
12911 @end smallexample
12912
12913 @noindent
12914 This command can be abbreviated @code{info tp}.
12915 @end table
12916
12917 @node Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12918 @subsection Listing Static Tracepoint Markers
12919
12920 @table @code
12921 @kindex info static-tracepoint-markers
12922 @cindex information about static tracepoint markers
12923 @item info static-tracepoint-markers
12924 Display information about all static tracepoint markers defined in the
12925 program.
12926
12927 For each marker, the following columns are printed:
12928
12929 @table @emph
12930 @item Count
12931 An incrementing counter, output to help readability. This is not a
12932 stable identifier.
12933 @item ID
12934 The marker ID, as reported by the target.
12935 @item Enabled or Disabled
12936 Probed markers are tagged with @samp{y}. @samp{n} identifies marks
12937 that are not enabled.
12938 @item Address
12939 Where the marker is in your program, as a memory address.
12940 @item What
12941 Where the marker is in the source for your program, as a file and line
12942 number. If the debug information included in the program does not
12943 allow @value{GDBN} to locate the source of the marker, this column
12944 will be left blank.
12945 @end table
12946
12947 @noindent
12948 In addition, the following information may be printed for each marker:
12949
12950 @table @emph
12951 @item Data
12952 User data passed to the tracing library by the marker call. In the
12953 UST backend, this is the format string passed as argument to the
12954 marker call.
12955 @item Static tracepoints probing the marker
12956 The list of static tracepoints attached to the marker.
12957 @end table
12958
12959 @smallexample
12960 (@value{GDBP}) info static-tracepoint-markers
12961 Cnt ID Enb Address What
12962 1 ust/bar2 y 0x0000000000400e1a in main at stexample.c:25
12963 Data: number1 %d number2 %d
12964 Probed by static tracepoints: #2
12965 2 ust/bar33 n 0x0000000000400c87 in main at stexample.c:24
12966 Data: str %s
12967 (@value{GDBP})
12968 @end smallexample
12969 @end table
12970
12971 @node Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12972 @subsection Starting and Stopping Trace Experiments
12973
12974 @table @code
12975 @kindex tstart [ @var{notes} ]
12976 @cindex start a new trace experiment
12977 @cindex collected data discarded
12978 @item tstart
12979 This command starts the trace experiment, and begins collecting data.
12980 It has the side effect of discarding all the data collected in the
12981 trace buffer during the previous trace experiment. If any arguments
12982 are supplied, they are taken as a note and stored with the trace
12983 experiment's state. The notes may be arbitrary text, and are
12984 especially useful with disconnected tracing in a multi-user context;
12985 the notes can explain what the trace is doing, supply user contact
12986 information, and so forth.
12987
12988 @kindex tstop [ @var{notes} ]
12989 @cindex stop a running trace experiment
12990 @item tstop
12991 This command stops the trace experiment. If any arguments are
12992 supplied, they are recorded with the experiment as a note. This is
12993 useful if you are stopping a trace started by someone else, for
12994 instance if the trace is interfering with the system's behavior and
12995 needs to be stopped quickly.
12996
12997 @strong{Note}: a trace experiment and data collection may stop
12998 automatically if any tracepoint's passcount is reached
12999 (@pxref{Tracepoint Passcounts}), or if the trace buffer becomes full.
13000
13001 @kindex tstatus
13002 @cindex status of trace data collection
13003 @cindex trace experiment, status of
13004 @item tstatus
13005 This command displays the status of the current trace data
13006 collection.
13007 @end table
13008
13009 Here is an example of the commands we described so far:
13010
13011 @smallexample
13012 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace gdb_c_test}
13013 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
13014 Enter actions for tracepoint #1, one per line.
13015 > collect $regs,$locals,$args
13016 > while-stepping 11
13017 > collect $regs
13018 > end
13019 > end
13020 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
13021 [time passes @dots{}]
13022 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstop}
13023 @end smallexample
13024
13025 @anchor{disconnected tracing}
13026 @cindex disconnected tracing
13027 You can choose to continue running the trace experiment even if
13028 @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target, voluntarily or
13029 involuntarily. For commands such as @code{detach}, the debugger will
13030 ask what you want to do with the trace. But for unexpected
13031 terminations (@value{GDBN} crash, network outage), it would be
13032 unfortunate to lose hard-won trace data, so the variable
13033 @code{disconnected-tracing} lets you decide whether the trace should
13034 continue running without @value{GDBN}.
13035
13036 @table @code
13037 @item set disconnected-tracing on
13038 @itemx set disconnected-tracing off
13039 @kindex set disconnected-tracing
13040 Choose whether a tracing run should continue to run if @value{GDBN}
13041 has disconnected from the target. Note that @code{detach} or
13042 @code{quit} will ask you directly what to do about a running trace no
13043 matter what this variable's setting, so the variable is mainly useful
13044 for handling unexpected situations, such as loss of the network.
13045
13046 @item show disconnected-tracing
13047 @kindex show disconnected-tracing
13048 Show the current choice for disconnected tracing.
13049
13050 @end table
13051
13052 When you reconnect to the target, the trace experiment may or may not
13053 still be running; it might have filled the trace buffer in the
13054 meantime, or stopped for one of the other reasons. If it is running,
13055 it will continue after reconnection.
13056
13057 Upon reconnection, the target will upload information about the
13058 tracepoints in effect. @value{GDBN} will then compare that
13059 information to the set of tracepoints currently defined, and attempt
13060 to match them up, allowing for the possibility that the numbers may
13061 have changed due to creation and deletion in the meantime. If one of
13062 the target's tracepoints does not match any in @value{GDBN}, the
13063 debugger will create a new tracepoint, so that you have a number with
13064 which to specify that tracepoint. This matching-up process is
13065 necessarily heuristic, and it may result in useless tracepoints being
13066 created; you may simply delete them if they are of no use.
13067
13068 @cindex circular trace buffer
13069 If your target agent supports a @dfn{circular trace buffer}, then you
13070 can run a trace experiment indefinitely without filling the trace
13071 buffer; when space runs out, the agent deletes already-collected trace
13072 frames, oldest first, until there is enough room to continue
13073 collecting. This is especially useful if your tracepoints are being
13074 hit too often, and your trace gets terminated prematurely because the
13075 buffer is full. To ask for a circular trace buffer, simply set
13076 @samp{circular-trace-buffer} to on. You can set this at any time,
13077 including during tracing; if the agent can do it, it will change
13078 buffer handling on the fly, otherwise it will not take effect until
13079 the next run.
13080
13081 @table @code
13082 @item set circular-trace-buffer on
13083 @itemx set circular-trace-buffer off
13084 @kindex set circular-trace-buffer
13085 Choose whether a tracing run should use a linear or circular buffer
13086 for trace data. A linear buffer will not lose any trace data, but may
13087 fill up prematurely, while a circular buffer will discard old trace
13088 data, but it will have always room for the latest tracepoint hits.
13089
13090 @item show circular-trace-buffer
13091 @kindex show circular-trace-buffer
13092 Show the current choice for the trace buffer. Note that this may not
13093 match the agent's current buffer handling, nor is it guaranteed to
13094 match the setting that might have been in effect during a past run,
13095 for instance if you are looking at frames from a trace file.
13096
13097 @end table
13098
13099 @table @code
13100 @item set trace-buffer-size @var{n}
13101 @itemx set trace-buffer-size unlimited
13102 @kindex set trace-buffer-size
13103 Request that the target use a trace buffer of @var{n} bytes. Not all
13104 targets will honor the request; they may have a compiled-in size for
13105 the trace buffer, or some other limitation. Set to a value of
13106 @code{unlimited} or @code{-1} to let the target use whatever size it
13107 likes. This is also the default.
13108
13109 @item show trace-buffer-size
13110 @kindex show trace-buffer-size
13111 Show the current requested size for the trace buffer. Note that this
13112 will only match the actual size if the target supports size-setting,
13113 and was able to handle the requested size. For instance, if the
13114 target can only change buffer size between runs, this variable will
13115 not reflect the change until the next run starts. Use @code{tstatus}
13116 to get a report of the actual buffer size.
13117 @end table
13118
13119 @table @code
13120 @item set trace-user @var{text}
13121 @kindex set trace-user
13122
13123 @item show trace-user
13124 @kindex show trace-user
13125
13126 @item set trace-notes @var{text}
13127 @kindex set trace-notes
13128 Set the trace run's notes.
13129
13130 @item show trace-notes
13131 @kindex show trace-notes
13132 Show the trace run's notes.
13133
13134 @item set trace-stop-notes @var{text}
13135 @kindex set trace-stop-notes
13136 Set the trace run's stop notes. The handling of the note is as for
13137 @code{tstop} arguments; the set command is convenient way to fix a
13138 stop note that is mistaken or incomplete.
13139
13140 @item show trace-stop-notes
13141 @kindex show trace-stop-notes
13142 Show the trace run's stop notes.
13143
13144 @end table
13145
13146 @node Tracepoint Restrictions
13147 @subsection Tracepoint Restrictions
13148
13149 @cindex tracepoint restrictions
13150 There are a number of restrictions on the use of tracepoints. As
13151 described above, tracepoint data gathering occurs on the target
13152 without interaction from @value{GDBN}. Thus the full capabilities of
13153 the debugger are not available during data gathering, and then at data
13154 examination time, you will be limited by only having what was
13155 collected. The following items describe some common problems, but it
13156 is not exhaustive, and you may run into additional difficulties not
13157 mentioned here.
13158
13159 @itemize @bullet
13160
13161 @item
13162 Tracepoint expressions are intended to gather objects (lvalues). Thus
13163 the full flexibility of GDB's expression evaluator is not available.
13164 You cannot call functions, cast objects to aggregate types, access
13165 convenience variables or modify values (except by assignment to trace
13166 state variables). Some language features may implicitly call
13167 functions (for instance Objective-C fields with accessors), and therefore
13168 cannot be collected either.
13169
13170 @item
13171 Collection of local variables, either individually or in bulk with
13172 @code{$locals} or @code{$args}, during @code{while-stepping} may
13173 behave erratically. The stepping action may enter a new scope (for
13174 instance by stepping into a function), or the location of the variable
13175 may change (for instance it is loaded into a register). The
13176 tracepoint data recorded uses the location information for the
13177 variables that is correct for the tracepoint location. When the
13178 tracepoint is created, it is not possible, in general, to determine
13179 where the steps of a @code{while-stepping} sequence will advance the
13180 program---particularly if a conditional branch is stepped.
13181
13182 @item
13183 Collection of an incompletely-initialized or partially-destroyed object
13184 may result in something that @value{GDBN} cannot display, or displays
13185 in a misleading way.
13186
13187 @item
13188 When @value{GDBN} displays a pointer to character it automatically
13189 dereferences the pointer to also display characters of the string
13190 being pointed to. However, collecting the pointer during tracing does
13191 not automatically collect the string. You need to explicitly
13192 dereference the pointer and provide size information if you want to
13193 collect not only the pointer, but the memory pointed to. For example,
13194 @code{*ptr@@50} can be used to collect the 50 element array pointed to
13195 by @code{ptr}.
13196
13197 @item
13198 It is not possible to collect a complete stack backtrace at a
13199 tracepoint. Instead, you may collect the registers and a few hundred
13200 bytes from the stack pointer with something like @code{*(unsigned char *)$esp@@300}
13201 (adjust to use the name of the actual stack pointer register on your
13202 target architecture, and the amount of stack you wish to capture).
13203 Then the @code{backtrace} command will show a partial backtrace when
13204 using a trace frame. The number of stack frames that can be examined
13205 depends on the sizes of the frames in the collected stack. Note that
13206 if you ask for a block so large that it goes past the bottom of the
13207 stack, the target agent may report an error trying to read from an
13208 invalid address.
13209
13210 @item
13211 If you do not collect registers at a tracepoint, @value{GDBN} can
13212 infer that the value of @code{$pc} must be the same as the address of
13213 the tracepoint and use that when you are looking at a trace frame
13214 for that tracepoint. However, this cannot work if the tracepoint has
13215 multiple locations (for instance if it was set in a function that was
13216 inlined), or if it has a @code{while-stepping} loop. In those cases
13217 @value{GDBN} will warn you that it can't infer @code{$pc}, and default
13218 it to zero.
13219
13220 @end itemize
13221
13222 @node Analyze Collected Data
13223 @section Using the Collected Data
13224
13225 After the tracepoint experiment ends, you use @value{GDBN} commands
13226 for examining the trace data. The basic idea is that each tracepoint
13227 collects a trace @dfn{snapshot} every time it is hit and another
13228 snapshot every time it single-steps. All these snapshots are
13229 consecutively numbered from zero and go into a buffer, and you can
13230 examine them later. The way you examine them is to @dfn{focus} on a
13231 specific trace snapshot. When the remote stub is focused on a trace
13232 snapshot, it will respond to all @value{GDBN} requests for memory and
13233 registers by reading from the buffer which belongs to that snapshot,
13234 rather than from @emph{real} memory or registers of the program being
13235 debugged. This means that @strong{all} @value{GDBN} commands
13236 (@code{print}, @code{info registers}, @code{backtrace}, etc.) will
13237 behave as if we were currently debugging the program state as it was
13238 when the tracepoint occurred. Any requests for data that are not in
13239 the buffer will fail.
13240
13241 @menu
13242 * tfind:: How to select a trace snapshot
13243 * tdump:: How to display all data for a snapshot
13244 * save tracepoints:: How to save tracepoints for a future run
13245 @end menu
13246
13247 @node tfind
13248 @subsection @code{tfind @var{n}}
13249
13250 @kindex tfind
13251 @cindex select trace snapshot
13252 @cindex find trace snapshot
13253 The basic command for selecting a trace snapshot from the buffer is
13254 @code{tfind @var{n}}, which finds trace snapshot number @var{n},
13255 counting from zero. If no argument @var{n} is given, the next
13256 snapshot is selected.
13257
13258 Here are the various forms of using the @code{tfind} command.
13259
13260 @table @code
13261 @item tfind start
13262 Find the first snapshot in the buffer. This is a synonym for
13263 @code{tfind 0} (since 0 is the number of the first snapshot).
13264
13265 @item tfind none
13266 Stop debugging trace snapshots, resume @emph{live} debugging.
13267
13268 @item tfind end
13269 Same as @samp{tfind none}.
13270
13271 @item tfind
13272 No argument means find the next trace snapshot.
13273
13274 @item tfind -
13275 Find the previous trace snapshot before the current one. This permits
13276 retracing earlier steps.
13277
13278 @item tfind tracepoint @var{num}
13279 Find the next snapshot associated with tracepoint @var{num}. Search
13280 proceeds forward from the last examined trace snapshot. If no
13281 argument @var{num} is given, it means find the next snapshot collected
13282 for the same tracepoint as the current snapshot.
13283
13284 @item tfind pc @var{addr}
13285 Find the next snapshot associated with the value @var{addr} of the
13286 program counter. Search proceeds forward from the last examined trace
13287 snapshot. If no argument @var{addr} is given, it means find the next
13288 snapshot with the same value of PC as the current snapshot.
13289
13290 @item tfind outside @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
13291 Find the next snapshot whose PC is outside the given range of
13292 addresses (exclusive).
13293
13294 @item tfind range @var{addr1}, @var{addr2}
13295 Find the next snapshot whose PC is between @var{addr1} and
13296 @var{addr2} (inclusive).
13297
13298 @item tfind line @r{[}@var{file}:@r{]}@var{n}
13299 Find the next snapshot associated with the source line @var{n}. If
13300 the optional argument @var{file} is given, refer to line @var{n} in
13301 that source file. Search proceeds forward from the last examined
13302 trace snapshot. If no argument @var{n} is given, it means find the
13303 next line other than the one currently being examined; thus saying
13304 @code{tfind line} repeatedly can appear to have the same effect as
13305 stepping from line to line in a @emph{live} debugging session.
13306 @end table
13307
13308 The default arguments for the @code{tfind} commands are specifically
13309 designed to make it easy to scan through the trace buffer. For
13310 instance, @code{tfind} with no argument selects the next trace
13311 snapshot, and @code{tfind -} with no argument selects the previous
13312 trace snapshot. So, by giving one @code{tfind} command, and then
13313 simply hitting @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine all the trace
13314 snapshots in order. Or, by saying @code{tfind -} and then hitting
13315 @key{RET} repeatedly you can examine the snapshots in reverse order.
13316 The @code{tfind line} command with no argument selects the snapshot
13317 for the next source line executed. The @code{tfind pc} command with
13318 no argument selects the next snapshot with the same program counter
13319 (PC) as the current frame. The @code{tfind tracepoint} command with
13320 no argument selects the next trace snapshot collected by the same
13321 tracepoint as the current one.
13322
13323 In addition to letting you scan through the trace buffer manually,
13324 these commands make it easy to construct @value{GDBN} scripts that
13325 scan through the trace buffer and print out whatever collected data
13326 you are interested in. Thus, if we want to examine the PC, FP, and SP
13327 registers from each trace frame in the buffer, we can say this:
13328
13329 @smallexample
13330 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
13331 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
13332 > printf "Frame %d, PC = %08X, SP = %08X, FP = %08X\n", \
13333 $trace_frame, $pc, $sp, $fp
13334 > tfind
13335 > end
13336
13337 Frame 0, PC = 0020DC64, SP = 0030BF3C, FP = 0030BF44
13338 Frame 1, PC = 0020DC6C, SP = 0030BF38, FP = 0030BF44
13339 Frame 2, PC = 0020DC70, SP = 0030BF34, FP = 0030BF44
13340 Frame 3, PC = 0020DC74, SP = 0030BF30, FP = 0030BF44
13341 Frame 4, PC = 0020DC78, SP = 0030BF2C, FP = 0030BF44
13342 Frame 5, PC = 0020DC7C, SP = 0030BF28, FP = 0030BF44
13343 Frame 6, PC = 0020DC80, SP = 0030BF24, FP = 0030BF44
13344 Frame 7, PC = 0020DC84, SP = 0030BF20, FP = 0030BF44
13345 Frame 8, PC = 0020DC88, SP = 0030BF1C, FP = 0030BF44
13346 Frame 9, PC = 0020DC8E, SP = 0030BF18, FP = 0030BF44
13347 Frame 10, PC = 00203F6C, SP = 0030BE3C, FP = 0030BF14
13348 @end smallexample
13349
13350 Or, if we want to examine the variable @code{X} at each source line in
13351 the buffer:
13352
13353 @smallexample
13354 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
13355 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while ($trace_frame != -1)}
13356 > printf "Frame %d, X == %d\n", $trace_frame, X
13357 > tfind line
13358 > end
13359
13360 Frame 0, X = 1
13361 Frame 7, X = 2
13362 Frame 13, X = 255
13363 @end smallexample
13364
13365 @node tdump
13366 @subsection @code{tdump}
13367 @kindex tdump
13368 @cindex dump all data collected at tracepoint
13369 @cindex tracepoint data, display
13370
13371 This command takes no arguments. It prints all the data collected at
13372 the current trace snapshot.
13373
13374 @smallexample
13375 (@value{GDBP}) @b{trace 444}
13376 (@value{GDBP}) @b{actions}
13377 Enter actions for tracepoint #2, one per line:
13378 > collect $regs, $locals, $args, gdb_long_test
13379 > end
13380
13381 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tstart}
13382
13383 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind line 444}
13384 #0 gdb_test (p1=0x11, p2=0x22, p3=0x33, p4=0x44, p5=0x55, p6=0x66)
13385 at gdb_test.c:444
13386 444 printp( "%s: arguments = 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X 0x%X\n", )
13387
13388 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tdump}
13389 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 1:
13390 d0 0xc4aa0085 -995491707
13391 d1 0x18 24
13392 d2 0x80 128
13393 d3 0x33 51
13394 d4 0x71aea3d 119204413
13395 d5 0x22 34
13396 d6 0xe0 224
13397 d7 0x380035 3670069
13398 a0 0x19e24a 1696330
13399 a1 0x3000668 50333288
13400 a2 0x100 256
13401 a3 0x322000 3284992
13402 a4 0x3000698 50333336
13403 a5 0x1ad3cc 1758156
13404 fp 0x30bf3c 0x30bf3c
13405 sp 0x30bf34 0x30bf34
13406 ps 0x0 0
13407 pc 0x20b2c8 0x20b2c8
13408 fpcontrol 0x0 0
13409 fpstatus 0x0 0
13410 fpiaddr 0x0 0
13411 p = 0x20e5b4 "gdb-test"
13412 p1 = (void *) 0x11
13413 p2 = (void *) 0x22
13414 p3 = (void *) 0x33
13415 p4 = (void *) 0x44
13416 p5 = (void *) 0x55
13417 p6 = (void *) 0x66
13418 gdb_long_test = 17 '\021'
13419
13420 (@value{GDBP})
13421 @end smallexample
13422
13423 @code{tdump} works by scanning the tracepoint's current collection
13424 actions and printing the value of each expression listed. So
13425 @code{tdump} can fail, if after a run, you change the tracepoint's
13426 actions to mention variables that were not collected during the run.
13427
13428 Also, for tracepoints with @code{while-stepping} loops, @code{tdump}
13429 uses the collected value of @code{$pc} to distinguish between trace
13430 frames that were collected at the tracepoint hit, and frames that were
13431 collected while stepping. This allows it to correctly choose whether
13432 to display the basic list of collections, or the collections from the
13433 body of the while-stepping loop. However, if @code{$pc} was not collected,
13434 then @code{tdump} will always attempt to dump using the basic collection
13435 list, and may fail if a while-stepping frame does not include all the
13436 same data that is collected at the tracepoint hit.
13437 @c This is getting pretty arcane, example would be good.
13438
13439 @node save tracepoints
13440 @subsection @code{save tracepoints @var{filename}}
13441 @kindex save tracepoints
13442 @kindex save-tracepoints
13443 @cindex save tracepoints for future sessions
13444
13445 This command saves all current tracepoint definitions together with
13446 their actions and passcounts, into a file @file{@var{filename}}
13447 suitable for use in a later debugging session. To read the saved
13448 tracepoint definitions, use the @code{source} command (@pxref{Command
13449 Files}). The @w{@code{save-tracepoints}} command is a deprecated
13450 alias for @w{@code{save tracepoints}}
13451
13452 @node Tracepoint Variables
13453 @section Convenience Variables for Tracepoints
13454 @cindex tracepoint variables
13455 @cindex convenience variables for tracepoints
13456
13457 @table @code
13458 @vindex $trace_frame
13459 @item (int) $trace_frame
13460 The current trace snapshot (a.k.a.@: @dfn{frame}) number, or -1 if no
13461 snapshot is selected.
13462
13463 @vindex $tracepoint
13464 @item (int) $tracepoint
13465 The tracepoint for the current trace snapshot.
13466
13467 @vindex $trace_line
13468 @item (int) $trace_line
13469 The line number for the current trace snapshot.
13470
13471 @vindex $trace_file
13472 @item (char []) $trace_file
13473 The source file for the current trace snapshot.
13474
13475 @vindex $trace_func
13476 @item (char []) $trace_func
13477 The name of the function containing @code{$tracepoint}.
13478 @end table
13479
13480 Note: @code{$trace_file} is not suitable for use in @code{printf},
13481 use @code{output} instead.
13482
13483 Here's a simple example of using these convenience variables for
13484 stepping through all the trace snapshots and printing some of their
13485 data. Note that these are not the same as trace state variables,
13486 which are managed by the target.
13487
13488 @smallexample
13489 (@value{GDBP}) @b{tfind start}
13490
13491 (@value{GDBP}) @b{while $trace_frame != -1}
13492 > output $trace_file
13493 > printf ", line %d (tracepoint #%d)\n", $trace_line, $tracepoint
13494 > tfind
13495 > end
13496 @end smallexample
13497
13498 @node Trace Files
13499 @section Using Trace Files
13500 @cindex trace files
13501
13502 In some situations, the target running a trace experiment may no
13503 longer be available; perhaps it crashed, or the hardware was needed
13504 for a different activity. To handle these cases, you can arrange to
13505 dump the trace data into a file, and later use that file as a source
13506 of trace data, via the @code{target tfile} command.
13507
13508 @table @code
13509
13510 @kindex tsave
13511 @item tsave [ -r ] @var{filename}
13512 @itemx tsave [-ctf] @var{dirname}
13513 Save the trace data to @var{filename}. By default, this command
13514 assumes that @var{filename} refers to the host filesystem, so if
13515 necessary @value{GDBN} will copy raw trace data up from the target and
13516 then save it. If the target supports it, you can also supply the
13517 optional argument @code{-r} (``remote'') to direct the target to save
13518 the data directly into @var{filename} in its own filesystem, which may be
13519 more efficient if the trace buffer is very large. (Note, however, that
13520 @code{target tfile} can only read from files accessible to the host.)
13521 By default, this command will save trace frame in tfile format.
13522 You can supply the optional argument @code{-ctf} to save date in CTF
13523 format. The @dfn{Common Trace Format} (CTF) is proposed as a trace format
13524 that can be shared by multiple debugging and tracing tools. Please go to
13525 @indicateurl{http://www.efficios.com/ctf} to get more information.
13526
13527 @kindex target tfile
13528 @kindex tfile
13529 @kindex target ctf
13530 @kindex ctf
13531 @item target tfile @var{filename}
13532 @itemx target ctf @var{dirname}
13533 Use the file named @var{filename} or directory named @var{dirname} as
13534 a source of trace data. Commands that examine data work as they do with
13535 a live target, but it is not possible to run any new trace experiments.
13536 @code{tstatus} will report the state of the trace run at the moment
13537 the data was saved, as well as the current trace frame you are examining.
13538 Both @var{filename} and @var{dirname} must be on a filesystem accessible to
13539 the host.
13540
13541 @smallexample
13542 (@value{GDBP}) target ctf ctf.ctf
13543 (@value{GDBP}) tfind
13544 Found trace frame 0, tracepoint 2
13545 39 ++a; /* set tracepoint 1 here */
13546 (@value{GDBP}) tdump
13547 Data collected at tracepoint 2, trace frame 0:
13548 i = 0
13549 a = 0
13550 b = 1 '\001'
13551 c = @{"123", "456", "789", "123", "456", "789"@}
13552 d = @{@{@{a = 1, b = 2@}, @{a = 3, b = 4@}@}, @{@{a = 5, b = 6@}, @{a = 7, b = 8@}@}@}
13553 (@value{GDBP}) p b
13554 $1 = 1
13555 @end smallexample
13556
13557 @end table
13558
13559 @node Overlays
13560 @chapter Debugging Programs That Use Overlays
13561 @cindex overlays
13562
13563 If your program is too large to fit completely in your target system's
13564 memory, you can sometimes use @dfn{overlays} to work around this
13565 problem. @value{GDBN} provides some support for debugging programs that
13566 use overlays.
13567
13568 @menu
13569 * How Overlays Work:: A general explanation of overlays.
13570 * Overlay Commands:: Managing overlays in @value{GDBN}.
13571 * Automatic Overlay Debugging:: @value{GDBN} can find out which overlays are
13572 mapped by asking the inferior.
13573 * Overlay Sample Program:: A sample program using overlays.
13574 @end menu
13575
13576 @node How Overlays Work
13577 @section How Overlays Work
13578 @cindex mapped overlays
13579 @cindex unmapped overlays
13580 @cindex load address, overlay's
13581 @cindex mapped address
13582 @cindex overlay area
13583
13584 Suppose you have a computer whose instruction address space is only 64
13585 kilobytes long, but which has much more memory which can be accessed by
13586 other means: special instructions, segment registers, or memory
13587 management hardware, for example. Suppose further that you want to
13588 adapt a program which is larger than 64 kilobytes to run on this system.
13589
13590 One solution is to identify modules of your program which are relatively
13591 independent, and need not call each other directly; call these modules
13592 @dfn{overlays}. Separate the overlays from the main program, and place
13593 their machine code in the larger memory. Place your main program in
13594 instruction memory, but leave at least enough space there to hold the
13595 largest overlay as well.
13596
13597 Now, to call a function located in an overlay, you must first copy that
13598 overlay's machine code from the large memory into the space set aside
13599 for it in the instruction memory, and then jump to its entry point
13600 there.
13601
13602 @c NB: In the below the mapped area's size is greater or equal to the
13603 @c size of all overlays. This is intentional to remind the developer
13604 @c that overlays don't necessarily need to be the same size.
13605
13606 @smallexample
13607 @group
13608 Data Instruction Larger
13609 Address Space Address Space Address Space
13610 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+
13611 | | | | | |
13612 +-----------+ +-----------+ +-----------+<-- overlay 1
13613 | program | | main | .----| overlay 1 | load address
13614 | variables | | program | | +-----------+
13615 | and heap | | | | | |
13616 +-----------+ | | | +-----------+<-- overlay 2
13617 | | +-----------+ | | | load address
13618 +-----------+ | | | .-| overlay 2 |
13619 | | | | | |
13620 mapped --->+-----------+ | | +-----------+
13621 address | | | | | |
13622 | overlay | <-' | | |
13623 | area | <---' +-----------+<-- overlay 3
13624 | | <---. | | load address
13625 +-----------+ `--| overlay 3 |
13626 | | | |
13627 +-----------+ | |
13628 +-----------+
13629 | |
13630 +-----------+
13631
13632 @anchor{A code overlay}A code overlay
13633 @end group
13634 @end smallexample
13635
13636 The diagram (@pxref{A code overlay}) shows a system with separate data
13637 and instruction address spaces. To map an overlay, the program copies
13638 its code from the larger address space to the instruction address space.
13639 Since the overlays shown here all use the same mapped address, only one
13640 may be mapped at a time. For a system with a single address space for
13641 data and instructions, the diagram would be similar, except that the
13642 program variables and heap would share an address space with the main
13643 program and the overlay area.
13644
13645 An overlay loaded into instruction memory and ready for use is called a
13646 @dfn{mapped} overlay; its @dfn{mapped address} is its address in the
13647 instruction memory. An overlay not present (or only partially present)
13648 in instruction memory is called @dfn{unmapped}; its @dfn{load address}
13649 is its address in the larger memory. The mapped address is also called
13650 the @dfn{virtual memory address}, or @dfn{VMA}; the load address is also
13651 called the @dfn{load memory address}, or @dfn{LMA}.
13652
13653 Unfortunately, overlays are not a completely transparent way to adapt a
13654 program to limited instruction memory. They introduce a new set of
13655 global constraints you must keep in mind as you design your program:
13656
13657 @itemize @bullet
13658
13659 @item
13660 Before calling or returning to a function in an overlay, your program
13661 must make sure that overlay is actually mapped. Otherwise, the call or
13662 return will transfer control to the right address, but in the wrong
13663 overlay, and your program will probably crash.
13664
13665 @item
13666 If the process of mapping an overlay is expensive on your system, you
13667 will need to choose your overlays carefully to minimize their effect on
13668 your program's performance.
13669
13670 @item
13671 The executable file you load onto your system must contain each
13672 overlay's instructions, appearing at the overlay's load address, not its
13673 mapped address. However, each overlay's instructions must be relocated
13674 and its symbols defined as if the overlay were at its mapped address.
13675 You can use GNU linker scripts to specify different load and relocation
13676 addresses for pieces of your program; see @ref{Overlay Description,,,
13677 ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}.
13678
13679 @item
13680 The procedure for loading executable files onto your system must be able
13681 to load their contents into the larger address space as well as the
13682 instruction and data spaces.
13683
13684 @end itemize
13685
13686 The overlay system described above is rather simple, and could be
13687 improved in many ways:
13688
13689 @itemize @bullet
13690
13691 @item
13692 If your system has suitable bank switch registers or memory management
13693 hardware, you could use those facilities to make an overlay's load area
13694 contents simply appear at their mapped address in instruction space.
13695 This would probably be faster than copying the overlay to its mapped
13696 area in the usual way.
13697
13698 @item
13699 If your overlays are small enough, you could set aside more than one
13700 overlay area, and have more than one overlay mapped at a time.
13701
13702 @item
13703 You can use overlays to manage data, as well as instructions. In
13704 general, data overlays are even less transparent to your design than
13705 code overlays: whereas code overlays only require care when you call or
13706 return to functions, data overlays require care every time you access
13707 the data. Also, if you change the contents of a data overlay, you
13708 must copy its contents back out to its load address before you can copy a
13709 different data overlay into the same mapped area.
13710
13711 @end itemize
13712
13713
13714 @node Overlay Commands
13715 @section Overlay Commands
13716
13717 To use @value{GDBN}'s overlay support, each overlay in your program must
13718 correspond to a separate section of the executable file. The section's
13719 virtual memory address and load memory address must be the overlay's
13720 mapped and load addresses. Identifying overlays with sections allows
13721 @value{GDBN} to determine the appropriate address of a function or
13722 variable, depending on whether the overlay is mapped or not.
13723
13724 @value{GDBN}'s overlay commands all start with the word @code{overlay};
13725 you can abbreviate this as @code{ov} or @code{ovly}. The commands are:
13726
13727 @table @code
13728 @item overlay off
13729 @kindex overlay
13730 Disable @value{GDBN}'s overlay support. When overlay support is
13731 disabled, @value{GDBN} assumes that all functions and variables are
13732 always present at their mapped addresses. By default, @value{GDBN}'s
13733 overlay support is disabled.
13734
13735 @item overlay manual
13736 @cindex manual overlay debugging
13737 Enable @dfn{manual} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13738 relies on you to tell it which overlays are mapped, and which are not,
13739 using the @code{overlay map-overlay} and @code{overlay unmap-overlay}
13740 commands described below.
13741
13742 @item overlay map-overlay @var{overlay}
13743 @itemx overlay map @var{overlay}
13744 @cindex map an overlay
13745 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is now mapped; @var{overlay} must
13746 be the name of the object file section containing the overlay. When an
13747 overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the overlay's
13748 functions and variables at their mapped addresses. @value{GDBN} assumes
13749 that any other overlays whose mapped ranges overlap that of
13750 @var{overlay} are now unmapped.
13751
13752 @item overlay unmap-overlay @var{overlay}
13753 @itemx overlay unmap @var{overlay}
13754 @cindex unmap an overlay
13755 Tell @value{GDBN} that @var{overlay} is no longer mapped; @var{overlay}
13756 must be the name of the object file section containing the overlay.
13757 When an overlay is unmapped, @value{GDBN} assumes it can find the
13758 overlay's functions and variables at their load addresses.
13759
13760 @item overlay auto
13761 Enable @dfn{automatic} overlay debugging. In this mode, @value{GDBN}
13762 consults a data structure the overlay manager maintains in the inferior
13763 to see which overlays are mapped. For details, see @ref{Automatic
13764 Overlay Debugging}.
13765
13766 @item overlay load-target
13767 @itemx overlay load
13768 @cindex reloading the overlay table
13769 Re-read the overlay table from the inferior. Normally, @value{GDBN}
13770 re-reads the table @value{GDBN} automatically each time the inferior
13771 stops, so this command should only be necessary if you have changed the
13772 overlay mapping yourself using @value{GDBN}. This command is only
13773 useful when using automatic overlay debugging.
13774
13775 @item overlay list-overlays
13776 @itemx overlay list
13777 @cindex listing mapped overlays
13778 Display a list of the overlays currently mapped, along with their mapped
13779 addresses, load addresses, and sizes.
13780
13781 @end table
13782
13783 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a code address, it includes the name
13784 of the function the address falls in:
13785
13786 @smallexample
13787 (@value{GDBP}) print main
13788 $3 = @{int ()@} 0x11a0 <main>
13789 @end smallexample
13790 @noindent
13791 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} recognizes code in
13792 unmapped overlays, and prints the names of unmapped functions with
13793 asterisks around them. For example, if @code{foo} is a function in an
13794 unmapped overlay, @value{GDBN} prints it this way:
13795
13796 @smallexample
13797 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13798 No sections are mapped.
13799 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
13800 $5 = @{int (int)@} 0x100000 <*foo*>
13801 @end smallexample
13802 @noindent
13803 When @code{foo}'s overlay is mapped, @value{GDBN} prints the function's
13804 name normally:
13805
13806 @smallexample
13807 (@value{GDBP}) overlay list
13808 Section .ov.foo.text, loaded at 0x100000 - 0x100034,
13809 mapped at 0x1016 - 0x104a
13810 (@value{GDBP}) print foo
13811 $6 = @{int (int)@} 0x1016 <foo>
13812 @end smallexample
13813
13814 When overlay debugging is enabled, @value{GDBN} can find the correct
13815 address for functions and variables in an overlay, whether or not the
13816 overlay is mapped. This allows most @value{GDBN} commands, like
13817 @code{break} and @code{disassemble}, to work normally, even on unmapped
13818 code. However, @value{GDBN}'s breakpoint support has some limitations:
13819
13820 @itemize @bullet
13821 @item
13822 @cindex breakpoints in overlays
13823 @cindex overlays, setting breakpoints in
13824 You can set breakpoints in functions in unmapped overlays, as long as
13825 @value{GDBN} can write to the overlay at its load address.
13826 @item
13827 @value{GDBN} can not set hardware or simulator-based breakpoints in
13828 unmapped overlays. However, if you set a breakpoint at the end of your
13829 overlay manager (and tell @value{GDBN} which overlays are now mapped, if
13830 you are using manual overlay management), @value{GDBN} will re-set its
13831 breakpoints properly.
13832 @end itemize
13833
13834
13835 @node Automatic Overlay Debugging
13836 @section Automatic Overlay Debugging
13837 @cindex automatic overlay debugging
13838
13839 @value{GDBN} can automatically track which overlays are mapped and which
13840 are not, given some simple co-operation from the overlay manager in the
13841 inferior. If you enable automatic overlay debugging with the
13842 @code{overlay auto} command (@pxref{Overlay Commands}), @value{GDBN}
13843 looks in the inferior's memory for certain variables describing the
13844 current state of the overlays.
13845
13846 Here are the variables your overlay manager must define to support
13847 @value{GDBN}'s automatic overlay debugging:
13848
13849 @table @asis
13850
13851 @item @code{_ovly_table}:
13852 This variable must be an array of the following structures:
13853
13854 @smallexample
13855 struct
13856 @{
13857 /* The overlay's mapped address. */
13858 unsigned long vma;
13859
13860 /* The size of the overlay, in bytes. */
13861 unsigned long size;
13862
13863 /* The overlay's load address. */
13864 unsigned long lma;
13865
13866 /* Non-zero if the overlay is currently mapped;
13867 zero otherwise. */
13868 unsigned long mapped;
13869 @}
13870 @end smallexample
13871
13872 @item @code{_novlys}:
13873 This variable must be a four-byte signed integer, holding the total
13874 number of elements in @code{_ovly_table}.
13875
13876 @end table
13877
13878 To decide whether a particular overlay is mapped or not, @value{GDBN}
13879 looks for an entry in @w{@code{_ovly_table}} whose @code{vma} and
13880 @code{lma} members equal the VMA and LMA of the overlay's section in the
13881 executable file. When @value{GDBN} finds a matching entry, it consults
13882 the entry's @code{mapped} member to determine whether the overlay is
13883 currently mapped.
13884
13885 In addition, your overlay manager may define a function called
13886 @code{_ovly_debug_event}. If this function is defined, @value{GDBN}
13887 will silently set a breakpoint there. If the overlay manager then
13888 calls this function whenever it has changed the overlay table, this
13889 will enable @value{GDBN} to accurately keep track of which overlays
13890 are in program memory, and update any breakpoints that may be set
13891 in overlays. This will allow breakpoints to work even if the
13892 overlays are kept in ROM or other non-writable memory while they
13893 are not being executed.
13894
13895 @node Overlay Sample Program
13896 @section Overlay Sample Program
13897 @cindex overlay example program
13898
13899 When linking a program which uses overlays, you must place the overlays
13900 at their load addresses, while relocating them to run at their mapped
13901 addresses. To do this, you must write a linker script (@pxref{Overlay
13902 Description,,, ld.info, Using ld: the GNU linker}). Unfortunately,
13903 since linker scripts are specific to a particular host system, target
13904 architecture, and target memory layout, this manual cannot provide
13905 portable sample code demonstrating @value{GDBN}'s overlay support.
13906
13907 However, the @value{GDBN} source distribution does contain an overlaid
13908 program, with linker scripts for a few systems, as part of its test
13909 suite. The program consists of the following files from
13910 @file{gdb/testsuite/gdb.base}:
13911
13912 @table @file
13913 @item overlays.c
13914 The main program file.
13915 @item ovlymgr.c
13916 A simple overlay manager, used by @file{overlays.c}.
13917 @item foo.c
13918 @itemx bar.c
13919 @itemx baz.c
13920 @itemx grbx.c
13921 Overlay modules, loaded and used by @file{overlays.c}.
13922 @item d10v.ld
13923 @itemx m32r.ld
13924 Linker scripts for linking the test program on the @code{d10v-elf}
13925 and @code{m32r-elf} targets.
13926 @end table
13927
13928 You can build the test program using the @code{d10v-elf} GCC
13929 cross-compiler like this:
13930
13931 @smallexample
13932 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c overlays.c
13933 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c ovlymgr.c
13934 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c foo.c
13935 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c bar.c
13936 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c baz.c
13937 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g -c grbx.c
13938 $ d10v-elf-gcc -g overlays.o ovlymgr.o foo.o bar.o \
13939 baz.o grbx.o -Wl,-Td10v.ld -o overlays
13940 @end smallexample
13941
13942 The build process is identical for any other architecture, except that
13943 you must substitute the appropriate compiler and linker script for the
13944 target system for @code{d10v-elf-gcc} and @code{d10v.ld}.
13945
13946
13947 @node Languages
13948 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages
13949 @cindex languages
13950
13951 Although programming languages generally have common aspects, they are
13952 rarely expressed in the same manner. For instance, in ANSI C,
13953 dereferencing a pointer @code{p} is accomplished by @code{*p}, but in
13954 Modula-2, it is accomplished by @code{p^}. Values can also be
13955 represented (and displayed) differently. Hex numbers in C appear as
13956 @samp{0x1ae}, while in Modula-2 they appear as @samp{1AEH}.
13957
13958 @cindex working language
13959 Language-specific information is built into @value{GDBN} for some languages,
13960 allowing you to express operations like the above in your program's
13961 native language, and allowing @value{GDBN} to output values in a manner
13962 consistent with the syntax of your program's native language. The
13963 language you use to build expressions is called the @dfn{working
13964 language}.
13965
13966 @menu
13967 * Setting:: Switching between source languages
13968 * Show:: Displaying the language
13969 * Checks:: Type and range checks
13970 * Supported Languages:: Supported languages
13971 * Unsupported Languages:: Unsupported languages
13972 @end menu
13973
13974 @node Setting
13975 @section Switching Between Source Languages
13976
13977 There are two ways to control the working language---either have @value{GDBN}
13978 set it automatically, or select it manually yourself. You can use the
13979 @code{set language} command for either purpose. On startup, @value{GDBN}
13980 defaults to setting the language automatically. The working language is
13981 used to determine how expressions you type are interpreted, how values
13982 are printed, etc.
13983
13984 In addition to the working language, every source file that
13985 @value{GDBN} knows about has its own working language. For some object
13986 file formats, the compiler might indicate which language a particular
13987 source file is in. However, most of the time @value{GDBN} infers the
13988 language from the name of the file. The language of a source file
13989 controls whether C@t{++} names are demangled---this way @code{backtrace} can
13990 show each frame appropriately for its own language. There is no way to
13991 set the language of a source file from within @value{GDBN}, but you can
13992 set the language associated with a filename extension. @xref{Show, ,
13993 Displaying the Language}.
13994
13995 This is most commonly a problem when you use a program, such
13996 as @code{cfront} or @code{f2c}, that generates C but is written in
13997 another language. In that case, make the
13998 program use @code{#line} directives in its C output; that way
13999 @value{GDBN} will know the correct language of the source code of the original
14000 program, and will display that source code, not the generated C code.
14001
14002 @menu
14003 * Filenames:: Filename extensions and languages.
14004 * Manually:: Setting the working language manually
14005 * Automatically:: Having @value{GDBN} infer the source language
14006 @end menu
14007
14008 @node Filenames
14009 @subsection List of Filename Extensions and Languages
14010
14011 If a source file name ends in one of the following extensions, then
14012 @value{GDBN} infers that its language is the one indicated.
14013
14014 @table @file
14015 @item .ada
14016 @itemx .ads
14017 @itemx .adb
14018 @itemx .a
14019 Ada source file.
14020
14021 @item .c
14022 C source file
14023
14024 @item .C
14025 @itemx .cc
14026 @itemx .cp
14027 @itemx .cpp
14028 @itemx .cxx
14029 @itemx .c++
14030 C@t{++} source file
14031
14032 @item .d
14033 D source file
14034
14035 @item .m
14036 Objective-C source file
14037
14038 @item .f
14039 @itemx .F
14040 Fortran source file
14041
14042 @item .mod
14043 Modula-2 source file
14044
14045 @item .s
14046 @itemx .S
14047 Assembler source file. This actually behaves almost like C, but
14048 @value{GDBN} does not skip over function prologues when stepping.
14049 @end table
14050
14051 In addition, you may set the language associated with a filename
14052 extension. @xref{Show, , Displaying the Language}.
14053
14054 @node Manually
14055 @subsection Setting the Working Language
14056
14057 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically,
14058 expressions are interpreted the same way in your debugging session and
14059 your program.
14060
14061 @kindex set language
14062 If you wish, you may set the language manually. To do this, issue the
14063 command @samp{set language @var{lang}}, where @var{lang} is the name of
14064 a language, such as
14065 @code{c} or @code{modula-2}.
14066 For a list of the supported languages, type @samp{set language}.
14067
14068 Setting the language manually prevents @value{GDBN} from updating the working
14069 language automatically. This can lead to confusion if you try
14070 to debug a program when the working language is not the same as the
14071 source language, when an expression is acceptable to both
14072 languages---but means different things. For instance, if the current
14073 source file were written in C, and @value{GDBN} was parsing Modula-2, a
14074 command such as:
14075
14076 @smallexample
14077 print a = b + c
14078 @end smallexample
14079
14080 @noindent
14081 might not have the effect you intended. In C, this means to add
14082 @code{b} and @code{c} and place the result in @code{a}. The result
14083 printed would be the value of @code{a}. In Modula-2, this means to compare
14084 @code{a} to the result of @code{b+c}, yielding a @code{BOOLEAN} value.
14085
14086 @node Automatically
14087 @subsection Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language
14088
14089 To have @value{GDBN} set the working language automatically, use
14090 @samp{set language local} or @samp{set language auto}. @value{GDBN}
14091 then infers the working language. That is, when your program stops in a
14092 frame (usually by encountering a breakpoint), @value{GDBN} sets the
14093 working language to the language recorded for the function in that
14094 frame. If the language for a frame is unknown (that is, if the function
14095 or block corresponding to the frame was defined in a source file that
14096 does not have a recognized extension), the current working language is
14097 not changed, and @value{GDBN} issues a warning.
14098
14099 This may not seem necessary for most programs, which are written
14100 entirely in one source language. However, program modules and libraries
14101 written in one source language can be used by a main program written in
14102 a different source language. Using @samp{set language auto} in this
14103 case frees you from having to set the working language manually.
14104
14105 @node Show
14106 @section Displaying the Language
14107
14108 The following commands help you find out which language is the
14109 working language, and also what language source files were written in.
14110
14111 @table @code
14112 @item show language
14113 @anchor{show language}
14114 @kindex show language
14115 Display the current working language. This is the
14116 language you can use with commands such as @code{print} to
14117 build and compute expressions that may involve variables in your program.
14118
14119 @item info frame
14120 @kindex info frame@r{, show the source language}
14121 Display the source language for this frame. This language becomes the
14122 working language if you use an identifier from this frame.
14123 @xref{Frame Info, ,Information about a Frame}, to identify the other
14124 information listed here.
14125
14126 @item info source
14127 @kindex info source@r{, show the source language}
14128 Display the source language of this source file.
14129 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}, to identify the other
14130 information listed here.
14131 @end table
14132
14133 In unusual circumstances, you may have source files with extensions
14134 not in the standard list. You can then set the extension associated
14135 with a language explicitly:
14136
14137 @table @code
14138 @item set extension-language @var{ext} @var{language}
14139 @kindex set extension-language
14140 Tell @value{GDBN} that source files with extension @var{ext} are to be
14141 assumed as written in the source language @var{language}.
14142
14143 @item info extensions
14144 @kindex info extensions
14145 List all the filename extensions and the associated languages.
14146 @end table
14147
14148 @node Checks
14149 @section Type and Range Checking
14150
14151 Some languages are designed to guard you against making seemingly common
14152 errors through a series of compile- and run-time checks. These include
14153 checking the type of arguments to functions and operators and making
14154 sure mathematical overflows are caught at run time. Checks such as
14155 these help to ensure a program's correctness once it has been compiled
14156 by eliminating type mismatches and providing active checks for range
14157 errors when your program is running.
14158
14159 By default @value{GDBN} checks for these errors according to the
14160 rules of the current source language. Although @value{GDBN} does not check
14161 the statements in your program, it can check expressions entered directly
14162 into @value{GDBN} for evaluation via the @code{print} command, for example.
14163
14164 @menu
14165 * Type Checking:: An overview of type checking
14166 * Range Checking:: An overview of range checking
14167 @end menu
14168
14169 @cindex type checking
14170 @cindex checks, type
14171 @node Type Checking
14172 @subsection An Overview of Type Checking
14173
14174 Some languages, such as C and C@t{++}, are strongly typed, meaning that the
14175 arguments to operators and functions have to be of the correct type,
14176 otherwise an error occurs. These checks prevent type mismatch
14177 errors from ever causing any run-time problems. For example,
14178
14179 @smallexample
14180 int klass::my_method(char *b) @{ return b ? 1 : 2; @}
14181
14182 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0)
14183 $1 = 2
14184 @exdent but
14185 (@value{GDBP}) print obj.my_method (0x1234)
14186 Cannot resolve method klass::my_method to any overloaded instance
14187 @end smallexample
14188
14189 The second example fails because in C@t{++} the integer constant
14190 @samp{0x1234} is not type-compatible with the pointer parameter type.
14191
14192 For the expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
14193 @value{GDBN} to not enforce strict type checking or
14194 to treat any mismatches as errors and abandon the expression;
14195 When type checking is disabled, @value{GDBN} successfully evaluates
14196 expressions like the second example above.
14197
14198 Even if type checking is off, there may be other reasons
14199 related to type that prevent @value{GDBN} from evaluating an expression.
14200 For instance, @value{GDBN} does not know how to add an @code{int} and
14201 a @code{struct foo}. These particular type errors have nothing to do
14202 with the language in use and usually arise from expressions which make
14203 little sense to evaluate anyway.
14204
14205 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling type checking:
14206
14207 @kindex set check type
14208 @kindex show check type
14209 @table @code
14210 @item set check type on
14211 @itemx set check type off
14212 Set strict type checking on or off. If any type mismatches occur in
14213 evaluating an expression while type checking is on, @value{GDBN} prints a
14214 message and aborts evaluation of the expression.
14215
14216 @item show check type
14217 Show the current setting of type checking and whether @value{GDBN}
14218 is enforcing strict type checking rules.
14219 @end table
14220
14221 @cindex range checking
14222 @cindex checks, range
14223 @node Range Checking
14224 @subsection An Overview of Range Checking
14225
14226 In some languages (such as Modula-2), it is an error to exceed the
14227 bounds of a type; this is enforced with run-time checks. Such range
14228 checking is meant to ensure program correctness by making sure
14229 computations do not overflow, or indices on an array element access do
14230 not exceed the bounds of the array.
14231
14232 For expressions you use in @value{GDBN} commands, you can tell
14233 @value{GDBN} to treat range errors in one of three ways: ignore them,
14234 always treat them as errors and abandon the expression, or issue
14235 warnings but evaluate the expression anyway.
14236
14237 A range error can result from numerical overflow, from exceeding an
14238 array index bound, or when you type a constant that is not a member
14239 of any type. Some languages, however, do not treat overflows as an
14240 error. In many implementations of C, mathematical overflow causes the
14241 result to ``wrap around'' to lower values---for example, if @var{m} is
14242 the largest integer value, and @var{s} is the smallest, then
14243
14244 @smallexample
14245 @var{m} + 1 @result{} @var{s}
14246 @end smallexample
14247
14248 This, too, is specific to individual languages, and in some cases
14249 specific to individual compilers or machines. @xref{Supported Languages, ,
14250 Supported Languages}, for further details on specific languages.
14251
14252 @value{GDBN} provides some additional commands for controlling the range checker:
14253
14254 @kindex set check range
14255 @kindex show check range
14256 @table @code
14257 @item set check range auto
14258 Set range checking on or off based on the current working language.
14259 @xref{Supported Languages, ,Supported Languages}, for the default settings for
14260 each language.
14261
14262 @item set check range on
14263 @itemx set check range off
14264 Set range checking on or off, overriding the default setting for the
14265 current working language. A warning is issued if the setting does not
14266 match the language default. If a range error occurs and range checking is on,
14267 then a message is printed and evaluation of the expression is aborted.
14268
14269 @item set check range warn
14270 Output messages when the @value{GDBN} range checker detects a range error,
14271 but attempt to evaluate the expression anyway. Evaluating the
14272 expression may still be impossible for other reasons, such as accessing
14273 memory that the process does not own (a typical example from many Unix
14274 systems).
14275
14276 @item show range
14277 Show the current setting of the range checker, and whether or not it is
14278 being set automatically by @value{GDBN}.
14279 @end table
14280
14281 @node Supported Languages
14282 @section Supported Languages
14283
14284 @value{GDBN} supports C, C@t{++}, D, Go, Objective-C, Fortran, Java,
14285 OpenCL C, Pascal, assembly, Modula-2, and Ada.
14286 @c This is false ...
14287 Some @value{GDBN} features may be used in expressions regardless of the
14288 language you use: the @value{GDBN} @code{@@} and @code{::} operators,
14289 and the @samp{@{type@}addr} construct (@pxref{Expressions,
14290 ,Expressions}) can be used with the constructs of any supported
14291 language.
14292
14293 The following sections detail to what degree each source language is
14294 supported by @value{GDBN}. These sections are not meant to be language
14295 tutorials or references, but serve only as a reference guide to what the
14296 @value{GDBN} expression parser accepts, and what input and output
14297 formats should look like for different languages. There are many good
14298 books written on each of these languages; please look to these for a
14299 language reference or tutorial.
14300
14301 @menu
14302 * C:: C and C@t{++}
14303 * D:: D
14304 * Go:: Go
14305 * Objective-C:: Objective-C
14306 * OpenCL C:: OpenCL C
14307 * Fortran:: Fortran
14308 * Pascal:: Pascal
14309 * Modula-2:: Modula-2
14310 * Ada:: Ada
14311 @end menu
14312
14313 @node C
14314 @subsection C and C@t{++}
14315
14316 @cindex C and C@t{++}
14317 @cindex expressions in C or C@t{++}
14318
14319 Since C and C@t{++} are so closely related, many features of @value{GDBN} apply
14320 to both languages. Whenever this is the case, we discuss those languages
14321 together.
14322
14323 @cindex C@t{++}
14324 @cindex @code{g++}, @sc{gnu} C@t{++} compiler
14325 @cindex @sc{gnu} C@t{++}
14326 The C@t{++} debugging facilities are jointly implemented by the C@t{++}
14327 compiler and @value{GDBN}. Therefore, to debug your C@t{++} code
14328 effectively, you must compile your C@t{++} programs with a supported
14329 C@t{++} compiler, such as @sc{gnu} @code{g++}, or the HP ANSI C@t{++}
14330 compiler (@code{aCC}).
14331
14332 @menu
14333 * C Operators:: C and C@t{++} operators
14334 * C Constants:: C and C@t{++} constants
14335 * C Plus Plus Expressions:: C@t{++} expressions
14336 * C Defaults:: Default settings for C and C@t{++}
14337 * C Checks:: C and C@t{++} type and range checks
14338 * Debugging C:: @value{GDBN} and C
14339 * Debugging C Plus Plus:: @value{GDBN} features for C@t{++}
14340 * Decimal Floating Point:: Numbers in Decimal Floating Point format
14341 @end menu
14342
14343 @node C Operators
14344 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Operators
14345
14346 @cindex C and C@t{++} operators
14347
14348 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
14349 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
14350 often defined on groups of types.
14351
14352 For the purposes of C and C@t{++}, the following definitions hold:
14353
14354 @itemize @bullet
14355
14356 @item
14357 @emph{Integral types} include @code{int} with any of its storage-class
14358 specifiers; @code{char}; @code{enum}; and, for C@t{++}, @code{bool}.
14359
14360 @item
14361 @emph{Floating-point types} include @code{float}, @code{double}, and
14362 @code{long double} (if supported by the target platform).
14363
14364 @item
14365 @emph{Pointer types} include all types defined as @code{(@var{type} *)}.
14366
14367 @item
14368 @emph{Scalar types} include all of the above.
14369
14370 @end itemize
14371
14372 @noindent
14373 The following operators are supported. They are listed here
14374 in order of increasing precedence:
14375
14376 @table @code
14377 @item ,
14378 The comma or sequencing operator. Expressions in a comma-separated list
14379 are evaluated from left to right, with the result of the entire
14380 expression being the last expression evaluated.
14381
14382 @item =
14383 Assignment. The value of an assignment expression is the value
14384 assigned. Defined on scalar types.
14385
14386 @item @var{op}=
14387 Used in an expression of the form @w{@code{@var{a} @var{op}= @var{b}}},
14388 and translated to @w{@code{@var{a} = @var{a op b}}}.
14389 @w{@code{@var{op}=}} and @code{=} have the same precedence. The operator
14390 @var{op} is any one of the operators @code{|}, @code{^}, @code{&},
14391 @code{<<}, @code{>>}, @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{%}.
14392
14393 @item ?:
14394 The ternary operator. @code{@var{a} ? @var{b} : @var{c}} can be thought
14395 of as: if @var{a} then @var{b} else @var{c}. The argument @var{a}
14396 should be of an integral type.
14397
14398 @item ||
14399 Logical @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
14400
14401 @item &&
14402 Logical @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
14403
14404 @item |
14405 Bitwise @sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
14406
14407 @item ^
14408 Bitwise exclusive-@sc{or}. Defined on integral types.
14409
14410 @item &
14411 Bitwise @sc{and}. Defined on integral types.
14412
14413 @item ==@r{, }!=
14414 Equality and inequality. Defined on scalar types. The value of these
14415 expressions is 0 for false and non-zero for true.
14416
14417 @item <@r{, }>@r{, }<=@r{, }>=
14418 Less than, greater than, less than or equal, greater than or equal.
14419 Defined on scalar types. The value of these expressions is 0 for false
14420 and non-zero for true.
14421
14422 @item <<@r{, }>>
14423 left shift, and right shift. Defined on integral types.
14424
14425 @item @@
14426 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
14427
14428 @item +@r{, }-
14429 Addition and subtraction. Defined on integral types, floating-point types and
14430 pointer types.
14431
14432 @item *@r{, }/@r{, }%
14433 Multiplication, division, and modulus. Multiplication and division are
14434 defined on integral and floating-point types. Modulus is defined on
14435 integral types.
14436
14437 @item ++@r{, }--
14438 Increment and decrement. When appearing before a variable, the
14439 operation is performed before the variable is used in an expression;
14440 when appearing after it, the variable's value is used before the
14441 operation takes place.
14442
14443 @item *
14444 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types. Same precedence as
14445 @code{++}.
14446
14447 @item &
14448 Address operator. Defined on variables. Same precedence as @code{++}.
14449
14450 For debugging C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} implements a use of @samp{&} beyond what is
14451 allowed in the C@t{++} language itself: you can use @samp{&(&@var{ref})}
14452 to examine the address
14453 where a C@t{++} reference variable (declared with @samp{&@var{ref}}) is
14454 stored.
14455
14456 @item -
14457 Negative. Defined on integral and floating-point types. Same
14458 precedence as @code{++}.
14459
14460 @item !
14461 Logical negation. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
14462 @code{++}.
14463
14464 @item ~
14465 Bitwise complement operator. Defined on integral types. Same precedence as
14466 @code{++}.
14467
14468
14469 @item .@r{, }->
14470 Structure member, and pointer-to-structure member. For convenience,
14471 @value{GDBN} regards the two as equivalent, choosing whether to dereference a
14472 pointer based on the stored type information.
14473 Defined on @code{struct} and @code{union} data.
14474
14475 @item .*@r{, }->*
14476 Dereferences of pointers to members.
14477
14478 @item []
14479 Array indexing. @code{@var{a}[@var{i}]} is defined as
14480 @code{*(@var{a}+@var{i})}. Same precedence as @code{->}.
14481
14482 @item ()
14483 Function parameter list. Same precedence as @code{->}.
14484
14485 @item ::
14486 C@t{++} scope resolution operator. Defined on @code{struct}, @code{union},
14487 and @code{class} types.
14488
14489 @item ::
14490 Doubled colons also represent the @value{GDBN} scope operator
14491 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). Same precedence as @code{::},
14492 above.
14493 @end table
14494
14495 If an operator is redefined in the user code, @value{GDBN} usually
14496 attempts to invoke the redefined version instead of using the operator's
14497 predefined meaning.
14498
14499 @node C Constants
14500 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Constants
14501
14502 @cindex C and C@t{++} constants
14503
14504 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of C and C@t{++} in the
14505 following ways:
14506
14507 @itemize @bullet
14508 @item
14509 Integer constants are a sequence of digits. Octal constants are
14510 specified by a leading @samp{0} (i.e.@: zero), and hexadecimal constants
14511 by a leading @samp{0x} or @samp{0X}. Constants may also end with a letter
14512 @samp{l}, specifying that the constant should be treated as a
14513 @code{long} value.
14514
14515 @item
14516 Floating point constants are a sequence of digits, followed by a decimal
14517 point, followed by a sequence of digits, and optionally followed by an
14518 exponent. An exponent is of the form:
14519 @samp{@w{e@r{[[}+@r{]|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}}, where @var{nnn} is another
14520 sequence of digits. The @samp{+} is optional for positive exponents.
14521 A floating-point constant may also end with a letter @samp{f} or
14522 @samp{F}, specifying that the constant should be treated as being of
14523 the @code{float} (as opposed to the default @code{double}) type; or with
14524 a letter @samp{l} or @samp{L}, which specifies a @code{long double}
14525 constant.
14526
14527 @item
14528 Enumerated constants consist of enumerated identifiers, or their
14529 integral equivalents.
14530
14531 @item
14532 Character constants are a single character surrounded by single quotes
14533 (@code{'}), or a number---the ordinal value of the corresponding character
14534 (usually its @sc{ascii} value). Within quotes, the single character may
14535 be represented by a letter or by @dfn{escape sequences}, which are of
14536 the form @samp{\@var{nnn}}, where @var{nnn} is the octal representation
14537 of the character's ordinal value; or of the form @samp{\@var{x}}, where
14538 @samp{@var{x}} is a predefined special character---for example,
14539 @samp{\n} for newline.
14540
14541 Wide character constants can be written by prefixing a character
14542 constant with @samp{L}, as in C. For example, @samp{L'x'} is the wide
14543 form of @samp{x}. The target wide character set is used when
14544 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
14545
14546 @item
14547 String constants are a sequence of character constants surrounded by
14548 double quotes (@code{"}). Any valid character constant (as described
14549 above) may appear. Double quotes within the string must be preceded by
14550 a backslash, so for instance @samp{"a\"b'c"} is a string of five
14551 characters.
14552
14553 Wide string constants can be written by prefixing a string constant
14554 with @samp{L}, as in C. The target wide character set is used when
14555 computing the value of this constant (@pxref{Character Sets}).
14556
14557 @item
14558 Pointer constants are an integral value. You can also write pointers
14559 to constants using the C operator @samp{&}.
14560
14561 @item
14562 Array constants are comma-separated lists surrounded by braces @samp{@{}
14563 and @samp{@}}; for example, @samp{@{1,2,3@}} is a three-element array of
14564 integers, @samp{@{@{1,2@}, @{3,4@}, @{5,6@}@}} is a three-by-two array,
14565 and @samp{@{&"hi", &"there", &"fred"@}} is a three-element array of pointers.
14566 @end itemize
14567
14568 @node C Plus Plus Expressions
14569 @subsubsection C@t{++} Expressions
14570
14571 @cindex expressions in C@t{++}
14572 @value{GDBN} expression handling can interpret most C@t{++} expressions.
14573
14574 @cindex debugging C@t{++} programs
14575 @cindex C@t{++} compilers
14576 @cindex debug formats and C@t{++}
14577 @cindex @value{NGCC} and C@t{++}
14578 @quotation
14579 @emph{Warning:} @value{GDBN} can only debug C@t{++} code if you use
14580 the proper compiler and the proper debug format. Currently,
14581 @value{GDBN} works best when debugging C@t{++} code that is compiled
14582 with the most recent version of @value{NGCC} possible. The DWARF
14583 debugging format is preferred; @value{NGCC} defaults to this on most
14584 popular platforms. Other compilers and/or debug formats are likely to
14585 work badly or not at all when using @value{GDBN} to debug C@t{++}
14586 code. @xref{Compilation}.
14587 @end quotation
14588
14589 @enumerate
14590
14591 @cindex member functions
14592 @item
14593 Member function calls are allowed; you can use expressions like
14594
14595 @smallexample
14596 count = aml->GetOriginal(x, y)
14597 @end smallexample
14598
14599 @vindex this@r{, inside C@t{++} member functions}
14600 @cindex namespace in C@t{++}
14601 @item
14602 While a member function is active (in the selected stack frame), your
14603 expressions have the same namespace available as the member function;
14604 that is, @value{GDBN} allows implicit references to the class instance
14605 pointer @code{this} following the same rules as C@t{++}. @code{using}
14606 declarations in the current scope are also respected by @value{GDBN}.
14607
14608 @cindex call overloaded functions
14609 @cindex overloaded functions, calling
14610 @cindex type conversions in C@t{++}
14611 @item
14612 You can call overloaded functions; @value{GDBN} resolves the function
14613 call to the right definition, with some restrictions. @value{GDBN} does not
14614 perform overload resolution involving user-defined type conversions,
14615 calls to constructors, or instantiations of templates that do not exist
14616 in the program. It also cannot handle ellipsis argument lists or
14617 default arguments.
14618
14619 It does perform integral conversions and promotions, floating-point
14620 promotions, arithmetic conversions, pointer conversions, conversions of
14621 class objects to base classes, and standard conversions such as those of
14622 functions or arrays to pointers; it requires an exact match on the
14623 number of function arguments.
14624
14625 Overload resolution is always performed, unless you have specified
14626 @code{set overload-resolution off}. @xref{Debugging C Plus Plus,
14627 ,@value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}}.
14628
14629 You must specify @code{set overload-resolution off} in order to use an
14630 explicit function signature to call an overloaded function, as in
14631 @smallexample
14632 p 'foo(char,int)'('x', 13)
14633 @end smallexample
14634
14635 The @value{GDBN} command-completion facility can simplify this;
14636 see @ref{Completion, ,Command Completion}.
14637
14638 @cindex reference declarations
14639 @item
14640 @value{GDBN} understands variables declared as C@t{++} references; you can use
14641 them in expressions just as you do in C@t{++} source---they are automatically
14642 dereferenced.
14643
14644 In the parameter list shown when @value{GDBN} displays a frame, the values of
14645 reference variables are not displayed (unlike other variables); this
14646 avoids clutter, since references are often used for large structures.
14647 The @emph{address} of a reference variable is always shown, unless
14648 you have specified @samp{set print address off}.
14649
14650 @item
14651 @value{GDBN} supports the C@t{++} name resolution operator @code{::}---your
14652 expressions can use it just as expressions in your program do. Since
14653 one scope may be defined in another, you can use @code{::} repeatedly if
14654 necessary, for example in an expression like
14655 @samp{@var{scope1}::@var{scope2}::@var{name}}. @value{GDBN} also allows
14656 resolving name scope by reference to source files, in both C and C@t{++}
14657 debugging (@pxref{Variables, ,Program Variables}).
14658
14659 @item
14660 @value{GDBN} performs argument-dependent lookup, following the C@t{++}
14661 specification.
14662 @end enumerate
14663
14664 @node C Defaults
14665 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Defaults
14666
14667 @cindex C and C@t{++} defaults
14668
14669 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set range checking automatically, it
14670 defaults to @code{off} whenever the working language changes to
14671 C or C@t{++}. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
14672 selects the working language.
14673
14674 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, it
14675 recognizes source files whose names end with @file{.c}, @file{.C}, or
14676 @file{.cc}, etc, and when @value{GDBN} enters code compiled from one of
14677 these files, it sets the working language to C or C@t{++}.
14678 @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN} Infer the Source Language},
14679 for further details.
14680
14681 @node C Checks
14682 @subsubsection C and C@t{++} Type and Range Checks
14683
14684 @cindex C and C@t{++} checks
14685
14686 By default, when @value{GDBN} parses C or C@t{++} expressions, strict type
14687 checking is used. However, if you turn type checking off, @value{GDBN}
14688 will allow certain non-standard conversions, such as promoting integer
14689 constants to pointers.
14690
14691 Range checking, if turned on, is done on mathematical operations. Array
14692 indices are not checked, since they are often used to index a pointer
14693 that is not itself an array.
14694
14695 @node Debugging C
14696 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and C
14697
14698 The @code{set print union} and @code{show print union} commands apply to
14699 the @code{union} type. When set to @samp{on}, any @code{union} that is
14700 inside a @code{struct} or @code{class} is also printed. Otherwise, it
14701 appears as @samp{@{...@}}.
14702
14703 The @code{@@} operator aids in the debugging of dynamic arrays, formed
14704 with pointers and a memory allocation function. @xref{Expressions,
14705 ,Expressions}.
14706
14707 @node Debugging C Plus Plus
14708 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} Features for C@t{++}
14709
14710 @cindex commands for C@t{++}
14711
14712 Some @value{GDBN} commands are particularly useful with C@t{++}, and some are
14713 designed specifically for use with C@t{++}. Here is a summary:
14714
14715 @table @code
14716 @cindex break in overloaded functions
14717 @item @r{breakpoint menus}
14718 When you want a breakpoint in a function whose name is overloaded,
14719 @value{GDBN} has the capability to display a menu of possible breakpoint
14720 locations to help you specify which function definition you want.
14721 @xref{Ambiguous Expressions,,Ambiguous Expressions}.
14722
14723 @cindex overloading in C@t{++}
14724 @item rbreak @var{regex}
14725 Setting breakpoints using regular expressions is helpful for setting
14726 breakpoints on overloaded functions that are not members of any special
14727 classes.
14728 @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
14729
14730 @cindex C@t{++} exception handling
14731 @item catch throw
14732 @itemx catch rethrow
14733 @itemx catch catch
14734 Debug C@t{++} exception handling using these commands. @xref{Set
14735 Catchpoints, , Setting Catchpoints}.
14736
14737 @cindex inheritance
14738 @item ptype @var{typename}
14739 Print inheritance relationships as well as other information for type
14740 @var{typename}.
14741 @xref{Symbols, ,Examining the Symbol Table}.
14742
14743 @item info vtbl @var{expression}.
14744 The @code{info vtbl} command can be used to display the virtual
14745 method tables of the object computed by @var{expression}. This shows
14746 one entry per virtual table; there may be multiple virtual tables when
14747 multiple inheritance is in use.
14748
14749 @cindex C@t{++} demangling
14750 @item demangle @var{name}
14751 Demangle @var{name}.
14752 @xref{Symbols}, for a more complete description of the @code{demangle} command.
14753
14754 @cindex C@t{++} symbol display
14755 @item set print demangle
14756 @itemx show print demangle
14757 @itemx set print asm-demangle
14758 @itemx show print asm-demangle
14759 Control whether C@t{++} symbols display in their source form, both when
14760 displaying code as C@t{++} source and when displaying disassemblies.
14761 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14762
14763 @item set print object
14764 @itemx show print object
14765 Choose whether to print derived (actual) or declared types of objects.
14766 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14767
14768 @item set print vtbl
14769 @itemx show print vtbl
14770 Control the format for printing virtual function tables.
14771 @xref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}.
14772 (The @code{vtbl} commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
14773 ANSI C@t{++} compiler (@code{aCC}).)
14774
14775 @kindex set overload-resolution
14776 @cindex overloaded functions, overload resolution
14777 @item set overload-resolution on
14778 Enable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. The default
14779 is on. For overloaded functions, @value{GDBN} evaluates the arguments
14780 and searches for a function whose signature matches the argument types,
14781 using the standard C@t{++} conversion rules (see @ref{C Plus Plus
14782 Expressions, ,C@t{++} Expressions}, for details).
14783 If it cannot find a match, it emits a message.
14784
14785 @item set overload-resolution off
14786 Disable overload resolution for C@t{++} expression evaluation. For
14787 overloaded functions that are not class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14788 chooses the first function of the specified name that it finds in the
14789 symbol table, whether or not its arguments are of the correct type. For
14790 overloaded functions that are class member functions, @value{GDBN}
14791 searches for a function whose signature @emph{exactly} matches the
14792 argument types.
14793
14794 @kindex show overload-resolution
14795 @item show overload-resolution
14796 Show the current setting of overload resolution.
14797
14798 @item @r{Overloaded symbol names}
14799 You can specify a particular definition of an overloaded symbol, using
14800 the same notation that is used to declare such symbols in C@t{++}: type
14801 @code{@var{symbol}(@var{types})} rather than just @var{symbol}. You can
14802 also use the @value{GDBN} command-line word completion facilities to list the
14803 available choices, or to finish the type list for you.
14804 @xref{Completion,, Command Completion}, for details on how to do this.
14805 @end table
14806
14807 @node Decimal Floating Point
14808 @subsubsection Decimal Floating Point format
14809 @cindex decimal floating point format
14810
14811 @value{GDBN} can examine, set and perform computations with numbers in
14812 decimal floating point format, which in the C language correspond to the
14813 @code{_Decimal32}, @code{_Decimal64} and @code{_Decimal128} types as
14814 specified by the extension to support decimal floating-point arithmetic.
14815
14816 There are two encodings in use, depending on the architecture: BID (Binary
14817 Integer Decimal) for x86 and x86-64, and DPD (Densely Packed Decimal) for
14818 PowerPC and S/390. @value{GDBN} will use the appropriate encoding for the
14819 configured target.
14820
14821 Because of a limitation in @file{libdecnumber}, the library used by @value{GDBN}
14822 to manipulate decimal floating point numbers, it is not possible to convert
14823 (using a cast, for example) integers wider than 32-bit to decimal float.
14824
14825 In addition, in order to imitate @value{GDBN}'s behaviour with binary floating
14826 point computations, error checking in decimal float operations ignores
14827 underflow, overflow and divide by zero exceptions.
14828
14829 In the PowerPC architecture, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers
14830 to inspect @code{_Decimal128} values stored in floating point registers.
14831 See @ref{PowerPC,,PowerPC} for more details.
14832
14833 @node D
14834 @subsection D
14835
14836 @cindex D
14837 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in D and compiled with
14838 GDC, LDC or DMD compilers. Currently @value{GDBN} supports only one D
14839 specific feature --- dynamic arrays.
14840
14841 @node Go
14842 @subsection Go
14843
14844 @cindex Go (programming language)
14845 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Go and compiled with
14846 @file{gccgo} or @file{6g} compilers.
14847
14848 Here is a summary of the Go-specific features and restrictions:
14849
14850 @table @code
14851 @cindex current Go package
14852 @item The current Go package
14853 The name of the current package does not need to be specified when
14854 specifying global variables and functions.
14855
14856 For example, given the program:
14857
14858 @example
14859 package main
14860 var myglob = "Shall we?"
14861 func main () @{
14862 // ...
14863 @}
14864 @end example
14865
14866 When stopped inside @code{main} either of these work:
14867
14868 @example
14869 (gdb) p myglob
14870 (gdb) p main.myglob
14871 @end example
14872
14873 @cindex builtin Go types
14874 @item Builtin Go types
14875 The @code{string} type is recognized by @value{GDBN} and is printed
14876 as a string.
14877
14878 @cindex builtin Go functions
14879 @item Builtin Go functions
14880 The @value{GDBN} expression parser recognizes the @code{unsafe.Sizeof}
14881 function and handles it internally.
14882
14883 @cindex restrictions on Go expressions
14884 @item Restrictions on Go expressions
14885 All Go operators are supported except @code{&^}.
14886 The Go @code{_} ``blank identifier'' is not supported.
14887 Automatic dereferencing of pointers is not supported.
14888 @end table
14889
14890 @node Objective-C
14891 @subsection Objective-C
14892
14893 @cindex Objective-C
14894 This section provides information about some commands and command
14895 options that are useful for debugging Objective-C code. See also
14896 @ref{Symbols, info classes}, and @ref{Symbols, info selectors}, for a
14897 few more commands specific to Objective-C support.
14898
14899 @menu
14900 * Method Names in Commands::
14901 * The Print Command with Objective-C::
14902 @end menu
14903
14904 @node Method Names in Commands
14905 @subsubsection Method Names in Commands
14906
14907 The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method
14908 names as line specifications:
14909
14910 @kindex clear@r{, and Objective-C}
14911 @kindex break@r{, and Objective-C}
14912 @kindex info line@r{, and Objective-C}
14913 @kindex jump@r{, and Objective-C}
14914 @kindex list@r{, and Objective-C}
14915 @itemize
14916 @item @code{clear}
14917 @item @code{break}
14918 @item @code{info line}
14919 @item @code{jump}
14920 @item @code{list}
14921 @end itemize
14922
14923 A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as
14924
14925 @smallexample
14926 -[@var{Class} @var{methodName}]
14927 @end smallexample
14928
14929 where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a
14930 plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class
14931 name @var{Class} and method name @var{methodName} are enclosed in
14932 brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C
14933 source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the @code{create}
14934 instance method of class @code{Fruit} in the program currently being
14935 debugged, enter:
14936
14937 @smallexample
14938 break -[Fruit create]
14939 @end smallexample
14940
14941 To list ten program lines around the @code{initialize} class method,
14942 enter:
14943
14944 @smallexample
14945 list +[NSText initialize]
14946 @end smallexample
14947
14948 In the current version of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus sign is
14949 required. In future versions of @value{GDBN}, the plus or minus
14950 sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It
14951 is also possible to specify just a method name:
14952
14953 @smallexample
14954 break create
14955 @end smallexample
14956
14957 You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If
14958 your program's source files contain more than one @code{create} method,
14959 you'll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that
14960 method. Indicate your choice by number, or type @samp{0} to exit if
14961 none apply.
14962
14963 As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the
14964 @code{makeKeyAndOrderFront:} method of the @code{NSWindow} class, enter:
14965
14966 @smallexample
14967 clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]
14968 @end smallexample
14969
14970 @node The Print Command with Objective-C
14971 @subsubsection The Print Command With Objective-C
14972 @cindex Objective-C, print objects
14973 @kindex print-object
14974 @kindex po @r{(@code{print-object})}
14975
14976 The print command has also been extended to accept methods. For example:
14977
14978 @smallexample
14979 print -[@var{object} hash]
14980 @end smallexample
14981
14982 @cindex print an Objective-C object description
14983 @cindex @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, and printing Objective-C objects
14984 @noindent
14985 will tell @value{GDBN} to send the @code{hash} message to @var{object}
14986 and print the result. Also, an additional command has been added,
14987 @code{print-object} or @code{po} for short, which is meant to print
14988 the description of an object. However, this command may only work
14989 with certain Objective-C libraries that have a particular hook
14990 function, @code{_NSPrintForDebugger}, defined.
14991
14992 @node OpenCL C
14993 @subsection OpenCL C
14994
14995 @cindex OpenCL C
14996 This section provides information about @value{GDBN}s OpenCL C support.
14997
14998 @menu
14999 * OpenCL C Datatypes::
15000 * OpenCL C Expressions::
15001 * OpenCL C Operators::
15002 @end menu
15003
15004 @node OpenCL C Datatypes
15005 @subsubsection OpenCL C Datatypes
15006
15007 @cindex OpenCL C Datatypes
15008 @value{GDBN} supports the builtin scalar and vector datatypes specified
15009 by OpenCL 1.1. In addition the half- and double-precision floating point
15010 data types of the @code{cl_khr_fp16} and @code{cl_khr_fp64} OpenCL
15011 extensions are also known to @value{GDBN}.
15012
15013 @node OpenCL C Expressions
15014 @subsubsection OpenCL C Expressions
15015
15016 @cindex OpenCL C Expressions
15017 @value{GDBN} supports accesses to vector components including the access as
15018 lvalue where possible. Since OpenCL C is based on C99 most C expressions
15019 supported by @value{GDBN} can be used as well.
15020
15021 @node OpenCL C Operators
15022 @subsubsection OpenCL C Operators
15023
15024 @cindex OpenCL C Operators
15025 @value{GDBN} supports the operators specified by OpenCL 1.1 for scalar and
15026 vector data types.
15027
15028 @node Fortran
15029 @subsection Fortran
15030 @cindex Fortran-specific support in @value{GDBN}
15031
15032 @value{GDBN} can be used to debug programs written in Fortran, but it
15033 currently supports only the features of Fortran 77 language.
15034
15035 @cindex trailing underscore, in Fortran symbols
15036 Some Fortran compilers (@sc{gnu} Fortran 77 and Fortran 95 compilers
15037 among them) append an underscore to the names of variables and
15038 functions. When you debug programs compiled by those compilers, you
15039 will need to refer to variables and functions with a trailing
15040 underscore.
15041
15042 @menu
15043 * Fortran Operators:: Fortran operators and expressions
15044 * Fortran Defaults:: Default settings for Fortran
15045 * Special Fortran Commands:: Special @value{GDBN} commands for Fortran
15046 @end menu
15047
15048 @node Fortran Operators
15049 @subsubsection Fortran Operators and Expressions
15050
15051 @cindex Fortran operators and expressions
15052
15053 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
15054 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on characters or other non-
15055 arithmetic types. Operators are often defined on groups of types.
15056
15057 @table @code
15058 @item **
15059 The exponentiation operator. It raises the first operand to the power
15060 of the second one.
15061
15062 @item :
15063 The range operator. Normally used in the form of array(low:high) to
15064 represent a section of array.
15065
15066 @item %
15067 The access component operator. Normally used to access elements in derived
15068 types. Also suitable for unions. As unions aren't part of regular Fortran,
15069 this can only happen when accessing a register that uses a gdbarch-defined
15070 union type.
15071 @end table
15072
15073 @node Fortran Defaults
15074 @subsubsection Fortran Defaults
15075
15076 @cindex Fortran Defaults
15077
15078 Fortran symbols are usually case-insensitive, so @value{GDBN} by
15079 default uses case-insensitive matches for Fortran symbols. You can
15080 change that with the @samp{set case-insensitive} command, see
15081 @ref{Symbols}, for the details.
15082
15083 @node Special Fortran Commands
15084 @subsubsection Special Fortran Commands
15085
15086 @cindex Special Fortran commands
15087
15088 @value{GDBN} has some commands to support Fortran-specific features,
15089 such as displaying common blocks.
15090
15091 @table @code
15092 @cindex @code{COMMON} blocks, Fortran
15093 @kindex info common
15094 @item info common @r{[}@var{common-name}@r{]}
15095 This command prints the values contained in the Fortran @code{COMMON}
15096 block whose name is @var{common-name}. With no argument, the names of
15097 all @code{COMMON} blocks visible at the current program location are
15098 printed.
15099 @end table
15100
15101 @node Pascal
15102 @subsection Pascal
15103
15104 @cindex Pascal support in @value{GDBN}, limitations
15105 Debugging Pascal programs which use sets, subranges, file variables, or
15106 nested functions does not currently work. @value{GDBN} does not support
15107 entering expressions, printing values, or similar features using Pascal
15108 syntax.
15109
15110 The Pascal-specific command @code{set print pascal_static-members}
15111 controls whether static members of Pascal objects are displayed.
15112 @xref{Print Settings, pascal_static-members}.
15113
15114 @node Modula-2
15115 @subsection Modula-2
15116
15117 @cindex Modula-2, @value{GDBN} support
15118
15119 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} to support Modula-2 only support
15120 output from the @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler (which is currently being
15121 developed). Other Modula-2 compilers are not currently supported, and
15122 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
15123 to give an error as @value{GDBN} reads in the executable's symbol
15124 table.
15125
15126 @cindex expressions in Modula-2
15127 @menu
15128 * M2 Operators:: Built-in operators
15129 * Built-In Func/Proc:: Built-in functions and procedures
15130 * M2 Constants:: Modula-2 constants
15131 * M2 Types:: Modula-2 types
15132 * M2 Defaults:: Default settings for Modula-2
15133 * Deviations:: Deviations from standard Modula-2
15134 * M2 Checks:: Modula-2 type and range checks
15135 * M2 Scope:: The scope operators @code{::} and @code{.}
15136 * GDB/M2:: @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
15137 @end menu
15138
15139 @node M2 Operators
15140 @subsubsection Operators
15141 @cindex Modula-2 operators
15142
15143 Operators must be defined on values of specific types. For instance,
15144 @code{+} is defined on numbers, but not on structures. Operators are
15145 often defined on groups of types. For the purposes of Modula-2, the
15146 following definitions hold:
15147
15148 @itemize @bullet
15149
15150 @item
15151 @emph{Integral types} consist of @code{INTEGER}, @code{CARDINAL}, and
15152 their subranges.
15153
15154 @item
15155 @emph{Character types} consist of @code{CHAR} and its subranges.
15156
15157 @item
15158 @emph{Floating-point types} consist of @code{REAL}.
15159
15160 @item
15161 @emph{Pointer types} consist of anything declared as @code{POINTER TO
15162 @var{type}}.
15163
15164 @item
15165 @emph{Scalar types} consist of all of the above.
15166
15167 @item
15168 @emph{Set types} consist of @code{SET} and @code{BITSET} types.
15169
15170 @item
15171 @emph{Boolean types} consist of @code{BOOLEAN}.
15172 @end itemize
15173
15174 @noindent
15175 The following operators are supported, and appear in order of
15176 increasing precedence:
15177
15178 @table @code
15179 @item ,
15180 Function argument or array index separator.
15181
15182 @item :=
15183 Assignment. The value of @var{var} @code{:=} @var{value} is
15184 @var{value}.
15185
15186 @item <@r{, }>
15187 Less than, greater than on integral, floating-point, or enumerated
15188 types.
15189
15190 @item <=@r{, }>=
15191 Less than or equal to, greater than or equal to
15192 on integral, floating-point and enumerated types, or set inclusion on
15193 set types. Same precedence as @code{<}.
15194
15195 @item =@r{, }<>@r{, }#
15196 Equality and two ways of expressing inequality, valid on scalar types.
15197 Same precedence as @code{<}. In @value{GDBN} scripts, only @code{<>} is
15198 available for inequality, since @code{#} conflicts with the script
15199 comment character.
15200
15201 @item IN
15202 Set membership. Defined on set types and the types of their members.
15203 Same precedence as @code{<}.
15204
15205 @item OR
15206 Boolean disjunction. Defined on boolean types.
15207
15208 @item AND@r{, }&
15209 Boolean conjunction. Defined on boolean types.
15210
15211 @item @@
15212 The @value{GDBN} ``artificial array'' operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}).
15213
15214 @item +@r{, }-
15215 Addition and subtraction on integral and floating-point types, or union
15216 and difference on set types.
15217
15218 @item *
15219 Multiplication on integral and floating-point types, or set intersection
15220 on set types.
15221
15222 @item /
15223 Division on floating-point types, or symmetric set difference on set
15224 types. Same precedence as @code{*}.
15225
15226 @item DIV@r{, }MOD
15227 Integer division and remainder. Defined on integral types. Same
15228 precedence as @code{*}.
15229
15230 @item -
15231 Negative. Defined on @code{INTEGER} and @code{REAL} data.
15232
15233 @item ^
15234 Pointer dereferencing. Defined on pointer types.
15235
15236 @item NOT
15237 Boolean negation. Defined on boolean types. Same precedence as
15238 @code{^}.
15239
15240 @item .
15241 @code{RECORD} field selector. Defined on @code{RECORD} data. Same
15242 precedence as @code{^}.
15243
15244 @item []
15245 Array indexing. Defined on @code{ARRAY} data. Same precedence as @code{^}.
15246
15247 @item ()
15248 Procedure argument list. Defined on @code{PROCEDURE} objects. Same precedence
15249 as @code{^}.
15250
15251 @item ::@r{, }.
15252 @value{GDBN} and Modula-2 scope operators.
15253 @end table
15254
15255 @quotation
15256 @emph{Warning:} Set expressions and their operations are not yet supported, so @value{GDBN}
15257 treats the use of the operator @code{IN}, or the use of operators
15258 @code{+}, @code{-}, @code{*}, @code{/}, @code{=}, , @code{<>}, @code{#},
15259 @code{<=}, and @code{>=} on sets as an error.
15260 @end quotation
15261
15262
15263 @node Built-In Func/Proc
15264 @subsubsection Built-in Functions and Procedures
15265 @cindex Modula-2 built-ins
15266
15267 Modula-2 also makes available several built-in procedures and functions.
15268 In describing these, the following metavariables are used:
15269
15270 @table @var
15271
15272 @item a
15273 represents an @code{ARRAY} variable.
15274
15275 @item c
15276 represents a @code{CHAR} constant or variable.
15277
15278 @item i
15279 represents a variable or constant of integral type.
15280
15281 @item m
15282 represents an identifier that belongs to a set. Generally used in the
15283 same function with the metavariable @var{s}. The type of @var{s} should
15284 be @code{SET OF @var{mtype}} (where @var{mtype} is the type of @var{m}).
15285
15286 @item n
15287 represents a variable or constant of integral or floating-point type.
15288
15289 @item r
15290 represents a variable or constant of floating-point type.
15291
15292 @item t
15293 represents a type.
15294
15295 @item v
15296 represents a variable.
15297
15298 @item x
15299 represents a variable or constant of one of many types. See the
15300 explanation of the function for details.
15301 @end table
15302
15303 All Modula-2 built-in procedures also return a result, described below.
15304
15305 @table @code
15306 @item ABS(@var{n})
15307 Returns the absolute value of @var{n}.
15308
15309 @item CAP(@var{c})
15310 If @var{c} is a lower case letter, it returns its upper case
15311 equivalent, otherwise it returns its argument.
15312
15313 @item CHR(@var{i})
15314 Returns the character whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
15315
15316 @item DEC(@var{v})
15317 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
15318
15319 @item DEC(@var{v},@var{i})
15320 Decrements the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
15321 new value.
15322
15323 @item EXCL(@var{m},@var{s})
15324 Removes the element @var{m} from the set @var{s}. Returns the new
15325 set.
15326
15327 @item FLOAT(@var{i})
15328 Returns the floating point equivalent of the integer @var{i}.
15329
15330 @item HIGH(@var{a})
15331 Returns the index of the last member of @var{a}.
15332
15333 @item INC(@var{v})
15334 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by one. Returns the new value.
15335
15336 @item INC(@var{v},@var{i})
15337 Increments the value in the variable @var{v} by @var{i}. Returns the
15338 new value.
15339
15340 @item INCL(@var{m},@var{s})
15341 Adds the element @var{m} to the set @var{s} if it is not already
15342 there. Returns the new set.
15343
15344 @item MAX(@var{t})
15345 Returns the maximum value of the type @var{t}.
15346
15347 @item MIN(@var{t})
15348 Returns the minimum value of the type @var{t}.
15349
15350 @item ODD(@var{i})
15351 Returns boolean TRUE if @var{i} is an odd number.
15352
15353 @item ORD(@var{x})
15354 Returns the ordinal value of its argument. For example, the ordinal
15355 value of a character is its @sc{ascii} value (on machines supporting
15356 the @sc{ascii} character set). The argument @var{x} must be of an
15357 ordered type, which include integral, character and enumerated types.
15358
15359 @item SIZE(@var{x})
15360 Returns the size of its argument. The argument @var{x} can be a
15361 variable or a type.
15362
15363 @item TRUNC(@var{r})
15364 Returns the integral part of @var{r}.
15365
15366 @item TSIZE(@var{x})
15367 Returns the size of its argument. The argument @var{x} can be a
15368 variable or a type.
15369
15370 @item VAL(@var{t},@var{i})
15371 Returns the member of the type @var{t} whose ordinal value is @var{i}.
15372 @end table
15373
15374 @quotation
15375 @emph{Warning:} Sets and their operations are not yet supported, so
15376 @value{GDBN} treats the use of procedures @code{INCL} and @code{EXCL} as
15377 an error.
15378 @end quotation
15379
15380 @cindex Modula-2 constants
15381 @node M2 Constants
15382 @subsubsection Constants
15383
15384 @value{GDBN} allows you to express the constants of Modula-2 in the following
15385 ways:
15386
15387 @itemize @bullet
15388
15389 @item
15390 Integer constants are simply a sequence of digits. When used in an
15391 expression, a constant is interpreted to be type-compatible with the
15392 rest of the expression. Hexadecimal integers are specified by a
15393 trailing @samp{H}, and octal integers by a trailing @samp{B}.
15394
15395 @item
15396 Floating point constants appear as a sequence of digits, followed by a
15397 decimal point and another sequence of digits. An optional exponent can
15398 then be specified, in the form @samp{E@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}}, where
15399 @samp{@r{[}+@r{|}-@r{]}@var{nnn}} is the desired exponent. All of the
15400 digits of the floating point constant must be valid decimal (base 10)
15401 digits.
15402
15403 @item
15404 Character constants consist of a single character enclosed by a pair of
15405 like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}). They may
15406 also be expressed by their ordinal value (their @sc{ascii} value, usually)
15407 followed by a @samp{C}.
15408
15409 @item
15410 String constants consist of a sequence of characters enclosed by a
15411 pair of like quotes, either single (@code{'}) or double (@code{"}).
15412 Escape sequences in the style of C are also allowed. @xref{C
15413 Constants, ,C and C@t{++} Constants}, for a brief explanation of escape
15414 sequences.
15415
15416 @item
15417 Enumerated constants consist of an enumerated identifier.
15418
15419 @item
15420 Boolean constants consist of the identifiers @code{TRUE} and
15421 @code{FALSE}.
15422
15423 @item
15424 Pointer constants consist of integral values only.
15425
15426 @item
15427 Set constants are not yet supported.
15428 @end itemize
15429
15430 @node M2 Types
15431 @subsubsection Modula-2 Types
15432 @cindex Modula-2 types
15433
15434 Currently @value{GDBN} can print the following data types in Modula-2
15435 syntax: array types, record types, set types, pointer types, procedure
15436 types, enumerated types, subrange types and base types. You can also
15437 print the contents of variables declared using these type.
15438 This section gives a number of simple source code examples together with
15439 sample @value{GDBN} sessions.
15440
15441 The first example contains the following section of code:
15442
15443 @smallexample
15444 VAR
15445 s: SET OF CHAR ;
15446 r: [20..40] ;
15447 @end smallexample
15448
15449 @noindent
15450 and you can request @value{GDBN} to interrogate the type and value of
15451 @code{r} and @code{s}.
15452
15453 @smallexample
15454 (@value{GDBP}) print s
15455 @{'A'..'C', 'Z'@}
15456 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15457 SET OF CHAR
15458 (@value{GDBP}) print r
15459 21
15460 (@value{GDBP}) ptype r
15461 [20..40]
15462 @end smallexample
15463
15464 @noindent
15465 Likewise if your source code declares @code{s} as:
15466
15467 @smallexample
15468 VAR
15469 s: SET ['A'..'Z'] ;
15470 @end smallexample
15471
15472 @noindent
15473 then you may query the type of @code{s} by:
15474
15475 @smallexample
15476 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15477 type = SET ['A'..'Z']
15478 @end smallexample
15479
15480 @noindent
15481 Note that at present you cannot interactively manipulate set
15482 expressions using the debugger.
15483
15484 The following example shows how you might declare an array in Modula-2
15485 and how you can interact with @value{GDBN} to print its type and contents:
15486
15487 @smallexample
15488 VAR
15489 s: ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR ;
15490 @end smallexample
15491
15492 @smallexample
15493 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15494 ARRAY [-10..10] OF CHAR
15495 @end smallexample
15496
15497 Note that the array handling is not yet complete and although the type
15498 is printed correctly, expression handling still assumes that all
15499 arrays have a lower bound of zero and not @code{-10} as in the example
15500 above.
15501
15502 Here are some more type related Modula-2 examples:
15503
15504 @smallexample
15505 TYPE
15506 colour = (blue, red, yellow, green) ;
15507 t = [blue..yellow] ;
15508 VAR
15509 s: t ;
15510 BEGIN
15511 s := blue ;
15512 @end smallexample
15513
15514 @noindent
15515 The @value{GDBN} interaction shows how you can query the data type
15516 and value of a variable.
15517
15518 @smallexample
15519 (@value{GDBP}) print s
15520 $1 = blue
15521 (@value{GDBP}) ptype t
15522 type = [blue..yellow]
15523 @end smallexample
15524
15525 @noindent
15526 In this example a Modula-2 array is declared and its contents
15527 displayed. Observe that the contents are written in the same way as
15528 their @code{C} counterparts.
15529
15530 @smallexample
15531 VAR
15532 s: ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
15533 BEGIN
15534 s[1] := 1 ;
15535 @end smallexample
15536
15537 @smallexample
15538 (@value{GDBP}) print s
15539 $1 = @{1, 0, 0, 0, 0@}
15540 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15541 type = ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
15542 @end smallexample
15543
15544 The Modula-2 language interface to @value{GDBN} also understands
15545 pointer types as shown in this example:
15546
15547 @smallexample
15548 VAR
15549 s: POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL ;
15550 BEGIN
15551 NEW(s) ;
15552 s^[1] := 1 ;
15553 @end smallexample
15554
15555 @noindent
15556 and you can request that @value{GDBN} describes the type of @code{s}.
15557
15558 @smallexample
15559 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15560 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [1..5] OF CARDINAL
15561 @end smallexample
15562
15563 @value{GDBN} handles compound types as we can see in this example.
15564 Here we combine array types, record types, pointer types and subrange
15565 types:
15566
15567 @smallexample
15568 TYPE
15569 foo = RECORD
15570 f1: CARDINAL ;
15571 f2: CHAR ;
15572 f3: myarray ;
15573 END ;
15574
15575 myarray = ARRAY myrange OF CARDINAL ;
15576 myrange = [-2..2] ;
15577 VAR
15578 s: POINTER TO ARRAY myrange OF foo ;
15579 @end smallexample
15580
15581 @noindent
15582 and you can ask @value{GDBN} to describe the type of @code{s} as shown
15583 below.
15584
15585 @smallexample
15586 (@value{GDBP}) ptype s
15587 type = POINTER TO ARRAY [-2..2] OF foo = RECORD
15588 f1 : CARDINAL;
15589 f2 : CHAR;
15590 f3 : ARRAY [-2..2] OF CARDINAL;
15591 END
15592 @end smallexample
15593
15594 @node M2 Defaults
15595 @subsubsection Modula-2 Defaults
15596 @cindex Modula-2 defaults
15597
15598 If type and range checking are set automatically by @value{GDBN}, they
15599 both default to @code{on} whenever the working language changes to
15600 Modula-2. This happens regardless of whether you or @value{GDBN}
15601 selected the working language.
15602
15603 If you allow @value{GDBN} to set the language automatically, then entering
15604 code compiled from a file whose name ends with @file{.mod} sets the
15605 working language to Modula-2. @xref{Automatically, ,Having @value{GDBN}
15606 Infer the Source Language}, for further details.
15607
15608 @node Deviations
15609 @subsubsection Deviations from Standard Modula-2
15610 @cindex Modula-2, deviations from
15611
15612 A few changes have been made to make Modula-2 programs easier to debug.
15613 This is done primarily via loosening its type strictness:
15614
15615 @itemize @bullet
15616 @item
15617 Unlike in standard Modula-2, pointer constants can be formed by
15618 integers. This allows you to modify pointer variables during
15619 debugging. (In standard Modula-2, the actual address contained in a
15620 pointer variable is hidden from you; it can only be modified
15621 through direct assignment to another pointer variable or expression that
15622 returned a pointer.)
15623
15624 @item
15625 C escape sequences can be used in strings and characters to represent
15626 non-printable characters. @value{GDBN} prints out strings with these
15627 escape sequences embedded. Single non-printable characters are
15628 printed using the @samp{CHR(@var{nnn})} format.
15629
15630 @item
15631 The assignment operator (@code{:=}) returns the value of its right-hand
15632 argument.
15633
15634 @item
15635 All built-in procedures both modify @emph{and} return their argument.
15636 @end itemize
15637
15638 @node M2 Checks
15639 @subsubsection Modula-2 Type and Range Checks
15640 @cindex Modula-2 checks
15641
15642 @quotation
15643 @emph{Warning:} in this release, @value{GDBN} does not yet perform type or
15644 range checking.
15645 @end quotation
15646 @c FIXME remove warning when type/range checks added
15647
15648 @value{GDBN} considers two Modula-2 variables type equivalent if:
15649
15650 @itemize @bullet
15651 @item
15652 They are of types that have been declared equivalent via a @code{TYPE
15653 @var{t1} = @var{t2}} statement
15654
15655 @item
15656 They have been declared on the same line. (Note: This is true of the
15657 @sc{gnu} Modula-2 compiler, but it may not be true of other compilers.)
15658 @end itemize
15659
15660 As long as type checking is enabled, any attempt to combine variables
15661 whose types are not equivalent is an error.
15662
15663 Range checking is done on all mathematical operations, assignment, array
15664 index bounds, and all built-in functions and procedures.
15665
15666 @node M2 Scope
15667 @subsubsection The Scope Operators @code{::} and @code{.}
15668 @cindex scope
15669 @cindex @code{.}, Modula-2 scope operator
15670 @cindex colon, doubled as scope operator
15671 @ifinfo
15672 @vindex colon-colon@r{, in Modula-2}
15673 @c Info cannot handle :: but TeX can.
15674 @end ifinfo
15675 @ifnotinfo
15676 @vindex ::@r{, in Modula-2}
15677 @end ifnotinfo
15678
15679 There are a few subtle differences between the Modula-2 scope operator
15680 (@code{.}) and the @value{GDBN} scope operator (@code{::}). The two have
15681 similar syntax:
15682
15683 @smallexample
15684
15685 @var{module} . @var{id}
15686 @var{scope} :: @var{id}
15687 @end smallexample
15688
15689 @noindent
15690 where @var{scope} is the name of a module or a procedure,
15691 @var{module} the name of a module, and @var{id} is any declared
15692 identifier within your program, except another module.
15693
15694 Using the @code{::} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the scope
15695 specified by @var{scope} for the identifier @var{id}. If it is not
15696 found in the specified scope, then @value{GDBN} searches all scopes
15697 enclosing the one specified by @var{scope}.
15698
15699 Using the @code{.} operator makes @value{GDBN} search the current scope for
15700 the identifier specified by @var{id} that was imported from the
15701 definition module specified by @var{module}. With this operator, it is
15702 an error if the identifier @var{id} was not imported from definition
15703 module @var{module}, or if @var{id} is not an identifier in
15704 @var{module}.
15705
15706 @node GDB/M2
15707 @subsubsection @value{GDBN} and Modula-2
15708
15709 Some @value{GDBN} commands have little use when debugging Modula-2 programs.
15710 Five subcommands of @code{set print} and @code{show print} apply
15711 specifically to C and C@t{++}: @samp{vtbl}, @samp{demangle},
15712 @samp{asm-demangle}, @samp{object}, and @samp{union}. The first four
15713 apply to C@t{++}, and the last to the C @code{union} type, which has no direct
15714 analogue in Modula-2.
15715
15716 The @code{@@} operator (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), while available
15717 with any language, is not useful with Modula-2. Its
15718 intent is to aid the debugging of @dfn{dynamic arrays}, which cannot be
15719 created in Modula-2 as they can in C or C@t{++}. However, because an
15720 address can be specified by an integral constant, the construct
15721 @samp{@{@var{type}@}@var{adrexp}} is still useful.
15722
15723 @cindex @code{#} in Modula-2
15724 In @value{GDBN} scripts, the Modula-2 inequality operator @code{#} is
15725 interpreted as the beginning of a comment. Use @code{<>} instead.
15726
15727 @node Ada
15728 @subsection Ada
15729 @cindex Ada
15730
15731 The extensions made to @value{GDBN} for Ada only support
15732 output from the @sc{gnu} Ada (GNAT) compiler.
15733 Other Ada compilers are not currently supported, and
15734 attempting to debug executables produced by them is most likely
15735 to be difficult.
15736
15737
15738 @cindex expressions in Ada
15739 @menu
15740 * Ada Mode Intro:: General remarks on the Ada syntax
15741 and semantics supported by Ada mode
15742 in @value{GDBN}.
15743 * Omissions from Ada:: Restrictions on the Ada expression syntax.
15744 * Additions to Ada:: Extensions of the Ada expression syntax.
15745 * Overloading support for Ada:: Support for expressions involving overloaded
15746 subprograms.
15747 * Stopping Before Main Program:: Debugging the program during elaboration.
15748 * Ada Exceptions:: Ada Exceptions
15749 * Ada Tasks:: Listing and setting breakpoints in tasks.
15750 * Ada Tasks and Core Files:: Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
15751 * Ravenscar Profile:: Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar
15752 Profile
15753 * Ada Glitches:: Known peculiarities of Ada mode.
15754 @end menu
15755
15756 @node Ada Mode Intro
15757 @subsubsection Introduction
15758 @cindex Ada mode, general
15759
15760 The Ada mode of @value{GDBN} supports a fairly large subset of Ada expression
15761 syntax, with some extensions.
15762 The philosophy behind the design of this subset is
15763
15764 @itemize @bullet
15765 @item
15766 That @value{GDBN} should provide basic literals and access to operations for
15767 arithmetic, dereferencing, field selection, indexing, and subprogram calls,
15768 leaving more sophisticated computations to subprograms written into the
15769 program (which therefore may be called from @value{GDBN}).
15770
15771 @item
15772 That type safety and strict adherence to Ada language restrictions
15773 are not particularly important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15774
15775 @item
15776 That brevity is important to the @value{GDBN} user.
15777 @end itemize
15778
15779 Thus, for brevity, the debugger acts as if all names declared in
15780 user-written packages are directly visible, even if they are not visible
15781 according to Ada rules, thus making it unnecessary to fully qualify most
15782 names with their packages, regardless of context. Where this causes
15783 ambiguity, @value{GDBN} asks the user's intent.
15784
15785 The debugger will start in Ada mode if it detects an Ada main program.
15786 As for other languages, it will enter Ada mode when stopped in a program that
15787 was translated from an Ada source file.
15788
15789 While in Ada mode, you may use `@t{--}' for comments. This is useful
15790 mostly for documenting command files. The standard @value{GDBN} comment
15791 (@samp{#}) still works at the beginning of a line in Ada mode, but not in the
15792 middle (to allow based literals).
15793
15794 @node Omissions from Ada
15795 @subsubsection Omissions from Ada
15796 @cindex Ada, omissions from
15797
15798 Here are the notable omissions from the subset:
15799
15800 @itemize @bullet
15801 @item
15802 Only a subset of the attributes are supported:
15803
15804 @itemize @minus
15805 @item
15806 @t{'First}, @t{'Last}, and @t{'Length}
15807 on array objects (not on types and subtypes).
15808
15809 @item
15810 @t{'Min} and @t{'Max}.
15811
15812 @item
15813 @t{'Pos} and @t{'Val}.
15814
15815 @item
15816 @t{'Tag}.
15817
15818 @item
15819 @t{'Range} on array objects (not subtypes), but only as the right
15820 operand of the membership (@code{in}) operator.
15821
15822 @item
15823 @t{'Access}, @t{'Unchecked_Access}, and
15824 @t{'Unrestricted_Access} (a GNAT extension).
15825
15826 @item
15827 @t{'Address}.
15828 @end itemize
15829
15830 @item
15831 The names in
15832 @code{Characters.Latin_1} are not available and
15833 concatenation is not implemented. Thus, escape characters in strings are
15834 not currently available.
15835
15836 @item
15837 Equality tests (@samp{=} and @samp{/=}) on arrays test for bitwise
15838 equality of representations. They will generally work correctly
15839 for strings and arrays whose elements have integer or enumeration types.
15840 They may not work correctly for arrays whose element
15841 types have user-defined equality, for arrays of real values
15842 (in particular, IEEE-conformant floating point, because of negative
15843 zeroes and NaNs), and for arrays whose elements contain unused bits with
15844 indeterminate values.
15845
15846 @item
15847 The other component-by-component array operations (@code{and}, @code{or},
15848 @code{xor}, @code{not}, and relational tests other than equality)
15849 are not implemented.
15850
15851 @item
15852 @cindex array aggregates (Ada)
15853 @cindex record aggregates (Ada)
15854 @cindex aggregates (Ada)
15855 There is limited support for array and record aggregates. They are
15856 permitted only on the right sides of assignments, as in these examples:
15857
15858 @smallexample
15859 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
15860 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (1, others => 0)
15861 (@value{GDBP}) set An_Array := (0|4 => 1, 1..3 => 2, 5 => 6)
15862 (@value{GDBP}) set A_2D_Array := ((1, 2, 3), (4, 5, 6), (7, 8, 9))
15863 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (1, "Peter", True);
15864 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Record := (Name => "Peter", Id => 1, Alive => True)
15865 @end smallexample
15866
15867 Changing a
15868 discriminant's value by assigning an aggregate has an
15869 undefined effect if that discriminant is used within the record.
15870 However, you can first modify discriminants by directly assigning to
15871 them (which normally would not be allowed in Ada), and then performing an
15872 aggregate assignment. For example, given a variable @code{A_Rec}
15873 declared to have a type such as:
15874
15875 @smallexample
15876 type Rec (Len : Small_Integer := 0) is record
15877 Id : Integer;
15878 Vals : IntArray (1 .. Len);
15879 end record;
15880 @end smallexample
15881
15882 you can assign a value with a different size of @code{Vals} with two
15883 assignments:
15884
15885 @smallexample
15886 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec.Len := 4
15887 (@value{GDBP}) set A_Rec := (Id => 42, Vals => (1, 2, 3, 4))
15888 @end smallexample
15889
15890 As this example also illustrates, @value{GDBN} is very loose about the usual
15891 rules concerning aggregates. You may leave out some of the
15892 components of an array or record aggregate (such as the @code{Len}
15893 component in the assignment to @code{A_Rec} above); they will retain their
15894 original values upon assignment. You may freely use dynamic values as
15895 indices in component associations. You may even use overlapping or
15896 redundant component associations, although which component values are
15897 assigned in such cases is not defined.
15898
15899 @item
15900 Calls to dispatching subprograms are not implemented.
15901
15902 @item
15903 The overloading algorithm is much more limited (i.e., less selective)
15904 than that of real Ada. It makes only limited use of the context in
15905 which a subexpression appears to resolve its meaning, and it is much
15906 looser in its rules for allowing type matches. As a result, some
15907 function calls will be ambiguous, and the user will be asked to choose
15908 the proper resolution.
15909
15910 @item
15911 The @code{new} operator is not implemented.
15912
15913 @item
15914 Entry calls are not implemented.
15915
15916 @item
15917 Aside from printing, arithmetic operations on the native VAX floating-point
15918 formats are not supported.
15919
15920 @item
15921 It is not possible to slice a packed array.
15922
15923 @item
15924 The names @code{True} and @code{False}, when not part of a qualified name,
15925 are interpreted as if implicitly prefixed by @code{Standard}, regardless of
15926 context.
15927 Should your program
15928 redefine these names in a package or procedure (at best a dubious practice),
15929 you will have to use fully qualified names to access their new definitions.
15930 @end itemize
15931
15932 @node Additions to Ada
15933 @subsubsection Additions to Ada
15934 @cindex Ada, deviations from
15935
15936 As it does for other languages, @value{GDBN} makes certain generic
15937 extensions to Ada (@pxref{Expressions}):
15938
15939 @itemize @bullet
15940 @item
15941 If the expression @var{E} is a variable residing in memory (typically
15942 a local variable or array element) and @var{N} is a positive integer,
15943 then @code{@var{E}@@@var{N}} displays the values of @var{E} and the
15944 @var{N}-1 adjacent variables following it in memory as an array. In
15945 Ada, this operator is generally not necessary, since its prime use is
15946 in displaying parts of an array, and slicing will usually do this in
15947 Ada. However, there are occasional uses when debugging programs in
15948 which certain debugging information has been optimized away.
15949
15950 @item
15951 @code{@var{B}::@var{var}} means ``the variable named @var{var} that
15952 appears in function or file @var{B}.'' When @var{B} is a file name,
15953 you must typically surround it in single quotes.
15954
15955 @item
15956 The expression @code{@{@var{type}@} @var{addr}} means ``the variable of type
15957 @var{type} that appears at address @var{addr}.''
15958
15959 @item
15960 A name starting with @samp{$} is a convenience variable
15961 (@pxref{Convenience Vars}) or a machine register (@pxref{Registers}).
15962 @end itemize
15963
15964 In addition, @value{GDBN} provides a few other shortcuts and outright
15965 additions specific to Ada:
15966
15967 @itemize @bullet
15968 @item
15969 The assignment statement is allowed as an expression, returning
15970 its right-hand operand as its value. Thus, you may enter
15971
15972 @smallexample
15973 (@value{GDBP}) set x := y + 3
15974 (@value{GDBP}) print A(tmp := y + 1)
15975 @end smallexample
15976
15977 @item
15978 The semicolon is allowed as an ``operator,'' returning as its value
15979 the value of its right-hand operand.
15980 This allows, for example,
15981 complex conditional breaks:
15982
15983 @smallexample
15984 (@value{GDBP}) break f
15985 (@value{GDBP}) condition 1 (report(i); k += 1; A(k) > 100)
15986 @end smallexample
15987
15988 @item
15989 Rather than use catenation and symbolic character names to introduce special
15990 characters into strings, one may instead use a special bracket notation,
15991 which is also used to print strings. A sequence of characters of the form
15992 @samp{["@var{XX}"]} within a string or character literal denotes the
15993 (single) character whose numeric encoding is @var{XX} in hexadecimal. The
15994 sequence of characters @samp{["""]} also denotes a single quotation mark
15995 in strings. For example,
15996 @smallexample
15997 "One line.["0a"]Next line.["0a"]"
15998 @end smallexample
15999 @noindent
16000 contains an ASCII newline character (@code{Ada.Characters.Latin_1.LF})
16001 after each period.
16002
16003 @item
16004 The subtype used as a prefix for the attributes @t{'Pos}, @t{'Min}, and
16005 @t{'Max} is optional (and is ignored in any case). For example, it is valid
16006 to write
16007
16008 @smallexample
16009 (@value{GDBP}) print 'max(x, y)
16010 @end smallexample
16011
16012 @item
16013 When printing arrays, @value{GDBN} uses positional notation when the
16014 array has a lower bound of 1, and uses a modified named notation otherwise.
16015 For example, a one-dimensional array of three integers with a lower bound
16016 of 3 might print as
16017
16018 @smallexample
16019 (3 => 10, 17, 1)
16020 @end smallexample
16021
16022 @noindent
16023 That is, in contrast to valid Ada, only the first component has a @code{=>}
16024 clause.
16025
16026 @item
16027 You may abbreviate attributes in expressions with any unique,
16028 multi-character subsequence of
16029 their names (an exact match gets preference).
16030 For example, you may use @t{a'len}, @t{a'gth}, or @t{a'lh}
16031 in place of @t{a'length}.
16032
16033 @item
16034 @cindex quoting Ada internal identifiers
16035 Since Ada is case-insensitive, the debugger normally maps identifiers you type
16036 to lower case. The GNAT compiler uses upper-case characters for
16037 some of its internal identifiers, which are normally of no interest to users.
16038 For the rare occasions when you actually have to look at them,
16039 enclose them in angle brackets to avoid the lower-case mapping.
16040 For example,
16041 @smallexample
16042 (@value{GDBP}) print <JMPBUF_SAVE>[0]
16043 @end smallexample
16044
16045 @item
16046 Printing an object of class-wide type or dereferencing an
16047 access-to-class-wide value will display all the components of the object's
16048 specific type (as indicated by its run-time tag). Likewise, component
16049 selection on such a value will operate on the specific type of the
16050 object.
16051
16052 @end itemize
16053
16054 @node Overloading support for Ada
16055 @subsubsection Overloading support for Ada
16056 @cindex overloading, Ada
16057
16058 The debugger supports limited overloading. Given a subprogram call in which
16059 the function symbol has multiple definitions, it will use the number of
16060 actual parameters and some information about their types to attempt to narrow
16061 the set of definitions. It also makes very limited use of context, preferring
16062 procedures to functions in the context of the @code{call} command, and
16063 functions to procedures elsewhere.
16064
16065 If, after narrowing, the set of matching definitions still contains more than
16066 one definition, @value{GDBN} will display a menu to query which one it should
16067 use, for instance:
16068
16069 @smallexample
16070 (@value{GDBP}) print f(1)
16071 Multiple matches for f
16072 [0] cancel
16073 [1] foo.f (integer) return boolean at foo.adb:23
16074 [2] foo.f (foo.new_integer) return boolean at foo.adb:28
16075 >
16076 @end smallexample
16077
16078 In this case, just select one menu entry either to cancel expression evaluation
16079 (type @kbd{0} and press @key{RET}) or to continue evaluation with a specific
16080 instance (type the corresponding number and press @key{RET}).
16081
16082 Here are a couple of commands to customize @value{GDBN}'s behavior in this
16083 case:
16084
16085 @table @code
16086
16087 @kindex set ada print-signatures
16088 @item set ada print-signatures
16089 Control whether parameter types and return types are displayed in overloads
16090 selection menus. It is @code{on} by default.
16091 @xref{Overloading support for Ada}.
16092
16093 @kindex show ada print-signatures
16094 @item show ada print-signatures
16095 Show the current setting for displaying parameter types and return types in
16096 overloads selection menu.
16097 @xref{Overloading support for Ada}.
16098
16099 @end table
16100
16101 @node Stopping Before Main Program
16102 @subsubsection Stopping at the Very Beginning
16103
16104 @cindex breakpointing Ada elaboration code
16105 It is sometimes necessary to debug the program during elaboration, and
16106 before reaching the main procedure.
16107 As defined in the Ada Reference
16108 Manual, the elaboration code is invoked from a procedure called
16109 @code{adainit}. To run your program up to the beginning of
16110 elaboration, simply use the following two commands:
16111 @code{tbreak adainit} and @code{run}.
16112
16113 @node Ada Exceptions
16114 @subsubsection Ada Exceptions
16115
16116 A command is provided to list all Ada exceptions:
16117
16118 @table @code
16119 @kindex info exceptions
16120 @item info exceptions
16121 @itemx info exceptions @var{regexp}
16122 The @code{info exceptions} command allows you to list all Ada exceptions
16123 defined within the program being debugged, as well as their addresses.
16124 With a regular expression, @var{regexp}, as argument, only those exceptions
16125 whose names match @var{regexp} are listed.
16126 @end table
16127
16128 Below is a small example, showing how the command can be used, first
16129 without argument, and next with a regular expression passed as an
16130 argument.
16131
16132 @smallexample
16133 (@value{GDBP}) info exceptions
16134 All defined Ada exceptions:
16135 constraint_error: 0x613da0
16136 program_error: 0x613d20
16137 storage_error: 0x613ce0
16138 tasking_error: 0x613ca0
16139 const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
16140 (@value{GDBP}) info exceptions const.aint
16141 All Ada exceptions matching regular expression "const.aint":
16142 constraint_error: 0x613da0
16143 const.aint_global_e: 0x613b00
16144 @end smallexample
16145
16146 It is also possible to ask @value{GDBN} to stop your program's execution
16147 when an exception is raised. For more details, see @ref{Set Catchpoints}.
16148
16149 @node Ada Tasks
16150 @subsubsection Extensions for Ada Tasks
16151 @cindex Ada, tasking
16152
16153 Support for Ada tasks is analogous to that for threads (@pxref{Threads}).
16154 @value{GDBN} provides the following task-related commands:
16155
16156 @table @code
16157 @kindex info tasks
16158 @item info tasks
16159 This command shows a list of current Ada tasks, as in the following example:
16160
16161
16162 @smallexample
16163 @iftex
16164 @leftskip=0.5cm
16165 @end iftex
16166 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16167 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16168 1 8088000 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16169 2 80a4000 1 15 Accept Statement b
16170 3 809a800 1 15 Child Activation Wait a
16171 * 4 80ae800 3 15 Runnable c
16172
16173 @end smallexample
16174
16175 @noindent
16176 In this listing, the asterisk before the last task indicates it to be the
16177 task currently being inspected.
16178
16179 @table @asis
16180 @item ID
16181 Represents @value{GDBN}'s internal task number.
16182
16183 @item TID
16184 The Ada task ID.
16185
16186 @item P-ID
16187 The parent's task ID (@value{GDBN}'s internal task number).
16188
16189 @item Pri
16190 The base priority of the task.
16191
16192 @item State
16193 Current state of the task.
16194
16195 @table @code
16196 @item Unactivated
16197 The task has been created but has not been activated. It cannot be
16198 executing.
16199
16200 @item Runnable
16201 The task is not blocked for any reason known to Ada. (It may be waiting
16202 for a mutex, though.) It is conceptually "executing" in normal mode.
16203
16204 @item Terminated
16205 The task is terminated, in the sense of ARM 9.3 (5). Any dependents
16206 that were waiting on terminate alternatives have been awakened and have
16207 terminated themselves.
16208
16209 @item Child Activation Wait
16210 The task is waiting for created tasks to complete activation.
16211
16212 @item Accept Statement
16213 The task is waiting on an accept or selective wait statement.
16214
16215 @item Waiting on entry call
16216 The task is waiting on an entry call.
16217
16218 @item Async Select Wait
16219 The task is waiting to start the abortable part of an asynchronous
16220 select statement.
16221
16222 @item Delay Sleep
16223 The task is waiting on a select statement with only a delay
16224 alternative open.
16225
16226 @item Child Termination Wait
16227 The task is sleeping having completed a master within itself, and is
16228 waiting for the tasks dependent on that master to become terminated or
16229 waiting on a terminate Phase.
16230
16231 @item Wait Child in Term Alt
16232 The task is sleeping waiting for tasks on terminate alternatives to
16233 finish terminating.
16234
16235 @item Accepting RV with @var{taskno}
16236 The task is accepting a rendez-vous with the task @var{taskno}.
16237 @end table
16238
16239 @item Name
16240 Name of the task in the program.
16241
16242 @end table
16243
16244 @kindex info task @var{taskno}
16245 @item info task @var{taskno}
16246 This command shows detailled informations on the specified task, as in
16247 the following example:
16248 @smallexample
16249 @iftex
16250 @leftskip=0.5cm
16251 @end iftex
16252 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16253 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16254 1 8077880 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16255 * 2 807c468 1 15 Runnable task_1
16256 (@value{GDBP}) info task 2
16257 Ada Task: 0x807c468
16258 Name: task_1
16259 Thread: 0x807f378
16260 Parent: 1 (main_task)
16261 Base Priority: 15
16262 State: Runnable
16263 @end smallexample
16264
16265 @item task
16266 @kindex task@r{ (Ada)}
16267 @cindex current Ada task ID
16268 This command prints the ID of the current task.
16269
16270 @smallexample
16271 @iftex
16272 @leftskip=0.5cm
16273 @end iftex
16274 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16275 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16276 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16277 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
16278 (@value{GDBP}) task
16279 [Current task is 2]
16280 @end smallexample
16281
16282 @item task @var{taskno}
16283 @cindex Ada task switching
16284 This command is like the @code{thread @var{thread-id}}
16285 command (@pxref{Threads}). It switches the context of debugging
16286 from the current task to the given task.
16287
16288 @smallexample
16289 @iftex
16290 @leftskip=0.5cm
16291 @end iftex
16292 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16293 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16294 1 8077870 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16295 * 2 807c458 1 15 Runnable t
16296 (@value{GDBP}) task 1
16297 [Switching to task 1]
16298 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
16299 (@value{GDBP}) bt
16300 #0 0x8067726 in pthread_cond_wait ()
16301 #1 0x8056714 in system.os_interface.pthread_cond_wait ()
16302 #2 0x805cb63 in system.task_primitives.operations.sleep ()
16303 #3 0x806153e in system.tasking.stages.activate_tasks ()
16304 #4 0x804aacc in un () at un.adb:5
16305 @end smallexample
16306
16307 @item break @var{location} task @var{taskno}
16308 @itemx break @var{location} task @var{taskno} if @dots{}
16309 @cindex breakpoints and tasks, in Ada
16310 @cindex task breakpoints, in Ada
16311 @kindex break @dots{} task @var{taskno}@r{ (Ada)}
16312 These commands are like the @code{break @dots{} thread @dots{}}
16313 command (@pxref{Thread Stops}). The
16314 @var{location} argument specifies source lines, as described
16315 in @ref{Specify Location}.
16316
16317 Use the qualifier @samp{task @var{taskno}} with a breakpoint command
16318 to specify that you only want @value{GDBN} to stop the program when a
16319 particular Ada task reaches this breakpoint. The @var{taskno} is one of the
16320 numeric task identifiers assigned by @value{GDBN}, shown in the first
16321 column of the @samp{info tasks} display.
16322
16323 If you do not specify @samp{task @var{taskno}} when you set a
16324 breakpoint, the breakpoint applies to @emph{all} tasks of your
16325 program.
16326
16327 You can use the @code{task} qualifier on conditional breakpoints as
16328 well; in this case, place @samp{task @var{taskno}} before the
16329 breakpoint condition (before the @code{if}).
16330
16331 For example,
16332
16333 @smallexample
16334 @iftex
16335 @leftskip=0.5cm
16336 @end iftex
16337 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16338 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16339 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16340 2 140045060 1 15 Accept/Select Wait t2
16341 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
16342 * 4 140056040 1 15 Runnable t3
16343 (@value{GDBP}) b 15 task 2
16344 Breakpoint 5 at 0x120044cb0: file test_task_debug.adb, line 15.
16345 (@value{GDBP}) cont
16346 Continuing.
16347 task # 1 running
16348 task # 2 running
16349
16350 Breakpoint 5, test_task_debug () at test_task_debug.adb:15
16351 15 flush;
16352 (@value{GDBP}) info tasks
16353 ID TID P-ID Pri State Name
16354 1 140022020 0 15 Child Activation Wait main_task
16355 * 2 140045060 1 15 Runnable t2
16356 3 140044840 1 15 Runnable t1
16357 4 140056040 1 15 Delay Sleep t3
16358 @end smallexample
16359 @end table
16360
16361 @node Ada Tasks and Core Files
16362 @subsubsection Tasking Support when Debugging Core Files
16363 @cindex Ada tasking and core file debugging
16364
16365 When inspecting a core file, as opposed to debugging a live program,
16366 tasking support may be limited or even unavailable, depending on
16367 the platform being used.
16368 For instance, on x86-linux, the list of tasks is available, but task
16369 switching is not supported.
16370
16371 On certain platforms, the debugger needs to perform some
16372 memory writes in order to provide Ada tasking support. When inspecting
16373 a core file, this means that the core file must be opened with read-write
16374 privileges, using the command @samp{"set write on"} (@pxref{Patching}).
16375 Under these circumstances, you should make a backup copy of the core
16376 file before inspecting it with @value{GDBN}.
16377
16378 @node Ravenscar Profile
16379 @subsubsection Tasking Support when using the Ravenscar Profile
16380 @cindex Ravenscar Profile
16381
16382 The @dfn{Ravenscar Profile} is a subset of the Ada tasking features,
16383 specifically designed for systems with safety-critical real-time
16384 requirements.
16385
16386 @table @code
16387 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching on
16388 @cindex task switching with program using Ravenscar Profile
16389 @item set ravenscar task-switching on
16390 Allows task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
16391 Profile. This is the default.
16392
16393 @kindex set ravenscar task-switching off
16394 @item set ravenscar task-switching off
16395 Turn off task switching when debugging a program that uses the Ravenscar
16396 Profile. This is mostly intended to disable the code that adds support
16397 for the Ravenscar Profile, in case a bug in either @value{GDBN} or in
16398 the Ravenscar runtime is preventing @value{GDBN} from working properly.
16399 To be effective, this command should be run before the program is started.
16400
16401 @kindex show ravenscar task-switching
16402 @item show ravenscar task-switching
16403 Show whether it is possible to switch from task to task in a program
16404 using the Ravenscar Profile.
16405
16406 @end table
16407
16408 @node Ada Glitches
16409 @subsubsection Known Peculiarities of Ada Mode
16410 @cindex Ada, problems
16411
16412 Besides the omissions listed previously (@pxref{Omissions from Ada}),
16413 we know of several problems with and limitations of Ada mode in
16414 @value{GDBN},
16415 some of which will be fixed with planned future releases of the debugger
16416 and the GNU Ada compiler.
16417
16418 @itemize @bullet
16419 @item
16420 Static constants that the compiler chooses not to materialize as objects in
16421 storage are invisible to the debugger.
16422
16423 @item
16424 Named parameter associations in function argument lists are ignored (the
16425 argument lists are treated as positional).
16426
16427 @item
16428 Many useful library packages are currently invisible to the debugger.
16429
16430 @item
16431 Fixed-point arithmetic, conversions, input, and output is carried out using
16432 floating-point arithmetic, and may give results that only approximate those on
16433 the host machine.
16434
16435 @item
16436 The GNAT compiler never generates the prefix @code{Standard} for any of
16437 the standard symbols defined by the Ada language. @value{GDBN} knows about
16438 this: it will strip the prefix from names when you use it, and will never
16439 look for a name you have so qualified among local symbols, nor match against
16440 symbols in other packages or subprograms. If you have
16441 defined entities anywhere in your program other than parameters and
16442 local variables whose simple names match names in @code{Standard},
16443 GNAT's lack of qualification here can cause confusion. When this happens,
16444 you can usually resolve the confusion
16445 by qualifying the problematic names with package
16446 @code{Standard} explicitly.
16447 @end itemize
16448
16449 Older versions of the compiler sometimes generate erroneous debugging
16450 information, resulting in the debugger incorrectly printing the value
16451 of affected entities. In some cases, the debugger is able to work
16452 around an issue automatically. In other cases, the debugger is able
16453 to work around the issue, but the work-around has to be specifically
16454 enabled.
16455
16456 @kindex set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
16457 @kindex show ada trust-PAD-over-XVS
16458 @table @code
16459
16460 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS on
16461 Configure GDB to strictly follow the GNAT encoding when computing the
16462 value of Ada entities, particularly when @code{PAD} and @code{PAD___XVS}
16463 types are involved (see @code{ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources for
16464 a complete description of the encoding used by the GNAT compiler).
16465 This is the default.
16466
16467 @item set ada trust-PAD-over-XVS off
16468 This is related to the encoding using by the GNAT compiler. If @value{GDBN}
16469 sometimes prints the wrong value for certain entities, changing @code{ada
16470 trust-PAD-over-XVS} to @code{off} activates a work-around which may fix
16471 the issue. It is always safe to set @code{ada trust-PAD-over-XVS} to
16472 @code{off}, but this incurs a slight performance penalty, so it is
16473 recommended to leave this setting to @code{on} unless necessary.
16474
16475 @end table
16476
16477 @cindex GNAT descriptive types
16478 @cindex GNAT encoding
16479 Internally, the debugger also relies on the compiler following a number
16480 of conventions known as the @samp{GNAT Encoding}, all documented in
16481 @file{gcc/ada/exp_dbug.ads} in the GCC sources. This encoding describes
16482 how the debugging information should be generated for certain types.
16483 In particular, this convention makes use of @dfn{descriptive types},
16484 which are artificial types generated purely to help the debugger.
16485
16486 These encodings were defined at a time when the debugging information
16487 format used was not powerful enough to describe some of the more complex
16488 types available in Ada. Since DWARF allows us to express nearly all
16489 Ada features, the long-term goal is to slowly replace these descriptive
16490 types by their pure DWARF equivalent. To facilitate that transition,
16491 a new maintenance option is available to force the debugger to ignore
16492 those descriptive types. It allows the user to quickly evaluate how
16493 well @value{GDBN} works without them.
16494
16495 @table @code
16496
16497 @kindex maint ada set ignore-descriptive-types
16498 @item maintenance ada set ignore-descriptive-types [on|off]
16499 Control whether the debugger should ignore descriptive types.
16500 The default is not to ignore descriptives types (@code{off}).
16501
16502 @kindex maint ada show ignore-descriptive-types
16503 @item maintenance ada show ignore-descriptive-types
16504 Show if descriptive types are ignored by @value{GDBN}.
16505
16506 @end table
16507
16508 @node Unsupported Languages
16509 @section Unsupported Languages
16510
16511 @cindex unsupported languages
16512 @cindex minimal language
16513 In addition to the other fully-supported programming languages,
16514 @value{GDBN} also provides a pseudo-language, called @code{minimal}.
16515 It does not represent a real programming language, but provides a set
16516 of capabilities close to what the C or assembly languages provide.
16517 This should allow most simple operations to be performed while debugging
16518 an application that uses a language currently not supported by @value{GDBN}.
16519
16520 If the language is set to @code{auto}, @value{GDBN} will automatically
16521 select this language if the current frame corresponds to an unsupported
16522 language.
16523
16524 @node Symbols
16525 @chapter Examining the Symbol Table
16526
16527 The commands described in this chapter allow you to inquire about the
16528 symbols (names of variables, functions and types) defined in your
16529 program. This information is inherent in the text of your program and
16530 does not change as your program executes. @value{GDBN} finds it in your
16531 program's symbol table, in the file indicated when you started @value{GDBN}
16532 (@pxref{File Options, ,Choosing Files}), or by one of the
16533 file-management commands (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
16534
16535 @cindex symbol names
16536 @cindex names of symbols
16537 @cindex quoting names
16538 Occasionally, you may need to refer to symbols that contain unusual
16539 characters, which @value{GDBN} ordinarily treats as word delimiters. The
16540 most frequent case is in referring to static variables in other
16541 source files (@pxref{Variables,,Program Variables}). File names
16542 are recorded in object files as debugging symbols, but @value{GDBN} would
16543 ordinarily parse a typical file name, like @file{foo.c}, as the three words
16544 @samp{foo} @samp{.} @samp{c}. To allow @value{GDBN} to recognize
16545 @samp{foo.c} as a single symbol, enclose it in single quotes; for example,
16546
16547 @smallexample
16548 p 'foo.c'::x
16549 @end smallexample
16550
16551 @noindent
16552 looks up the value of @code{x} in the scope of the file @file{foo.c}.
16553
16554 @table @code
16555 @cindex case-insensitive symbol names
16556 @cindex case sensitivity in symbol names
16557 @kindex set case-sensitive
16558 @item set case-sensitive on
16559 @itemx set case-sensitive off
16560 @itemx set case-sensitive auto
16561 Normally, when @value{GDBN} looks up symbols, it matches their names
16562 with case sensitivity determined by the current source language.
16563 Occasionally, you may wish to control that. The command @code{set
16564 case-sensitive} lets you do that by specifying @code{on} for
16565 case-sensitive matches or @code{off} for case-insensitive ones. If
16566 you specify @code{auto}, case sensitivity is reset to the default
16567 suitable for the source language. The default is case-sensitive
16568 matches for all languages except for Fortran, for which the default is
16569 case-insensitive matches.
16570
16571 @kindex show case-sensitive
16572 @item show case-sensitive
16573 This command shows the current setting of case sensitivity for symbols
16574 lookups.
16575
16576 @kindex set print type methods
16577 @item set print type methods
16578 @itemx set print type methods on
16579 @itemx set print type methods off
16580 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any methods
16581 declared in that class. You can control this behavior either by
16582 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
16583 print type methods}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
16584 display the methods; this is the default. Specifying @code{off} will
16585 cause @value{GDBN} to omit the methods.
16586
16587 @kindex show print type methods
16588 @item show print type methods
16589 This command shows the current setting of method display when printing
16590 classes.
16591
16592 @kindex set print type typedefs
16593 @item set print type typedefs
16594 @itemx set print type typedefs on
16595 @itemx set print type typedefs off
16596
16597 Normally, when @value{GDBN} prints a class, it displays any typedefs
16598 defined in that class. You can control this behavior either by
16599 passing the appropriate flag to @code{ptype}, or using @command{set
16600 print type typedefs}. Specifying @code{on} will cause @value{GDBN} to
16601 display the typedef definitions; this is the default. Specifying
16602 @code{off} will cause @value{GDBN} to omit the typedef definitions.
16603 Note that this controls whether the typedef definition itself is
16604 printed, not whether typedef names are substituted when printing other
16605 types.
16606
16607 @kindex show print type typedefs
16608 @item show print type typedefs
16609 This command shows the current setting of typedef display when
16610 printing classes.
16611
16612 @kindex info address
16613 @cindex address of a symbol
16614 @item info address @var{symbol}
16615 Describe where the data for @var{symbol} is stored. For a register
16616 variable, this says which register it is kept in. For a non-register
16617 local variable, this prints the stack-frame offset at which the variable
16618 is always stored.
16619
16620 Note the contrast with @samp{print &@var{symbol}}, which does not work
16621 at all for a register variable, and for a stack local variable prints
16622 the exact address of the current instantiation of the variable.
16623
16624 @kindex info symbol
16625 @cindex symbol from address
16626 @cindex closest symbol and offset for an address
16627 @item info symbol @var{addr}
16628 Print the name of a symbol which is stored at the address @var{addr}.
16629 If no symbol is stored exactly at @var{addr}, @value{GDBN} prints the
16630 nearest symbol and an offset from it:
16631
16632 @smallexample
16633 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x54320
16634 _initialize_vx + 396 in section .text
16635 @end smallexample
16636
16637 @noindent
16638 This is the opposite of the @code{info address} command. You can use
16639 it to find out the name of a variable or a function given its address.
16640
16641 For dynamically linked executables, the name of executable or shared
16642 library containing the symbol is also printed:
16643
16644 @smallexample
16645 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x400225
16646 _start + 5 in section .text of /tmp/a.out
16647 (@value{GDBP}) info symbol 0x2aaaac2811cf
16648 __read_nocancel + 6 in section .text of /usr/lib64/libc.so.6
16649 @end smallexample
16650
16651 @kindex demangle
16652 @cindex demangle
16653 @item demangle @r{[}-l @var{language}@r{]} @r{[}@var{--}@r{]} @var{name}
16654 Demangle @var{name}.
16655 If @var{language} is provided it is the name of the language to demangle
16656 @var{name} in. Otherwise @var{name} is demangled in the current language.
16657
16658 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
16659 and is useful when @var{name} begins with a dash.
16660
16661 The parameter @code{demangle-style} specifies how to interpret the kind
16662 of mangling used. @xref{Print Settings}.
16663
16664 @kindex whatis
16665 @item whatis[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
16666 Print the data type of @var{arg}, which can be either an expression
16667 or a name of a data type. With no argument, print the data type of
16668 @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
16669
16670 If @var{arg} is an expression (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}), it
16671 is not actually evaluated, and any side-effecting operations (such as
16672 assignments or function calls) inside it do not take place.
16673
16674 If @var{arg} is a variable or an expression, @code{whatis} prints its
16675 literal type as it is used in the source code. If the type was
16676 defined using a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will @emph{not} print
16677 the data type underlying the @code{typedef}. If the type of the
16678 variable or the expression is a compound data type, such as
16679 @code{struct} or @code{class}, @code{whatis} never prints their
16680 fields or methods. It just prints the @code{struct}/@code{class}
16681 name (a.k.a.@: its @dfn{tag}). If you want to see the members of
16682 such a compound data type, use @code{ptype}.
16683
16684 If @var{arg} is a type name that was defined using @code{typedef},
16685 @code{whatis} @dfn{unrolls} only one level of that @code{typedef}.
16686 Unrolling means that @code{whatis} will show the underlying type used
16687 in the @code{typedef} declaration of @var{arg}. However, if that
16688 underlying type is also a @code{typedef}, @code{whatis} will not
16689 unroll it.
16690
16691 For C code, the type names may also have the form @samp{class
16692 @var{class-name}}, @samp{struct @var{struct-tag}}, @samp{union
16693 @var{union-tag}} or @samp{enum @var{enum-tag}}.
16694
16695 @var{flags} can be used to modify how the type is displayed.
16696 Available flags are:
16697
16698 @table @code
16699 @item r
16700 Display in ``raw'' form. Normally, @value{GDBN} substitutes template
16701 parameters and typedefs defined in a class when printing the class'
16702 members. The @code{/r} flag disables this.
16703
16704 @item m
16705 Do not print methods defined in the class.
16706
16707 @item M
16708 Print methods defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
16709 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type methods}.
16710
16711 @item t
16712 Do not print typedefs defined in the class. Note that this controls
16713 whether the typedef definition itself is printed, not whether typedef
16714 names are substituted when printing other types.
16715
16716 @item T
16717 Print typedefs defined in the class. This is the default, but the flag
16718 exists in case you change the default with @command{set print type typedefs}.
16719 @end table
16720
16721 @kindex ptype
16722 @item ptype[/@var{flags}] [@var{arg}]
16723 @code{ptype} accepts the same arguments as @code{whatis}, but prints a
16724 detailed description of the type, instead of just the name of the type.
16725 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}.
16726
16727 Contrary to @code{whatis}, @code{ptype} always unrolls any
16728 @code{typedef}s in its argument declaration, whether the argument is
16729 a variable, expression, or a data type. This means that @code{ptype}
16730 of a variable or an expression will not print literally its type as
16731 present in the source code---use @code{whatis} for that. @code{typedef}s at
16732 the pointer or reference targets are also unrolled. Only @code{typedef}s of
16733 fields, methods and inner @code{class typedef}s of @code{struct}s,
16734 @code{class}es and @code{union}s are not unrolled even with @code{ptype}.
16735
16736 For example, for this variable declaration:
16737
16738 @smallexample
16739 typedef double real_t;
16740 struct complex @{ real_t real; double imag; @};
16741 typedef struct complex complex_t;
16742 complex_t var;
16743 real_t *real_pointer_var;
16744 @end smallexample
16745
16746 @noindent
16747 the two commands give this output:
16748
16749 @smallexample
16750 @group
16751 (@value{GDBP}) whatis var
16752 type = complex_t
16753 (@value{GDBP}) ptype var
16754 type = struct complex @{
16755 real_t real;
16756 double imag;
16757 @}
16758 (@value{GDBP}) whatis complex_t
16759 type = struct complex
16760 (@value{GDBP}) whatis struct complex
16761 type = struct complex
16762 (@value{GDBP}) ptype struct complex
16763 type = struct complex @{
16764 real_t real;
16765 double imag;
16766 @}
16767 (@value{GDBP}) whatis real_pointer_var
16768 type = real_t *
16769 (@value{GDBP}) ptype real_pointer_var
16770 type = double *
16771 @end group
16772 @end smallexample
16773
16774 @noindent
16775 As with @code{whatis}, using @code{ptype} without an argument refers to
16776 the type of @code{$}, the last value in the value history.
16777
16778 @cindex incomplete type
16779 Sometimes, programs use opaque data types or incomplete specifications
16780 of complex data structure. If the debug information included in the
16781 program does not allow @value{GDBN} to display a full declaration of
16782 the data type, it will say @samp{<incomplete type>}. For example,
16783 given these declarations:
16784
16785 @smallexample
16786 struct foo;
16787 struct foo *fooptr;
16788 @end smallexample
16789
16790 @noindent
16791 but no definition for @code{struct foo} itself, @value{GDBN} will say:
16792
16793 @smallexample
16794 (@value{GDBP}) ptype foo
16795 $1 = <incomplete type>
16796 @end smallexample
16797
16798 @noindent
16799 ``Incomplete type'' is C terminology for data types that are not
16800 completely specified.
16801
16802 @kindex info types
16803 @item info types @var{regexp}
16804 @itemx info types
16805 Print a brief description of all types whose names match the regular
16806 expression @var{regexp} (or all types in your program, if you supply
16807 no argument). Each complete typename is matched as though it were a
16808 complete line; thus, @samp{i type value} gives information on all
16809 types in your program whose names include the string @code{value}, but
16810 @samp{i type ^value$} gives information only on types whose complete
16811 name is @code{value}.
16812
16813 This command differs from @code{ptype} in two ways: first, like
16814 @code{whatis}, it does not print a detailed description; second, it
16815 lists all source files where a type is defined.
16816
16817 @kindex info type-printers
16818 @item info type-printers
16819 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled may
16820 have ``type printers'' available. When using @command{ptype} or
16821 @command{whatis}, these printers are consulted when the name of a type
16822 is needed. @xref{Type Printing API}, for more information on writing
16823 type printers.
16824
16825 @code{info type-printers} displays all the available type printers.
16826
16827 @kindex enable type-printer
16828 @kindex disable type-printer
16829 @item enable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
16830 @item disable type-printer @var{name}@dots{}
16831 These commands can be used to enable or disable type printers.
16832
16833 @kindex info scope
16834 @cindex local variables
16835 @item info scope @var{location}
16836 List all the variables local to a particular scope. This command
16837 accepts a @var{location} argument---a function name, a source line, or
16838 an address preceded by a @samp{*}, and prints all the variables local
16839 to the scope defined by that location. (@xref{Specify Location}, for
16840 details about supported forms of @var{location}.) For example:
16841
16842 @smallexample
16843 (@value{GDBP}) @b{info scope command_line_handler}
16844 Scope for command_line_handler:
16845 Symbol rl is an argument at stack/frame offset 8, length 4.
16846 Symbol linebuffer is in static storage at address 0x150a18, length 4.
16847 Symbol linelength is in static storage at address 0x150a1c, length 4.
16848 Symbol p is a local variable in register $esi, length 4.
16849 Symbol p1 is a local variable in register $ebx, length 4.
16850 Symbol nline is a local variable in register $edx, length 4.
16851 Symbol repeat is a local variable at frame offset -8, length 4.
16852 @end smallexample
16853
16854 @noindent
16855 This command is especially useful for determining what data to collect
16856 during a @dfn{trace experiment}, see @ref{Tracepoint Actions,
16857 collect}.
16858
16859 @kindex info source
16860 @item info source
16861 Show information about the current source file---that is, the source file for
16862 the function containing the current point of execution:
16863 @itemize @bullet
16864 @item
16865 the name of the source file, and the directory containing it,
16866 @item
16867 the directory it was compiled in,
16868 @item
16869 its length, in lines,
16870 @item
16871 which programming language it is written in,
16872 @item
16873 if the debug information provides it, the program that compiled the file
16874 (which may include, e.g., the compiler version and command line arguments),
16875 @item
16876 whether the executable includes debugging information for that file, and
16877 if so, what format the information is in (e.g., STABS, Dwarf 2, etc.), and
16878 @item
16879 whether the debugging information includes information about
16880 preprocessor macros.
16881 @end itemize
16882
16883
16884 @kindex info sources
16885 @item info sources
16886 Print the names of all source files in your program for which there is
16887 debugging information, organized into two lists: files whose symbols
16888 have already been read, and files whose symbols will be read when needed.
16889
16890 @kindex info functions
16891 @item info functions
16892 Print the names and data types of all defined functions.
16893
16894 @item info functions @var{regexp}
16895 Print the names and data types of all defined functions
16896 whose names contain a match for regular expression @var{regexp}.
16897 Thus, @samp{info fun step} finds all functions whose names
16898 include @code{step}; @samp{info fun ^step} finds those whose names
16899 start with @code{step}. If a function name contains characters
16900 that conflict with the regular expression language (e.g.@:
16901 @samp{operator*()}), they may be quoted with a backslash.
16902
16903 @kindex info variables
16904 @item info variables
16905 Print the names and data types of all variables that are defined
16906 outside of functions (i.e.@: excluding local variables).
16907
16908 @item info variables @var{regexp}
16909 Print the names and data types of all variables (except for local
16910 variables) whose names contain a match for regular expression
16911 @var{regexp}.
16912
16913 @kindex info classes
16914 @cindex Objective-C, classes and selectors
16915 @item info classes
16916 @itemx info classes @var{regexp}
16917 Display all Objective-C classes in your program, or
16918 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16919 expression.
16920
16921 @kindex info selectors
16922 @item info selectors
16923 @itemx info selectors @var{regexp}
16924 Display all Objective-C selectors in your program, or
16925 (with the @var{regexp} argument) all those matching a particular regular
16926 expression.
16927
16928 @ignore
16929 This was never implemented.
16930 @kindex info methods
16931 @item info methods
16932 @itemx info methods @var{regexp}
16933 The @code{info methods} command permits the user to examine all defined
16934 methods within C@t{++} program, or (with the @var{regexp} argument) a
16935 specific set of methods found in the various C@t{++} classes. Many
16936 C@t{++} classes provide a large number of methods. Thus, the output
16937 from the @code{ptype} command can be overwhelming and hard to use. The
16938 @code{info-methods} command filters the methods, printing only those
16939 which match the regular-expression @var{regexp}.
16940 @end ignore
16941
16942 @cindex opaque data types
16943 @kindex set opaque-type-resolution
16944 @item set opaque-type-resolution on
16945 Tell @value{GDBN} to resolve opaque types. An opaque type is a type
16946 declared as a pointer to a @code{struct}, @code{class}, or
16947 @code{union}---for example, @code{struct MyType *}---that is used in one
16948 source file although the full declaration of @code{struct MyType} is in
16949 another source file. The default is on.
16950
16951 A change in the setting of this subcommand will not take effect until
16952 the next time symbols for a file are loaded.
16953
16954 @item set opaque-type-resolution off
16955 Tell @value{GDBN} not to resolve opaque types. In this case, the type
16956 is printed as follows:
16957 @smallexample
16958 @{<no data fields>@}
16959 @end smallexample
16960
16961 @kindex show opaque-type-resolution
16962 @item show opaque-type-resolution
16963 Show whether opaque types are resolved or not.
16964
16965 @kindex set print symbol-loading
16966 @cindex print messages when symbols are loaded
16967 @item set print symbol-loading
16968 @itemx set print symbol-loading full
16969 @itemx set print symbol-loading brief
16970 @itemx set print symbol-loading off
16971 The @code{set print symbol-loading} command allows you to control the
16972 printing of messages when @value{GDBN} loads symbol information.
16973 By default a message is printed for the executable and one for each
16974 shared library, and normally this is what you want. However, when
16975 debugging apps with large numbers of shared libraries these messages
16976 can be annoying.
16977 When set to @code{brief} a message is printed for each executable,
16978 and when @value{GDBN} loads a collection of shared libraries at once
16979 it will only print one message regardless of the number of shared
16980 libraries. When set to @code{off} no messages are printed.
16981
16982 @kindex show print symbol-loading
16983 @item show print symbol-loading
16984 Show whether messages will be printed when a @value{GDBN} command
16985 entered from the keyboard causes symbol information to be loaded.
16986
16987 @kindex maint print symbols
16988 @cindex symbol dump
16989 @kindex maint print psymbols
16990 @cindex partial symbol dump
16991 @kindex maint print msymbols
16992 @cindex minimal symbol dump
16993 @item maint print symbols @var{filename}
16994 @itemx maint print psymbols @var{filename}
16995 @itemx maint print msymbols @var{filename}
16996 Write a dump of debugging symbol data into the file @var{filename}.
16997 These commands are used to debug the @value{GDBN} symbol-reading code. Only
16998 symbols with debugging data are included. If you use @samp{maint print
16999 symbols}, @value{GDBN} includes all the symbols for which it has already
17000 collected full details: that is, @var{filename} reflects symbols for
17001 only those files whose symbols @value{GDBN} has read. You can use the
17002 command @code{info sources} to find out which files these are. If you
17003 use @samp{maint print psymbols} instead, the dump shows information about
17004 symbols that @value{GDBN} only knows partially---that is, symbols defined in
17005 files that @value{GDBN} has skimmed, but not yet read completely. Finally,
17006 @samp{maint print msymbols} dumps just the minimal symbol information
17007 required for each object file from which @value{GDBN} has read some symbols.
17008 @xref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}, for a discussion of how
17009 @value{GDBN} reads symbols (in the description of @code{symbol-file}).
17010
17011 @kindex maint info symtabs
17012 @kindex maint info psymtabs
17013 @cindex listing @value{GDBN}'s internal symbol tables
17014 @cindex symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17015 @cindex full symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17016 @cindex partial symbol tables, listing @value{GDBN}'s internal
17017 @item maint info symtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
17018 @itemx maint info psymtabs @r{[} @var{regexp} @r{]}
17019
17020 List the @code{struct symtab} or @code{struct partial_symtab}
17021 structures whose names match @var{regexp}. If @var{regexp} is not
17022 given, list them all. The output includes expressions which you can
17023 copy into a @value{GDBN} debugging this one to examine a particular
17024 structure in more detail. For example:
17025
17026 @smallexample
17027 (@value{GDBP}) maint info psymtabs dwarf2read
17028 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
17029 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
17030 @{ psymtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
17031 ((struct partial_symtab *) 0x8474b10)
17032 readin no
17033 fullname (null)
17034 text addresses 0x814d3c8 -- 0x8158074
17035 globals (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x8507a08 @@ 9)
17036 statics (* (struct partial_symbol **) 0x40e95b78 @@ 2882)
17037 dependencies (none)
17038 @}
17039 @}
17040 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
17041 (@value{GDBP})
17042 @end smallexample
17043 @noindent
17044 We see that there is one partial symbol table whose filename contains
17045 the string @samp{dwarf2read}, belonging to the @samp{gdb} executable;
17046 and we see that @value{GDBN} has not read in any symtabs yet at all.
17047 If we set a breakpoint on a function, that will cause @value{GDBN} to
17048 read the symtab for the compilation unit containing that function:
17049
17050 @smallexample
17051 (@value{GDBP}) break dwarf2_psymtab_to_symtab
17052 Breakpoint 1 at 0x814e5da: file /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c,
17053 line 1574.
17054 (@value{GDBP}) maint info symtabs
17055 @{ objfile /home/gnu/build/gdb/gdb
17056 ((struct objfile *) 0x82e69d0)
17057 @{ symtab /home/gnu/src/gdb/dwarf2read.c
17058 ((struct symtab *) 0x86c1f38)
17059 dirname (null)
17060 fullname (null)
17061 blockvector ((struct blockvector *) 0x86c1bd0) (primary)
17062 linetable ((struct linetable *) 0x8370fa0)
17063 debugformat DWARF 2
17064 @}
17065 @}
17066 (@value{GDBP})
17067 @end smallexample
17068
17069 @kindex maint set symbol-cache-size
17070 @cindex symbol cache size
17071 @item maint set symbol-cache-size @var{size}
17072 Set the size of the symbol cache to @var{size}.
17073 The default size is intended to be good enough for debugging
17074 most applications. This option exists to allow for experimenting
17075 with different sizes.
17076
17077 @kindex maint show symbol-cache-size
17078 @item maint show symbol-cache-size
17079 Show the size of the symbol cache.
17080
17081 @kindex maint print symbol-cache
17082 @cindex symbol cache, printing its contents
17083 @item maint print symbol-cache
17084 Print the contents of the symbol cache.
17085 This is useful when debugging symbol cache issues.
17086
17087 @kindex maint print symbol-cache-statistics
17088 @cindex symbol cache, printing usage statistics
17089 @item maint print symbol-cache-statistics
17090 Print symbol cache usage statistics.
17091 This helps determine how well the cache is being utilized.
17092
17093 @kindex maint flush-symbol-cache
17094 @cindex symbol cache, flushing
17095 @item maint flush-symbol-cache
17096 Flush the contents of the symbol cache, all entries are removed.
17097 This command is useful when debugging the symbol cache.
17098 It is also useful when collecting performance data.
17099
17100 @end table
17101
17102 @node Altering
17103 @chapter Altering Execution
17104
17105 Once you think you have found an error in your program, you might want to
17106 find out for certain whether correcting the apparent error would lead to
17107 correct results in the rest of the run. You can find the answer by
17108 experiment, using the @value{GDBN} features for altering execution of the
17109 program.
17110
17111 For example, you can store new values into variables or memory
17112 locations, give your program a signal, restart it at a different
17113 address, or even return prematurely from a function.
17114
17115 @menu
17116 * Assignment:: Assignment to variables
17117 * Jumping:: Continuing at a different address
17118 * Signaling:: Giving your program a signal
17119 * Returning:: Returning from a function
17120 * Calling:: Calling your program's functions
17121 * Patching:: Patching your program
17122 * Compiling and Injecting Code:: Compiling and injecting code in @value{GDBN}
17123 @end menu
17124
17125 @node Assignment
17126 @section Assignment to Variables
17127
17128 @cindex assignment
17129 @cindex setting variables
17130 To alter the value of a variable, evaluate an assignment expression.
17131 @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}. For example,
17132
17133 @smallexample
17134 print x=4
17135 @end smallexample
17136
17137 @noindent
17138 stores the value 4 into the variable @code{x}, and then prints the
17139 value of the assignment expression (which is 4).
17140 @xref{Languages, ,Using @value{GDBN} with Different Languages}, for more
17141 information on operators in supported languages.
17142
17143 @kindex set variable
17144 @cindex variables, setting
17145 If you are not interested in seeing the value of the assignment, use the
17146 @code{set} command instead of the @code{print} command. @code{set} is
17147 really the same as @code{print} except that the expression's value is
17148 not printed and is not put in the value history (@pxref{Value History,
17149 ,Value History}). The expression is evaluated only for its effects.
17150
17151 If the beginning of the argument string of the @code{set} command
17152 appears identical to a @code{set} subcommand, use the @code{set
17153 variable} command instead of just @code{set}. This command is identical
17154 to @code{set} except for its lack of subcommands. For example, if your
17155 program has a variable @code{width}, you get an error if you try to set
17156 a new value with just @samp{set width=13}, because @value{GDBN} has the
17157 command @code{set width}:
17158
17159 @smallexample
17160 (@value{GDBP}) whatis width
17161 type = double
17162 (@value{GDBP}) p width
17163 $4 = 13
17164 (@value{GDBP}) set width=47
17165 Invalid syntax in expression.
17166 @end smallexample
17167
17168 @noindent
17169 The invalid expression, of course, is @samp{=47}. In
17170 order to actually set the program's variable @code{width}, use
17171
17172 @smallexample
17173 (@value{GDBP}) set var width=47
17174 @end smallexample
17175
17176 Because the @code{set} command has many subcommands that can conflict
17177 with the names of program variables, it is a good idea to use the
17178 @code{set variable} command instead of just @code{set}. For example, if
17179 your program has a variable @code{g}, you run into problems if you try
17180 to set a new value with just @samp{set g=4}, because @value{GDBN} has
17181 the command @code{set gnutarget}, abbreviated @code{set g}:
17182
17183 @smallexample
17184 @group
17185 (@value{GDBP}) whatis g
17186 type = double
17187 (@value{GDBP}) p g
17188 $1 = 1
17189 (@value{GDBP}) set g=4
17190 (@value{GDBP}) p g
17191 $2 = 1
17192 (@value{GDBP}) r
17193 The program being debugged has been started already.
17194 Start it from the beginning? (y or n) y
17195 Starting program: /home/smith/cc_progs/a.out
17196 "/home/smith/cc_progs/a.out": can't open to read symbols:
17197 Invalid bfd target.
17198 (@value{GDBP}) show g
17199 The current BFD target is "=4".
17200 @end group
17201 @end smallexample
17202
17203 @noindent
17204 The program variable @code{g} did not change, and you silently set the
17205 @code{gnutarget} to an invalid value. In order to set the variable
17206 @code{g}, use
17207
17208 @smallexample
17209 (@value{GDBP}) set var g=4
17210 @end smallexample
17211
17212 @value{GDBN} allows more implicit conversions in assignments than C; you can
17213 freely store an integer value into a pointer variable or vice versa,
17214 and you can convert any structure to any other structure that is the
17215 same length or shorter.
17216 @comment FIXME: how do structs align/pad in these conversions?
17217 @comment /doc@cygnus.com 18dec1990
17218
17219 To store values into arbitrary places in memory, use the @samp{@{@dots{}@}}
17220 construct to generate a value of specified type at a specified address
17221 (@pxref{Expressions, ,Expressions}). For example, @code{@{int@}0x83040} refers
17222 to memory location @code{0x83040} as an integer (which implies a certain size
17223 and representation in memory), and
17224
17225 @smallexample
17226 set @{int@}0x83040 = 4
17227 @end smallexample
17228
17229 @noindent
17230 stores the value 4 into that memory location.
17231
17232 @node Jumping
17233 @section Continuing at a Different Address
17234
17235 Ordinarily, when you continue your program, you do so at the place where
17236 it stopped, with the @code{continue} command. You can instead continue at
17237 an address of your own choosing, with the following commands:
17238
17239 @table @code
17240 @kindex jump
17241 @kindex j @r{(@code{jump})}
17242 @item jump @var{location}
17243 @itemx j @var{location}
17244 Resume execution at @var{location}. Execution stops again immediately
17245 if there is a breakpoint there. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description
17246 of the different forms of @var{location}. It is common
17247 practice to use the @code{tbreak} command in conjunction with
17248 @code{jump}. @xref{Set Breaks, ,Setting Breakpoints}.
17249
17250 The @code{jump} command does not change the current stack frame, or
17251 the stack pointer, or the contents of any memory location or any
17252 register other than the program counter. If @var{location} is in
17253 a different function from the one currently executing, the results may
17254 be bizarre if the two functions expect different patterns of arguments or
17255 of local variables. For this reason, the @code{jump} command requests
17256 confirmation if the specified line is not in the function currently
17257 executing. However, even bizarre results are predictable if you are
17258 well acquainted with the machine-language code of your program.
17259 @end table
17260
17261 On many systems, you can get much the same effect as the @code{jump}
17262 command by storing a new value into the register @code{$pc}. The
17263 difference is that this does not start your program running; it only
17264 changes the address of where it @emph{will} run when you continue. For
17265 example,
17266
17267 @smallexample
17268 set $pc = 0x485
17269 @end smallexample
17270
17271 @noindent
17272 makes the next @code{continue} command or stepping command execute at
17273 address @code{0x485}, rather than at the address where your program stopped.
17274 @xref{Continuing and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}.
17275
17276 The most common occasion to use the @code{jump} command is to back
17277 up---perhaps with more breakpoints set---over a portion of a program
17278 that has already executed, in order to examine its execution in more
17279 detail.
17280
17281 @c @group
17282 @node Signaling
17283 @section Giving your Program a Signal
17284 @cindex deliver a signal to a program
17285
17286 @table @code
17287 @kindex signal
17288 @item signal @var{signal}
17289 Resume execution where your program is stopped, but immediately give it the
17290 signal @var{signal}. The @var{signal} can be the name or the number of a
17291 signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and @code{signal
17292 SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
17293
17294 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, continue execution without
17295 giving a signal. This is useful when your program stopped on account of
17296 a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
17297 @code{continue} command; @samp{signal 0} causes it to resume without a
17298 signal.
17299
17300 @emph{Note:} When resuming a multi-threaded program, @var{signal} is
17301 delivered to the currently selected thread, not the thread that last
17302 reported a stop. This includes the situation where a thread was
17303 stopped due to a signal. So if you want to continue execution
17304 suppressing the signal that stopped a thread, you should select that
17305 same thread before issuing the @samp{signal 0} command. If you issue
17306 the @samp{signal 0} command with another thread as the selected one,
17307 @value{GDBN} detects that and asks for confirmation.
17308
17309 Invoking the @code{signal} command is not the same as invoking the
17310 @code{kill} utility from the shell. Sending a signal with @code{kill}
17311 causes @value{GDBN} to decide what to do with the signal depending on
17312 the signal handling tables (@pxref{Signals}). The @code{signal} command
17313 passes the signal directly to your program.
17314
17315 @code{signal} does not repeat when you press @key{RET} a second time
17316 after executing the command.
17317
17318 @kindex queue-signal
17319 @item queue-signal @var{signal}
17320 Queue @var{signal} to be delivered immediately to the current thread
17321 when execution of the thread resumes. The @var{signal} can be the name or
17322 the number of a signal. For example, on many systems @code{signal 2} and
17323 @code{signal SIGINT} are both ways of sending an interrupt signal.
17324 The handling of the signal must be set to pass the signal to the program,
17325 otherwise @value{GDBN} will report an error.
17326 You can control the handling of signals from @value{GDBN} with the
17327 @code{handle} command (@pxref{Signals}).
17328
17329 Alternatively, if @var{signal} is zero, any currently queued signal
17330 for the current thread is discarded and when execution resumes no signal
17331 will be delivered. This is useful when your program stopped on account
17332 of a signal and would ordinarily see the signal when resumed with the
17333 @code{continue} command.
17334
17335 This command differs from the @code{signal} command in that the signal
17336 is just queued, execution is not resumed. And @code{queue-signal} cannot
17337 be used to pass a signal whose handling state has been set to @code{nopass}
17338 (@pxref{Signals}).
17339 @end table
17340 @c @end group
17341
17342 @xref{stepping into signal handlers}, for information on how stepping
17343 commands behave when the thread has a signal queued.
17344
17345 @node Returning
17346 @section Returning from a Function
17347
17348 @table @code
17349 @cindex returning from a function
17350 @kindex return
17351 @item return
17352 @itemx return @var{expression}
17353 You can cancel execution of a function call with the @code{return}
17354 command. If you give an
17355 @var{expression} argument, its value is used as the function's return
17356 value.
17357 @end table
17358
17359 When you use @code{return}, @value{GDBN} discards the selected stack frame
17360 (and all frames within it). You can think of this as making the
17361 discarded frame return prematurely. If you wish to specify a value to
17362 be returned, give that value as the argument to @code{return}.
17363
17364 This pops the selected stack frame (@pxref{Selection, ,Selecting a
17365 Frame}), and any other frames inside of it, leaving its caller as the
17366 innermost remaining frame. That frame becomes selected. The
17367 specified value is stored in the registers used for returning values
17368 of functions.
17369
17370 The @code{return} command does not resume execution; it leaves the
17371 program stopped in the state that would exist if the function had just
17372 returned. In contrast, the @code{finish} command (@pxref{Continuing
17373 and Stepping, ,Continuing and Stepping}) resumes execution until the
17374 selected stack frame returns naturally.
17375
17376 @value{GDBN} needs to know how the @var{expression} argument should be set for
17377 the inferior. The concrete registers assignment depends on the OS ABI and the
17378 type being returned by the selected stack frame. For example it is common for
17379 OS ABI to return floating point values in FPU registers while integer values in
17380 CPU registers. Still some ABIs return even floating point values in CPU
17381 registers. Larger integer widths (such as @code{long long int}) also have
17382 specific placement rules. @value{GDBN} already knows the OS ABI from its
17383 current target so it needs to find out also the type being returned to make the
17384 assignment into the right register(s).
17385
17386 Normally, the selected stack frame has debug info. @value{GDBN} will always
17387 use the debug info instead of the implicit type of @var{expression} when the
17388 debug info is available. For example, if you type @kbd{return -1}, and the
17389 function in the current stack frame is declared to return a @code{long long
17390 int}, @value{GDBN} transparently converts the implicit @code{int} value of -1
17391 into a @code{long long int}:
17392
17393 @smallexample
17394 Breakpoint 1, func () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:29
17395 29 return 31;
17396 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
17397 Make func return now? (y or n) y
17398 #0 0x004004f6 in main () at gdb.base/return-nodebug.c:43
17399 43 printf ("result=%lld\n", func ());
17400 (@value{GDBP})
17401 @end smallexample
17402
17403 However, if the selected stack frame does not have a debug info, e.g., if the
17404 function was compiled without debug info, @value{GDBN} has to find out the type
17405 to return from user. Specifying a different type by mistake may set the value
17406 in different inferior registers than the caller code expects. For example,
17407 typing @kbd{return -1} with its implicit type @code{int} would set only a part
17408 of a @code{long long int} result for a debug info less function (on 32-bit
17409 architectures). Therefore the user is required to specify the return type by
17410 an appropriate cast explicitly:
17411
17412 @smallexample
17413 Breakpoint 2, 0x0040050b in func ()
17414 (@value{GDBP}) return -1
17415 Return value type not available for selected stack frame.
17416 Please use an explicit cast of the value to return.
17417 (@value{GDBP}) return (long long int) -1
17418 Make selected stack frame return now? (y or n) y
17419 #0 0x00400526 in main ()
17420 (@value{GDBP})
17421 @end smallexample
17422
17423 @node Calling
17424 @section Calling Program Functions
17425
17426 @table @code
17427 @cindex calling functions
17428 @cindex inferior functions, calling
17429 @item print @var{expr}
17430 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} and display the resulting value.
17431 The expression may include calls to functions in the program being
17432 debugged.
17433
17434 @kindex call
17435 @item call @var{expr}
17436 Evaluate the expression @var{expr} without displaying @code{void}
17437 returned values.
17438
17439 You can use this variant of the @code{print} command if you want to
17440 execute a function from your program that does not return anything
17441 (a.k.a.@: @dfn{a void function}), but without cluttering the output
17442 with @code{void} returned values that @value{GDBN} will otherwise
17443 print. If the result is not void, it is printed and saved in the
17444 value history.
17445 @end table
17446
17447 It is possible for the function you call via the @code{print} or
17448 @code{call} command to generate a signal (e.g., if there's a bug in
17449 the function, or if you passed it incorrect arguments). What happens
17450 in that case is controlled by the @code{set unwindonsignal} command.
17451
17452 Similarly, with a C@t{++} program it is possible for the function you
17453 call via the @code{print} or @code{call} command to generate an
17454 exception that is not handled due to the constraints of the dummy
17455 frame. In this case, any exception that is raised in the frame, but has
17456 an out-of-frame exception handler will not be found. GDB builds a
17457 dummy-frame for the inferior function call, and the unwinder cannot
17458 seek for exception handlers outside of this dummy-frame. What happens
17459 in that case is controlled by the
17460 @code{set unwind-on-terminating-exception} command.
17461
17462 @table @code
17463 @item set unwindonsignal
17464 @kindex set unwindonsignal
17465 @cindex unwind stack in called functions
17466 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding
17467 Set unwinding of the stack if a signal is received while in a function
17468 that @value{GDBN} called in the program being debugged. If set to on,
17469 @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack it created for the call and restores
17470 the context to what it was before the call. If set to off (the
17471 default), @value{GDBN} stops in the frame where the signal was
17472 received.
17473
17474 @item show unwindonsignal
17475 @kindex show unwindonsignal
17476 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
17477 @value{GDBN}.
17478
17479 @item set unwind-on-terminating-exception
17480 @kindex set unwind-on-terminating-exception
17481 @cindex unwind stack in called functions with unhandled exceptions
17482 @cindex call dummy stack unwinding on unhandled exception.
17483 Set unwinding of the stack if a C@t{++} exception is raised, but left
17484 unhandled while in a function that @value{GDBN} called in the program being
17485 debugged. If set to on (the default), @value{GDBN} unwinds the stack
17486 it created for the call and restores the context to what it was before
17487 the call. If set to off, @value{GDBN} the exception is delivered to
17488 the default C@t{++} exception handler and the inferior terminated.
17489
17490 @item show unwind-on-terminating-exception
17491 @kindex show unwind-on-terminating-exception
17492 Show the current setting of stack unwinding in the functions called by
17493 @value{GDBN}.
17494
17495 @end table
17496
17497 @cindex weak alias functions
17498 Sometimes, a function you wish to call is actually a @dfn{weak alias}
17499 for another function. In such case, @value{GDBN} might not pick up
17500 the type information, including the types of the function arguments,
17501 which causes @value{GDBN} to call the inferior function incorrectly.
17502 As a result, the called function will function erroneously and may
17503 even crash. A solution to that is to use the name of the aliased
17504 function instead.
17505
17506 @node Patching
17507 @section Patching Programs
17508
17509 @cindex patching binaries
17510 @cindex writing into executables
17511 @cindex writing into corefiles
17512
17513 By default, @value{GDBN} opens the file containing your program's
17514 executable code (or the corefile) read-only. This prevents accidental
17515 alterations to machine code; but it also prevents you from intentionally
17516 patching your program's binary.
17517
17518 If you'd like to be able to patch the binary, you can specify that
17519 explicitly with the @code{set write} command. For example, you might
17520 want to turn on internal debugging flags, or even to make emergency
17521 repairs.
17522
17523 @table @code
17524 @kindex set write
17525 @item set write on
17526 @itemx set write off
17527 If you specify @samp{set write on}, @value{GDBN} opens executable and
17528 core files for both reading and writing; if you specify @kbd{set write
17529 off} (the default), @value{GDBN} opens them read-only.
17530
17531 If you have already loaded a file, you must load it again (using the
17532 @code{exec-file} or @code{core-file} command) after changing @code{set
17533 write}, for your new setting to take effect.
17534
17535 @item show write
17536 @kindex show write
17537 Display whether executable files and core files are opened for writing
17538 as well as reading.
17539 @end table
17540
17541 @node Compiling and Injecting Code
17542 @section Compiling and injecting code in @value{GDBN}
17543 @cindex injecting code
17544 @cindex writing into executables
17545 @cindex compiling code
17546
17547 @value{GDBN} supports on-demand compilation and code injection into
17548 programs running under @value{GDBN}. GCC 5.0 or higher built with
17549 @file{libcc1.so} must be installed for this functionality to be enabled.
17550 This functionality is implemented with the following commands.
17551
17552 @table @code
17553 @kindex compile code
17554 @item compile code @var{source-code}
17555 @itemx compile code -raw @var{--} @var{source-code}
17556 Compile @var{source-code} with the compiler language found as the current
17557 language in @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Languages}). If compilation and
17558 injection is not supported with the current language specified in
17559 @value{GDBN}, or the compiler does not support this feature, an error
17560 message will be printed. If @var{source-code} compiles and links
17561 successfully, @value{GDBN} will load the object-code emitted,
17562 and execute it within the context of the currently selected inferior.
17563 It is important to note that the compiled code is executed immediately.
17564 After execution, the compiled code is removed from @value{GDBN} and any
17565 new types or variables you have defined will be deleted.
17566
17567 The command allows you to specify @var{source-code} in two ways.
17568 The simplest method is to provide a single line of code to the command.
17569 E.g.:
17570
17571 @smallexample
17572 compile code printf ("hello world\n");
17573 @end smallexample
17574
17575 If you specify options on the command line as well as source code, they
17576 may conflict. The @samp{--} delimiter can be used to separate options
17577 from actual source code. E.g.:
17578
17579 @smallexample
17580 compile code -r -- printf ("hello world\n");
17581 @end smallexample
17582
17583 Alternatively you can enter source code as multiple lines of text. To
17584 enter this mode, invoke the @samp{compile code} command without any text
17585 following the command. This will start the multiple-line editor and
17586 allow you to type as many lines of source code as required. When you
17587 have completed typing, enter @samp{end} on its own line to exit the
17588 editor.
17589
17590 @smallexample
17591 compile code
17592 >printf ("hello\n");
17593 >printf ("world\n");
17594 >end
17595 @end smallexample
17596
17597 Specifying @samp{-raw}, prohibits @value{GDBN} from wrapping the
17598 provided @var{source-code} in a callable scope. In this case, you must
17599 specify the entry point of the code by defining a function named
17600 @code{_gdb_expr_}. The @samp{-raw} code cannot access variables of the
17601 inferior. Using @samp{-raw} option may be needed for example when
17602 @var{source-code} requires @samp{#include} lines which may conflict with
17603 inferior symbols otherwise.
17604
17605 @kindex compile file
17606 @item compile file @var{filename}
17607 @itemx compile file -raw @var{filename}
17608 Like @code{compile code}, but take the source code from @var{filename}.
17609
17610 @smallexample
17611 compile file /home/user/example.c
17612 @end smallexample
17613 @end table
17614
17615 @table @code
17616 @item compile print @var{expr}
17617 @itemx compile print /@var{f} @var{expr}
17618 Compile and execute @var{expr} with the compiler language found as the
17619 current language in @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Languages}). By default the
17620 value of @var{expr} is printed in a format appropriate to its data type;
17621 you can choose a different format by specifying @samp{/@var{f}}, where
17622 @var{f} is a letter specifying the format; see @ref{Output Formats,,Output
17623 Formats}.
17624
17625 @item compile print
17626 @itemx compile print /@var{f}
17627 @cindex reprint the last value
17628 Alternatively you can enter the expression (source code producing it) as
17629 multiple lines of text. To enter this mode, invoke the @samp{compile print}
17630 command without any text following the command. This will start the
17631 multiple-line editor.
17632 @end table
17633
17634 @noindent
17635 The process of compiling and injecting the code can be inspected using:
17636
17637 @table @code
17638 @anchor{set debug compile}
17639 @item set debug compile
17640 @cindex compile command debugging info
17641 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} process of compiling and
17642 injecting the code. The default is off.
17643
17644 @item show debug compile
17645 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} process of
17646 compiling and injecting the code.
17647 @end table
17648
17649 @subsection Compilation options for the @code{compile} command
17650
17651 @value{GDBN} needs to specify the right compilation options for the code
17652 to be injected, in part to make its ABI compatible with the inferior
17653 and in part to make the injected code compatible with @value{GDBN}'s
17654 injecting process.
17655
17656 @noindent
17657 The options used, in increasing precedence:
17658
17659 @table @asis
17660 @item target architecture and OS options (@code{gdbarch})
17661 These options depend on target processor type and target operating
17662 system, usually they specify at least 32-bit (@code{-m32}) or 64-bit
17663 (@code{-m64}) compilation option.
17664
17665 @item compilation options recorded in the target
17666 @value{NGCC} (since version 4.7) stores the options used for compilation
17667 into @code{DW_AT_producer} part of DWARF debugging information according
17668 to the @value{NGCC} option @code{-grecord-gcc-switches}. One has to
17669 explicitly specify @code{-g} during inferior compilation otherwise
17670 @value{NGCC} produces no DWARF. This feature is only relevant for
17671 platforms where @code{-g} produces DWARF by default, otherwise one may
17672 try to enforce DWARF by using @code{-gdwarf-4}.
17673
17674 @item compilation options set by @code{set compile-args}
17675 @end table
17676
17677 @noindent
17678 You can override compilation options using the following command:
17679
17680 @table @code
17681 @item set compile-args
17682 @cindex compile command options override
17683 Set compilation options used for compiling and injecting code with the
17684 @code{compile} commands. These options override any conflicting ones
17685 from the target architecture and/or options stored during inferior
17686 compilation.
17687
17688 @item show compile-args
17689 Displays the current state of compilation options override.
17690 This does not show all the options actually used during compilation,
17691 use @ref{set debug compile} for that.
17692 @end table
17693
17694 @subsection Caveats when using the @code{compile} command
17695
17696 There are a few caveats to keep in mind when using the @code{compile}
17697 command. As the caveats are different per language, the table below
17698 highlights specific issues on a per language basis.
17699
17700 @table @asis
17701 @item C code examples and caveats
17702 When the language in @value{GDBN} is set to @samp{C}, the compiler will
17703 attempt to compile the source code with a @samp{C} compiler. The source
17704 code provided to the @code{compile} command will have much the same
17705 access to variables and types as it normally would if it were part of
17706 the program currently being debugged in @value{GDBN}.
17707
17708 Below is a sample program that forms the basis of the examples that
17709 follow. This program has been compiled and loaded into @value{GDBN},
17710 much like any other normal debugging session.
17711
17712 @smallexample
17713 void function1 (void)
17714 @{
17715 int i = 42;
17716 printf ("function 1\n");
17717 @}
17718
17719 void function2 (void)
17720 @{
17721 int j = 12;
17722 function1 ();
17723 @}
17724
17725 int main(void)
17726 @{
17727 int k = 6;
17728 int *p;
17729 function2 ();
17730 return 0;
17731 @}
17732 @end smallexample
17733
17734 For the purposes of the examples in this section, the program above has
17735 been compiled, loaded into @value{GDBN}, stopped at the function
17736 @code{main}, and @value{GDBN} is awaiting input from the user.
17737
17738 To access variables and types for any program in @value{GDBN}, the
17739 program must be compiled and packaged with debug information. The
17740 @code{compile} command is not an exception to this rule. Without debug
17741 information, you can still use the @code{compile} command, but you will
17742 be very limited in what variables and types you can access.
17743
17744 So with that in mind, the example above has been compiled with debug
17745 information enabled. The @code{compile} command will have access to
17746 all variables and types (except those that may have been optimized
17747 out). Currently, as @value{GDBN} has stopped the program in the
17748 @code{main} function, the @code{compile} command would have access to
17749 the variable @code{k}. You could invoke the @code{compile} command
17750 and type some source code to set the value of @code{k}. You can also
17751 read it, or do anything with that variable you would normally do in
17752 @code{C}. Be aware that changes to inferior variables in the
17753 @code{compile} command are persistent. In the following example:
17754
17755 @smallexample
17756 compile code k = 3;
17757 @end smallexample
17758
17759 @noindent
17760 the variable @code{k} is now 3. It will retain that value until
17761 something else in the example program changes it, or another
17762 @code{compile} command changes it.
17763
17764 Normal scope and access rules apply to source code compiled and
17765 injected by the @code{compile} command. In the example, the variables
17766 @code{j} and @code{k} are not accessible yet, because the program is
17767 currently stopped in the @code{main} function, where these variables
17768 are not in scope. Therefore, the following command
17769
17770 @smallexample
17771 compile code j = 3;
17772 @end smallexample
17773
17774 @noindent
17775 will result in a compilation error message.
17776
17777 Once the program is continued, execution will bring these variables in
17778 scope, and they will become accessible; then the code you specify via
17779 the @code{compile} command will be able to access them.
17780
17781 You can create variables and types with the @code{compile} command as
17782 part of your source code. Variables and types that are created as part
17783 of the @code{compile} command are not visible to the rest of the program for
17784 the duration of its run. This example is valid:
17785
17786 @smallexample
17787 compile code int ff = 5; printf ("ff is %d\n", ff);
17788 @end smallexample
17789
17790 However, if you were to type the following into @value{GDBN} after that
17791 command has completed:
17792
17793 @smallexample
17794 compile code printf ("ff is %d\n'', ff);
17795 @end smallexample
17796
17797 @noindent
17798 a compiler error would be raised as the variable @code{ff} no longer
17799 exists. Object code generated and injected by the @code{compile}
17800 command is removed when its execution ends. Caution is advised
17801 when assigning to program variables values of variables created by the
17802 code submitted to the @code{compile} command. This example is valid:
17803
17804 @smallexample
17805 compile code int ff = 5; k = ff;
17806 @end smallexample
17807
17808 The value of the variable @code{ff} is assigned to @code{k}. The variable
17809 @code{k} does not require the existence of @code{ff} to maintain the value
17810 it has been assigned. However, pointers require particular care in
17811 assignment. If the source code compiled with the @code{compile} command
17812 changed the address of a pointer in the example program, perhaps to a
17813 variable created in the @code{compile} command, that pointer would point
17814 to an invalid location when the command exits. The following example
17815 would likely cause issues with your debugged program:
17816
17817 @smallexample
17818 compile code int ff = 5; p = &ff;
17819 @end smallexample
17820
17821 In this example, @code{p} would point to @code{ff} when the
17822 @code{compile} command is executing the source code provided to it.
17823 However, as variables in the (example) program persist with their
17824 assigned values, the variable @code{p} would point to an invalid
17825 location when the command exists. A general rule should be followed
17826 in that you should either assign @code{NULL} to any assigned pointers,
17827 or restore a valid location to the pointer before the command exits.
17828
17829 Similar caution must be exercised with any structs, unions, and typedefs
17830 defined in @code{compile} command. Types defined in the @code{compile}
17831 command will no longer be available in the next @code{compile} command.
17832 Therefore, if you cast a variable to a type defined in the
17833 @code{compile} command, care must be taken to ensure that any future
17834 need to resolve the type can be achieved.
17835
17836 @smallexample
17837 (gdb) compile code static struct a @{ int a; @} v = @{ 42 @}; argv = &v;
17838 (gdb) compile code printf ("%d\n", ((struct a *) argv)->a);
17839 gdb command line:1:36: error: dereferencing pointer to incomplete type ‘struct a’
17840 Compilation failed.
17841 (gdb) compile code struct a @{ int a; @}; printf ("%d\n", ((struct a *) argv)->a);
17842 42
17843 @end smallexample
17844
17845 Variables that have been optimized away by the compiler are not
17846 accessible to the code submitted to the @code{compile} command.
17847 Access to those variables will generate a compiler error which @value{GDBN}
17848 will print to the console.
17849 @end table
17850
17851 @subsection Compiler search for the @code{compile} command
17852
17853 @value{GDBN} needs to find @value{NGCC} for the inferior being debugged which
17854 may not be obvious for remote targets of different architecture than where
17855 @value{GDBN} is running. Environment variable @code{PATH} (@code{PATH} from
17856 shell that executed @value{GDBN}, not the one set by @value{GDBN}
17857 command @code{set environment}). @xref{Environment}. @code{PATH} on
17858 @value{GDBN} host is searched for @value{NGCC} binary matching the
17859 target architecture and operating system.
17860
17861 Specifically @code{PATH} is searched for binaries matching regular expression
17862 @code{@var{arch}(-[^-]*)?-@var{os}-gcc} according to the inferior target being
17863 debugged. @var{arch} is processor name --- multiarch is supported, so for
17864 example both @code{i386} and @code{x86_64} targets look for pattern
17865 @code{(x86_64|i.86)} and both @code{s390} and @code{s390x} targets look
17866 for pattern @code{s390x?}. @var{os} is currently supported only for
17867 pattern @code{linux(-gnu)?}.
17868
17869 @node GDB Files
17870 @chapter @value{GDBN} Files
17871
17872 @value{GDBN} needs to know the file name of the program to be debugged,
17873 both in order to read its symbol table and in order to start your
17874 program. To debug a core dump of a previous run, you must also tell
17875 @value{GDBN} the name of the core dump file.
17876
17877 @menu
17878 * Files:: Commands to specify files
17879 * File Caching:: Information about @value{GDBN}'s file caching
17880 * Separate Debug Files:: Debugging information in separate files
17881 * MiniDebugInfo:: Debugging information in a special section
17882 * Index Files:: Index files speed up GDB
17883 * Symbol Errors:: Errors reading symbol files
17884 * Data Files:: GDB data files
17885 @end menu
17886
17887 @node Files
17888 @section Commands to Specify Files
17889
17890 @cindex symbol table
17891 @cindex core dump file
17892
17893 You may want to specify executable and core dump file names. The usual
17894 way to do this is at start-up time, using the arguments to
17895 @value{GDBN}'s start-up commands (@pxref{Invocation, , Getting In and
17896 Out of @value{GDBN}}).
17897
17898 Occasionally it is necessary to change to a different file during a
17899 @value{GDBN} session. Or you may run @value{GDBN} and forget to
17900 specify a file you want to use. Or you are debugging a remote target
17901 via @code{gdbserver} (@pxref{Server, file, Using the @code{gdbserver}
17902 Program}). In these situations the @value{GDBN} commands to specify
17903 new files are useful.
17904
17905 @table @code
17906 @cindex executable file
17907 @kindex file
17908 @item file @var{filename}
17909 Use @var{filename} as the program to be debugged. It is read for its
17910 symbols and for the contents of pure memory. It is also the program
17911 executed when you use the @code{run} command. If you do not specify a
17912 directory and the file is not found in the @value{GDBN} working directory,
17913 @value{GDBN} uses the environment variable @code{PATH} as a list of
17914 directories to search, just as the shell does when looking for a program
17915 to run. You can change the value of this variable, for both @value{GDBN}
17916 and your program, using the @code{path} command.
17917
17918 @cindex unlinked object files
17919 @cindex patching object files
17920 You can load unlinked object @file{.o} files into @value{GDBN} using
17921 the @code{file} command. You will not be able to ``run'' an object
17922 file, but you can disassemble functions and inspect variables. Also,
17923 if the underlying BFD functionality supports it, you could use
17924 @kbd{gdb -write} to patch object files using this technique. Note
17925 that @value{GDBN} can neither interpret nor modify relocations in this
17926 case, so branches and some initialized variables will appear to go to
17927 the wrong place. But this feature is still handy from time to time.
17928
17929 @item file
17930 @code{file} with no argument makes @value{GDBN} discard any information it
17931 has on both executable file and the symbol table.
17932
17933 @kindex exec-file
17934 @item exec-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
17935 Specify that the program to be run (but not the symbol table) is found
17936 in @var{filename}. @value{GDBN} searches the environment variable @code{PATH}
17937 if necessary to locate your program. Omitting @var{filename} means to
17938 discard information on the executable file.
17939
17940 @kindex symbol-file
17941 @item symbol-file @r{[} @var{filename} @r{]}
17942 Read symbol table information from file @var{filename}. @code{PATH} is
17943 searched when necessary. Use the @code{file} command to get both symbol
17944 table and program to run from the same file.
17945
17946 @code{symbol-file} with no argument clears out @value{GDBN} information on your
17947 program's symbol table.
17948
17949 The @code{symbol-file} command causes @value{GDBN} to forget the contents of
17950 some breakpoints and auto-display expressions. This is because they may
17951 contain pointers to the internal data recording symbols and data types,
17952 which are part of the old symbol table data being discarded inside
17953 @value{GDBN}.
17954
17955 @code{symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after
17956 executing it once.
17957
17958 When @value{GDBN} is configured for a particular environment, it
17959 understands debugging information in whatever format is the standard
17960 generated for that environment; you may use either a @sc{gnu} compiler, or
17961 other compilers that adhere to the local conventions.
17962 Best results are usually obtained from @sc{gnu} compilers; for example,
17963 using @code{@value{NGCC}} you can generate debugging information for
17964 optimized code.
17965
17966 For most kinds of object files, with the exception of old SVR3 systems
17967 using COFF, the @code{symbol-file} command does not normally read the
17968 symbol table in full right away. Instead, it scans the symbol table
17969 quickly to find which source files and which symbols are present. The
17970 details are read later, one source file at a time, as they are needed.
17971
17972 The purpose of this two-stage reading strategy is to make @value{GDBN}
17973 start up faster. For the most part, it is invisible except for
17974 occasional pauses while the symbol table details for a particular source
17975 file are being read. (The @code{set verbose} command can turn these
17976 pauses into messages if desired. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional
17977 Warnings and Messages}.)
17978
17979 We have not implemented the two-stage strategy for COFF yet. When the
17980 symbol table is stored in COFF format, @code{symbol-file} reads the
17981 symbol table data in full right away. Note that ``stabs-in-COFF''
17982 still does the two-stage strategy, since the debug info is actually
17983 in stabs format.
17984
17985 @kindex readnow
17986 @cindex reading symbols immediately
17987 @cindex symbols, reading immediately
17988 @item symbol-file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
17989 @itemx file @r{[} -readnow @r{]} @var{filename}
17990 You can override the @value{GDBN} two-stage strategy for reading symbol
17991 tables by using the @samp{-readnow} option with any of the commands that
17992 load symbol table information, if you want to be sure @value{GDBN} has the
17993 entire symbol table available.
17994
17995 @c FIXME: for now no mention of directories, since this seems to be in
17996 @c flux. 13mar1992 status is that in theory GDB would look either in
17997 @c current dir or in same dir as myprog; but issues like competing
17998 @c GDB's, or clutter in system dirs, mean that in practice right now
17999 @c only current dir is used. FFish says maybe a special GDB hierarchy
18000 @c (eg rooted in val of env var GDBSYMS) could exist for mappable symbol
18001 @c files.
18002
18003 @kindex core-file
18004 @item core-file @r{[}@var{filename}@r{]}
18005 @itemx core
18006 Specify the whereabouts of a core dump file to be used as the ``contents
18007 of memory''. Traditionally, core files contain only some parts of the
18008 address space of the process that generated them; @value{GDBN} can access the
18009 executable file itself for other parts.
18010
18011 @code{core-file} with no argument specifies that no core file is
18012 to be used.
18013
18014 Note that the core file is ignored when your program is actually running
18015 under @value{GDBN}. So, if you have been running your program and you
18016 wish to debug a core file instead, you must kill the subprocess in which
18017 the program is running. To do this, use the @code{kill} command
18018 (@pxref{Kill Process, ,Killing the Child Process}).
18019
18020 @kindex add-symbol-file
18021 @cindex dynamic linking
18022 @item add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address}
18023 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} @r{[} -readnow @r{]}
18024 @itemx add-symbol-file @var{filename} @var{address} -s @var{section} @var{address} @dots{}
18025 The @code{add-symbol-file} command reads additional symbol table
18026 information from the file @var{filename}. You would use this command
18027 when @var{filename} has been dynamically loaded (by some other means)
18028 into the program that is running. The @var{address} should give the memory
18029 address at which the file has been loaded; @value{GDBN} cannot figure
18030 this out for itself. You can additionally specify an arbitrary number
18031 of @samp{-s @var{section} @var{address}} pairs, to give an explicit
18032 section name and base address for that section. You can specify any
18033 @var{address} as an expression.
18034
18035 The symbol table of the file @var{filename} is added to the symbol table
18036 originally read with the @code{symbol-file} command. You can use the
18037 @code{add-symbol-file} command any number of times; the new symbol data
18038 thus read is kept in addition to the old.
18039
18040 Changes can be reverted using the command @code{remove-symbol-file}.
18041
18042 @cindex relocatable object files, reading symbols from
18043 @cindex object files, relocatable, reading symbols from
18044 @cindex reading symbols from relocatable object files
18045 @cindex symbols, reading from relocatable object files
18046 @cindex @file{.o} files, reading symbols from
18047 Although @var{filename} is typically a shared library file, an
18048 executable file, or some other object file which has been fully
18049 relocated for loading into a process, you can also load symbolic
18050 information from relocatable @file{.o} files, as long as:
18051
18052 @itemize @bullet
18053 @item
18054 the file's symbolic information refers only to linker symbols defined in
18055 that file, not to symbols defined by other object files,
18056 @item
18057 every section the file's symbolic information refers to has actually
18058 been loaded into the inferior, as it appears in the file, and
18059 @item
18060 you can determine the address at which every section was loaded, and
18061 provide these to the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
18062 @end itemize
18063
18064 @noindent
18065 Some embedded operating systems, like Sun Chorus and VxWorks, can load
18066 relocatable files into an already running program; such systems
18067 typically make the requirements above easy to meet. However, it's
18068 important to recognize that many native systems use complex link
18069 procedures (@code{.linkonce} section factoring and C@t{++} constructor table
18070 assembly, for example) that make the requirements difficult to meet. In
18071 general, one cannot assume that using @code{add-symbol-file} to read a
18072 relocatable object file's symbolic information will have the same effect
18073 as linking the relocatable object file into the program in the normal
18074 way.
18075
18076 @code{add-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
18077
18078 @kindex remove-symbol-file
18079 @item remove-symbol-file @var{filename}
18080 @item remove-symbol-file -a @var{address}
18081 Remove a symbol file added via the @code{add-symbol-file} command. The
18082 file to remove can be identified by its @var{filename} or by an @var{address}
18083 that lies within the boundaries of this symbol file in memory. Example:
18084
18085 @smallexample
18086 (gdb) add-symbol-file /home/user/gdb/mylib.so 0x7ffff7ff9480
18087 add symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so" at
18088 .text_addr = 0x7ffff7ff9480
18089 (y or n) y
18090 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/mylib.so...done.
18091 (gdb) remove-symbol-file -a 0x7ffff7ff9480
18092 Remove symbol table from file "/home/user/gdb/mylib.so"? (y or n) y
18093 (gdb)
18094 @end smallexample
18095
18096
18097 @code{remove-symbol-file} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} after using it.
18098
18099 @kindex add-symbol-file-from-memory
18100 @cindex @code{syscall DSO}
18101 @cindex load symbols from memory
18102 @item add-symbol-file-from-memory @var{address}
18103 Load symbols from the given @var{address} in a dynamically loaded
18104 object file whose image is mapped directly into the inferior's memory.
18105 For example, the Linux kernel maps a @code{syscall DSO} into each
18106 process's address space; this DSO provides kernel-specific code for
18107 some system calls. The argument can be any expression whose
18108 evaluation yields the address of the file's shared object file header.
18109 For this command to work, you must have used @code{symbol-file} or
18110 @code{exec-file} commands in advance.
18111
18112 @kindex section
18113 @item section @var{section} @var{addr}
18114 The @code{section} command changes the base address of the named
18115 @var{section} of the exec file to @var{addr}. This can be used if the
18116 exec file does not contain section addresses, (such as in the
18117 @code{a.out} format), or when the addresses specified in the file
18118 itself are wrong. Each section must be changed separately. The
18119 @code{info files} command, described below, lists all the sections and
18120 their addresses.
18121
18122 @kindex info files
18123 @kindex info target
18124 @item info files
18125 @itemx info target
18126 @code{info files} and @code{info target} are synonymous; both print the
18127 current target (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}),
18128 including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in
18129 use by @value{GDBN}, and the files from which symbols were loaded. The
18130 command @code{help target} lists all possible targets rather than
18131 current ones.
18132
18133 @kindex maint info sections
18134 @item maint info sections
18135 Another command that can give you extra information about program sections
18136 is @code{maint info sections}. In addition to the section information
18137 displayed by @code{info files}, this command displays the flags and file
18138 offset of each section in the executable and core dump files. In addition,
18139 @code{maint info sections} provides the following command options (which
18140 may be arbitrarily combined):
18141
18142 @table @code
18143 @item ALLOBJ
18144 Display sections for all loaded object files, including shared libraries.
18145 @item @var{sections}
18146 Display info only for named @var{sections}.
18147 @item @var{section-flags}
18148 Display info only for sections for which @var{section-flags} are true.
18149 The section flags that @value{GDBN} currently knows about are:
18150 @table @code
18151 @item ALLOC
18152 Section will have space allocated in the process when loaded.
18153 Set for all sections except those containing debug information.
18154 @item LOAD
18155 Section will be loaded from the file into the child process memory.
18156 Set for pre-initialized code and data, clear for @code{.bss} sections.
18157 @item RELOC
18158 Section needs to be relocated before loading.
18159 @item READONLY
18160 Section cannot be modified by the child process.
18161 @item CODE
18162 Section contains executable code only.
18163 @item DATA
18164 Section contains data only (no executable code).
18165 @item ROM
18166 Section will reside in ROM.
18167 @item CONSTRUCTOR
18168 Section contains data for constructor/destructor lists.
18169 @item HAS_CONTENTS
18170 Section is not empty.
18171 @item NEVER_LOAD
18172 An instruction to the linker to not output the section.
18173 @item COFF_SHARED_LIBRARY
18174 A notification to the linker that the section contains
18175 COFF shared library information.
18176 @item IS_COMMON
18177 Section contains common symbols.
18178 @end table
18179 @end table
18180 @kindex set trust-readonly-sections
18181 @cindex read-only sections
18182 @item set trust-readonly-sections on
18183 Tell @value{GDBN} that readonly sections in your object file
18184 really are read-only (i.e.@: that their contents will not change).
18185 In that case, @value{GDBN} can fetch values from these sections
18186 out of the object file, rather than from the target program.
18187 For some targets (notably embedded ones), this can be a significant
18188 enhancement to debugging performance.
18189
18190 The default is off.
18191
18192 @item set trust-readonly-sections off
18193 Tell @value{GDBN} not to trust readonly sections. This means that
18194 the contents of the section might change while the program is running,
18195 and must therefore be fetched from the target when needed.
18196
18197 @item show trust-readonly-sections
18198 Show the current setting of trusting readonly sections.
18199 @end table
18200
18201 All file-specifying commands allow both absolute and relative file names
18202 as arguments. @value{GDBN} always converts the file name to an absolute file
18203 name and remembers it that way.
18204
18205 @cindex shared libraries
18206 @anchor{Shared Libraries}
18207 @value{GDBN} supports @sc{gnu}/Linux, MS-Windows, SunOS,
18208 Darwin/Mach-O, SVr4, IBM RS/6000 AIX, QNX Neutrino, FDPIC (FR-V), and
18209 DSBT (TIC6X) shared libraries.
18210
18211 On MS-Windows @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support
18212 shared libraries. @xref{Expat}.
18213
18214 @value{GDBN} automatically loads symbol definitions from shared libraries
18215 when you use the @code{run} command, or when you examine a core file.
18216 (Before you issue the @code{run} command, @value{GDBN} does not understand
18217 references to a function in a shared library, however---unless you are
18218 debugging a core file).
18219
18220 @c FIXME: some @value{GDBN} release may permit some refs to undef
18221 @c FIXME...symbols---eg in a break cmd---assuming they are from a shared
18222 @c FIXME...lib; check this from time to time when updating manual
18223
18224 There are times, however, when you may wish to not automatically load
18225 symbol definitions from shared libraries, such as when they are
18226 particularly large or there are many of them.
18227
18228 To control the automatic loading of shared library symbols, use the
18229 commands:
18230
18231 @table @code
18232 @kindex set auto-solib-add
18233 @item set auto-solib-add @var{mode}
18234 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, symbols from all shared object libraries
18235 will be loaded automatically when the inferior begins execution, you
18236 attach to an independently started inferior, or when the dynamic linker
18237 informs @value{GDBN} that a new library has been loaded. If @var{mode}
18238 is @code{off}, symbols must be loaded manually, using the
18239 @code{sharedlibrary} command. The default value is @code{on}.
18240
18241 @cindex memory used for symbol tables
18242 If your program uses lots of shared libraries with debug info that
18243 takes large amounts of memory, you can decrease the @value{GDBN}
18244 memory footprint by preventing it from automatically loading the
18245 symbols from shared libraries. To that end, type @kbd{set
18246 auto-solib-add off} before running the inferior, then load each
18247 library whose debug symbols you do need with @kbd{sharedlibrary
18248 @var{regexp}}, where @var{regexp} is a regular expression that matches
18249 the libraries whose symbols you want to be loaded.
18250
18251 @kindex show auto-solib-add
18252 @item show auto-solib-add
18253 Display the current autoloading mode.
18254 @end table
18255
18256 @cindex load shared library
18257 To explicitly load shared library symbols, use the @code{sharedlibrary}
18258 command:
18259
18260 @table @code
18261 @kindex info sharedlibrary
18262 @kindex info share
18263 @item info share @var{regex}
18264 @itemx info sharedlibrary @var{regex}
18265 Print the names of the shared libraries which are currently loaded
18266 that match @var{regex}. If @var{regex} is omitted then print
18267 all shared libraries that are loaded.
18268
18269 @kindex info dll
18270 @item info dll @var{regex}
18271 This is an alias of @code{info sharedlibrary}.
18272
18273 @kindex sharedlibrary
18274 @kindex share
18275 @item sharedlibrary @var{regex}
18276 @itemx share @var{regex}
18277 Load shared object library symbols for files matching a
18278 Unix regular expression.
18279 As with files loaded automatically, it only loads shared libraries
18280 required by your program for a core file or after typing @code{run}. If
18281 @var{regex} is omitted all shared libraries required by your program are
18282 loaded.
18283
18284 @item nosharedlibrary
18285 @kindex nosharedlibrary
18286 @cindex unload symbols from shared libraries
18287 Unload all shared object library symbols. This discards all symbols
18288 that have been loaded from all shared libraries. Symbols from shared
18289 libraries that were loaded by explicit user requests are not
18290 discarded.
18291 @end table
18292
18293 Sometimes you may wish that @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control
18294 when any of shared library events happen. The best way to do this is
18295 to use @code{catch load} and @code{catch unload} (@pxref{Set
18296 Catchpoints}).
18297
18298 @value{GDBN} also supports the the @code{set stop-on-solib-events}
18299 command for this. This command exists for historical reasons. It is
18300 less useful than setting a catchpoint, because it does not allow for
18301 conditions or commands as a catchpoint does.
18302
18303 @table @code
18304 @item set stop-on-solib-events
18305 @kindex set stop-on-solib-events
18306 This command controls whether @value{GDBN} should give you control
18307 when the dynamic linker notifies it about some shared library event.
18308 The most common event of interest is loading or unloading of a new
18309 shared library.
18310
18311 @item show stop-on-solib-events
18312 @kindex show stop-on-solib-events
18313 Show whether @value{GDBN} stops and gives you control when shared
18314 library events happen.
18315 @end table
18316
18317 Shared libraries are also supported in many cross or remote debugging
18318 configurations. @value{GDBN} needs to have access to the target's libraries;
18319 this can be accomplished either by providing copies of the libraries
18320 on the host system, or by asking @value{GDBN} to automatically retrieve the
18321 libraries from the target. If copies of the target libraries are
18322 provided, they need to be the same as the target libraries, although the
18323 copies on the target can be stripped as long as the copies on the host are
18324 not.
18325
18326 @cindex where to look for shared libraries
18327 For remote debugging, you need to tell @value{GDBN} where the target
18328 libraries are, so that it can load the correct copies---otherwise, it
18329 may try to load the host's libraries. @value{GDBN} has two variables
18330 to specify the search directories for target libraries.
18331
18332 @table @code
18333 @cindex prefix for executable and shared library file names
18334 @cindex system root, alternate
18335 @kindex set solib-absolute-prefix
18336 @kindex set sysroot
18337 @item set sysroot @var{path}
18338 Use @var{path} as the system root for the program being debugged. Any
18339 absolute shared library paths will be prefixed with @var{path}; many
18340 runtime loaders store the absolute paths to the shared library in the
18341 target program's memory. When starting processes remotely, and when
18342 attaching to already-running processes (local or remote), their
18343 executable filenames will be prefixed with @var{path} if reported to
18344 @value{GDBN} as absolute by the operating system. If you use
18345 @code{set sysroot} to find executables and shared libraries, they need
18346 to be laid out in the same way that they are on the target, with
18347 e.g.@: a @file{/bin}, @file{/lib} and @file{/usr/lib} hierarchy under
18348 @var{path}.
18349
18350 If @var{path} starts with the sequence @file{target:} and the target
18351 system is remote then @value{GDBN} will retrieve the target binaries
18352 from the remote system. This is only supported when using a remote
18353 target that supports the @code{remote get} command (@pxref{File
18354 Transfer,,Sending files to a remote system}). The part of @var{path}
18355 following the initial @file{target:} (if present) is used as system
18356 root prefix on the remote file system. If @var{path} starts with the
18357 sequence @file{remote:} this is converted to the sequence
18358 @file{target:} by @code{set sysroot}@footnote{Historically the
18359 functionality to retrieve binaries from the remote system was
18360 provided by prefixing @var{path} with @file{remote:}}. If you want
18361 to specify a local system root using a directory that happens to be
18362 named @file{target:} or @file{remote:}, you need to use some
18363 equivalent variant of the name like @file{./target:}.
18364
18365 For targets with an MS-DOS based filesystem, such as MS-Windows and
18366 SymbianOS, @value{GDBN} tries prefixing a few variants of the target
18367 absolute file name with @var{path}. But first, on Unix hosts,
18368 @value{GDBN} converts all backslash directory separators into forward
18369 slashes, because the backslash is not a directory separator on Unix:
18370
18371 @smallexample
18372 c:\foo\bar.dll @result{} c:/foo/bar.dll
18373 @end smallexample
18374
18375 Then, @value{GDBN} attempts prefixing the target file name with
18376 @var{path}, and looks for the resulting file name in the host file
18377 system:
18378
18379 @smallexample
18380 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c:/foo/bar.dll
18381 @end smallexample
18382
18383 If that does not find the binary, @value{GDBN} tries removing
18384 the @samp{:} character from the drive spec, both for convenience, and,
18385 for the case of the host file system not supporting file names with
18386 colons:
18387
18388 @smallexample
18389 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/c/foo/bar.dll
18390 @end smallexample
18391
18392 This makes it possible to have a system root that mirrors a target
18393 with more than one drive. E.g., you may want to setup your local
18394 copies of the target system shared libraries like so (note @samp{c} vs
18395 @samp{z}):
18396
18397 @smallexample
18398 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/foo.dll}
18399 @file{/path/to/sysroot/c/sys/bin/bar.dll}
18400 @file{/path/to/sysroot/z/sys/bin/bar.dll}
18401 @end smallexample
18402
18403 @noindent
18404 and point the system root at @file{/path/to/sysroot}, so that
18405 @value{GDBN} can find the correct copies of both
18406 @file{c:\sys\bin\foo.dll}, and @file{z:\sys\bin\bar.dll}.
18407
18408 If that still does not find the binary, @value{GDBN} tries
18409 removing the whole drive spec from the target file name:
18410
18411 @smallexample
18412 c:/foo/bar.dll @result{} /path/to/sysroot/foo/bar.dll
18413 @end smallexample
18414
18415 This last lookup makes it possible to not care about the drive name,
18416 if you don't want or need to.
18417
18418 The @code{set solib-absolute-prefix} command is an alias for @code{set
18419 sysroot}.
18420
18421 @cindex default system root
18422 @cindex @samp{--with-sysroot}
18423 You can set the default system root by using the configure-time
18424 @samp{--with-sysroot} option. If the system root is inside
18425 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
18426 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default system root will be updated
18427 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
18428 location.
18429
18430 @kindex show sysroot
18431 @item show sysroot
18432 Display the current executable and shared library prefix.
18433
18434 @kindex set solib-search-path
18435 @item set solib-search-path @var{path}
18436 If this variable is set, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
18437 directories to search for shared libraries. @samp{solib-search-path}
18438 is used after @samp{sysroot} fails to locate the library, or if the
18439 path to the library is relative instead of absolute. If you want to
18440 use @samp{solib-search-path} instead of @samp{sysroot}, be sure to set
18441 @samp{sysroot} to a nonexistent directory to prevent @value{GDBN} from
18442 finding your host's libraries. @samp{sysroot} is preferred; setting
18443 it to a nonexistent directory may interfere with automatic loading
18444 of shared library symbols.
18445
18446 @kindex show solib-search-path
18447 @item show solib-search-path
18448 Display the current shared library search path.
18449
18450 @cindex DOS file-name semantics of file names.
18451 @kindex set target-file-system-kind (unix|dos-based|auto)
18452 @kindex show target-file-system-kind
18453 @item set target-file-system-kind @var{kind}
18454 Set assumed file system kind for target reported file names.
18455
18456 Shared library file names as reported by the target system may not
18457 make sense as is on the system @value{GDBN} is running on. For
18458 example, when remote debugging a target that has MS-DOS based file
18459 system semantics, from a Unix host, the target may be reporting to
18460 @value{GDBN} a list of loaded shared libraries with file names such as
18461 @file{c:\Windows\kernel32.dll}. On Unix hosts, there's no concept of
18462 drive letters, so the @samp{c:\} prefix is not normally understood as
18463 indicating an absolute file name, and neither is the backslash
18464 normally considered a directory separator character. In that case,
18465 the native file system would interpret this whole absolute file name
18466 as a relative file name with no directory components. This would make
18467 it impossible to point @value{GDBN} at a copy of the remote target's
18468 shared libraries on the host using @code{set sysroot}, and impractical
18469 with @code{set solib-search-path}. Setting
18470 @code{target-file-system-kind} to @code{dos-based} tells @value{GDBN}
18471 to interpret such file names similarly to how the target would, and to
18472 map them to file names valid on @value{GDBN}'s native file system
18473 semantics. The value of @var{kind} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition
18474 to one of the supported file system kinds. In that case, @value{GDBN}
18475 tries to determine the appropriate file system variant based on the
18476 current target's operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the
18477 Current ABI}). The supported file system settings are:
18478
18479 @table @code
18480 @item unix
18481 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is of Unix
18482 kind. Only file names starting the forward slash (@samp{/}) character
18483 are considered absolute, and the directory separator character is also
18484 the forward slash.
18485
18486 @item dos-based
18487 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target file system is DOS based.
18488 File names starting with either a forward slash, or a drive letter
18489 followed by a colon (e.g., @samp{c:}), are considered absolute, and
18490 both the slash (@samp{/}) and the backslash (@samp{\\}) characters are
18491 considered directory separators.
18492
18493 @item auto
18494 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the file system kind associated with the
18495 target operating system (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
18496 This is the default.
18497 @end table
18498 @end table
18499
18500 @cindex file name canonicalization
18501 @cindex base name differences
18502 When processing file names provided by the user, @value{GDBN}
18503 frequently needs to compare them to the file names recorded in the
18504 program's debug info. Normally, @value{GDBN} compares just the
18505 @dfn{base names} of the files as strings, which is reasonably fast
18506 even for very large programs. (The base name of a file is the last
18507 portion of its name, after stripping all the leading directories.)
18508 This shortcut in comparison is based upon the assumption that files
18509 cannot have more than one base name. This is usually true, but
18510 references to files that use symlinks or similar filesystem
18511 facilities violate that assumption. If your program records files
18512 using such facilities, or if you provide file names to @value{GDBN}
18513 using symlinks etc., you can set @code{basenames-may-differ} to
18514 @code{true} to instruct @value{GDBN} to completely canonicalize each
18515 pair of file names it needs to compare. This will make file-name
18516 comparisons accurate, but at a price of a significant slowdown.
18517
18518 @table @code
18519 @item set basenames-may-differ
18520 @kindex set basenames-may-differ
18521 Set whether a source file may have multiple base names.
18522
18523 @item show basenames-may-differ
18524 @kindex show basenames-may-differ
18525 Show whether a source file may have multiple base names.
18526 @end table
18527
18528 @node File Caching
18529 @section File Caching
18530 @cindex caching of opened files
18531 @cindex caching of bfd objects
18532
18533 To speed up file loading, and reduce memory usage, @value{GDBN} will
18534 reuse the @code{bfd} objects used to track open files. @xref{Top, ,
18535 BFD, bfd, The Binary File Descriptor Library}. The following commands
18536 allow visibility and control of the caching behavior.
18537
18538 @table @code
18539 @kindex maint info bfds
18540 @item maint info bfds
18541 This prints information about each @code{bfd} object that is known to
18542 @value{GDBN}.
18543
18544 @kindex maint set bfd-sharing
18545 @kindex maint show bfd-sharing
18546 @kindex bfd caching
18547 @item maint set bfd-sharing
18548 @item maint show bfd-sharing
18549 Control whether @code{bfd} objects can be shared. When sharing is
18550 enabled @value{GDBN} reuses already open @code{bfd} objects rather
18551 than reopening the same file. Turning sharing off does not cause
18552 already shared @code{bfd} objects to be unshared, but all future files
18553 that are opened will create a new @code{bfd} object. Similarly,
18554 re-enabling sharing does not cause multiple existing @code{bfd}
18555 objects to be collapsed into a single shared @code{bfd} object.
18556
18557 @kindex set debug bfd-cache @var{level}
18558 @kindex bfd caching
18559 @item set debug bfd-cache @var{level}
18560 Turns on debugging of the bfd cache, setting the level to @var{level}.
18561
18562 @kindex show debug bfd-cache
18563 @kindex bfd caching
18564 @item show debug bfd-cache
18565 Show the current debugging level of the bfd cache.
18566 @end table
18567
18568 @node Separate Debug Files
18569 @section Debugging Information in Separate Files
18570 @cindex separate debugging information files
18571 @cindex debugging information in separate files
18572 @cindex @file{.debug} subdirectories
18573 @cindex debugging information directory, global
18574 @cindex global debugging information directories
18575 @cindex build ID, and separate debugging files
18576 @cindex @file{.build-id} directory
18577
18578 @value{GDBN} allows you to put a program's debugging information in a
18579 file separate from the executable itself, in a way that allows
18580 @value{GDBN} to find and load the debugging information automatically.
18581 Since debugging information can be very large---sometimes larger
18582 than the executable code itself---some systems distribute debugging
18583 information for their executables in separate files, which users can
18584 install only when they need to debug a problem.
18585
18586 @value{GDBN} supports two ways of specifying the separate debug info
18587 file:
18588
18589 @itemize @bullet
18590 @item
18591 The executable contains a @dfn{debug link} that specifies the name of
18592 the separate debug info file. The separate debug file's name is
18593 usually @file{@var{executable}.debug}, where @var{executable} is the
18594 name of the corresponding executable file without leading directories
18595 (e.g., @file{ls.debug} for @file{/usr/bin/ls}). In addition, the
18596 debug link specifies a 32-bit @dfn{Cyclic Redundancy Check} (CRC)
18597 checksum for the debug file, which @value{GDBN} uses to validate that
18598 the executable and the debug file came from the same build.
18599
18600 @item
18601 The executable contains a @dfn{build ID}, a unique bit string that is
18602 also present in the corresponding debug info file. (This is supported
18603 only on some operating systems, when using the ELF or PE file formats
18604 for binary files and the @sc{gnu} Binutils.) For more details about
18605 this feature, see the description of the @option{--build-id}
18606 command-line option in @ref{Options, , Command Line Options, ld.info,
18607 The GNU Linker}. The debug info file's name is not specified
18608 explicitly by the build ID, but can be computed from the build ID, see
18609 below.
18610 @end itemize
18611
18612 Depending on the way the debug info file is specified, @value{GDBN}
18613 uses two different methods of looking for the debug file:
18614
18615 @itemize @bullet
18616 @item
18617 For the ``debug link'' method, @value{GDBN} looks up the named file in
18618 the directory of the executable file, then in a subdirectory of that
18619 directory named @file{.debug}, and finally under each one of the global debug
18620 directories, in a subdirectory whose name is identical to the leading
18621 directories of the executable's absolute file name.
18622
18623 @item
18624 For the ``build ID'' method, @value{GDBN} looks in the
18625 @file{.build-id} subdirectory of each one of the global debug directories for
18626 a file named @file{@var{nn}/@var{nnnnnnnn}.debug}, where @var{nn} are the
18627 first 2 hex characters of the build ID bit string, and @var{nnnnnnnn}
18628 are the rest of the bit string. (Real build ID strings are 32 or more
18629 hex characters, not 10.)
18630 @end itemize
18631
18632 So, for example, suppose you ask @value{GDBN} to debug
18633 @file{/usr/bin/ls}, which has a debug link that specifies the
18634 file @file{ls.debug}, and a build ID whose value in hex is
18635 @code{abcdef1234}. If the list of the global debug directories includes
18636 @file{/usr/lib/debug}, then @value{GDBN} will look for the following
18637 debug information files, in the indicated order:
18638
18639 @itemize @minus
18640 @item
18641 @file{/usr/lib/debug/.build-id/ab/cdef1234.debug}
18642 @item
18643 @file{/usr/bin/ls.debug}
18644 @item
18645 @file{/usr/bin/.debug/ls.debug}
18646 @item
18647 @file{/usr/lib/debug/usr/bin/ls.debug}.
18648 @end itemize
18649
18650 @anchor{debug-file-directory}
18651 Global debugging info directories default to what is set by @value{GDBN}
18652 configure option @option{--with-separate-debug-dir}. During @value{GDBN} run
18653 you can also set the global debugging info directories, and view the list
18654 @value{GDBN} is currently using.
18655
18656 @table @code
18657
18658 @kindex set debug-file-directory
18659 @item set debug-file-directory @var{directories}
18660 Set the directories which @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
18661 information files to @var{directory}. Multiple path components can be set
18662 concatenating them by a path separator.
18663
18664 @kindex show debug-file-directory
18665 @item show debug-file-directory
18666 Show the directories @value{GDBN} searches for separate debugging
18667 information files.
18668
18669 @end table
18670
18671 @cindex @code{.gnu_debuglink} sections
18672 @cindex debug link sections
18673 A debug link is a special section of the executable file named
18674 @code{.gnu_debuglink}. The section must contain:
18675
18676 @itemize
18677 @item
18678 A filename, with any leading directory components removed, followed by
18679 a zero byte,
18680 @item
18681 zero to three bytes of padding, as needed to reach the next four-byte
18682 boundary within the section, and
18683 @item
18684 a four-byte CRC checksum, stored in the same endianness used for the
18685 executable file itself. The checksum is computed on the debugging
18686 information file's full contents by the function given below, passing
18687 zero as the @var{crc} argument.
18688 @end itemize
18689
18690 Any executable file format can carry a debug link, as long as it can
18691 contain a section named @code{.gnu_debuglink} with the contents
18692 described above.
18693
18694 @cindex @code{.note.gnu.build-id} sections
18695 @cindex build ID sections
18696 The build ID is a special section in the executable file (and in other
18697 ELF binary files that @value{GDBN} may consider). This section is
18698 often named @code{.note.gnu.build-id}, but that name is not mandatory.
18699 It contains unique identification for the built files---the ID remains
18700 the same across multiple builds of the same build tree. The default
18701 algorithm SHA1 produces 160 bits (40 hexadecimal characters) of the
18702 content for the build ID string. The same section with an identical
18703 value is present in the original built binary with symbols, in its
18704 stripped variant, and in the separate debugging information file.
18705
18706 The debugging information file itself should be an ordinary
18707 executable, containing a full set of linker symbols, sections, and
18708 debugging information. The sections of the debugging information file
18709 should have the same names, addresses, and sizes as the original file,
18710 but they need not contain any data---much like a @code{.bss} section
18711 in an ordinary executable.
18712
18713 The @sc{gnu} binary utilities (Binutils) package includes the
18714 @samp{objcopy} utility that can produce
18715 the separated executable / debugging information file pairs using the
18716 following commands:
18717
18718 @smallexample
18719 @kbd{objcopy --only-keep-debug foo foo.debug}
18720 @kbd{strip -g foo}
18721 @end smallexample
18722
18723 @noindent
18724 These commands remove the debugging
18725 information from the executable file @file{foo} and place it in the file
18726 @file{foo.debug}. You can use the first, second or both methods to link the
18727 two files:
18728
18729 @itemize @bullet
18730 @item
18731 The debug link method needs the following additional command to also leave
18732 behind a debug link in @file{foo}:
18733
18734 @smallexample
18735 @kbd{objcopy --add-gnu-debuglink=foo.debug foo}
18736 @end smallexample
18737
18738 Ulrich Drepper's @file{elfutils} package, starting with version 0.53, contains
18739 a version of the @code{strip} command such that the command @kbd{strip foo -f
18740 foo.debug} has the same functionality as the two @code{objcopy} commands and
18741 the @code{ln -s} command above, together.
18742
18743 @item
18744 Build ID gets embedded into the main executable using @code{ld --build-id} or
18745 the @value{NGCC} counterpart @code{gcc -Wl,--build-id}. Build ID support plus
18746 compatibility fixes for debug files separation are present in @sc{gnu} binary
18747 utilities (Binutils) package since version 2.18.
18748 @end itemize
18749
18750 @noindent
18751
18752 @cindex CRC algorithm definition
18753 The CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink} is the CRC-32 defined in
18754 IEEE 802.3 using the polynomial:
18755
18756 @c TexInfo requires naked braces for multi-digit exponents for Tex
18757 @c output, but this causes HTML output to barf. HTML has to be set using
18758 @c raw commands. So we end up having to specify this equation in 2
18759 @c different ways!
18760 @ifhtml
18761 @display
18762 @html
18763 <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>
18764 + <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
18765 @end html
18766 @end display
18767 @end ifhtml
18768 @ifnothtml
18769 @display
18770 @math{x^{32} + x^{26} + x^{23} + x^{22} + x^{16} + x^{12} + x^{11}}
18771 @math{+ x^{10} + x^8 + x^7 + x^5 + x^4 + x^2 + x + 1}
18772 @end display
18773 @end ifnothtml
18774
18775 The function is computed byte at a time, taking the least
18776 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern
18777 @code{0xffffffff} is used, to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC and
18778 the final result is inverted to ensure trailing zeros also affect the
18779 CRC.
18780
18781 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC polynomial as used in handling the
18782 @dfn{Remote Serial Protocol} @code{qCRC} packet (@pxref{qCRC packet}).
18783 However in the case of the Remote Serial Protocol, the CRC is computed
18784 @emph{most} significant bit first, and the result is not inverted, so
18785 trailing zeros have no effect on the CRC value.
18786
18787 To complete the description, we show below the code of the function
18788 which produces the CRC used in @code{.gnu_debuglink}. Inverting the
18789 initially supplied @code{crc} argument means that an initial call to
18790 this function passing in zero will start computing the CRC using
18791 @code{0xffffffff}.
18792
18793 @kindex gnu_debuglink_crc32
18794 @smallexample
18795 unsigned long
18796 gnu_debuglink_crc32 (unsigned long crc,
18797 unsigned char *buf, size_t len)
18798 @{
18799 static const unsigned long crc32_table[256] =
18800 @{
18801 0x00000000, 0x77073096, 0xee0e612c, 0x990951ba, 0x076dc419,
18802 0x706af48f, 0xe963a535, 0x9e6495a3, 0x0edb8832, 0x79dcb8a4,
18803 0xe0d5e91e, 0x97d2d988, 0x09b64c2b, 0x7eb17cbd, 0xe7b82d07,
18804 0x90bf1d91, 0x1db71064, 0x6ab020f2, 0xf3b97148, 0x84be41de,
18805 0x1adad47d, 0x6ddde4eb, 0xf4d4b551, 0x83d385c7, 0x136c9856,
18806 0x646ba8c0, 0xfd62f97a, 0x8a65c9ec, 0x14015c4f, 0x63066cd9,
18807 0xfa0f3d63, 0x8d080df5, 0x3b6e20c8, 0x4c69105e, 0xd56041e4,
18808 0xa2677172, 0x3c03e4d1, 0x4b04d447, 0xd20d85fd, 0xa50ab56b,
18809 0x35b5a8fa, 0x42b2986c, 0xdbbbc9d6, 0xacbcf940, 0x32d86ce3,
18810 0x45df5c75, 0xdcd60dcf, 0xabd13d59, 0x26d930ac, 0x51de003a,
18811 0xc8d75180, 0xbfd06116, 0x21b4f4b5, 0x56b3c423, 0xcfba9599,
18812 0xb8bda50f, 0x2802b89e, 0x5f058808, 0xc60cd9b2, 0xb10be924,
18813 0x2f6f7c87, 0x58684c11, 0xc1611dab, 0xb6662d3d, 0x76dc4190,
18814 0x01db7106, 0x98d220bc, 0xefd5102a, 0x71b18589, 0x06b6b51f,
18815 0x9fbfe4a5, 0xe8b8d433, 0x7807c9a2, 0x0f00f934, 0x9609a88e,
18816 0xe10e9818, 0x7f6a0dbb, 0x086d3d2d, 0x91646c97, 0xe6635c01,
18817 0x6b6b51f4, 0x1c6c6162, 0x856530d8, 0xf262004e, 0x6c0695ed,
18818 0x1b01a57b, 0x8208f4c1, 0xf50fc457, 0x65b0d9c6, 0x12b7e950,
18819 0x8bbeb8ea, 0xfcb9887c, 0x62dd1ddf, 0x15da2d49, 0x8cd37cf3,
18820 0xfbd44c65, 0x4db26158, 0x3ab551ce, 0xa3bc0074, 0xd4bb30e2,
18821 0x4adfa541, 0x3dd895d7, 0xa4d1c46d, 0xd3d6f4fb, 0x4369e96a,
18822 0x346ed9fc, 0xad678846, 0xda60b8d0, 0x44042d73, 0x33031de5,
18823 0xaa0a4c5f, 0xdd0d7cc9, 0x5005713c, 0x270241aa, 0xbe0b1010,
18824 0xc90c2086, 0x5768b525, 0x206f85b3, 0xb966d409, 0xce61e49f,
18825 0x5edef90e, 0x29d9c998, 0xb0d09822, 0xc7d7a8b4, 0x59b33d17,
18826 0x2eb40d81, 0xb7bd5c3b, 0xc0ba6cad, 0xedb88320, 0x9abfb3b6,
18827 0x03b6e20c, 0x74b1d29a, 0xead54739, 0x9dd277af, 0x04db2615,
18828 0x73dc1683, 0xe3630b12, 0x94643b84, 0x0d6d6a3e, 0x7a6a5aa8,
18829 0xe40ecf0b, 0x9309ff9d, 0x0a00ae27, 0x7d079eb1, 0xf00f9344,
18830 0x8708a3d2, 0x1e01f268, 0x6906c2fe, 0xf762575d, 0x806567cb,
18831 0x196c3671, 0x6e6b06e7, 0xfed41b76, 0x89d32be0, 0x10da7a5a,
18832 0x67dd4acc, 0xf9b9df6f, 0x8ebeeff9, 0x17b7be43, 0x60b08ed5,
18833 0xd6d6a3e8, 0xa1d1937e, 0x38d8c2c4, 0x4fdff252, 0xd1bb67f1,
18834 0xa6bc5767, 0x3fb506dd, 0x48b2364b, 0xd80d2bda, 0xaf0a1b4c,
18835 0x36034af6, 0x41047a60, 0xdf60efc3, 0xa867df55, 0x316e8eef,
18836 0x4669be79, 0xcb61b38c, 0xbc66831a, 0x256fd2a0, 0x5268e236,
18837 0xcc0c7795, 0xbb0b4703, 0x220216b9, 0x5505262f, 0xc5ba3bbe,
18838 0xb2bd0b28, 0x2bb45a92, 0x5cb36a04, 0xc2d7ffa7, 0xb5d0cf31,
18839 0x2cd99e8b, 0x5bdeae1d, 0x9b64c2b0, 0xec63f226, 0x756aa39c,
18840 0x026d930a, 0x9c0906a9, 0xeb0e363f, 0x72076785, 0x05005713,
18841 0x95bf4a82, 0xe2b87a14, 0x7bb12bae, 0x0cb61b38, 0x92d28e9b,
18842 0xe5d5be0d, 0x7cdcefb7, 0x0bdbdf21, 0x86d3d2d4, 0xf1d4e242,
18843 0x68ddb3f8, 0x1fda836e, 0x81be16cd, 0xf6b9265b, 0x6fb077e1,
18844 0x18b74777, 0x88085ae6, 0xff0f6a70, 0x66063bca, 0x11010b5c,
18845 0x8f659eff, 0xf862ae69, 0x616bffd3, 0x166ccf45, 0xa00ae278,
18846 0xd70dd2ee, 0x4e048354, 0x3903b3c2, 0xa7672661, 0xd06016f7,
18847 0x4969474d, 0x3e6e77db, 0xaed16a4a, 0xd9d65adc, 0x40df0b66,
18848 0x37d83bf0, 0xa9bcae53, 0xdebb9ec5, 0x47b2cf7f, 0x30b5ffe9,
18849 0xbdbdf21c, 0xcabac28a, 0x53b39330, 0x24b4a3a6, 0xbad03605,
18850 0xcdd70693, 0x54de5729, 0x23d967bf, 0xb3667a2e, 0xc4614ab8,
18851 0x5d681b02, 0x2a6f2b94, 0xb40bbe37, 0xc30c8ea1, 0x5a05df1b,
18852 0x2d02ef8d
18853 @};
18854 unsigned char *end;
18855
18856 crc = ~crc & 0xffffffff;
18857 for (end = buf + len; buf < end; ++buf)
18858 crc = crc32_table[(crc ^ *buf) & 0xff] ^ (crc >> 8);
18859 return ~crc & 0xffffffff;
18860 @}
18861 @end smallexample
18862
18863 @noindent
18864 This computation does not apply to the ``build ID'' method.
18865
18866 @node MiniDebugInfo
18867 @section Debugging information in a special section
18868 @cindex separate debug sections
18869 @cindex @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section
18870
18871 Some systems ship pre-built executables and libraries that have a
18872 special @samp{.gnu_debugdata} section. This feature is called
18873 @dfn{MiniDebugInfo}. This section holds an LZMA-compressed object and
18874 is used to supply extra symbols for backtraces.
18875
18876 The intent of this section is to provide extra minimal debugging
18877 information for use in simple backtraces. It is not intended to be a
18878 replacement for full separate debugging information (@pxref{Separate
18879 Debug Files}). The example below shows the intended use; however,
18880 @value{GDBN} does not currently put restrictions on what sort of
18881 debugging information might be included in the section.
18882
18883 @value{GDBN} has support for this extension. If the section exists,
18884 then it is used provided that no other source of debugging information
18885 can be found, and that @value{GDBN} was configured with LZMA support.
18886
18887 This section can be easily created using @command{objcopy} and other
18888 standard utilities:
18889
18890 @smallexample
18891 # Extract the dynamic symbols from the main binary, there is no need
18892 # to also have these in the normal symbol table.
18893 nm -D @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
18894 | awk '@{ print $1 @}' | sort > dynsyms
18895
18896 # Extract all the text (i.e. function) symbols from the debuginfo.
18897 # (Note that we actually also accept "D" symbols, for the benefit
18898 # of platforms like PowerPC64 that use function descriptors.)
18899 nm @var{binary} --format=posix --defined-only \
18900 | awk '@{ if ($2 == "T" || $2 == "t" || $2 == "D") print $1 @}' \
18901 | sort > funcsyms
18902
18903 # Keep all the function symbols not already in the dynamic symbol
18904 # table.
18905 comm -13 dynsyms funcsyms > keep_symbols
18906
18907 # Separate full debug info into debug binary.
18908 objcopy --only-keep-debug @var{binary} debug
18909
18910 # Copy the full debuginfo, keeping only a minimal set of symbols and
18911 # removing some unnecessary sections.
18912 objcopy -S --remove-section .gdb_index --remove-section .comment \
18913 --keep-symbols=keep_symbols debug mini_debuginfo
18914
18915 # Drop the full debug info from the original binary.
18916 strip --strip-all -R .comment @var{binary}
18917
18918 # Inject the compressed data into the .gnu_debugdata section of the
18919 # original binary.
18920 xz mini_debuginfo
18921 objcopy --add-section .gnu_debugdata=mini_debuginfo.xz @var{binary}
18922 @end smallexample
18923
18924 @node Index Files
18925 @section Index Files Speed Up @value{GDBN}
18926 @cindex index files
18927 @cindex @samp{.gdb_index} section
18928
18929 When @value{GDBN} finds a symbol file, it scans the symbols in the
18930 file in order to construct an internal symbol table. This lets most
18931 @value{GDBN} operations work quickly---at the cost of a delay early
18932 on. For large programs, this delay can be quite lengthy, so
18933 @value{GDBN} provides a way to build an index, which speeds up
18934 startup.
18935
18936 The index is stored as a section in the symbol file. @value{GDBN} can
18937 write the index to a file, then you can put it into the symbol file
18938 using @command{objcopy}.
18939
18940 To create an index file, use the @code{save gdb-index} command:
18941
18942 @table @code
18943 @item save gdb-index @var{directory}
18944 @kindex save gdb-index
18945 Create an index file for each symbol file currently known by
18946 @value{GDBN}. Each file is named after its corresponding symbol file,
18947 with @samp{.gdb-index} appended, and is written into the given
18948 @var{directory}.
18949 @end table
18950
18951 Once you have created an index file you can merge it into your symbol
18952 file, here named @file{symfile}, using @command{objcopy}:
18953
18954 @smallexample
18955 $ objcopy --add-section .gdb_index=symfile.gdb-index \
18956 --set-section-flags .gdb_index=readonly symfile symfile
18957 @end smallexample
18958
18959 @value{GDBN} will normally ignore older versions of @file{.gdb_index}
18960 sections that have been deprecated. Usually they are deprecated because
18961 they are missing a new feature or have performance issues.
18962 To tell @value{GDBN} to use a deprecated index section anyway
18963 specify @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
18964 The default is @code{off}.
18965 This can speed up startup, but may result in some functionality being lost.
18966 @xref{Index Section Format}.
18967
18968 @emph{Warning:} Setting @code{use-deprecated-index-sections} to @code{on}
18969 must be done before gdb reads the file. The following will not work:
18970
18971 @smallexample
18972 $ gdb -ex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
18973 @end smallexample
18974
18975 Instead you must do, for example,
18976
18977 @smallexample
18978 $ gdb -iex "set use-deprecated-index-sections on" <program>
18979 @end smallexample
18980
18981 There are currently some limitation on indices. They only work when
18982 for DWARF debugging information, not stabs. And, they do not
18983 currently work for programs using Ada.
18984
18985 @node Symbol Errors
18986 @section Errors Reading Symbol Files
18987
18988 While reading a symbol file, @value{GDBN} occasionally encounters problems,
18989 such as symbol types it does not recognize, or known bugs in compiler
18990 output. By default, @value{GDBN} does not notify you of such problems, since
18991 they are relatively common and primarily of interest to people
18992 debugging compilers. If you are interested in seeing information
18993 about ill-constructed symbol tables, you can either ask @value{GDBN} to print
18994 only one message about each such type of problem, no matter how many
18995 times the problem occurs; or you can ask @value{GDBN} to print more messages,
18996 to see how many times the problems occur, with the @code{set
18997 complaints} command (@pxref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
18998 Messages}).
18999
19000 The messages currently printed, and their meanings, include:
19001
19002 @table @code
19003 @item inner block not inside outer block in @var{symbol}
19004
19005 The symbol information shows where symbol scopes begin and end
19006 (such as at the start of a function or a block of statements). This
19007 error indicates that an inner scope block is not fully contained
19008 in its outer scope blocks.
19009
19010 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the inner block as if it had
19011 the same scope as the outer block. In the error message, @var{symbol}
19012 may be shown as ``@code{(don't know)}'' if the outer block is not a
19013 function.
19014
19015 @item block at @var{address} out of order
19016
19017 The symbol information for symbol scope blocks should occur in
19018 order of increasing addresses. This error indicates that it does not
19019 do so.
19020
19021 @value{GDBN} does not circumvent this problem, and has trouble
19022 locating symbols in the source file whose symbols it is reading. (You
19023 can often determine what source file is affected by specifying
19024 @code{set verbose on}. @xref{Messages/Warnings, ,Optional Warnings and
19025 Messages}.)
19026
19027 @item bad block start address patched
19028
19029 The symbol information for a symbol scope block has a start address
19030 smaller than the address of the preceding source line. This is known
19031 to occur in the SunOS 4.1.1 (and earlier) C compiler.
19032
19033 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by treating the symbol scope block as
19034 starting on the previous source line.
19035
19036 @item bad string table offset in symbol @var{n}
19037
19038 @cindex foo
19039 Symbol number @var{n} contains a pointer into the string table which is
19040 larger than the size of the string table.
19041
19042 @value{GDBN} circumvents the problem by considering the symbol to have the
19043 name @code{foo}, which may cause other problems if many symbols end up
19044 with this name.
19045
19046 @item unknown symbol type @code{0x@var{nn}}
19047
19048 The symbol information contains new data types that @value{GDBN} does
19049 not yet know how to read. @code{0x@var{nn}} is the symbol type of the
19050 uncomprehended information, in hexadecimal.
19051
19052 @value{GDBN} circumvents the error by ignoring this symbol information.
19053 This usually allows you to debug your program, though certain symbols
19054 are not accessible. If you encounter such a problem and feel like
19055 debugging it, you can debug @code{@value{GDBP}} with itself, breakpoint
19056 on @code{complain}, then go up to the function @code{read_dbx_symtab}
19057 and examine @code{*bufp} to see the symbol.
19058
19059 @item stub type has NULL name
19060
19061 @value{GDBN} could not find the full definition for a struct or class.
19062
19063 @item const/volatile indicator missing (ok if using g++ v1.x), got@dots{}
19064 The symbol information for a C@t{++} member function is missing some
19065 information that recent versions of the compiler should have output for
19066 it.
19067
19068 @item info mismatch between compiler and debugger
19069
19070 @value{GDBN} could not parse a type specification output by the compiler.
19071
19072 @end table
19073
19074 @node Data Files
19075 @section GDB Data Files
19076
19077 @cindex prefix for data files
19078 @value{GDBN} will sometimes read an auxiliary data file. These files
19079 are kept in a directory known as the @dfn{data directory}.
19080
19081 You can set the data directory's name, and view the name @value{GDBN}
19082 is currently using.
19083
19084 @table @code
19085 @kindex set data-directory
19086 @item set data-directory @var{directory}
19087 Set the directory which @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files
19088 to @var{directory}.
19089
19090 @kindex show data-directory
19091 @item show data-directory
19092 Show the directory @value{GDBN} searches for auxiliary data files.
19093 @end table
19094
19095 @cindex default data directory
19096 @cindex @samp{--with-gdb-datadir}
19097 You can set the default data directory by using the configure-time
19098 @samp{--with-gdb-datadir} option. If the data directory is inside
19099 @value{GDBN}'s configured binary prefix (set with @samp{--prefix} or
19100 @samp{--exec-prefix}), then the default data directory will be updated
19101 automatically if the installed @value{GDBN} is moved to a new
19102 location.
19103
19104 The data directory may also be specified with the
19105 @code{--data-directory} command line option.
19106 @xref{Mode Options}.
19107
19108 @node Targets
19109 @chapter Specifying a Debugging Target
19110
19111 @cindex debugging target
19112 A @dfn{target} is the execution environment occupied by your program.
19113
19114 Often, @value{GDBN} runs in the same host environment as your program;
19115 in that case, the debugging target is specified as a side effect when
19116 you use the @code{file} or @code{core} commands. When you need more
19117 flexibility---for example, running @value{GDBN} on a physically separate
19118 host, or controlling a standalone system over a serial port or a
19119 realtime system over a TCP/IP connection---you can use the @code{target}
19120 command to specify one of the target types configured for @value{GDBN}
19121 (@pxref{Target Commands, ,Commands for Managing Targets}).
19122
19123 @cindex target architecture
19124 It is possible to build @value{GDBN} for several different @dfn{target
19125 architectures}. When @value{GDBN} is built like that, you can choose
19126 one of the available architectures with the @kbd{set architecture}
19127 command.
19128
19129 @table @code
19130 @kindex set architecture
19131 @kindex show architecture
19132 @item set architecture @var{arch}
19133 This command sets the current target architecture to @var{arch}. The
19134 value of @var{arch} can be @code{"auto"}, in addition to one of the
19135 supported architectures.
19136
19137 @item show architecture
19138 Show the current target architecture.
19139
19140 @item set processor
19141 @itemx processor
19142 @kindex set processor
19143 @kindex show processor
19144 These are alias commands for, respectively, @code{set architecture}
19145 and @code{show architecture}.
19146 @end table
19147
19148 @menu
19149 * Active Targets:: Active targets
19150 * Target Commands:: Commands for managing targets
19151 * Byte Order:: Choosing target byte order
19152 @end menu
19153
19154 @node Active Targets
19155 @section Active Targets
19156
19157 @cindex stacking targets
19158 @cindex active targets
19159 @cindex multiple targets
19160
19161 There are multiple classes of targets such as: processes, executable files or
19162 recording sessions. Core files belong to the process class, making core file
19163 and process mutually exclusive. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} can work concurrently
19164 on multiple active targets, one in each class. This allows you to (for
19165 example) start a process and inspect its activity, while still having access to
19166 the executable file after the process finishes. Or if you start process
19167 recording (@pxref{Reverse Execution}) and @code{reverse-step} there, you are
19168 presented a virtual layer of the recording target, while the process target
19169 remains stopped at the chronologically last point of the process execution.
19170
19171 Use the @code{core-file} and @code{exec-file} commands to select a new core
19172 file or executable target (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}). To
19173 specify as a target a process that is already running, use the @code{attach}
19174 command (@pxref{Attach, ,Debugging an Already-running Process}).
19175
19176 @node Target Commands
19177 @section Commands for Managing Targets
19178
19179 @table @code
19180 @item target @var{type} @var{parameters}
19181 Connects the @value{GDBN} host environment to a target machine or
19182 process. A target is typically a protocol for talking to debugging
19183 facilities. You use the argument @var{type} to specify the type or
19184 protocol of the target machine.
19185
19186 Further @var{parameters} are interpreted by the target protocol, but
19187 typically include things like device names or host names to connect
19188 with, process numbers, and baud rates.
19189
19190 The @code{target} command does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again
19191 after executing the command.
19192
19193 @kindex help target
19194 @item help target
19195 Displays the names of all targets available. To display targets
19196 currently selected, use either @code{info target} or @code{info files}
19197 (@pxref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}).
19198
19199 @item help target @var{name}
19200 Describe a particular target, including any parameters necessary to
19201 select it.
19202
19203 @kindex set gnutarget
19204 @item set gnutarget @var{args}
19205 @value{GDBN} uses its own library BFD to read your files. @value{GDBN}
19206 knows whether it is reading an @dfn{executable},
19207 a @dfn{core}, or a @dfn{.o} file; however, you can specify the file format
19208 with the @code{set gnutarget} command. Unlike most @code{target} commands,
19209 with @code{gnutarget} the @code{target} refers to a program, not a machine.
19210
19211 @quotation
19212 @emph{Warning:} To specify a file format with @code{set gnutarget},
19213 you must know the actual BFD name.
19214 @end quotation
19215
19216 @noindent
19217 @xref{Files, , Commands to Specify Files}.
19218
19219 @kindex show gnutarget
19220 @item show gnutarget
19221 Use the @code{show gnutarget} command to display what file format
19222 @code{gnutarget} is set to read. If you have not set @code{gnutarget},
19223 @value{GDBN} will determine the file format for each file automatically,
19224 and @code{show gnutarget} displays @samp{The current BFD target is "auto"}.
19225 @end table
19226
19227 @cindex common targets
19228 Here are some common targets (available, or not, depending on the GDB
19229 configuration):
19230
19231 @table @code
19232 @kindex target
19233 @item target exec @var{program}
19234 @cindex executable file target
19235 An executable file. @samp{target exec @var{program}} is the same as
19236 @samp{exec-file @var{program}}.
19237
19238 @item target core @var{filename}
19239 @cindex core dump file target
19240 A core dump file. @samp{target core @var{filename}} is the same as
19241 @samp{core-file @var{filename}}.
19242
19243 @item target remote @var{medium}
19244 @cindex remote target
19245 A remote system connected to @value{GDBN} via a serial line or network
19246 connection. This command tells @value{GDBN} to use its own remote
19247 protocol over @var{medium} for debugging. @xref{Remote Debugging}.
19248
19249 For example, if you have a board connected to @file{/dev/ttya} on the
19250 machine running @value{GDBN}, you could say:
19251
19252 @smallexample
19253 target remote /dev/ttya
19254 @end smallexample
19255
19256 @code{target remote} supports the @code{load} command. This is only
19257 useful if you have some other way of getting the stub to the target
19258 system, and you can put it somewhere in memory where it won't get
19259 clobbered by the download.
19260
19261 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
19262 @cindex built-in simulator target
19263 Builtin CPU simulator. @value{GDBN} includes simulators for most architectures.
19264 In general,
19265 @smallexample
19266 target sim
19267 load
19268 run
19269 @end smallexample
19270 @noindent
19271 works; however, you cannot assume that a specific memory map, device
19272 drivers, or even basic I/O is available, although some simulators do
19273 provide these. For info about any processor-specific simulator details,
19274 see the appropriate section in @ref{Embedded Processors, ,Embedded
19275 Processors}.
19276
19277 @item target native
19278 @cindex native target
19279 Setup for local/native process debugging. Useful to make the
19280 @code{run} command spawn native processes (likewise @code{attach},
19281 etc.@:) even when @code{set auto-connect-native-target} is @code{off}
19282 (@pxref{set auto-connect-native-target}).
19283
19284 @end table
19285
19286 Different targets are available on different configurations of @value{GDBN};
19287 your configuration may have more or fewer targets.
19288
19289 Many remote targets require you to download the executable's code once
19290 you've successfully established a connection. You may wish to control
19291 various aspects of this process.
19292
19293 @table @code
19294
19295 @item set hash
19296 @kindex set hash@r{, for remote monitors}
19297 @cindex hash mark while downloading
19298 This command controls whether a hash mark @samp{#} is displayed while
19299 downloading a file to the remote monitor. If on, a hash mark is
19300 displayed after each S-record is successfully downloaded to the
19301 monitor.
19302
19303 @item show hash
19304 @kindex show hash@r{, for remote monitors}
19305 Show the current status of displaying the hash mark.
19306
19307 @item set debug monitor
19308 @kindex set debug monitor
19309 @cindex display remote monitor communications
19310 Enable or disable display of communications messages between
19311 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
19312
19313 @item show debug monitor
19314 @kindex show debug monitor
19315 Show the current status of displaying communications between
19316 @value{GDBN} and the remote monitor.
19317 @end table
19318
19319 @table @code
19320
19321 @kindex load @var{filename}
19322 @item load @var{filename}
19323 @anchor{load}
19324 Depending on what remote debugging facilities are configured into
19325 @value{GDBN}, the @code{load} command may be available. Where it exists, it
19326 is meant to make @var{filename} (an executable) available for debugging
19327 on the remote system---by downloading, or dynamic linking, for example.
19328 @code{load} also records the @var{filename} symbol table in @value{GDBN}, like
19329 the @code{add-symbol-file} command.
19330
19331 If your @value{GDBN} does not have a @code{load} command, attempting to
19332 execute it gets the error message ``@code{You can't do that when your
19333 target is @dots{}}''
19334
19335 The file is loaded at whatever address is specified in the executable.
19336 For some object file formats, you can specify the load address when you
19337 link the program; for other formats, like a.out, the object file format
19338 specifies a fixed address.
19339 @c FIXME! This would be a good place for an xref to the GNU linker doc.
19340
19341 Depending on the remote side capabilities, @value{GDBN} may be able to
19342 load programs into flash memory.
19343
19344 @code{load} does not repeat if you press @key{RET} again after using it.
19345 @end table
19346
19347 @node Byte Order
19348 @section Choosing Target Byte Order
19349
19350 @cindex choosing target byte order
19351 @cindex target byte order
19352
19353 Some types of processors, such as the @acronym{MIPS}, PowerPC, and Renesas SH,
19354 offer the ability to run either big-endian or little-endian byte
19355 orders. Usually the executable or symbol will include a bit to
19356 designate the endian-ness, and you will not need to worry about
19357 which to use. However, you may still find it useful to adjust
19358 @value{GDBN}'s idea of processor endian-ness manually.
19359
19360 @table @code
19361 @kindex set endian
19362 @item set endian big
19363 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is big-endian.
19364
19365 @item set endian little
19366 Instruct @value{GDBN} to assume the target is little-endian.
19367
19368 @item set endian auto
19369 Instruct @value{GDBN} to use the byte order associated with the
19370 executable.
19371
19372 @item show endian
19373 Display @value{GDBN}'s current idea of the target byte order.
19374
19375 @end table
19376
19377 Note that these commands merely adjust interpretation of symbolic
19378 data on the host, and that they have absolutely no effect on the
19379 target system.
19380
19381
19382 @node Remote Debugging
19383 @chapter Debugging Remote Programs
19384 @cindex remote debugging
19385
19386 If you are trying to debug a program running on a machine that cannot run
19387 @value{GDBN} in the usual way, it is often useful to use remote debugging.
19388 For example, you might use remote debugging on an operating system kernel,
19389 or on a small system which does not have a general purpose operating system
19390 powerful enough to run a full-featured debugger.
19391
19392 Some configurations of @value{GDBN} have special serial or TCP/IP interfaces
19393 to make this work with particular debugging targets. In addition,
19394 @value{GDBN} comes with a generic serial protocol (specific to @value{GDBN},
19395 but not specific to any particular target system) which you can use if you
19396 write the remote stubs---the code that runs on the remote system to
19397 communicate with @value{GDBN}.
19398
19399 Other remote targets may be available in your
19400 configuration of @value{GDBN}; use @code{help target} to list them.
19401
19402 @menu
19403 * Connecting:: Connecting to a remote target
19404 * File Transfer:: Sending files to a remote system
19405 * Server:: Using the gdbserver program
19406 * Remote Configuration:: Remote configuration
19407 * Remote Stub:: Implementing a remote stub
19408 @end menu
19409
19410 @node Connecting
19411 @section Connecting to a Remote Target
19412 @cindex remote debugging, connecting
19413 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, connecting
19414 @cindex remote debugging, types of connections
19415 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, types of connections
19416 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, @code{target remote} mode
19417 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, @code{target extended-remote} mode
19418
19419 This section describes how to connect to a remote target, including the
19420 types of connections and their differences, how to set up executable and
19421 symbol files on the host and target, and the commands used for
19422 connecting to and disconnecting from the remote target.
19423
19424 @subsection Types of Remote Connections
19425
19426 @value{GDBN} supports two types of remote connections, @code{target remote}
19427 mode and @code{target extended-remote} mode. Note that many remote targets
19428 support only @code{target remote} mode. There are several major
19429 differences between the two types of connections, enumerated here:
19430
19431 @table @asis
19432
19433 @cindex remote debugging, detach and program exit
19434 @item Result of detach or program exit
19435 @strong{With target remote mode:} When the debugged program exits or you
19436 detach from it, @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target. When using
19437 @code{gdbserver}, @code{gdbserver} will exit.
19438
19439 @strong{With target extended-remote mode:} When the debugged program exits or
19440 you detach from it, @value{GDBN} remains connected to the target, even
19441 though no program is running. You can rerun the program, attach to a
19442 running program, or use @code{monitor} commands specific to the target.
19443
19444 When using @code{gdbserver} in this case, it does not exit unless it was
19445 invoked using the @option{--once} option. If the @option{--once} option
19446 was not used, you can ask @code{gdbserver} to exit using the
19447 @code{monitor exit} command (@pxref{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}).
19448
19449 @item Specifying the program to debug
19450 For both connection types you use the @code{file} command to specify the
19451 program on the host system. If you are using @code{gdbserver} there are
19452 some differences in how to specify the location of the program on the
19453 target.
19454
19455 @strong{With target remote mode:} You must either specify the program to debug
19456 on the @code{gdbserver} command line or use the @option{--attach} option
19457 (@pxref{Attaching to a program,,Attaching to a Running Program}).
19458
19459 @cindex @option{--multi}, @code{gdbserver} option
19460 @strong{With target extended-remote mode:} You may specify the program to debug
19461 on the @code{gdbserver} command line, or you can load the program or attach
19462 to it using @value{GDBN} commands after connecting to @code{gdbserver}.
19463
19464 @anchor{--multi Option in Types of Remote Connnections}
19465 You can start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
19466 or process ID to attach. To do this, use the @option{--multi} command line
19467 option. Then you can connect using @code{target extended-remote} and start
19468 the program you want to debug (see below for details on using the
19469 @code{run} command in this scenario). Note that the conditions under which
19470 @code{gdbserver} terminates depend on how @value{GDBN} connects to it
19471 (@code{target remote} or @code{target extended-remote}). The
19472 @option{--multi} option to @code{gdbserver} has no influence on that.
19473
19474 @item The @code{run} command
19475 @strong{With target remote mode:} The @code{run} command is not
19476 supported. Once a connection has been established, you can use all
19477 the usual @value{GDBN} commands to examine and change data. The
19478 remote program is already running, so you can use commands like
19479 @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue}.
19480
19481 @strong{With target extended-remote mode:} The @code{run} command is
19482 supported. The @code{run} command uses the value set by
19483 @code{set remote exec-file} (@pxref{set remote exec-file}) to select
19484 the program to run. Command line arguments are supported, except for
19485 wildcard expansion and I/O redirection (@pxref{Arguments}).
19486
19487 If you specify the program to debug on the command line, then the
19488 @code{run} command is not required to start execution, and you can
19489 resume using commands like @kbd{step} and @kbd{continue} as with
19490 @code{target remote} mode.
19491
19492 @anchor{Attaching in Types of Remote Connections}
19493 @item Attaching
19494 @strong{With target remote mode:} The @value{GDBN} command @code{attach} is
19495 not supported. To attach to a running program using @code{gdbserver}, you
19496 must use the @option{--attach} option (@pxref{Running gdbserver}).
19497
19498 @strong{With target extended-remote mode:} To attach to a running program,
19499 you may use the @code{attach} command after the connection has been
19500 established. If you are using @code{gdbserver}, you may also invoke
19501 @code{gdbserver} using the @option{--attach} option
19502 (@pxref{Running gdbserver}).
19503
19504 @end table
19505
19506 @anchor{Host and target files}
19507 @subsection Host and Target Files
19508 @cindex remote debugging, symbol files
19509 @cindex symbol files, remote debugging
19510
19511 @value{GDBN}, running on the host, needs access to symbol and debugging
19512 information for your program running on the target. This requires
19513 access to an unstripped copy of your program, and possibly any associated
19514 symbol files. Note that this section applies equally to both @code{target
19515 remote} mode and @code{target extended-remote} mode.
19516
19517 Some remote targets (@pxref{qXfer executable filename read}, and
19518 @pxref{Host I/O Packets}) allow @value{GDBN} to access program files over
19519 the same connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. With such a
19520 target, if the remote program is unstripped, the only command you need is
19521 @code{target remote} (or @code{target extended-remote}).
19522
19523 If the remote program is stripped, or the target does not support remote
19524 program file access, start up @value{GDBN} using the name of the local
19525 unstripped copy of your program as the first argument, or use the
19526 @code{file} command. Use @code{set sysroot} to specify the location (on
19527 the host) of target libraries (unless your @value{GDBN} was compiled with
19528 the correct sysroot using @code{--with-sysroot}). Alternatively, you
19529 may use @code{set solib-search-path} to specify how @value{GDBN} locates
19530 target libraries.
19531
19532 The symbol file and target libraries must exactly match the executable
19533 and libraries on the target, with one exception: the files on the host
19534 system should not be stripped, even if the files on the target system
19535 are. Mismatched or missing files will lead to confusing results
19536 during debugging. On @sc{gnu}/Linux targets, mismatched or missing
19537 files may also prevent @code{gdbserver} from debugging multi-threaded
19538 programs.
19539
19540 @subsection Remote Connection Commands
19541 @cindex remote connection commands
19542 @value{GDBN} can communicate with the target over a serial line, or
19543 over an @acronym{IP} network using @acronym{TCP} or @acronym{UDP}. In
19544 each case, @value{GDBN} uses the same protocol for debugging your
19545 program; only the medium carrying the debugging packets varies. The
19546 @code{target remote} and @code{target extended-remote} commands
19547 establish a connection to the target. Both commands accept the same
19548 arguments, which indicate the medium to use:
19549
19550 @table @code
19551
19552 @item target remote @var{serial-device}
19553 @itemx target extended-remote @var{serial-device}
19554 @cindex serial line, @code{target remote}
19555 Use @var{serial-device} to communicate with the target. For example,
19556 to use a serial line connected to the device named @file{/dev/ttyb}:
19557
19558 @smallexample
19559 target remote /dev/ttyb
19560 @end smallexample
19561
19562 If you're using a serial line, you may want to give @value{GDBN} the
19563 @samp{--baud} option, or use the @code{set serial baud} command
19564 (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set serial baud}) before the
19565 @code{target} command.
19566
19567 @item target remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
19568 @itemx target remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
19569 @itemx target extended-remote @code{@var{host}:@var{port}}
19570 @itemx target extended-remote @code{tcp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
19571 @cindex @acronym{TCP} port, @code{target remote}
19572 Debug using a @acronym{TCP} connection to @var{port} on @var{host}.
19573 The @var{host} may be either a host name or a numeric @acronym{IP}
19574 address; @var{port} must be a decimal number. The @var{host} could be
19575 the target machine itself, if it is directly connected to the net, or
19576 it might be a terminal server which in turn has a serial line to the
19577 target.
19578
19579 For example, to connect to port 2828 on a terminal server named
19580 @code{manyfarms}:
19581
19582 @smallexample
19583 target remote manyfarms:2828
19584 @end smallexample
19585
19586 If your remote target is actually running on the same machine as your
19587 debugger session (e.g.@: a simulator for your target running on the
19588 same host), you can omit the hostname. For example, to connect to
19589 port 1234 on your local machine:
19590
19591 @smallexample
19592 target remote :1234
19593 @end smallexample
19594 @noindent
19595
19596 Note that the colon is still required here.
19597
19598 @item target remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
19599 @itemx target extended-remote @code{udp:@var{host}:@var{port}}
19600 @cindex @acronym{UDP} port, @code{target remote}
19601 Debug using @acronym{UDP} packets to @var{port} on @var{host}. For example, to
19602 connect to @acronym{UDP} port 2828 on a terminal server named @code{manyfarms}:
19603
19604 @smallexample
19605 target remote udp:manyfarms:2828
19606 @end smallexample
19607
19608 When using a @acronym{UDP} connection for remote debugging, you should
19609 keep in mind that the `U' stands for ``Unreliable''. @acronym{UDP}
19610 can silently drop packets on busy or unreliable networks, which will
19611 cause havoc with your debugging session.
19612
19613 @item target remote | @var{command}
19614 @itemx target extended-remote | @var{command}
19615 @cindex pipe, @code{target remote} to
19616 Run @var{command} in the background and communicate with it using a
19617 pipe. The @var{command} is a shell command, to be parsed and expanded
19618 by the system's command shell, @code{/bin/sh}; it should expect remote
19619 protocol packets on its standard input, and send replies on its
19620 standard output. You could use this to run a stand-alone simulator
19621 that speaks the remote debugging protocol, to make net connections
19622 using programs like @code{ssh}, or for other similar tricks.
19623
19624 If @var{command} closes its standard output (perhaps by exiting),
19625 @value{GDBN} will try to send it a @code{SIGTERM} signal. (If the
19626 program has already exited, this will have no effect.)
19627
19628 @end table
19629
19630 @cindex interrupting remote programs
19631 @cindex remote programs, interrupting
19632 Whenever @value{GDBN} is waiting for the remote program, if you type the
19633 interrupt character (often @kbd{Ctrl-c}), @value{GDBN} attempts to stop the
19634 program. This may or may not succeed, depending in part on the hardware
19635 and the serial drivers the remote system uses. If you type the
19636 interrupt character once again, @value{GDBN} displays this prompt:
19637
19638 @smallexample
19639 Interrupted while waiting for the program.
19640 Give up (and stop debugging it)? (y or n)
19641 @end smallexample
19642
19643 In @code{target remote} mode, if you type @kbd{y}, @value{GDBN} abandons
19644 the remote debugging session. (If you decide you want to try again later,
19645 you can use @kbd{target remote} again to connect once more.) If you type
19646 @kbd{n}, @value{GDBN} goes back to waiting.
19647
19648 In @code{target extended-remote} mode, typing @kbd{n} will leave
19649 @value{GDBN} connected to the target.
19650
19651 @table @code
19652 @kindex detach (remote)
19653 @item detach
19654 When you have finished debugging the remote program, you can use the
19655 @code{detach} command to release it from @value{GDBN} control.
19656 Detaching from the target normally resumes its execution, but the results
19657 will depend on your particular remote stub. After the @code{detach}
19658 command in @code{target remote} mode, @value{GDBN} is free to connect to
19659 another target. In @code{target extended-remote} mode, @value{GDBN} is
19660 still connected to the target.
19661
19662 @kindex disconnect
19663 @item disconnect
19664 The @code{disconnect} command closes the connection to the target, and
19665 the target is generally not resumed. It will wait for @value{GDBN}
19666 (this instance or another one) to connect and continue debugging. After
19667 the @code{disconnect} command, @value{GDBN} is again free to connect to
19668 another target.
19669
19670 @cindex send command to remote monitor
19671 @cindex extend @value{GDBN} for remote targets
19672 @cindex add new commands for external monitor
19673 @kindex monitor
19674 @item monitor @var{cmd}
19675 This command allows you to send arbitrary commands directly to the
19676 remote monitor. Since @value{GDBN} doesn't care about the commands it
19677 sends like this, this command is the way to extend @value{GDBN}---you
19678 can add new commands that only the external monitor will understand
19679 and implement.
19680 @end table
19681
19682 @node File Transfer
19683 @section Sending files to a remote system
19684 @cindex remote target, file transfer
19685 @cindex file transfer
19686 @cindex sending files to remote systems
19687
19688 Some remote targets offer the ability to transfer files over the same
19689 connection used to communicate with @value{GDBN}. This is convenient
19690 for targets accessible through other means, e.g.@: @sc{gnu}/Linux systems
19691 running @code{gdbserver} over a network interface. For other targets,
19692 e.g.@: embedded devices with only a single serial port, this may be
19693 the only way to upload or download files.
19694
19695 Not all remote targets support these commands.
19696
19697 @table @code
19698 @kindex remote put
19699 @item remote put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
19700 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
19701 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
19702
19703 @kindex remote get
19704 @item remote get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
19705 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
19706 on the host system.
19707
19708 @kindex remote delete
19709 @item remote delete @var{targetfile}
19710 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
19711
19712 @end table
19713
19714 @node Server
19715 @section Using the @code{gdbserver} Program
19716
19717 @kindex gdbserver
19718 @cindex remote connection without stubs
19719 @code{gdbserver} is a control program for Unix-like systems, which
19720 allows you to connect your program with a remote @value{GDBN} via
19721 @code{target remote} or @code{target extended-remote}---but without
19722 linking in the usual debugging stub.
19723
19724 @code{gdbserver} is not a complete replacement for the debugging stubs,
19725 because it requires essentially the same operating-system facilities
19726 that @value{GDBN} itself does. In fact, a system that can run
19727 @code{gdbserver} to connect to a remote @value{GDBN} could also run
19728 @value{GDBN} locally! @code{gdbserver} is sometimes useful nevertheless,
19729 because it is a much smaller program than @value{GDBN} itself. It is
19730 also easier to port than all of @value{GDBN}, so you may be able to get
19731 started more quickly on a new system by using @code{gdbserver}.
19732 Finally, if you develop code for real-time systems, you may find that
19733 the tradeoffs involved in real-time operation make it more convenient to
19734 do as much development work as possible on another system, for example
19735 by cross-compiling. You can use @code{gdbserver} to make a similar
19736 choice for debugging.
19737
19738 @value{GDBN} and @code{gdbserver} communicate via either a serial line
19739 or a TCP connection, using the standard @value{GDBN} remote serial
19740 protocol.
19741
19742 @quotation
19743 @emph{Warning:} @code{gdbserver} does not have any built-in security.
19744 Do not run @code{gdbserver} connected to any public network; a
19745 @value{GDBN} connection to @code{gdbserver} provides access to the
19746 target system with the same privileges as the user running
19747 @code{gdbserver}.
19748 @end quotation
19749
19750 @anchor{Running gdbserver}
19751 @subsection Running @code{gdbserver}
19752 @cindex arguments, to @code{gdbserver}
19753 @cindex @code{gdbserver}, command-line arguments
19754
19755 Run @code{gdbserver} on the target system. You need a copy of the
19756 program you want to debug, including any libraries it requires.
19757 @code{gdbserver} does not need your program's symbol table, so you can
19758 strip the program if necessary to save space. @value{GDBN} on the host
19759 system does all the symbol handling.
19760
19761 To use the server, you must tell it how to communicate with @value{GDBN};
19762 the name of your program; and the arguments for your program. The usual
19763 syntax is:
19764
19765 @smallexample
19766 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [ @var{args} @dots{} ]
19767 @end smallexample
19768
19769 @var{comm} is either a device name (to use a serial line), or a TCP
19770 hostname and portnumber, or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
19771 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}.
19772 For example, to debug Emacs with the argument
19773 @samp{foo.txt} and communicate with @value{GDBN} over the serial port
19774 @file{/dev/com1}:
19775
19776 @smallexample
19777 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
19778 @end smallexample
19779
19780 @code{gdbserver} waits passively for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate
19781 with it.
19782
19783 To use a TCP connection instead of a serial line:
19784
19785 @smallexample
19786 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
19787 @end smallexample
19788
19789 The only difference from the previous example is the first argument,
19790 specifying that you are communicating with the host @value{GDBN} via
19791 TCP. The @samp{host:2345} argument means that @code{gdbserver} is to
19792 expect a TCP connection from machine @samp{host} to local TCP port 2345.
19793 (Currently, the @samp{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number
19794 you want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any
19795 TCP ports already in use on the target system (for example, @code{23} is
19796 reserved for @code{telnet}).@footnote{If you choose a port number that
19797 conflicts with another service, @code{gdbserver} prints an error message
19798 and exits.} You must use the same port number with the host @value{GDBN}
19799 @code{target remote} command.
19800
19801 The @code{stdio} connection is useful when starting @code{gdbserver}
19802 with ssh:
19803
19804 @smallexample
19805 (gdb) target remote | ssh -T hostname gdbserver - hello
19806 @end smallexample
19807
19808 The @samp{-T} option to ssh is provided because we don't need a remote pty,
19809 and we don't want escape-character handling. Ssh does this by default when
19810 a command is provided, the flag is provided to make it explicit.
19811 You could elide it if you want to.
19812
19813 Programs started with stdio-connected gdbserver have @file{/dev/null} for
19814 @code{stdin}, and @code{stdout},@code{stderr} are sent back to gdb for
19815 display through a pipe connected to gdbserver.
19816 Both @code{stdout} and @code{stderr} use the same pipe.
19817
19818 @anchor{Attaching to a program}
19819 @subsubsection Attaching to a Running Program
19820 @cindex attach to a program, @code{gdbserver}
19821 @cindex @option{--attach}, @code{gdbserver} option
19822
19823 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
19824 This is accomplished via the @code{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
19825
19826 @smallexample
19827 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
19828 @end smallexample
19829
19830 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
19831 necessary to point @code{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
19832
19833 In @code{target extended-remote} mode, you can also attach using the
19834 @value{GDBN} attach command
19835 (@pxref{Attaching in Types of Remote Connections}).
19836
19837 @pindex pidof
19838 You can debug processes by name instead of process ID if your target has the
19839 @code{pidof} utility:
19840
19841 @smallexample
19842 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} `pidof @var{program}`
19843 @end smallexample
19844
19845 In case more than one copy of @var{program} is running, or @var{program}
19846 has multiple threads, most versions of @code{pidof} support the
19847 @code{-s} option to only return the first process ID.
19848
19849 @subsubsection TCP port allocation lifecycle of @code{gdbserver}
19850
19851 This section applies only when @code{gdbserver} is run to listen on a TCP
19852 port.
19853
19854 @code{gdbserver} normally terminates after all of its debugged processes have
19855 terminated in @kbd{target remote} mode. On the other hand, for @kbd{target
19856 extended-remote}, @code{gdbserver} stays running even with no processes left.
19857 @value{GDBN} normally terminates the spawned debugged process on its exit,
19858 which normally also terminates @code{gdbserver} in the @kbd{target remote}
19859 mode. Therefore, when the connection drops unexpectedly, and @value{GDBN}
19860 cannot ask @code{gdbserver} to kill its debugged processes, @code{gdbserver}
19861 stays running even in the @kbd{target remote} mode.
19862
19863 When @code{gdbserver} stays running, @value{GDBN} can connect to it again later.
19864 Such reconnecting is useful for features like @ref{disconnected tracing}. For
19865 completeness, at most one @value{GDBN} can be connected at a time.
19866
19867 @cindex @option{--once}, @code{gdbserver} option
19868 By default, @code{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
19869 subsequent connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
19870 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
19871 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session. This
19872 means no further connections to @code{gdbserver} will be possible after the
19873 first one. It also means @code{gdbserver} will terminate after the first
19874 connection with remote @value{GDBN} has closed, even for unexpectedly closed
19875 connections and even in the @kbd{target extended-remote} mode. The
19876 @option{--once} option allows reusing the same port number for connecting to
19877 multiple instances of @code{gdbserver} running on the same host, since each
19878 instance closes its port after the first connection.
19879
19880 @anchor{Other Command-Line Arguments for gdbserver}
19881 @subsubsection Other Command-Line Arguments for @code{gdbserver}
19882
19883 You can use the @option{--multi} option to start @code{gdbserver} without
19884 specifying a program to debug or a process to attach to. Then you can
19885 attach in @code{target extended-remote} mode and run or attach to a
19886 program. For more information,
19887 @pxref{--multi Option in Types of Remote Connnections}.
19888
19889 @cindex @option{--debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
19890 The @option{--debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display extra
19891 status information about the debugging process.
19892 @cindex @option{--remote-debug}, @code{gdbserver} option
19893 The @option{--remote-debug} option tells @code{gdbserver} to display
19894 remote protocol debug output. These options are intended for
19895 @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to the developers.
19896
19897 @cindex @option{--debug-format}, @code{gdbserver} option
19898 The @option{--debug-format=option1[,option2,...]} option tells
19899 @code{gdbserver} to include additional information in each output.
19900 Possible options are:
19901
19902 @table @code
19903 @item none
19904 Turn off all extra information in debugging output.
19905 @item all
19906 Turn on all extra information in debugging output.
19907 @item timestamps
19908 Include a timestamp in each line of debugging output.
19909 @end table
19910
19911 Options are processed in order. Thus, for example, if @option{none}
19912 appears last then no additional information is added to debugging output.
19913
19914 @cindex @option{--wrapper}, @code{gdbserver} option
19915 The @option{--wrapper} option specifies a wrapper to launch programs
19916 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
19917 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
19918 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
19919
19920 @code{gdbserver} runs the specified wrapper program with a combined
19921 command line including the wrapper arguments, then the name of the
19922 program to debug, then any arguments to the program. The wrapper
19923 runs until it executes your program, and then @value{GDBN} gains control.
19924
19925 You can use any program that eventually calls @code{execve} with
19926 its arguments as a wrapper. Several standard Unix utilities do
19927 this, e.g.@: @code{env} and @code{nohup}. Any Unix shell script ending
19928 with @code{exec "$@@"} will also work.
19929
19930 For example, you can use @code{env} to pass an environment variable to
19931 the debugged program, without setting the variable in @code{gdbserver}'s
19932 environment:
19933
19934 @smallexample
19935 $ gdbserver --wrapper env LD_PRELOAD=libtest.so -- :2222 ./testprog
19936 @end smallexample
19937
19938 @subsection Connecting to @code{gdbserver}
19939
19940 The basic procedure for connecting to the remote target is:
19941 @itemize
19942
19943 @item
19944 Run @value{GDBN} on the host system.
19945
19946 @item
19947 Make sure you have the necessary symbol files
19948 (@pxref{Host and target files}).
19949 Load symbols for your application using the @code{file} command before you
19950 connect. Use @code{set sysroot} to locate target libraries (unless your
19951 @value{GDBN} was compiled with the correct sysroot using
19952 @code{--with-sysroot}).
19953
19954 @item
19955 Connect to your target (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
19956 For TCP connections, you must start up @code{gdbserver} prior to using
19957 the @code{target} command. Otherwise you may get an error whose
19958 text depends on the host system, but which usually looks something like
19959 @samp{Connection refused}. Don't use the @code{load}
19960 command in @value{GDBN} when using @code{target remote} mode, since the
19961 program is already on the target.
19962
19963 @end itemize
19964
19965 @anchor{Monitor Commands for gdbserver}
19966 @subsection Monitor Commands for @code{gdbserver}
19967 @cindex monitor commands, for @code{gdbserver}
19968
19969 During a @value{GDBN} session using @code{gdbserver}, you can use the
19970 @code{monitor} command to send special requests to @code{gdbserver}.
19971 Here are the available commands.
19972
19973 @table @code
19974 @item monitor help
19975 List the available monitor commands.
19976
19977 @item monitor set debug 0
19978 @itemx monitor set debug 1
19979 Disable or enable general debugging messages.
19980
19981 @item monitor set remote-debug 0
19982 @itemx monitor set remote-debug 1
19983 Disable or enable specific debugging messages associated with the remote
19984 protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}).
19985
19986 @item monitor set debug-format option1@r{[},option2,...@r{]}
19987 Specify additional text to add to debugging messages.
19988 Possible options are:
19989
19990 @table @code
19991 @item none
19992 Turn off all extra information in debugging output.
19993 @item all
19994 Turn on all extra information in debugging output.
19995 @item timestamps
19996 Include a timestamp in each line of debugging output.
19997 @end table
19998
19999 Options are processed in order. Thus, for example, if @option{none}
20000 appears last then no additional information is added to debugging output.
20001
20002 @item monitor set libthread-db-search-path [PATH]
20003 @cindex gdbserver, search path for @code{libthread_db}
20004 When this command is issued, @var{path} is a colon-separated list of
20005 directories to search for @code{libthread_db} (@pxref{Threads,,set
20006 libthread-db-search-path}). If you omit @var{path},
20007 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} will be reset to its default value.
20008
20009 The special entry @samp{$pdir} for @samp{libthread-db-search-path} is
20010 not supported in @code{gdbserver}.
20011
20012 @item monitor exit
20013 Tell gdbserver to exit immediately. This command should be followed by
20014 @code{disconnect} to close the debugging session. @code{gdbserver} will
20015 detach from any attached processes and kill any processes it created.
20016 Use @code{monitor exit} to terminate @code{gdbserver} at the end
20017 of a multi-process mode debug session.
20018
20019 @end table
20020
20021 @subsection Tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
20022 @cindex tracepoints support in @code{gdbserver}
20023
20024 On some targets, @code{gdbserver} supports tracepoints, fast
20025 tracepoints and static tracepoints.
20026
20027 For fast or static tracepoints to work, a special library called the
20028 @dfn{in-process agent} (IPA), must be loaded in the inferior process.
20029 This library is built and distributed as an integral part of
20030 @code{gdbserver}. In addition, support for static tracepoints
20031 requires building the in-process agent library with static tracepoints
20032 support. At present, the UST (LTTng Userspace Tracer,
20033 @url{http://lttng.org/ust}) tracing engine is supported. This support
20034 is automatically available if UST development headers are found in the
20035 standard include path when @code{gdbserver} is built, or if
20036 @code{gdbserver} was explicitly configured using @option{--with-ust}
20037 to point at such headers. You can explicitly disable the support
20038 using @option{--with-ust=no}.
20039
20040 There are several ways to load the in-process agent in your program:
20041
20042 @table @code
20043 @item Specifying it as dependency at link time
20044
20045 You can link your program dynamically with the in-process agent
20046 library. On most systems, this is accomplished by adding
20047 @code{-linproctrace} to the link command.
20048
20049 @item Using the system's preloading mechanisms
20050
20051 You can force loading the in-process agent at startup time by using
20052 your system's support for preloading shared libraries. Many Unixes
20053 support the concept of preloading user defined libraries. In most
20054 cases, you do that by specifying @code{LD_PRELOAD=libinproctrace.so}
20055 in the environment. See also the description of @code{gdbserver}'s
20056 @option{--wrapper} command line option.
20057
20058 @item Using @value{GDBN} to force loading the agent at run time
20059
20060 On some systems, you can force the inferior to load a shared library,
20061 by calling a dynamic loader function in the inferior that takes care
20062 of dynamically looking up and loading a shared library. On most Unix
20063 systems, the function is @code{dlopen}. You'll use the @code{call}
20064 command for that. For example:
20065
20066 @smallexample
20067 (@value{GDBP}) call dlopen ("libinproctrace.so", ...)
20068 @end smallexample
20069
20070 Note that on most Unix systems, for the @code{dlopen} function to be
20071 available, the program needs to be linked with @code{-ldl}.
20072 @end table
20073
20074 On systems that have a userspace dynamic loader, like most Unix
20075 systems, when you connect to @code{gdbserver} using @code{target
20076 remote}, you'll find that the program is stopped at the dynamic
20077 loader's entry point, and no shared library has been loaded in the
20078 program's address space yet, including the in-process agent. In that
20079 case, before being able to use any of the fast or static tracepoints
20080 features, you need to let the loader run and load the shared
20081 libraries. The simplest way to do that is to run the program to the
20082 main procedure. E.g., if debugging a C or C@t{++} program, start
20083 @code{gdbserver} like so:
20084
20085 @smallexample
20086 $ gdbserver :9999 myprogram
20087 @end smallexample
20088
20089 Start GDB and connect to @code{gdbserver} like so, and run to main:
20090
20091 @smallexample
20092 $ gdb myprogram
20093 (@value{GDBP}) target remote myhost:9999
20094 0x00007f215893ba60 in ?? () from /lib64/ld-linux-x86-64.so.2
20095 (@value{GDBP}) b main
20096 (@value{GDBP}) continue
20097 @end smallexample
20098
20099 The in-process tracing agent library should now be loaded into the
20100 process; you can confirm it with the @code{info sharedlibrary}
20101 command, which will list @file{libinproctrace.so} as loaded in the
20102 process. You are now ready to install fast tracepoints, list static
20103 tracepoint markers, probe static tracepoints markers, and start
20104 tracing.
20105
20106 @node Remote Configuration
20107 @section Remote Configuration
20108
20109 @kindex set remote
20110 @kindex show remote
20111 This section documents the configuration options available when
20112 debugging remote programs. For the options related to the File I/O
20113 extensions of the remote protocol, see @ref{system,
20114 system-call-allowed}.
20115
20116 @table @code
20117 @item set remoteaddresssize @var{bits}
20118 @cindex address size for remote targets
20119 @cindex bits in remote address
20120 Set the maximum size of address in a memory packet to the specified
20121 number of bits. @value{GDBN} will mask off the address bits above
20122 that number, when it passes addresses to the remote target. The
20123 default value is the number of bits in the target's address.
20124
20125 @item show remoteaddresssize
20126 Show the current value of remote address size in bits.
20127
20128 @item set serial baud @var{n}
20129 @cindex baud rate for remote targets
20130 Set the baud rate for the remote serial I/O to @var{n} baud. The
20131 value is used to set the speed of the serial port used for debugging
20132 remote targets.
20133
20134 @item show serial baud
20135 Show the current speed of the remote connection.
20136
20137 @item set serial parity @var{parity}
20138 Set the parity for the remote serial I/O. Supported values of @var{parity} are:
20139 @code{even}, @code{none}, and @code{odd}. The default is @code{none}.
20140
20141 @item show serial parity
20142 Show the current parity of the serial port.
20143
20144 @item set remotebreak
20145 @cindex interrupt remote programs
20146 @cindex BREAK signal instead of Ctrl-C
20147 @anchor{set remotebreak}
20148 If set to on, @value{GDBN} sends a @code{BREAK} signal to the remote
20149 when you type @kbd{Ctrl-c} to interrupt the program running
20150 on the remote. If set to off, @value{GDBN} sends the @samp{Ctrl-C}
20151 character instead. The default is off, since most remote systems
20152 expect to see @samp{Ctrl-C} as the interrupt signal.
20153
20154 @item show remotebreak
20155 Show whether @value{GDBN} sends @code{BREAK} or @samp{Ctrl-C} to
20156 interrupt the remote program.
20157
20158 @item set remoteflow on
20159 @itemx set remoteflow off
20160 @kindex set remoteflow
20161 Enable or disable hardware flow control (@code{RTS}/@code{CTS})
20162 on the serial port used to communicate to the remote target.
20163
20164 @item show remoteflow
20165 @kindex show remoteflow
20166 Show the current setting of hardware flow control.
20167
20168 @item set remotelogbase @var{base}
20169 Set the base (a.k.a.@: radix) of logging serial protocol
20170 communications to @var{base}. Supported values of @var{base} are:
20171 @code{ascii}, @code{octal}, and @code{hex}. The default is
20172 @code{ascii}.
20173
20174 @item show remotelogbase
20175 Show the current setting of the radix for logging remote serial
20176 protocol.
20177
20178 @item set remotelogfile @var{file}
20179 @cindex record serial communications on file
20180 Record remote serial communications on the named @var{file}. The
20181 default is not to record at all.
20182
20183 @item show remotelogfile.
20184 Show the current setting of the file name on which to record the
20185 serial communications.
20186
20187 @item set remotetimeout @var{num}
20188 @cindex timeout for serial communications
20189 @cindex remote timeout
20190 Set the timeout limit to wait for the remote target to respond to
20191 @var{num} seconds. The default is 2 seconds.
20192
20193 @item show remotetimeout
20194 Show the current number of seconds to wait for the remote target
20195 responses.
20196
20197 @cindex limit hardware breakpoints and watchpoints
20198 @cindex remote target, limit break- and watchpoints
20199 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit}
20200 @anchor{set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit}
20201 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-limit @var{limit}
20202 @itemx set remote hardware-breakpoint-limit @var{limit}
20203 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} remote hardware breakpoint or
20204 watchpoints. A limit of -1, the default, is treated as unlimited.
20205
20206 @cindex limit hardware watchpoints length
20207 @cindex remote target, limit watchpoints length
20208 @anchor{set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit}
20209 @item set remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit @var{limit}
20210 Restrict @value{GDBN} to using @var{limit} bytes for the maximum length of
20211 a remote hardware watchpoint. A limit of -1, the default, is treated
20212 as unlimited.
20213
20214 @item show remote hardware-watchpoint-length-limit
20215 Show the current limit (in bytes) of the maximum length of
20216 a remote hardware watchpoint.
20217
20218 @item set remote exec-file @var{filename}
20219 @itemx show remote exec-file
20220 @anchor{set remote exec-file}
20221 @cindex executable file, for remote target
20222 Select the file used for @code{run} with @code{target
20223 extended-remote}. This should be set to a filename valid on the
20224 target system. If it is not set, the target will use a default
20225 filename (e.g.@: the last program run).
20226
20227 @item set remote interrupt-sequence
20228 @cindex interrupt remote programs
20229 @cindex select Ctrl-C, BREAK or BREAK-g
20230 Allow the user to select one of @samp{Ctrl-C}, a @code{BREAK} or
20231 @samp{BREAK-g} as the
20232 sequence to the remote target in order to interrupt the execution.
20233 @samp{Ctrl-C} is a default. Some system prefers @code{BREAK} which
20234 is high level of serial line for some certain time.
20235 Linux kernel prefers @samp{BREAK-g}, a.k.a Magic SysRq g.
20236 It is @code{BREAK} signal followed by character @code{g}.
20237
20238 @item show interrupt-sequence
20239 Show which of @samp{Ctrl-C}, @code{BREAK} or @code{BREAK-g}
20240 is sent by @value{GDBN} to interrupt the remote program.
20241 @code{BREAK-g} is BREAK signal followed by @code{g} and
20242 also known as Magic SysRq g.
20243
20244 @item set remote interrupt-on-connect
20245 @cindex send interrupt-sequence on start
20246 Specify whether interrupt-sequence is sent to remote target when
20247 @value{GDBN} connects to it. This is mostly needed when you debug
20248 Linux kernel. Linux kernel expects @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}
20249 which is known as Magic SysRq g in order to connect @value{GDBN}.
20250
20251 @item show interrupt-on-connect
20252 Show whether interrupt-sequence is sent
20253 to remote target when @value{GDBN} connects to it.
20254
20255 @kindex set tcp
20256 @kindex show tcp
20257 @item set tcp auto-retry on
20258 @cindex auto-retry, for remote TCP target
20259 Enable auto-retry for remote TCP connections. This is useful if the remote
20260 debugging agent is launched in parallel with @value{GDBN}; there is a race
20261 condition because the agent may not become ready to accept the connection
20262 before @value{GDBN} attempts to connect. When auto-retry is
20263 enabled, if the initial attempt to connect fails, @value{GDBN} reattempts
20264 to establish the connection using the timeout specified by
20265 @code{set tcp connect-timeout}.
20266
20267 @item set tcp auto-retry off
20268 Do not auto-retry failed TCP connections.
20269
20270 @item show tcp auto-retry
20271 Show the current auto-retry setting.
20272
20273 @item set tcp connect-timeout @var{seconds}
20274 @itemx set tcp connect-timeout unlimited
20275 @cindex connection timeout, for remote TCP target
20276 @cindex timeout, for remote target connection
20277 Set the timeout for establishing a TCP connection to the remote target to
20278 @var{seconds}. The timeout affects both polling to retry failed connections
20279 (enabled by @code{set tcp auto-retry on}) and waiting for connections
20280 that are merely slow to complete, and represents an approximate cumulative
20281 value. If @var{seconds} is @code{unlimited}, there is no timeout and
20282 @value{GDBN} will keep attempting to establish a connection forever,
20283 unless interrupted with @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The default is 15 seconds.
20284
20285 @item show tcp connect-timeout
20286 Show the current connection timeout setting.
20287 @end table
20288
20289 @cindex remote packets, enabling and disabling
20290 The @value{GDBN} remote protocol autodetects the packets supported by
20291 your debugging stub. If you need to override the autodetection, you
20292 can use these commands to enable or disable individual packets. Each
20293 packet can be set to @samp{on} (the remote target supports this
20294 packet), @samp{off} (the remote target does not support this packet),
20295 or @samp{auto} (detect remote target support for this packet). They
20296 all default to @samp{auto}. For more information about each packet,
20297 see @ref{Remote Protocol}.
20298
20299 During normal use, you should not have to use any of these commands.
20300 If you do, that may be a bug in your remote debugging stub, or a bug
20301 in @value{GDBN}. You may want to report the problem to the
20302 @value{GDBN} developers.
20303
20304 For each packet @var{name}, the command to enable or disable the
20305 packet is @code{set remote @var{name}-packet}. The available settings
20306 are:
20307
20308 @multitable @columnfractions 0.28 0.32 0.25
20309 @item Command Name
20310 @tab Remote Packet
20311 @tab Related Features
20312
20313 @item @code{fetch-register}
20314 @tab @code{p}
20315 @tab @code{info registers}
20316
20317 @item @code{set-register}
20318 @tab @code{P}
20319 @tab @code{set}
20320
20321 @item @code{binary-download}
20322 @tab @code{X}
20323 @tab @code{load}, @code{set}
20324
20325 @item @code{read-aux-vector}
20326 @tab @code{qXfer:auxv:read}
20327 @tab @code{info auxv}
20328
20329 @item @code{symbol-lookup}
20330 @tab @code{qSymbol}
20331 @tab Detecting multiple threads
20332
20333 @item @code{attach}
20334 @tab @code{vAttach}
20335 @tab @code{attach}
20336
20337 @item @code{verbose-resume}
20338 @tab @code{vCont}
20339 @tab Stepping or resuming multiple threads
20340
20341 @item @code{run}
20342 @tab @code{vRun}
20343 @tab @code{run}
20344
20345 @item @code{software-breakpoint}
20346 @tab @code{Z0}
20347 @tab @code{break}
20348
20349 @item @code{hardware-breakpoint}
20350 @tab @code{Z1}
20351 @tab @code{hbreak}
20352
20353 @item @code{write-watchpoint}
20354 @tab @code{Z2}
20355 @tab @code{watch}
20356
20357 @item @code{read-watchpoint}
20358 @tab @code{Z3}
20359 @tab @code{rwatch}
20360
20361 @item @code{access-watchpoint}
20362 @tab @code{Z4}
20363 @tab @code{awatch}
20364
20365 @item @code{pid-to-exec-file}
20366 @tab @code{qXfer:exec-file:read}
20367 @tab @code{attach}, @code{run}
20368
20369 @item @code{target-features}
20370 @tab @code{qXfer:features:read}
20371 @tab @code{set architecture}
20372
20373 @item @code{library-info}
20374 @tab @code{qXfer:libraries:read}
20375 @tab @code{info sharedlibrary}
20376
20377 @item @code{memory-map}
20378 @tab @code{qXfer:memory-map:read}
20379 @tab @code{info mem}
20380
20381 @item @code{read-sdata-object}
20382 @tab @code{qXfer:sdata:read}
20383 @tab @code{print $_sdata}
20384
20385 @item @code{read-spu-object}
20386 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:read}
20387 @tab @code{info spu}
20388
20389 @item @code{write-spu-object}
20390 @tab @code{qXfer:spu:write}
20391 @tab @code{info spu}
20392
20393 @item @code{read-siginfo-object}
20394 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:read}
20395 @tab @code{print $_siginfo}
20396
20397 @item @code{write-siginfo-object}
20398 @tab @code{qXfer:siginfo:write}
20399 @tab @code{set $_siginfo}
20400
20401 @item @code{threads}
20402 @tab @code{qXfer:threads:read}
20403 @tab @code{info threads}
20404
20405 @item @code{get-thread-local-@*storage-address}
20406 @tab @code{qGetTLSAddr}
20407 @tab Displaying @code{__thread} variables
20408
20409 @item @code{get-thread-information-block-address}
20410 @tab @code{qGetTIBAddr}
20411 @tab Display MS-Windows Thread Information Block.
20412
20413 @item @code{search-memory}
20414 @tab @code{qSearch:memory}
20415 @tab @code{find}
20416
20417 @item @code{supported-packets}
20418 @tab @code{qSupported}
20419 @tab Remote communications parameters
20420
20421 @item @code{catch-syscalls}
20422 @tab @code{QCatchSyscalls}
20423 @tab @code{catch syscall}
20424
20425 @item @code{pass-signals}
20426 @tab @code{QPassSignals}
20427 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
20428
20429 @item @code{program-signals}
20430 @tab @code{QProgramSignals}
20431 @tab @code{handle @var{signal}}
20432
20433 @item @code{hostio-close-packet}
20434 @tab @code{vFile:close}
20435 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
20436
20437 @item @code{hostio-open-packet}
20438 @tab @code{vFile:open}
20439 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
20440
20441 @item @code{hostio-pread-packet}
20442 @tab @code{vFile:pread}
20443 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
20444
20445 @item @code{hostio-pwrite-packet}
20446 @tab @code{vFile:pwrite}
20447 @tab @code{remote get}, @code{remote put}
20448
20449 @item @code{hostio-unlink-packet}
20450 @tab @code{vFile:unlink}
20451 @tab @code{remote delete}
20452
20453 @item @code{hostio-readlink-packet}
20454 @tab @code{vFile:readlink}
20455 @tab Host I/O
20456
20457 @item @code{hostio-fstat-packet}
20458 @tab @code{vFile:fstat}
20459 @tab Host I/O
20460
20461 @item @code{hostio-setfs-packet}
20462 @tab @code{vFile:setfs}
20463 @tab Host I/O
20464
20465 @item @code{noack-packet}
20466 @tab @code{QStartNoAckMode}
20467 @tab Packet acknowledgment
20468
20469 @item @code{osdata}
20470 @tab @code{qXfer:osdata:read}
20471 @tab @code{info os}
20472
20473 @item @code{query-attached}
20474 @tab @code{qAttached}
20475 @tab Querying remote process attach state.
20476
20477 @item @code{trace-buffer-size}
20478 @tab @code{QTBuffer:size}
20479 @tab @code{set trace-buffer-size}
20480
20481 @item @code{trace-status}
20482 @tab @code{qTStatus}
20483 @tab @code{tstatus}
20484
20485 @item @code{traceframe-info}
20486 @tab @code{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
20487 @tab Traceframe info
20488
20489 @item @code{install-in-trace}
20490 @tab @code{InstallInTrace}
20491 @tab Install tracepoint in tracing
20492
20493 @item @code{disable-randomization}
20494 @tab @code{QDisableRandomization}
20495 @tab @code{set disable-randomization}
20496
20497 @item @code{conditional-breakpoints-packet}
20498 @tab @code{Z0 and Z1}
20499 @tab @code{Support for target-side breakpoint condition evaluation}
20500
20501 @item @code{multiprocess-extensions}
20502 @tab @code{multiprocess extensions}
20503 @tab Debug multiple processes and remote process PID awareness
20504
20505 @item @code{swbreak-feature}
20506 @tab @code{swbreak stop reason}
20507 @tab @code{break}
20508
20509 @item @code{hwbreak-feature}
20510 @tab @code{hwbreak stop reason}
20511 @tab @code{hbreak}
20512
20513 @item @code{fork-event-feature}
20514 @tab @code{fork stop reason}
20515 @tab @code{fork}
20516
20517 @item @code{vfork-event-feature}
20518 @tab @code{vfork stop reason}
20519 @tab @code{vfork}
20520
20521 @item @code{exec-event-feature}
20522 @tab @code{exec stop reason}
20523 @tab @code{exec}
20524
20525 @item @code{thread-events}
20526 @tab @code{QThreadEvents}
20527 @tab Tracking thread lifetime.
20528
20529 @item @code{no-resumed-stop-reply}
20530 @tab @code{no resumed thread left stop reply}
20531 @tab Tracking thread lifetime.
20532
20533 @end multitable
20534
20535 @node Remote Stub
20536 @section Implementing a Remote Stub
20537
20538 @cindex debugging stub, example
20539 @cindex remote stub, example
20540 @cindex stub example, remote debugging
20541 The stub files provided with @value{GDBN} implement the target side of the
20542 communication protocol, and the @value{GDBN} side is implemented in the
20543 @value{GDBN} source file @file{remote.c}. Normally, you can simply allow
20544 these subroutines to communicate, and ignore the details. (If you're
20545 implementing your own stub file, you can still ignore the details: start
20546 with one of the existing stub files. @file{sparc-stub.c} is the best
20547 organized, and therefore the easiest to read.)
20548
20549 @cindex remote serial debugging, overview
20550 To debug a program running on another machine (the debugging
20551 @dfn{target} machine), you must first arrange for all the usual
20552 prerequisites for the program to run by itself. For example, for a C
20553 program, you need:
20554
20555 @enumerate
20556 @item
20557 A startup routine to set up the C runtime environment; these usually
20558 have a name like @file{crt0}. The startup routine may be supplied by
20559 your hardware supplier, or you may have to write your own.
20560
20561 @item
20562 A C subroutine library to support your program's
20563 subroutine calls, notably managing input and output.
20564
20565 @item
20566 A way of getting your program to the other machine---for example, a
20567 download program. These are often supplied by the hardware
20568 manufacturer, but you may have to write your own from hardware
20569 documentation.
20570 @end enumerate
20571
20572 The next step is to arrange for your program to use a serial port to
20573 communicate with the machine where @value{GDBN} is running (the @dfn{host}
20574 machine). In general terms, the scheme looks like this:
20575
20576 @table @emph
20577 @item On the host,
20578 @value{GDBN} already understands how to use this protocol; when everything
20579 else is set up, you can simply use the @samp{target remote} command
20580 (@pxref{Targets,,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
20581
20582 @item On the target,
20583 you must link with your program a few special-purpose subroutines that
20584 implement the @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol. The file containing these
20585 subroutines is called a @dfn{debugging stub}.
20586
20587 On certain remote targets, you can use an auxiliary program
20588 @code{gdbserver} instead of linking a stub into your program.
20589 @xref{Server,,Using the @code{gdbserver} Program}, for details.
20590 @end table
20591
20592 The debugging stub is specific to the architecture of the remote
20593 machine; for example, use @file{sparc-stub.c} to debug programs on
20594 @sc{sparc} boards.
20595
20596 @cindex remote serial stub list
20597 These working remote stubs are distributed with @value{GDBN}:
20598
20599 @table @code
20600
20601 @item i386-stub.c
20602 @cindex @file{i386-stub.c}
20603 @cindex Intel
20604 @cindex i386
20605 For Intel 386 and compatible architectures.
20606
20607 @item m68k-stub.c
20608 @cindex @file{m68k-stub.c}
20609 @cindex Motorola 680x0
20610 @cindex m680x0
20611 For Motorola 680x0 architectures.
20612
20613 @item sh-stub.c
20614 @cindex @file{sh-stub.c}
20615 @cindex Renesas
20616 @cindex SH
20617 For Renesas SH architectures.
20618
20619 @item sparc-stub.c
20620 @cindex @file{sparc-stub.c}
20621 @cindex Sparc
20622 For @sc{sparc} architectures.
20623
20624 @item sparcl-stub.c
20625 @cindex @file{sparcl-stub.c}
20626 @cindex Fujitsu
20627 @cindex SparcLite
20628 For Fujitsu @sc{sparclite} architectures.
20629
20630 @end table
20631
20632 The @file{README} file in the @value{GDBN} distribution may list other
20633 recently added stubs.
20634
20635 @menu
20636 * Stub Contents:: What the stub can do for you
20637 * Bootstrapping:: What you must do for the stub
20638 * Debug Session:: Putting it all together
20639 @end menu
20640
20641 @node Stub Contents
20642 @subsection What the Stub Can Do for You
20643
20644 @cindex remote serial stub
20645 The debugging stub for your architecture supplies these three
20646 subroutines:
20647
20648 @table @code
20649 @item set_debug_traps
20650 @findex set_debug_traps
20651 @cindex remote serial stub, initialization
20652 This routine arranges for @code{handle_exception} to run when your
20653 program stops. You must call this subroutine explicitly in your
20654 program's startup code.
20655
20656 @item handle_exception
20657 @findex handle_exception
20658 @cindex remote serial stub, main routine
20659 This is the central workhorse, but your program never calls it
20660 explicitly---the setup code arranges for @code{handle_exception} to
20661 run when a trap is triggered.
20662
20663 @code{handle_exception} takes control when your program stops during
20664 execution (for example, on a breakpoint), and mediates communications
20665 with @value{GDBN} on the host machine. This is where the communications
20666 protocol is implemented; @code{handle_exception} acts as the @value{GDBN}
20667 representative on the target machine. It begins by sending summary
20668 information on the state of your program, then continues to execute,
20669 retrieving and transmitting any information @value{GDBN} needs, until you
20670 execute a @value{GDBN} command that makes your program resume; at that point,
20671 @code{handle_exception} returns control to your own code on the target
20672 machine.
20673
20674 @item breakpoint
20675 @cindex @code{breakpoint} subroutine, remote
20676 Use this auxiliary subroutine to make your program contain a
20677 breakpoint. Depending on the particular situation, this may be the only
20678 way for @value{GDBN} to get control. For instance, if your target
20679 machine has some sort of interrupt button, you won't need to call this;
20680 pressing the interrupt button transfers control to
20681 @code{handle_exception}---in effect, to @value{GDBN}. On some machines,
20682 simply receiving characters on the serial port may also trigger a trap;
20683 again, in that situation, you don't need to call @code{breakpoint} from
20684 your own program---simply running @samp{target remote} from the host
20685 @value{GDBN} session gets control.
20686
20687 Call @code{breakpoint} if none of these is true, or if you simply want
20688 to make certain your program stops at a predetermined point for the
20689 start of your debugging session.
20690 @end table
20691
20692 @node Bootstrapping
20693 @subsection What You Must Do for the Stub
20694
20695 @cindex remote stub, support routines
20696 The debugging stubs that come with @value{GDBN} are set up for a particular
20697 chip architecture, but they have no information about the rest of your
20698 debugging target machine.
20699
20700 First of all you need to tell the stub how to communicate with the
20701 serial port.
20702
20703 @table @code
20704 @item int getDebugChar()
20705 @findex getDebugChar
20706 Write this subroutine to read a single character from the serial port.
20707 It may be identical to @code{getchar} for your target system; a
20708 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
20709
20710 @item void putDebugChar(int)
20711 @findex putDebugChar
20712 Write this subroutine to write a single character to the serial port.
20713 It may be identical to @code{putchar} for your target system; a
20714 different name is used to allow you to distinguish the two if you wish.
20715 @end table
20716
20717 @cindex control C, and remote debugging
20718 @cindex interrupting remote targets
20719 If you want @value{GDBN} to be able to stop your program while it is
20720 running, you need to use an interrupt-driven serial driver, and arrange
20721 for it to stop when it receives a @code{^C} (@samp{\003}, the control-C
20722 character). That is the character which @value{GDBN} uses to tell the
20723 remote system to stop.
20724
20725 Getting the debugging target to return the proper status to @value{GDBN}
20726 probably requires changes to the standard stub; one quick and dirty way
20727 is to just execute a breakpoint instruction (the ``dirty'' part is that
20728 @value{GDBN} reports a @code{SIGTRAP} instead of a @code{SIGINT}).
20729
20730 Other routines you need to supply are:
20731
20732 @table @code
20733 @item void exceptionHandler (int @var{exception_number}, void *@var{exception_address})
20734 @findex exceptionHandler
20735 Write this function to install @var{exception_address} in the exception
20736 handling tables. You need to do this because the stub does not have any
20737 way of knowing what the exception handling tables on your target system
20738 are like (for example, the processor's table might be in @sc{rom},
20739 containing entries which point to a table in @sc{ram}).
20740 The @var{exception_number} specifies the exception which should be changed;
20741 its meaning is architecture-dependent (for example, different numbers
20742 might represent divide by zero, misaligned access, etc). When this
20743 exception occurs, control should be transferred directly to
20744 @var{exception_address}, and the processor state (stack, registers,
20745 and so on) should be just as it is when a processor exception occurs. So if
20746 you want to use a jump instruction to reach @var{exception_address}, it
20747 should be a simple jump, not a jump to subroutine.
20748
20749 For the 386, @var{exception_address} should be installed as an interrupt
20750 gate so that interrupts are masked while the handler runs. The gate
20751 should be at privilege level 0 (the most privileged level). The
20752 @sc{sparc} and 68k stubs are able to mask interrupts themselves without
20753 help from @code{exceptionHandler}.
20754
20755 @item void flush_i_cache()
20756 @findex flush_i_cache
20757 On @sc{sparc} and @sc{sparclite} only, write this subroutine to flush the
20758 instruction cache, if any, on your target machine. If there is no
20759 instruction cache, this subroutine may be a no-op.
20760
20761 On target machines that have instruction caches, @value{GDBN} requires this
20762 function to make certain that the state of your program is stable.
20763 @end table
20764
20765 @noindent
20766 You must also make sure this library routine is available:
20767
20768 @table @code
20769 @item void *memset(void *, int, int)
20770 @findex memset
20771 This is the standard library function @code{memset} that sets an area of
20772 memory to a known value. If you have one of the free versions of
20773 @code{libc.a}, @code{memset} can be found there; otherwise, you must
20774 either obtain it from your hardware manufacturer, or write your own.
20775 @end table
20776
20777 If you do not use the GNU C compiler, you may need other standard
20778 library subroutines as well; this varies from one stub to another,
20779 but in general the stubs are likely to use any of the common library
20780 subroutines which @code{@value{NGCC}} generates as inline code.
20781
20782
20783 @node Debug Session
20784 @subsection Putting it All Together
20785
20786 @cindex remote serial debugging summary
20787 In summary, when your program is ready to debug, you must follow these
20788 steps.
20789
20790 @enumerate
20791 @item
20792 Make sure you have defined the supporting low-level routines
20793 (@pxref{Bootstrapping,,What You Must Do for the Stub}):
20794 @display
20795 @code{getDebugChar}, @code{putDebugChar},
20796 @code{flush_i_cache}, @code{memset}, @code{exceptionHandler}.
20797 @end display
20798
20799 @item
20800 Insert these lines in your program's startup code, before the main
20801 procedure is called:
20802
20803 @smallexample
20804 set_debug_traps();
20805 breakpoint();
20806 @end smallexample
20807
20808 On some machines, when a breakpoint trap is raised, the hardware
20809 automatically makes the PC point to the instruction after the
20810 breakpoint. If your machine doesn't do that, you may need to adjust
20811 @code{handle_exception} to arrange for it to return to the instruction
20812 after the breakpoint on this first invocation, so that your program
20813 doesn't keep hitting the initial breakpoint instead of making
20814 progress.
20815
20816 @item
20817 For the 680x0 stub only, you need to provide a variable called
20818 @code{exceptionHook}. Normally you just use:
20819
20820 @smallexample
20821 void (*exceptionHook)() = 0;
20822 @end smallexample
20823
20824 @noindent
20825 but if before calling @code{set_debug_traps}, you set it to point to a
20826 function in your program, that function is called when
20827 @code{@value{GDBN}} continues after stopping on a trap (for example, bus
20828 error). The function indicated by @code{exceptionHook} is called with
20829 one parameter: an @code{int} which is the exception number.
20830
20831 @item
20832 Compile and link together: your program, the @value{GDBN} debugging stub for
20833 your target architecture, and the supporting subroutines.
20834
20835 @item
20836 Make sure you have a serial connection between your target machine and
20837 the @value{GDBN} host, and identify the serial port on the host.
20838
20839 @item
20840 @c The "remote" target now provides a `load' command, so we should
20841 @c document that. FIXME.
20842 Download your program to your target machine (or get it there by
20843 whatever means the manufacturer provides), and start it.
20844
20845 @item
20846 Start @value{GDBN} on the host, and connect to the target
20847 (@pxref{Connecting,,Connecting to a Remote Target}).
20848
20849 @end enumerate
20850
20851 @node Configurations
20852 @chapter Configuration-Specific Information
20853
20854 While nearly all @value{GDBN} commands are available for all native and
20855 cross versions of the debugger, there are some exceptions. This chapter
20856 describes things that are only available in certain configurations.
20857
20858 There are three major categories of configurations: native
20859 configurations, where the host and target are the same, embedded
20860 operating system configurations, which are usually the same for several
20861 different processor architectures, and bare embedded processors, which
20862 are quite different from each other.
20863
20864 @menu
20865 * Native::
20866 * Embedded OS::
20867 * Embedded Processors::
20868 * Architectures::
20869 @end menu
20870
20871 @node Native
20872 @section Native
20873
20874 This section describes details specific to particular native
20875 configurations.
20876
20877 @menu
20878 * BSD libkvm Interface:: Debugging BSD kernel memory images
20879 * SVR4 Process Information:: SVR4 process information
20880 * DJGPP Native:: Features specific to the DJGPP port
20881 * Cygwin Native:: Features specific to the Cygwin port
20882 * Hurd Native:: Features specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd
20883 * Darwin:: Features specific to Darwin
20884 @end menu
20885
20886 @node BSD libkvm Interface
20887 @subsection BSD libkvm Interface
20888
20889 @cindex libkvm
20890 @cindex kernel memory image
20891 @cindex kernel crash dump
20892
20893 BSD-derived systems (FreeBSD/NetBSD/OpenBSD) have a kernel memory
20894 interface that provides a uniform interface for accessing kernel virtual
20895 memory images, including live systems and crash dumps. @value{GDBN}
20896 uses this interface to allow you to debug live kernels and kernel crash
20897 dumps on many native BSD configurations. This is implemented as a
20898 special @code{kvm} debugging target. For debugging a live system, load
20899 the currently running kernel into @value{GDBN} and connect to the
20900 @code{kvm} target:
20901
20902 @smallexample
20903 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm}
20904 @end smallexample
20905
20906 For debugging crash dumps, provide the file name of the crash dump as an
20907 argument:
20908
20909 @smallexample
20910 (@value{GDBP}) @b{target kvm /var/crash/bsd.0}
20911 @end smallexample
20912
20913 Once connected to the @code{kvm} target, the following commands are
20914 available:
20915
20916 @table @code
20917 @kindex kvm
20918 @item kvm pcb
20919 Set current context from the @dfn{Process Control Block} (PCB) address.
20920
20921 @item kvm proc
20922 Set current context from proc address. This command isn't available on
20923 modern FreeBSD systems.
20924 @end table
20925
20926 @node SVR4 Process Information
20927 @subsection SVR4 Process Information
20928 @cindex /proc
20929 @cindex examine process image
20930 @cindex process info via @file{/proc}
20931
20932 Many versions of SVR4 and compatible systems provide a facility called
20933 @samp{/proc} that can be used to examine the image of a running
20934 process using file-system subroutines.
20935
20936 If @value{GDBN} is configured for an operating system with this
20937 facility, the command @code{info proc} is available to report
20938 information about the process running your program, or about any
20939 process running on your system. This includes, as of this writing,
20940 @sc{gnu}/Linux and Solaris, for example.
20941
20942 This command may also work on core files that were created on a system
20943 that has the @samp{/proc} facility.
20944
20945 @table @code
20946 @kindex info proc
20947 @cindex process ID
20948 @item info proc
20949 @itemx info proc @var{process-id}
20950 Summarize available information about any running process. If a
20951 process ID is specified by @var{process-id}, display information about
20952 that process; otherwise display information about the program being
20953 debugged. The summary includes the debugged process ID, the command
20954 line used to invoke it, its current working directory, and its
20955 executable file's absolute file name.
20956
20957 On some systems, @var{process-id} can be of the form
20958 @samp{[@var{pid}]/@var{tid}} which specifies a certain thread ID
20959 within a process. If the optional @var{pid} part is missing, it means
20960 a thread from the process being debugged (the leading @samp{/} still
20961 needs to be present, or else @value{GDBN} will interpret the number as
20962 a process ID rather than a thread ID).
20963
20964 @item info proc cmdline
20965 @cindex info proc cmdline
20966 Show the original command line of the process. This command is
20967 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
20968
20969 @item info proc cwd
20970 @cindex info proc cwd
20971 Show the current working directory of the process. This command is
20972 specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
20973
20974 @item info proc exe
20975 @cindex info proc exe
20976 Show the name of executable of the process. This command is specific
20977 to @sc{gnu}/Linux.
20978
20979 @item info proc mappings
20980 @cindex memory address space mappings
20981 Report the memory address space ranges accessible in the program, with
20982 information on whether the process has read, write, or execute access
20983 rights to each range. On @sc{gnu}/Linux systems, each memory range
20984 includes the object file which is mapped to that range, instead of the
20985 memory access rights to that range.
20986
20987 @item info proc stat
20988 @itemx info proc status
20989 @cindex process detailed status information
20990 These subcommands are specific to @sc{gnu}/Linux systems. They show
20991 the process-related information, including the user ID and group ID;
20992 how many threads are there in the process; its virtual memory usage;
20993 the signals that are pending, blocked, and ignored; its TTY; its
20994 consumption of system and user time; its stack size; its @samp{nice}
20995 value; etc. For more information, see the @samp{proc} man page
20996 (type @kbd{man 5 proc} from your shell prompt).
20997
20998 @item info proc all
20999 Show all the information about the process described under all of the
21000 above @code{info proc} subcommands.
21001
21002 @ignore
21003 @comment These sub-options of 'info proc' were not included when
21004 @comment procfs.c was re-written. Keep their descriptions around
21005 @comment against the day when someone finds the time to put them back in.
21006 @kindex info proc times
21007 @item info proc times
21008 Starting time, user CPU time, and system CPU time for your program and
21009 its children.
21010
21011 @kindex info proc id
21012 @item info proc id
21013 Report on the process IDs related to your program: its own process ID,
21014 the ID of its parent, the process group ID, and the session ID.
21015 @end ignore
21016
21017 @item set procfs-trace
21018 @kindex set procfs-trace
21019 @cindex @code{procfs} API calls
21020 This command enables and disables tracing of @code{procfs} API calls.
21021
21022 @item show procfs-trace
21023 @kindex show procfs-trace
21024 Show the current state of @code{procfs} API call tracing.
21025
21026 @item set procfs-file @var{file}
21027 @kindex set procfs-file
21028 Tell @value{GDBN} to write @code{procfs} API trace to the named
21029 @var{file}. @value{GDBN} appends the trace info to the previous
21030 contents of the file. The default is to display the trace on the
21031 standard output.
21032
21033 @item show procfs-file
21034 @kindex show procfs-file
21035 Show the file to which @code{procfs} API trace is written.
21036
21037 @item proc-trace-entry
21038 @itemx proc-trace-exit
21039 @itemx proc-untrace-entry
21040 @itemx proc-untrace-exit
21041 @kindex proc-trace-entry
21042 @kindex proc-trace-exit
21043 @kindex proc-untrace-entry
21044 @kindex proc-untrace-exit
21045 These commands enable and disable tracing of entries into and exits
21046 from the @code{syscall} interface.
21047
21048 @item info pidlist
21049 @kindex info pidlist
21050 @cindex process list, QNX Neutrino
21051 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all the
21052 processes and all the threads within each process.
21053
21054 @item info meminfo
21055 @kindex info meminfo
21056 @cindex mapinfo list, QNX Neutrino
21057 For QNX Neutrino only, this command displays the list of all mapinfos.
21058 @end table
21059
21060 @node DJGPP Native
21061 @subsection Features for Debugging @sc{djgpp} Programs
21062 @cindex @sc{djgpp} debugging
21063 @cindex native @sc{djgpp} debugging
21064 @cindex MS-DOS-specific commands
21065
21066 @cindex DPMI
21067 @sc{djgpp} is a port of the @sc{gnu} development tools to MS-DOS and
21068 MS-Windows. @sc{djgpp} programs are 32-bit protected-mode programs
21069 that use the @dfn{DPMI} (DOS Protected-Mode Interface) API to run on
21070 top of real-mode DOS systems and their emulations.
21071
21072 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of @sc{djgpp} programs, and
21073 defines a few commands specific to the @sc{djgpp} port. This
21074 subsection describes those commands.
21075
21076 @table @code
21077 @kindex info dos
21078 @item info dos
21079 This is a prefix of @sc{djgpp}-specific commands which print
21080 information about the target system and important OS structures.
21081
21082 @kindex sysinfo
21083 @cindex MS-DOS system info
21084 @cindex free memory information (MS-DOS)
21085 @item info dos sysinfo
21086 This command displays assorted information about the underlying
21087 platform: the CPU type and features, the OS version and flavor, the
21088 DPMI version, and the available conventional and DPMI memory.
21089
21090 @cindex GDT
21091 @cindex LDT
21092 @cindex IDT
21093 @cindex segment descriptor tables
21094 @cindex descriptor tables display
21095 @item info dos gdt
21096 @itemx info dos ldt
21097 @itemx info dos idt
21098 These 3 commands display entries from, respectively, Global, Local,
21099 and Interrupt Descriptor Tables (GDT, LDT, and IDT). The descriptor
21100 tables are data structures which store a descriptor for each segment
21101 that is currently in use. The segment's selector is an index into a
21102 descriptor table; the table entry for that index holds the
21103 descriptor's base address and limit, and its attributes and access
21104 rights.
21105
21106 A typical @sc{djgpp} program uses 3 segments: a code segment, a data
21107 segment (used for both data and the stack), and a DOS segment (which
21108 allows access to DOS/BIOS data structures and absolute addresses in
21109 conventional memory). However, the DPMI host will usually define
21110 additional segments in order to support the DPMI environment.
21111
21112 @cindex garbled pointers
21113 These commands allow to display entries from the descriptor tables.
21114 Without an argument, all entries from the specified table are
21115 displayed. An argument, which should be an integer expression, means
21116 display a single entry whose index is given by the argument. For
21117 example, here's a convenient way to display information about the
21118 debugged program's data segment:
21119
21120 @smallexample
21121 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos ldt $ds}
21122 @exdent @code{0x13f: base=0x11970000 limit=0x0009ffff 32-Bit Data (Read/Write, Exp-up)}
21123 @end smallexample
21124
21125 @noindent
21126 This comes in handy when you want to see whether a pointer is outside
21127 the data segment's limit (i.e.@: @dfn{garbled}).
21128
21129 @cindex page tables display (MS-DOS)
21130 @item info dos pde
21131 @itemx info dos pte
21132 These two commands display entries from, respectively, the Page
21133 Directory and the Page Tables. Page Directories and Page Tables are
21134 data structures which control how virtual memory addresses are mapped
21135 into physical addresses. A Page Table includes an entry for every
21136 page of memory that is mapped into the program's address space; there
21137 may be several Page Tables, each one holding up to 4096 entries. A
21138 Page Directory has up to 4096 entries, one each for every Page Table
21139 that is currently in use.
21140
21141 Without an argument, @kbd{info dos pde} displays the entire Page
21142 Directory, and @kbd{info dos pte} displays all the entries in all of
21143 the Page Tables. An argument, an integer expression, given to the
21144 @kbd{info dos pde} command means display only that entry from the Page
21145 Directory table. An argument given to the @kbd{info dos pte} command
21146 means display entries from a single Page Table, the one pointed to by
21147 the specified entry in the Page Directory.
21148
21149 @cindex direct memory access (DMA) on MS-DOS
21150 These commands are useful when your program uses @dfn{DMA} (Direct
21151 Memory Access), which needs physical addresses to program the DMA
21152 controller.
21153
21154 These commands are supported only with some DPMI servers.
21155
21156 @cindex physical address from linear address
21157 @item info dos address-pte @var{addr}
21158 This command displays the Page Table entry for a specified linear
21159 address. The argument @var{addr} is a linear address which should
21160 already have the appropriate segment's base address added to it,
21161 because this command accepts addresses which may belong to @emph{any}
21162 segment. For example, here's how to display the Page Table entry for
21163 the page where a variable @code{i} is stored:
21164
21165 @smallexample
21166 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte __djgpp_base_address + (char *)&i}
21167 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x11a00d30:}
21168 @exdent @code{Base=0x02698000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0xd30}
21169 @end smallexample
21170
21171 @noindent
21172 This says that @code{i} is stored at offset @code{0xd30} from the page
21173 whose physical base address is @code{0x02698000}, and shows all the
21174 attributes of that page.
21175
21176 Note that you must cast the addresses of variables to a @code{char *},
21177 since otherwise the value of @code{__djgpp_base_address}, the base
21178 address of all variables and functions in a @sc{djgpp} program, will
21179 be added using the rules of C pointer arithmetics: if @code{i} is
21180 declared an @code{int}, @value{GDBN} will add 4 times the value of
21181 @code{__djgpp_base_address} to the address of @code{i}.
21182
21183 Here's another example, it displays the Page Table entry for the
21184 transfer buffer:
21185
21186 @smallexample
21187 @exdent @code{(@value{GDBP}) info dos address-pte *((unsigned *)&_go32_info_block + 3)}
21188 @exdent @code{Page Table entry for address 0x29110:}
21189 @exdent @code{Base=0x00029000 Dirty Acc. Not-Cached Write-Back Usr Read-Write +0x110}
21190 @end smallexample
21191
21192 @noindent
21193 (The @code{+ 3} offset is because the transfer buffer's address is the
21194 3rd member of the @code{_go32_info_block} structure.) The output
21195 clearly shows that this DPMI server maps the addresses in conventional
21196 memory 1:1, i.e.@: the physical (@code{0x00029000} + @code{0x110}) and
21197 linear (@code{0x29110}) addresses are identical.
21198
21199 This command is supported only with some DPMI servers.
21200 @end table
21201
21202 @cindex DOS serial data link, remote debugging
21203 In addition to native debugging, the DJGPP port supports remote
21204 debugging via a serial data link. The following commands are specific
21205 to remote serial debugging in the DJGPP port of @value{GDBN}.
21206
21207 @table @code
21208 @kindex set com1base
21209 @kindex set com1irq
21210 @kindex set com2base
21211 @kindex set com2irq
21212 @kindex set com3base
21213 @kindex set com3irq
21214 @kindex set com4base
21215 @kindex set com4irq
21216 @item set com1base @var{addr}
21217 This command sets the base I/O port address of the @file{COM1} serial
21218 port.
21219
21220 @item set com1irq @var{irq}
21221 This command sets the @dfn{Interrupt Request} (@code{IRQ}) line to use
21222 for the @file{COM1} serial port.
21223
21224 There are similar commands @samp{set com2base}, @samp{set com3irq},
21225 etc.@: for setting the port address and the @code{IRQ} lines for the
21226 other 3 COM ports.
21227
21228 @kindex show com1base
21229 @kindex show com1irq
21230 @kindex show com2base
21231 @kindex show com2irq
21232 @kindex show com3base
21233 @kindex show com3irq
21234 @kindex show com4base
21235 @kindex show com4irq
21236 The related commands @samp{show com1base}, @samp{show com1irq} etc.@:
21237 display the current settings of the base address and the @code{IRQ}
21238 lines used by the COM ports.
21239
21240 @item info serial
21241 @kindex info serial
21242 @cindex DOS serial port status
21243 This command prints the status of the 4 DOS serial ports. For each
21244 port, it prints whether it's active or not, its I/O base address and
21245 IRQ number, whether it uses a 16550-style FIFO, its baudrate, and the
21246 counts of various errors encountered so far.
21247 @end table
21248
21249
21250 @node Cygwin Native
21251 @subsection Features for Debugging MS Windows PE Executables
21252 @cindex MS Windows debugging
21253 @cindex native Cygwin debugging
21254 @cindex Cygwin-specific commands
21255
21256 @value{GDBN} supports native debugging of MS Windows programs, including
21257 DLLs with and without symbolic debugging information.
21258
21259 @cindex Ctrl-BREAK, MS-Windows
21260 @cindex interrupt debuggee on MS-Windows
21261 MS-Windows programs that call @code{SetConsoleMode} to switch off the
21262 special meaning of the @samp{Ctrl-C} keystroke cannot be interrupted
21263 by typing @kbd{C-c}. For this reason, @value{GDBN} on MS-Windows
21264 supports @kbd{C-@key{BREAK}} as an alternative interrupt key
21265 sequence, which can be used to interrupt the debuggee even if it
21266 ignores @kbd{C-c}.
21267
21268 There are various additional Cygwin-specific commands, described in
21269 this section. Working with DLLs that have no debugging symbols is
21270 described in @ref{Non-debug DLL Symbols}.
21271
21272 @table @code
21273 @kindex info w32
21274 @item info w32
21275 This is a prefix of MS Windows-specific commands which print
21276 information about the target system and important OS structures.
21277
21278 @item info w32 selector
21279 This command displays information returned by
21280 the Win32 API @code{GetThreadSelectorEntry} function.
21281 It takes an optional argument that is evaluated to
21282 a long value to give the information about this given selector.
21283 Without argument, this command displays information
21284 about the six segment registers.
21285
21286 @item info w32 thread-information-block
21287 This command displays thread specific information stored in the
21288 Thread Information Block (readable on the X86 CPU family using @code{$fs}
21289 selector for 32-bit programs and @code{$gs} for 64-bit programs).
21290
21291 @kindex set cygwin-exceptions
21292 @cindex debugging the Cygwin DLL
21293 @cindex Cygwin DLL, debugging
21294 @item set cygwin-exceptions @var{mode}
21295 If @var{mode} is @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that
21296 happen inside the Cygwin DLL. If @var{mode} is @code{off},
21297 @value{GDBN} will delay recognition of exceptions, and may ignore some
21298 exceptions which seem to be caused by internal Cygwin DLL
21299 ``bookkeeping''. This option is meant primarily for debugging the
21300 Cygwin DLL itself; the default value is @code{off} to avoid annoying
21301 @value{GDBN} users with false @code{SIGSEGV} signals.
21302
21303 @kindex show cygwin-exceptions
21304 @item show cygwin-exceptions
21305 Displays whether @value{GDBN} will break on exceptions that happen
21306 inside the Cygwin DLL itself.
21307
21308 @kindex set new-console
21309 @item set new-console @var{mode}
21310 If @var{mode} is @code{on} the debuggee will
21311 be started in a new console on next start.
21312 If @var{mode} is @code{off}, the debuggee will
21313 be started in the same console as the debugger.
21314
21315 @kindex show new-console
21316 @item show new-console
21317 Displays whether a new console is used
21318 when the debuggee is started.
21319
21320 @kindex set new-group
21321 @item set new-group @var{mode}
21322 This boolean value controls whether the debuggee should
21323 start a new group or stay in the same group as the debugger.
21324 This affects the way the Windows OS handles
21325 @samp{Ctrl-C}.
21326
21327 @kindex show new-group
21328 @item show new-group
21329 Displays current value of new-group boolean.
21330
21331 @kindex set debugevents
21332 @item set debugevents
21333 This boolean value adds debug output concerning kernel events related
21334 to the debuggee seen by the debugger. This includes events that
21335 signal thread and process creation and exit, DLL loading and
21336 unloading, console interrupts, and debugging messages produced by the
21337 Windows @code{OutputDebugString} API call.
21338
21339 @kindex set debugexec
21340 @item set debugexec
21341 This boolean value adds debug output concerning execute events
21342 (such as resume thread) seen by the debugger.
21343
21344 @kindex set debugexceptions
21345 @item set debugexceptions
21346 This boolean value adds debug output concerning exceptions in the
21347 debuggee seen by the debugger.
21348
21349 @kindex set debugmemory
21350 @item set debugmemory
21351 This boolean value adds debug output concerning debuggee memory reads
21352 and writes by the debugger.
21353
21354 @kindex set shell
21355 @item set shell
21356 This boolean values specifies whether the debuggee is called
21357 via a shell or directly (default value is on).
21358
21359 @kindex show shell
21360 @item show shell
21361 Displays if the debuggee will be started with a shell.
21362
21363 @end table
21364
21365 @menu
21366 * Non-debug DLL Symbols:: Support for DLLs without debugging symbols
21367 @end menu
21368
21369 @node Non-debug DLL Symbols
21370 @subsubsection Support for DLLs without Debugging Symbols
21371 @cindex DLLs with no debugging symbols
21372 @cindex Minimal symbols and DLLs
21373
21374 Very often on windows, some of the DLLs that your program relies on do
21375 not include symbolic debugging information (for example,
21376 @file{kernel32.dll}). When @value{GDBN} doesn't recognize any debugging
21377 symbols in a DLL, it relies on the minimal amount of symbolic
21378 information contained in the DLL's export table. This section
21379 describes working with such symbols, known internally to @value{GDBN} as
21380 ``minimal symbols''.
21381
21382 Note that before the debugged program has started execution, no DLLs
21383 will have been loaded. The easiest way around this problem is simply to
21384 start the program --- either by setting a breakpoint or letting the
21385 program run once to completion.
21386
21387 @subsubsection DLL Name Prefixes
21388
21389 In keeping with the naming conventions used by the Microsoft debugging
21390 tools, DLL export symbols are made available with a prefix based on the
21391 DLL name, for instance @code{KERNEL32!CreateFileA}. The plain name is
21392 also entered into the symbol table, so @code{CreateFileA} is often
21393 sufficient. In some cases there will be name clashes within a program
21394 (particularly if the executable itself includes full debugging symbols)
21395 necessitating the use of the fully qualified name when referring to the
21396 contents of the DLL. Use single-quotes around the name to avoid the
21397 exclamation mark (``!'') being interpreted as a language operator.
21398
21399 Note that the internal name of the DLL may be all upper-case, even
21400 though the file name of the DLL is lower-case, or vice-versa. Since
21401 symbols within @value{GDBN} are @emph{case-sensitive} this may cause
21402 some confusion. If in doubt, try the @code{info functions} and
21403 @code{info variables} commands or even @code{maint print msymbols}
21404 (@pxref{Symbols}). Here's an example:
21405
21406 @smallexample
21407 (@value{GDBP}) info function CreateFileA
21408 All functions matching regular expression "CreateFileA":
21409
21410 Non-debugging symbols:
21411 0x77e885f4 CreateFileA
21412 0x77e885f4 KERNEL32!CreateFileA
21413 @end smallexample
21414
21415 @smallexample
21416 (@value{GDBP}) info function !
21417 All functions matching regular expression "!":
21418
21419 Non-debugging symbols:
21420 0x6100114c cygwin1!__assert
21421 0x61004034 cygwin1!_dll_crt0@@0
21422 0x61004240 cygwin1!dll_crt0(per_process *)
21423 [etc...]
21424 @end smallexample
21425
21426 @subsubsection Working with Minimal Symbols
21427
21428 Symbols extracted from a DLL's export table do not contain very much
21429 type information. All that @value{GDBN} can do is guess whether a symbol
21430 refers to a function or variable depending on the linker section that
21431 contains the symbol. Also note that the actual contents of the memory
21432 contained in a DLL are not available unless the program is running. This
21433 means that you cannot examine the contents of a variable or disassemble
21434 a function within a DLL without a running program.
21435
21436 Variables are generally treated as pointers and dereferenced
21437 automatically. For this reason, it is often necessary to prefix a
21438 variable name with the address-of operator (``&'') and provide explicit
21439 type information in the command. Here's an example of the type of
21440 problem:
21441
21442 @smallexample
21443 (@value{GDBP}) print 'cygwin1!__argv'
21444 $1 = 268572168
21445 @end smallexample
21446
21447 @smallexample
21448 (@value{GDBP}) x 'cygwin1!__argv'
21449 0x10021610: "\230y\""
21450 @end smallexample
21451
21452 And two possible solutions:
21453
21454 @smallexample
21455 (@value{GDBP}) print ((char **)'cygwin1!__argv')[0]
21456 $2 = 0x22fd98 "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
21457 @end smallexample
21458
21459 @smallexample
21460 (@value{GDBP}) x/2x &'cygwin1!__argv'
21461 0x610c0aa8 <cygwin1!__argv>: 0x10021608 0x00000000
21462 (@value{GDBP}) x/x 0x10021608
21463 0x10021608: 0x0022fd98
21464 (@value{GDBP}) x/s 0x0022fd98
21465 0x22fd98: "/cygdrive/c/mydirectory/myprogram"
21466 @end smallexample
21467
21468 Setting a break point within a DLL is possible even before the program
21469 starts execution. However, under these circumstances, @value{GDBN} can't
21470 examine the initial instructions of the function in order to skip the
21471 function's frame set-up code. You can work around this by using ``*&''
21472 to set the breakpoint at a raw memory address:
21473
21474 @smallexample
21475 (@value{GDBP}) break *&'python22!PyOS_Readline'
21476 Breakpoint 1 at 0x1e04eff0
21477 @end smallexample
21478
21479 The author of these extensions is not entirely convinced that setting a
21480 break point within a shared DLL like @file{kernel32.dll} is completely
21481 safe.
21482
21483 @node Hurd Native
21484 @subsection Commands Specific to @sc{gnu} Hurd Systems
21485 @cindex @sc{gnu} Hurd debugging
21486
21487 This subsection describes @value{GDBN} commands specific to the
21488 @sc{gnu} Hurd native debugging.
21489
21490 @table @code
21491 @item set signals
21492 @itemx set sigs
21493 @kindex set signals@r{, Hurd command}
21494 @kindex set sigs@r{, Hurd command}
21495 This command toggles the state of inferior signal interception by
21496 @value{GDBN}. Mach exceptions, such as breakpoint traps, are not
21497 affected by this command. @code{sigs} is a shorthand alias for
21498 @code{signals}.
21499
21500 @item show signals
21501 @itemx show sigs
21502 @kindex show signals@r{, Hurd command}
21503 @kindex show sigs@r{, Hurd command}
21504 Show the current state of intercepting inferior's signals.
21505
21506 @item set signal-thread
21507 @itemx set sigthread
21508 @kindex set signal-thread
21509 @kindex set sigthread
21510 This command tells @value{GDBN} which thread is the @code{libc} signal
21511 thread. That thread is run when a signal is delivered to a running
21512 process. @code{set sigthread} is the shorthand alias of @code{set
21513 signal-thread}.
21514
21515 @item show signal-thread
21516 @itemx show sigthread
21517 @kindex show signal-thread
21518 @kindex show sigthread
21519 These two commands show which thread will run when the inferior is
21520 delivered a signal.
21521
21522 @item set stopped
21523 @kindex set stopped@r{, Hurd command}
21524 This commands tells @value{GDBN} that the inferior process is stopped,
21525 as with the @code{SIGSTOP} signal. The stopped process can be
21526 continued by delivering a signal to it.
21527
21528 @item show stopped
21529 @kindex show stopped@r{, Hurd command}
21530 This command shows whether @value{GDBN} thinks the debuggee is
21531 stopped.
21532
21533 @item set exceptions
21534 @kindex set exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
21535 Use this command to turn off trapping of exceptions in the inferior.
21536 When exception trapping is off, neither breakpoints nor
21537 single-stepping will work. To restore the default, set exception
21538 trapping on.
21539
21540 @item show exceptions
21541 @kindex show exceptions@r{, Hurd command}
21542 Show the current state of trapping exceptions in the inferior.
21543
21544 @item set task pause
21545 @kindex set task@r{, Hurd commands}
21546 @cindex task attributes (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
21547 @cindex pause current task (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
21548 This command toggles task suspension when @value{GDBN} has control.
21549 Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the task is suspended
21550 whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to off will take
21551 effect the next time the inferior is continued. If this option is set
21552 to off, you can use @code{set thread default pause on} or @code{set
21553 thread pause on} (see below) to pause individual threads.
21554
21555 @item show task pause
21556 @kindex show task@r{, Hurd commands}
21557 Show the current state of task suspension.
21558
21559 @item set task detach-suspend-count
21560 @cindex task suspend count
21561 @cindex detach from task, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21562 This command sets the suspend count the task will be left with when
21563 @value{GDBN} detaches from it.
21564
21565 @item show task detach-suspend-count
21566 Show the suspend count the task will be left with when detaching.
21567
21568 @item set task exception-port
21569 @itemx set task excp
21570 @cindex task exception port, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21571 This command sets the task exception port to which @value{GDBN} will
21572 forward exceptions. The argument should be the value of the @dfn{send
21573 rights} of the task. @code{set task excp} is a shorthand alias.
21574
21575 @item set noninvasive
21576 @cindex noninvasive task options
21577 This command switches @value{GDBN} to a mode that is the least
21578 invasive as far as interfering with the inferior is concerned. This
21579 is the same as using @code{set task pause}, @code{set exceptions}, and
21580 @code{set signals} to values opposite to the defaults.
21581
21582 @item info send-rights
21583 @itemx info receive-rights
21584 @itemx info port-rights
21585 @itemx info port-sets
21586 @itemx info dead-names
21587 @itemx info ports
21588 @itemx info psets
21589 @cindex send rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21590 @cindex receive rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21591 @cindex port rights, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21592 @cindex port sets, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21593 @cindex dead names, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21594 These commands display information about, respectively, send rights,
21595 receive rights, port rights, port sets, and dead names of a task.
21596 There are also shorthand aliases: @code{info ports} for @code{info
21597 port-rights} and @code{info psets} for @code{info port-sets}.
21598
21599 @item set thread pause
21600 @kindex set thread@r{, Hurd command}
21601 @cindex thread properties, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21602 @cindex pause current thread (@sc{gnu} Hurd)
21603 This command toggles current thread suspension when @value{GDBN} has
21604 control. Setting it to on takes effect immediately, and the current
21605 thread is suspended whenever @value{GDBN} gets control. Setting it to
21606 off will take effect the next time the inferior is continued.
21607 Normally, this command has no effect, since when @value{GDBN} has
21608 control, the whole task is suspended. However, if you used @code{set
21609 task pause off} (see above), this command comes in handy to suspend
21610 only the current thread.
21611
21612 @item show thread pause
21613 @kindex show thread@r{, Hurd command}
21614 This command shows the state of current thread suspension.
21615
21616 @item set thread run
21617 This command sets whether the current thread is allowed to run.
21618
21619 @item show thread run
21620 Show whether the current thread is allowed to run.
21621
21622 @item set thread detach-suspend-count
21623 @cindex thread suspend count, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21624 @cindex detach from thread, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21625 This command sets the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on a
21626 thread when detaching. This number is relative to the suspend count
21627 found by @value{GDBN} when it notices the thread; use @code{set thread
21628 takeover-suspend-count} to force it to an absolute value.
21629
21630 @item show thread detach-suspend-count
21631 Show the suspend count @value{GDBN} will leave on the thread when
21632 detaching.
21633
21634 @item set thread exception-port
21635 @itemx set thread excp
21636 Set the thread exception port to which to forward exceptions. This
21637 overrides the port set by @code{set task exception-port} (see above).
21638 @code{set thread excp} is the shorthand alias.
21639
21640 @item set thread takeover-suspend-count
21641 Normally, @value{GDBN}'s thread suspend counts are relative to the
21642 value @value{GDBN} finds when it notices each thread. This command
21643 changes the suspend counts to be absolute instead.
21644
21645 @item set thread default
21646 @itemx show thread default
21647 @cindex thread default settings, @sc{gnu} Hurd
21648 Each of the above @code{set thread} commands has a @code{set thread
21649 default} counterpart (e.g., @code{set thread default pause}, @code{set
21650 thread default exception-port}, etc.). The @code{thread default}
21651 variety of commands sets the default thread properties for all
21652 threads; you can then change the properties of individual threads with
21653 the non-default commands.
21654 @end table
21655
21656 @node Darwin
21657 @subsection Darwin
21658 @cindex Darwin
21659
21660 @value{GDBN} provides the following commands specific to the Darwin target:
21661
21662 @table @code
21663 @item set debug darwin @var{num}
21664 @kindex set debug darwin
21665 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages specific to
21666 the Darwin support. Higher values produce more verbose output.
21667
21668 @item show debug darwin
21669 @kindex show debug darwin
21670 Show the current state of Darwin messages.
21671
21672 @item set debug mach-o @var{num}
21673 @kindex set debug mach-o
21674 When set to a non zero value, enables debugging messages while
21675 @value{GDBN} is reading Darwin object files. (@dfn{Mach-O} is the
21676 file format used on Darwin for object and executable files.) Higher
21677 values produce more verbose output. This is a command to diagnose
21678 problems internal to @value{GDBN} and should not be needed in normal
21679 usage.
21680
21681 @item show debug mach-o
21682 @kindex show debug mach-o
21683 Show the current state of Mach-O file messages.
21684
21685 @item set mach-exceptions on
21686 @itemx set mach-exceptions off
21687 @kindex set mach-exceptions
21688 On Darwin, faults are first reported as a Mach exception and are then
21689 mapped to a Posix signal. Use this command to turn on trapping of
21690 Mach exceptions in the inferior. This might be sometimes useful to
21691 better understand the cause of a fault. The default is off.
21692
21693 @item show mach-exceptions
21694 @kindex show mach-exceptions
21695 Show the current state of exceptions trapping.
21696 @end table
21697
21698
21699 @node Embedded OS
21700 @section Embedded Operating Systems
21701
21702 This section describes configurations involving the debugging of
21703 embedded operating systems that are available for several different
21704 architectures.
21705
21706 @value{GDBN} includes the ability to debug programs running on
21707 various real-time operating systems.
21708
21709 @node Embedded Processors
21710 @section Embedded Processors
21711
21712 This section goes into details specific to particular embedded
21713 configurations.
21714
21715 @cindex send command to simulator
21716 Whenever a specific embedded processor has a simulator, @value{GDBN}
21717 allows to send an arbitrary command to the simulator.
21718
21719 @table @code
21720 @item sim @var{command}
21721 @kindex sim@r{, a command}
21722 Send an arbitrary @var{command} string to the simulator. Consult the
21723 documentation for the specific simulator in use for information about
21724 acceptable commands.
21725 @end table
21726
21727
21728 @menu
21729 * ARM:: ARM
21730 * M32R/SDI:: Renesas M32R/SDI
21731 * M68K:: Motorola M68K
21732 * MicroBlaze:: Xilinx MicroBlaze
21733 * MIPS Embedded:: MIPS Embedded
21734 * PowerPC Embedded:: PowerPC Embedded
21735 * AVR:: Atmel AVR
21736 * CRIS:: CRIS
21737 * Super-H:: Renesas Super-H
21738 @end menu
21739
21740 @node ARM
21741 @subsection ARM
21742
21743 @value{GDBN} provides the following ARM-specific commands:
21744
21745 @table @code
21746 @item set arm disassembler
21747 @kindex set arm
21748 This commands selects from a list of disassembly styles. The
21749 @code{"std"} style is the standard style.
21750
21751 @item show arm disassembler
21752 @kindex show arm
21753 Show the current disassembly style.
21754
21755 @item set arm apcs32
21756 @cindex ARM 32-bit mode
21757 This command toggles ARM operation mode between 32-bit and 26-bit.
21758
21759 @item show arm apcs32
21760 Display the current usage of the ARM 32-bit mode.
21761
21762 @item set arm fpu @var{fputype}
21763 This command sets the ARM floating-point unit (FPU) type. The
21764 argument @var{fputype} can be one of these:
21765
21766 @table @code
21767 @item auto
21768 Determine the FPU type by querying the OS ABI.
21769 @item softfpa
21770 Software FPU, with mixed-endian doubles on little-endian ARM
21771 processors.
21772 @item fpa
21773 GCC-compiled FPA co-processor.
21774 @item softvfp
21775 Software FPU with pure-endian doubles.
21776 @item vfp
21777 VFP co-processor.
21778 @end table
21779
21780 @item show arm fpu
21781 Show the current type of the FPU.
21782
21783 @item set arm abi
21784 This command forces @value{GDBN} to use the specified ABI.
21785
21786 @item show arm abi
21787 Show the currently used ABI.
21788
21789 @item set arm fallback-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
21790 @value{GDBN} uses the symbol table, when available, to determine
21791 whether instructions are ARM or Thumb. This command controls
21792 @value{GDBN}'s default behavior when the symbol table is not
21793 available. The default is @samp{auto}, which causes @value{GDBN} to
21794 use the current execution mode (from the @code{T} bit in the @code{CPSR}
21795 register).
21796
21797 @item show arm fallback-mode
21798 Show the current fallback instruction mode.
21799
21800 @item set arm force-mode (arm|thumb|auto)
21801 This command overrides use of the symbol table to determine whether
21802 instructions are ARM or Thumb. The default is @samp{auto}, which
21803 causes @value{GDBN} to use the symbol table and then the setting
21804 of @samp{set arm fallback-mode}.
21805
21806 @item show arm force-mode
21807 Show the current forced instruction mode.
21808
21809 @item set debug arm
21810 Toggle whether to display ARM-specific debugging messages from the ARM
21811 target support subsystem.
21812
21813 @item show debug arm
21814 Show whether ARM-specific debugging messages are enabled.
21815 @end table
21816
21817 @table @code
21818 @item target sim @r{[}@var{simargs}@r{]} @dots{}
21819 The @value{GDBN} ARM simulator accepts the following optional arguments.
21820
21821 @table @code
21822 @item --swi-support=@var{type}
21823 Tell the simulator which SWI interfaces to support. The argument
21824 @var{type} may be a comma separated list of the following values.
21825 The default value is @code{all}.
21826
21827 @table @code
21828 @item none
21829 @item demon
21830 @item angel
21831 @item redboot
21832 @item all
21833 @end table
21834 @end table
21835 @end table
21836
21837 @node M32R/SDI
21838 @subsection Renesas M32R/SDI
21839
21840 The following commands are available for M32R/SDI:
21841
21842 @table @code
21843 @item sdireset
21844 @kindex sdireset
21845 @cindex reset SDI connection, M32R
21846 This command resets the SDI connection.
21847
21848 @item sdistatus
21849 @kindex sdistatus
21850 This command shows the SDI connection status.
21851
21852 @item debug_chaos
21853 @kindex debug_chaos
21854 @cindex M32R/Chaos debugging
21855 Instructs the remote that M32R/Chaos debugging is to be used.
21856
21857 @item use_debug_dma
21858 @kindex use_debug_dma
21859 Instructs the remote to use the DEBUG_DMA method of accessing memory.
21860
21861 @item use_mon_code
21862 @kindex use_mon_code
21863 Instructs the remote to use the MON_CODE method of accessing memory.
21864
21865 @item use_ib_break
21866 @kindex use_ib_break
21867 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by IB break.
21868
21869 @item use_dbt_break
21870 @kindex use_dbt_break
21871 Instructs the remote to set breakpoints by DBT.
21872 @end table
21873
21874 @node M68K
21875 @subsection M68k
21876
21877 The Motorola m68k configuration includes ColdFire support.
21878
21879 @node MicroBlaze
21880 @subsection MicroBlaze
21881 @cindex Xilinx MicroBlaze
21882 @cindex XMD, Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger
21883
21884 The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
21885 FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
21886 usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the Xilinx
21887 Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
21888 This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to
21889 the target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
21890 communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
21891 presents a @code{gdbserver} interface to the board. By default
21892 @code{xmd} uses port @code{1234}. (While it is possible to change
21893 this default port, it requires the use of undocumented @code{xmd}
21894 commands. Contact Xilinx support if you need to do this.)
21895
21896 Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
21897
21898 @table @code
21899 @item target remote :1234
21900 Use this command to connect to the target if you are running @value{GDBN}
21901 on the same system as @code{xmd}.
21902
21903 @item target remote @var{xmd-host}:1234
21904 Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to @code{xmd}
21905 running on a different system named @var{xmd-host}.
21906
21907 @item load
21908 Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
21909
21910 @item set debug microblaze @var{n}
21911 Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
21912
21913 @item show debug microblaze @var{n}
21914 Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
21915 @end table
21916
21917 @node MIPS Embedded
21918 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Embedded
21919
21920 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} boards
21921 @value{GDBN} can use the @acronym{MIPS} remote debugging protocol to talk to a
21922 @acronym{MIPS} board attached to a serial line. This is available when
21923 you configure @value{GDBN} with @samp{--target=mips-elf}.
21924
21925 @need 1000
21926 Use these @value{GDBN} commands to specify the connection to your target board:
21927
21928 @table @code
21929 @item target mips @var{port}
21930 @kindex target mips @var{port}
21931 To run a program on the board, start up @code{@value{GDBP}} with the
21932 name of your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
21933 command @samp{target mips @var{port}}, where @var{port} is the name of
21934 the serial port connected to the board. If the program has not already
21935 been downloaded to the board, you may use the @code{load} command to
21936 download it. You can then use all the usual @value{GDBN} commands.
21937
21938 For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a serial
21939 port, and loads and runs a program called @var{prog} through the
21940 debugger:
21941
21942 @smallexample
21943 host$ @value{GDBP} @var{prog}
21944 @value{GDBN} is free software and @dots{}
21945 (@value{GDBP}) target mips /dev/ttyb
21946 (@value{GDBP}) load @var{prog}
21947 (@value{GDBP}) run
21948 @end smallexample
21949
21950 @item target mips @var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}
21951 On some @value{GDBN} host configurations, you can specify a TCP
21952 connection (for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
21953 concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
21954 @samp{@var{hostname}:@var{portnumber}}.
21955
21956 @item target pmon @var{port}
21957 @kindex target pmon @var{port}
21958 PMON ROM monitor.
21959
21960 @item target ddb @var{port}
21961 @kindex target ddb @var{port}
21962 NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
21963
21964 @item target lsi @var{port}
21965 @kindex target lsi @var{port}
21966 LSI variant of PMON.
21967
21968 @end table
21969
21970
21971 @noindent
21972 @value{GDBN} also supports these special commands for @acronym{MIPS} targets:
21973
21974 @table @code
21975 @item set mipsfpu double
21976 @itemx set mipsfpu single
21977 @itemx set mipsfpu none
21978 @itemx set mipsfpu auto
21979 @itemx show mipsfpu
21980 @kindex set mipsfpu
21981 @kindex show mipsfpu
21982 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} remote floating point
21983 @cindex floating point, @acronym{MIPS} remote
21984 If your target board does not support the @acronym{MIPS} floating point
21985 coprocessor, you should use the command @samp{set mipsfpu none} (if you
21986 need this, you may wish to put the command in your @value{GDBN} init
21987 file). This tells @value{GDBN} how to find the return value of
21988 functions which return floating point values. It also allows
21989 @value{GDBN} to avoid saving the floating point registers when calling
21990 functions on the board. If you are using a floating point coprocessor
21991 with only single precision floating point support, as on the @sc{r4650}
21992 processor, use the command @samp{set mipsfpu single}. The default
21993 double precision floating point coprocessor may be selected using
21994 @samp{set mipsfpu double}.
21995
21996 In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
21997 floating point, so @samp{set mipsfpu on} will select double precision
21998 and @samp{set mipsfpu off} will select no floating point.
21999
22000 As usual, you can inquire about the @code{mipsfpu} variable with
22001 @samp{show mipsfpu}.
22002
22003 @item set timeout @var{seconds}
22004 @itemx set retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}
22005 @itemx show timeout
22006 @itemx show retransmit-timeout
22007 @cindex @code{timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
22008 @cindex @code{retransmit-timeout}, @acronym{MIPS} protocol
22009 @kindex set timeout
22010 @kindex show timeout
22011 @kindex set retransmit-timeout
22012 @kindex show retransmit-timeout
22013 You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in the @acronym{MIPS}
22014 remote protocol, with the @code{set timeout @var{seconds}} command. The
22015 default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout used while
22016 waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the @code{set
22017 retransmit-timeout @var{seconds}} command. The default is 3 seconds.
22018 You can inspect both values with @code{show timeout} and @code{show
22019 retransmit-timeout}. (These commands are @emph{only} available when
22020 @value{GDBN} is configured for @samp{--target=mips-elf}.)
22021
22022 The timeout set by @code{set timeout} does not apply when @value{GDBN}
22023 is waiting for your program to stop. In that case, @value{GDBN} waits
22024 forever because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going
22025 to run before stopping.
22026
22027 @item set syn-garbage-limit @var{num}
22028 @kindex set syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
22029 @cindex synchronize with remote @acronym{MIPS} target
22030 Limit the maximum number of characters @value{GDBN} should ignore when
22031 it tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
22032 characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
22033
22034 @item show syn-garbage-limit
22035 @kindex show syn-garbage-limit@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
22036 Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
22037 trying to synchronize with the remote system.
22038
22039 @item set monitor-prompt @var{prompt}
22040 @kindex set monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
22041 @cindex remote monitor prompt
22042 Tell @value{GDBN} to expect the specified @var{prompt} string from the
22043 remote monitor. The default depends on the target:
22044 @table @asis
22045 @item pmon target
22046 @samp{PMON}
22047 @item ddb target
22048 @samp{NEC010}
22049 @item lsi target
22050 @samp{PMON>}
22051 @end table
22052
22053 @item show monitor-prompt
22054 @kindex show monitor-prompt@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
22055 Show the current strings @value{GDBN} expects as the prompt from the
22056 remote monitor.
22057
22058 @item set monitor-warnings
22059 @kindex set monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
22060 Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints. This
22061 has effect only for the @code{lsi} target. When on, @value{GDBN} will
22062 display warning messages whose codes are returned by the @code{lsi}
22063 PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
22064
22065 @item show monitor-warnings
22066 @kindex show monitor-warnings@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
22067 Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
22068
22069 @item pmon @var{command}
22070 @kindex pmon@r{, @acronym{MIPS} remote}
22071 @cindex send PMON command
22072 This command allows sending an arbitrary @var{command} string to the
22073 monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
22074 @end table
22075
22076 @node PowerPC Embedded
22077 @subsection PowerPC Embedded
22078
22079 @cindex DVC register
22080 @value{GDBN} supports using the DVC (Data Value Compare) register to
22081 implement in hardware simple hardware watchpoint conditions of the form:
22082
22083 @smallexample
22084 (@value{GDBP}) watch @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} \
22085 if @var{ADDRESS|VARIABLE} == @var{CONSTANT EXPRESSION}
22086 @end smallexample
22087
22088 The DVC register will be automatically used when @value{GDBN} detects
22089 such pattern in a condition expression, and the created watchpoint uses one
22090 debug register (either the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on and the
22091 variable is scalar, or the variable has a length of one byte). This feature
22092 is available in native @value{GDBN} running on a Linux kernel version 2.6.34
22093 or newer.
22094
22095 When running on PowerPC embedded processors, @value{GDBN} automatically uses
22096 ranged hardware watchpoints, unless the @code{exact-watchpoints} option is on,
22097 in which case watchpoints using only one debug register are created when
22098 watching variables of scalar types.
22099
22100 You can create an artificial array to watch an arbitrary memory
22101 region using one of the following commands (@pxref{Expressions}):
22102
22103 @smallexample
22104 (@value{GDBP}) watch *((char *) @var{address})@@@var{length}
22105 (@value{GDBP}) watch @{char[@var{length}]@} @var{address}
22106 @end smallexample
22107
22108 PowerPC embedded processors support masked watchpoints. See the discussion
22109 about the @code{mask} argument in @ref{Set Watchpoints}.
22110
22111 @cindex ranged breakpoint
22112 PowerPC embedded processors support hardware accelerated
22113 @dfn{ranged breakpoints}. A ranged breakpoint stops execution of
22114 the inferior whenever it executes an instruction at any address within
22115 the range it specifies. To set a ranged breakpoint in @value{GDBN},
22116 use the @code{break-range} command.
22117
22118 @value{GDBN} provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
22119
22120 @table @code
22121 @kindex break-range
22122 @item break-range @var{start-location}, @var{end-location}
22123 Set a breakpoint for an address range given by
22124 @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}, which can specify a function name,
22125 a line number, an offset of lines from the current line or from the start
22126 location, or an address of an instruction (see @ref{Specify Location},
22127 for a list of all the possible ways to specify a @var{location}.)
22128 The breakpoint will stop execution of the inferior whenever it
22129 executes an instruction at any address within the specified range,
22130 (including @var{start-location} and @var{end-location}.)
22131
22132 @kindex set powerpc
22133 @item set powerpc soft-float
22134 @itemx show powerpc soft-float
22135 Force @value{GDBN} to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
22136 convention. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention based
22137 on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
22138
22139 @item set powerpc vector-abi
22140 @itemx show powerpc vector-abi
22141 Force @value{GDBN} to use the specified calling convention for vector
22142 arguments and return values. The valid options are @samp{auto};
22143 @samp{generic}, to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
22144 @samp{altivec}, to use AltiVec registers; and @samp{spe} to use SPE
22145 registers. By default, @value{GDBN} selects the calling convention
22146 based on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
22147
22148 @item set powerpc exact-watchpoints
22149 @itemx show powerpc exact-watchpoints
22150 Allow @value{GDBN} to use only one debug register when watching a variable
22151 of scalar type, thus assuming that the variable is accessed through the
22152 address of its first byte.
22153
22154 @end table
22155
22156 @node AVR
22157 @subsection Atmel AVR
22158 @cindex AVR
22159
22160 When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, @value{GDBN} supports the
22161 following AVR-specific commands:
22162
22163 @table @code
22164 @item info io_registers
22165 @kindex info io_registers@r{, AVR}
22166 @cindex I/O registers (Atmel AVR)
22167 This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
22168 each register, @value{GDBN} prints its number and value.
22169 @end table
22170
22171 @node CRIS
22172 @subsection CRIS
22173 @cindex CRIS
22174
22175 When configured for debugging CRIS, @value{GDBN} provides the
22176 following CRIS-specific commands:
22177
22178 @table @code
22179 @item set cris-version @var{ver}
22180 @cindex CRIS version
22181 Set the current CRIS version to @var{ver}, either @samp{10} or @samp{32}.
22182 The CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is useful in
22183 case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
22184
22185 @item show cris-version
22186 Show the current CRIS version.
22187
22188 @item set cris-dwarf2-cfi
22189 @cindex DWARF-2 CFI and CRIS
22190 Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is @samp{on}.
22191 Change to @samp{off} when using @code{gcc-cris} whose version is below
22192 @code{R59}.
22193
22194 @item show cris-dwarf2-cfi
22195 Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
22196
22197 @item set cris-mode @var{mode}
22198 @cindex CRIS mode
22199 Set the current CRIS mode to @var{mode}. It should only be changed when
22200 debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to
22201 @samp{guru} (the default is @samp{normal}).
22202
22203 @item show cris-mode
22204 Show the current CRIS mode.
22205 @end table
22206
22207 @node Super-H
22208 @subsection Renesas Super-H
22209 @cindex Super-H
22210
22211 For the Renesas Super-H processor, @value{GDBN} provides these
22212 commands:
22213
22214 @table @code
22215 @item set sh calling-convention @var{convention}
22216 @kindex set sh calling-convention
22217 Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from @value{GDBN}.
22218 Allowed values are @samp{gcc}, which is the default setting, and @samp{renesas}.
22219 With the @samp{gcc} setting, functions are called using the @value{NGCC} calling
22220 convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called function specifies
22221 that the function follows the Renesas calling convention, the function
22222 is called using the Renesas calling convention. If the calling convention
22223 is set to @samp{renesas}, the Renesas calling convention is always used,
22224 regardless of the DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the
22225 default of @samp{gcc} if debug information is missing, or the compiler
22226 does not emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
22227
22228 @item show sh calling-convention
22229 @kindex show sh calling-convention
22230 Show the current calling convention setting.
22231
22232 @end table
22233
22234
22235 @node Architectures
22236 @section Architectures
22237
22238 This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect
22239 all uses of @value{GDBN} with the architecture, both native and cross.
22240
22241 @menu
22242 * AArch64::
22243 * i386::
22244 * Alpha::
22245 * MIPS::
22246 * HPPA:: HP PA architecture
22247 * SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
22248 * PowerPC::
22249 * Nios II::
22250 @end menu
22251
22252 @node AArch64
22253 @subsection AArch64
22254 @cindex AArch64 support
22255
22256 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides the
22257 following special commands:
22258
22259 @table @code
22260 @item set debug aarch64
22261 @kindex set debug aarch64
22262 This command determines whether AArch64 architecture-specific debugging
22263 messages are to be displayed.
22264
22265 @item show debug aarch64
22266 Show whether AArch64 debugging messages are displayed.
22267
22268 @end table
22269
22270 @node i386
22271 @subsection x86 Architecture-specific Issues
22272
22273 @table @code
22274 @item set struct-convention @var{mode}
22275 @kindex set struct-convention
22276 @cindex struct return convention
22277 @cindex struct/union returned in registers
22278 Set the convention used by the inferior to return @code{struct}s and
22279 @code{union}s from functions to @var{mode}. Possible values of
22280 @var{mode} are @code{"pcc"}, @code{"reg"}, and @code{"default"} (the
22281 default). @code{"default"} or @code{"pcc"} means that @code{struct}s
22282 are returned on the stack, while @code{"reg"} means that a
22283 @code{struct} or a @code{union} whose size is 1, 2, 4, or 8 bytes will
22284 be returned in a register.
22285
22286 @item show struct-convention
22287 @kindex show struct-convention
22288 Show the current setting of the convention to return @code{struct}s
22289 from functions.
22290 @end table
22291
22292
22293 @subsubsection Intel @dfn{Memory Protection Extensions} (MPX).
22294 @cindex Intel Memory Protection Extensions (MPX).
22295
22296 Memory Protection Extension (MPX) adds the bound registers @samp{BND0}
22297 @footnote{The register named with capital letters represent the architecture
22298 registers.} through @samp{BND3}. Bound registers store a pair of 64-bit values
22299 which are the lower bound and upper bound. Bounds are effective addresses or
22300 memory locations. The upper bounds are architecturally represented in 1's
22301 complement form. A bound having lower bound = 0, and upper bound = 0
22302 (1's complement of all bits set) will allow access to the entire address space.
22303
22304 @samp{BND0} through @samp{BND3} are represented in @value{GDBN} as @samp{bnd0raw}
22305 through @samp{bnd3raw}. Pseudo registers @samp{bnd0} through @samp{bnd3}
22306 display the upper bound performing the complement of one operation on the
22307 upper bound value, i.e.@ when upper bound in @samp{bnd0raw} is 0 in the
22308 @value{GDBN} @samp{bnd0} it will be @code{0xfff@dots{}}. In this sense it
22309 can also be noted that the upper bounds are inclusive.
22310
22311 As an example, assume that the register BND0 holds bounds for a pointer having
22312 access allowed for the range between 0x32 and 0x71. The values present on
22313 bnd0raw and bnd registers are presented as follows:
22314
22315 @smallexample
22316 bnd0raw = @{0x32, 0xffffffff8e@}
22317 bnd0 = @{lbound = 0x32, ubound = 0x71@} : size 64
22318 @end smallexample
22319
22320 This way the raw value can be accessed via bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw. Any
22321 change on bnd0@dots{}bnd3 or bnd0raw@dots{}bnd3raw is reflect on its
22322 counterpart. When the bnd0@dots{}bnd3 registers are displayed via
22323 Python, the display includes the memory size, in bits, accessible to
22324 the pointer.
22325
22326 Bounds can also be stored in bounds tables, which are stored in
22327 application memory. These tables store bounds for pointers by specifying
22328 the bounds pointer's value along with its bounds. Evaluating and changing
22329 bounds located in bound tables is therefore interesting while investigating
22330 bugs on MPX context. @value{GDBN} provides commands for this purpose:
22331
22332 @table @code
22333 @item show mpx bound @var{pointer}
22334 @kindex show mpx bound
22335 Display bounds of the given @var{pointer}.
22336
22337 @item set mpx bound @var{pointer}, @var{lbound}, @var{ubound}
22338 @kindex set mpx bound
22339 Set the bounds of a pointer in the bound table.
22340 This command takes three parameters: @var{pointer} is the pointers
22341 whose bounds are to be changed, @var{lbound} and @var{ubound} are new values
22342 for lower and upper bounds respectively.
22343 @end table
22344
22345 @node Alpha
22346 @subsection Alpha
22347
22348 See the following section.
22349
22350 @node MIPS
22351 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}
22352
22353 @cindex stack on Alpha
22354 @cindex stack on @acronym{MIPS}
22355 @cindex Alpha stack
22356 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} stack
22357 Alpha- and @acronym{MIPS}-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
22358 sometimes requires @value{GDBN} to search backward in the object code to
22359 find the beginning of a function.
22360
22361 @cindex response time, @acronym{MIPS} debugging
22362 To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
22363 @value{GDBN} may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search)
22364 you may want to limit the size of this search, using one of these
22365 commands:
22366
22367 @table @code
22368 @cindex @code{heuristic-fence-post} (Alpha, @acronym{MIPS})
22369 @item set heuristic-fence-post @var{limit}
22370 Restrict @value{GDBN} to examining at most @var{limit} bytes in its
22371 search for the beginning of a function. A value of @var{0} (the
22372 default) means there is no limit. However, except for @var{0}, the
22373 larger the limit the more bytes @code{heuristic-fence-post} must search
22374 and therefore the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use
22375 this command when debugging a stripped executable.
22376
22377 @item show heuristic-fence-post
22378 Display the current limit.
22379 @end table
22380
22381 @noindent
22382 These commands are available @emph{only} when @value{GDBN} is configured
22383 for debugging programs on Alpha or @acronym{MIPS} processors.
22384
22385 Several @acronym{MIPS}-specific commands are available when debugging @acronym{MIPS}
22386 programs:
22387
22388 @table @code
22389 @item set mips abi @var{arg}
22390 @kindex set mips abi
22391 @cindex set ABI for @acronym{MIPS}
22392 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} ABI is used by the inferior. Possible
22393 values of @var{arg} are:
22394
22395 @table @samp
22396 @item auto
22397 The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is the
22398 default).
22399 @item o32
22400 @item o64
22401 @item n32
22402 @item n64
22403 @item eabi32
22404 @item eabi64
22405 @end table
22406
22407 @item show mips abi
22408 @kindex show mips abi
22409 Show the @acronym{MIPS} ABI used by @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
22410
22411 @item set mips compression @var{arg}
22412 @kindex set mips compression
22413 @cindex code compression, @acronym{MIPS}
22414 Tell @value{GDBN} which @acronym{MIPS} compressed
22415 @acronym{ISA, Instruction Set Architecture} encoding is used by the
22416 inferior. @value{GDBN} uses this for code disassembly and other
22417 internal interpretation purposes. This setting is only referred to
22418 when no executable has been associated with the debugging session or
22419 the executable does not provide information about the encoding it uses.
22420 Otherwise this setting is automatically updated from information
22421 provided by the executable.
22422
22423 Possible values of @var{arg} are @samp{mips16} and @samp{micromips}.
22424 The default compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding is @samp{mips16}, as
22425 executables containing @acronym{MIPS16} code frequently are not
22426 identified as such.
22427
22428 This setting is ``sticky''; that is, it retains its value across
22429 debugging sessions until reset either explicitly with this command or
22430 implicitly from an executable.
22431
22432 The compiler and/or assembler typically add symbol table annotations to
22433 identify functions compiled for the @acronym{MIPS16} or
22434 @acronym{microMIPS} @acronym{ISA}s. If these function-scope annotations
22435 are present, @value{GDBN} uses them in preference to the global
22436 compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding setting.
22437
22438 @item show mips compression
22439 @kindex show mips compression
22440 Show the @acronym{MIPS} compressed @acronym{ISA} encoding used by
22441 @value{GDBN} to debug the inferior.
22442
22443 @item set mipsfpu
22444 @itemx show mipsfpu
22445 @xref{MIPS Embedded, set mipsfpu}.
22446
22447 @item set mips mask-address @var{arg}
22448 @kindex set mips mask-address
22449 @cindex @acronym{MIPS} addresses, masking
22450 This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of 64-bit
22451 @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off. The argument @var{arg} can be
22452 @samp{on}, @samp{off}, or @samp{auto}. The latter is the default
22453 setting, which lets @value{GDBN} determine the correct value.
22454
22455 @item show mips mask-address
22456 @kindex show mips mask-address
22457 Show whether the upper 32 bits of @acronym{MIPS} addresses are masked off or
22458 not.
22459
22460 @item set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
22461 @kindex set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
22462 This command controls compatibility with 64-bit @acronym{MIPS} targets that
22463 transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old @acronym{MIPS} 64 target
22464 that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like @sc{sr} and @sc{fsr},
22465 and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to @samp{on}.
22466
22467 @item show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
22468 @kindex show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs
22469 Show the current setting of compatibility with older @acronym{MIPS} 64 targets.
22470
22471 @item set debug mips
22472 @kindex set debug mips
22473 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the @acronym{MIPS}-specific
22474 target code in @value{GDBN}.
22475
22476 @item show debug mips
22477 @kindex show debug mips
22478 Show the current setting of @acronym{MIPS} debugging messages.
22479 @end table
22480
22481
22482 @node HPPA
22483 @subsection HPPA
22484 @cindex HPPA support
22485
22486 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the
22487 following special commands:
22488
22489 @table @code
22490 @item set debug hppa
22491 @kindex set debug hppa
22492 This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific debugging
22493 messages are to be displayed.
22494
22495 @item show debug hppa
22496 Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
22497
22498 @item maint print unwind @var{address}
22499 @kindex maint print unwind@r{, HPPA}
22500 This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
22501 given @var{address}.
22502
22503 @end table
22504
22505
22506 @node SPU
22507 @subsection Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
22508 @cindex Cell Broadband Engine
22509 @cindex SPU
22510
22511 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture,
22512 it provides the following special commands:
22513
22514 @table @code
22515 @item info spu event
22516 @kindex info spu
22517 Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask
22518 and pending event status.
22519
22520 @item info spu signal
22521 Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
22522 signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
22523 notification channels.
22524
22525 @item info spu mailbox
22526 Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
22527 in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound,
22528 SPU Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
22529
22530 @item info spu dma
22531 Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
22532 DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
22533 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
22534
22535 @item info spu proxydma
22536 Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC
22537 Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective
22538 and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
22539
22540 @end table
22541
22542 When @value{GDBN} is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application
22543 on the Cell Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following
22544 special commands:
22545
22546 @table @code
22547 @item set spu stop-on-load @var{arg}
22548 @kindex set spu
22549 Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to @code{on}, @value{GDBN}
22550 will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its @code{main}
22551 function. The default is @code{off}.
22552
22553 @item show spu stop-on-load
22554 @kindex show spu
22555 Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
22556
22557 @item set spu auto-flush-cache @var{arg}
22558 Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache. When set to
22559 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will automatically cause the SPE software-managed
22560 cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops. This provides a consistent
22561 view of PowerPC memory that is accessed via the cache. If an application
22562 does not use the software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
22563
22564 @item show spu auto-flush-cache
22565 Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
22566
22567 @end table
22568
22569 @node PowerPC
22570 @subsection PowerPC
22571 @cindex PowerPC architecture
22572
22573 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
22574 pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating Point
22575 numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must be stored
22576 in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even register like
22577 @code{f0} or @code{f2}.
22578
22579 The pseudo-registers go from @code{$dl0} through @code{$dl15}, and are formed
22580 by joining the even/odd register pairs @code{f0} and @code{f1} for @code{$dl0},
22581 @code{f2} and @code{f3} for @code{$dl1} and so on.
22582
22583 For POWER7 processors, @value{GDBN} provides a set of pseudo-registers, the 64-bit
22584 wide Extended Floating Point Registers (@samp{f32} through @samp{f63}).
22585
22586 @node Nios II
22587 @subsection Nios II
22588 @cindex Nios II architecture
22589
22590 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the Nios II architecture,
22591 it provides the following special commands:
22592
22593 @table @code
22594
22595 @item set debug nios2
22596 @kindex set debug nios2
22597 This command turns on and off debugging messages for the Nios II
22598 target code in @value{GDBN}.
22599
22600 @item show debug nios2
22601 @kindex show debug nios2
22602 Show the current setting of Nios II debugging messages.
22603 @end table
22604
22605 @node Controlling GDB
22606 @chapter Controlling @value{GDBN}
22607
22608 You can alter the way @value{GDBN} interacts with you by using the
22609 @code{set} command. For commands controlling how @value{GDBN} displays
22610 data, see @ref{Print Settings, ,Print Settings}. Other settings are
22611 described here.
22612
22613 @menu
22614 * Prompt:: Prompt
22615 * Editing:: Command editing
22616 * Command History:: Command history
22617 * Screen Size:: Screen size
22618 * Numbers:: Numbers
22619 * ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
22620 * Auto-loading:: Automatically loading associated files
22621 * Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
22622 * Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
22623 * Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
22624 @end menu
22625
22626 @node Prompt
22627 @section Prompt
22628
22629 @cindex prompt
22630
22631 @value{GDBN} indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
22632 called the @dfn{prompt}. This string is normally @samp{(@value{GDBP})}. You
22633 can change the prompt string with the @code{set prompt} command. For
22634 instance, when debugging @value{GDBN} with @value{GDBN}, it is useful to change
22635 the prompt in one of the @value{GDBN} sessions so that you can always tell
22636 which one you are talking to.
22637
22638 @emph{Note:} @code{set prompt} does not add a space for you after the
22639 prompt you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space
22640 or a prompt that does not.
22641
22642 @table @code
22643 @kindex set prompt
22644 @item set prompt @var{newprompt}
22645 Directs @value{GDBN} to use @var{newprompt} as its prompt string henceforth.
22646
22647 @kindex show prompt
22648 @item show prompt
22649 Prints a line of the form: @samp{Gdb's prompt is: @var{your-prompt}}
22650 @end table
22651
22652 Versions of @value{GDBN} that ship with Python scripting enabled have
22653 prompt extensions. The commands for interacting with these extensions
22654 are:
22655
22656 @table @code
22657 @kindex set extended-prompt
22658 @item set extended-prompt @var{prompt}
22659 Set an extended prompt that allows for substitutions.
22660 @xref{gdb.prompt}, for a list of escape sequences that can be used for
22661 substitution. Any escape sequences specified as part of the prompt
22662 string are replaced with the corresponding strings each time the prompt
22663 is displayed.
22664
22665 For example:
22666
22667 @smallexample
22668 set extended-prompt Current working directory: \w (gdb)
22669 @end smallexample
22670
22671 Note that when an extended-prompt is set, it takes control of the
22672 @var{prompt_hook} hook. @xref{prompt_hook}, for further information.
22673
22674 @kindex show extended-prompt
22675 @item show extended-prompt
22676 Prints the extended prompt. Any escape sequences specified as part of
22677 the prompt string with @code{set extended-prompt}, are replaced with the
22678 corresponding strings each time the prompt is displayed.
22679 @end table
22680
22681 @node Editing
22682 @section Command Editing
22683 @cindex readline
22684 @cindex command line editing
22685
22686 @value{GDBN} reads its input commands via the @dfn{Readline} interface. This
22687 @sc{gnu} library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
22688 command line interface to the user. Advantages are @sc{gnu} Emacs-style
22689 or @dfn{vi}-style inline editing of commands, @code{csh}-like history
22690 substitution, and a storage and recall of command history across
22691 debugging sessions.
22692
22693 You may control the behavior of command line editing in @value{GDBN} with the
22694 command @code{set}.
22695
22696 @table @code
22697 @kindex set editing
22698 @cindex editing
22699 @item set editing
22700 @itemx set editing on
22701 Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
22702
22703 @item set editing off
22704 Disable command line editing.
22705
22706 @kindex show editing
22707 @item show editing
22708 Show whether command line editing is enabled.
22709 @end table
22710
22711 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
22712 @xref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library},
22713 @end ifset
22714 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
22715 @xref{Command Line Editing},
22716 @end ifclear
22717 for more details about the Readline
22718 interface. Users unfamiliar with @sc{gnu} Emacs or @code{vi} are
22719 encouraged to read that chapter.
22720
22721 @node Command History
22722 @section Command History
22723 @cindex command history
22724
22725 @value{GDBN} can keep track of the commands you type during your
22726 debugging sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what
22727 happened. Use these commands to manage the @value{GDBN} command
22728 history facility.
22729
22730 @value{GDBN} uses the @sc{gnu} History library, a part of the Readline
22731 package, to provide the history facility.
22732 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
22733 @xref{Using History Interactively, , , history, GNU History Library},
22734 @end ifset
22735 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
22736 @xref{Using History Interactively},
22737 @end ifclear
22738 for the detailed description of the History library.
22739
22740 To issue a command to @value{GDBN} without affecting certain aspects of
22741 the state which is seen by users, prefix it with @samp{server }
22742 (@pxref{Server Prefix}). This
22743 means that this command will not affect the command history, nor will it
22744 affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which command to repeat if @key{RET} is
22745 pressed on a line by itself.
22746
22747 @cindex @code{server}, command prefix
22748 The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the value
22749 history; to print a value without recording it into the value history,
22750 use the @code{output} command instead of the @code{print} command.
22751
22752 Here is the description of @value{GDBN} commands related to command
22753 history.
22754
22755 @table @code
22756 @cindex history substitution
22757 @cindex history file
22758 @kindex set history filename
22759 @cindex @env{GDBHISTFILE}, environment variable
22760 @item set history filename @var{fname}
22761 Set the name of the @value{GDBN} command history file to @var{fname}.
22762 This is the file where @value{GDBN} reads an initial command history
22763 list, and where it writes the command history from this session when it
22764 exits. You can access this list through history expansion or through
22765 the history command editing characters listed below. This file defaults
22766 to the value of the environment variable @code{GDBHISTFILE}, or to
22767 @file{./.gdb_history} (@file{./_gdb_history} on MS-DOS) if this variable
22768 is not set.
22769
22770 @cindex save command history
22771 @kindex set history save
22772 @item set history save
22773 @itemx set history save on
22774 Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with the
22775 @code{set history filename} command. By default, this option is disabled.
22776
22777 @item set history save off
22778 Stop recording command history in a file.
22779
22780 @cindex history size
22781 @kindex set history size
22782 @cindex @env{GDBHISTSIZE}, environment variable
22783 @item set history size @var{size}
22784 @itemx set history size unlimited
22785 Set the number of commands which @value{GDBN} keeps in its history list.
22786 This defaults to the value of the environment variable @env{GDBHISTSIZE}, or
22787 to 256 if this variable is not set. Non-numeric values of @env{GDBHISTSIZE}
22788 are ignored. If @var{size} is @code{unlimited} or if @env{GDBHISTSIZE} is
22789 either a negative number or the empty string, then the number of commands
22790 @value{GDBN} keeps in the history list is unlimited.
22791
22792 @cindex remove duplicate history
22793 @kindex set history remove-duplicates
22794 @item set history remove-duplicates @var{count}
22795 @itemx set history remove-duplicates unlimited
22796 Control the removal of duplicate history entries in the command history list.
22797 If @var{count} is non-zero, @value{GDBN} will look back at the last @var{count}
22798 history entries and remove the first entry that is a duplicate of the current
22799 entry being added to the command history list. If @var{count} is
22800 @code{unlimited} then this lookbehind is unbounded. If @var{count} is 0, then
22801 removal of duplicate history entries is disabled.
22802
22803 Only history entries added during the current session are considered for
22804 removal. This option is set to 0 by default.
22805
22806 @end table
22807
22808 History expansion assigns special meaning to the character @kbd{!}.
22809 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
22810 @xref{Event Designators, , , history, GNU History Library},
22811 @end ifset
22812 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
22813 @xref{Event Designators},
22814 @end ifclear
22815 for more details.
22816
22817 @cindex history expansion, turn on/off
22818 Since @kbd{!} is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
22819 is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
22820 @code{set history expansion on} command, you may sometimes need to
22821 follow @kbd{!} (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with
22822 a space or a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline
22823 history facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings
22824 @kbd{!=} and @kbd{!(}, even when history expansion is enabled.
22825
22826 The commands to control history expansion are:
22827
22828 @table @code
22829 @item set history expansion on
22830 @itemx set history expansion
22831 @kindex set history expansion
22832 Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
22833
22834 @item set history expansion off
22835 Disable history expansion.
22836
22837 @c @group
22838 @kindex show history
22839 @item show history
22840 @itemx show history filename
22841 @itemx show history save
22842 @itemx show history size
22843 @itemx show history expansion
22844 These commands display the state of the @value{GDBN} history parameters.
22845 @code{show history} by itself displays all four states.
22846 @c @end group
22847 @end table
22848
22849 @table @code
22850 @kindex show commands
22851 @cindex show last commands
22852 @cindex display command history
22853 @item show commands
22854 Display the last ten commands in the command history.
22855
22856 @item show commands @var{n}
22857 Print ten commands centered on command number @var{n}.
22858
22859 @item show commands +
22860 Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
22861 @end table
22862
22863 @node Screen Size
22864 @section Screen Size
22865 @cindex size of screen
22866 @cindex screen size
22867 @cindex pagination
22868 @cindex page size
22869 @cindex pauses in output
22870
22871 Certain commands to @value{GDBN} may produce large amounts of
22872 information output to the screen. To help you read all of it,
22873 @value{GDBN} pauses and asks you for input at the end of each page of
22874 output. Type @key{RET} when you want to continue the output, or @kbd{q}
22875 to discard the remaining output. Also, the screen width setting
22876 determines when to wrap lines of output. Depending on what is being
22877 printed, @value{GDBN} tries to break the line at a readable place,
22878 rather than simply letting it overflow onto the following line.
22879
22880 Normally @value{GDBN} knows the size of the screen from the terminal
22881 driver software. For example, on Unix @value{GDBN} uses the termcap data base
22882 together with the value of the @code{TERM} environment variable and the
22883 @code{stty rows} and @code{stty cols} settings. If this is not correct,
22884 you can override it with the @code{set height} and @code{set
22885 width} commands:
22886
22887 @table @code
22888 @kindex set height
22889 @kindex set width
22890 @kindex show width
22891 @kindex show height
22892 @item set height @var{lpp}
22893 @itemx set height unlimited
22894 @itemx show height
22895 @itemx set width @var{cpl}
22896 @itemx set width unlimited
22897 @itemx show width
22898 These @code{set} commands specify a screen height of @var{lpp} lines and
22899 a screen width of @var{cpl} characters. The associated @code{show}
22900 commands display the current settings.
22901
22902 If you specify a height of either @code{unlimited} or zero lines,
22903 @value{GDBN} does not pause during output no matter how long the
22904 output is. This is useful if output is to a file or to an editor
22905 buffer.
22906
22907 Likewise, you can specify @samp{set width unlimited} or @samp{set
22908 width 0} to prevent @value{GDBN} from wrapping its output.
22909
22910 @item set pagination on
22911 @itemx set pagination off
22912 @kindex set pagination
22913 Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
22914 pagination off is the alternative to @code{set height unlimited}. Note that
22915 running @value{GDBN} with the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode
22916 Options, -batch}) also automatically disables pagination.
22917
22918 @item show pagination
22919 @kindex show pagination
22920 Show the current pagination mode.
22921 @end table
22922
22923 @node Numbers
22924 @section Numbers
22925 @cindex number representation
22926 @cindex entering numbers
22927
22928 You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in
22929 @value{GDBN} by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with
22930 @samp{0}, decimal numbers end with @samp{.}, and hexadecimal numbers
22931 begin with @samp{0x}. Numbers that neither begin with @samp{0} or
22932 @samp{0x}, nor end with a @samp{.} are, by default, entered in base
22933 10; likewise, the default display for numbers---when no particular
22934 format is specified---is base 10. You can change the default base for
22935 both input and output with the commands described below.
22936
22937 @table @code
22938 @kindex set input-radix
22939 @item set input-radix @var{base}
22940 Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices
22941 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. The base must itself be
22942 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
22943 example, any of
22944
22945 @smallexample
22946 set input-radix 012
22947 set input-radix 10.
22948 set input-radix 0xa
22949 @end smallexample
22950
22951 @noindent
22952 sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, @samp{set input-radix 10}
22953 leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what it was, since
22954 @samp{10}, being without any leading or trailing signs of its base, is
22955 interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the current radix is 16,
22956 @samp{10} is interpreted in hex, i.e.@: as 16 decimal, which doesn't
22957 change the radix.
22958
22959 @kindex set output-radix
22960 @item set output-radix @var{base}
22961 Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices
22962 for @var{base} are decimal 8, 10, or 16. The base must itself be
22963 specified either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
22964
22965 @kindex show input-radix
22966 @item show input-radix
22967 Display the current default base for numeric input.
22968
22969 @kindex show output-radix
22970 @item show output-radix
22971 Display the current default base for numeric display.
22972
22973 @item set radix @r{[}@var{base}@r{]}
22974 @itemx show radix
22975 @kindex set radix
22976 @kindex show radix
22977 These commands set and show the default base for both input and output
22978 of numbers. @code{set radix} sets the radix of input and output to
22979 the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to its
22980 default value of 10.
22981
22982 @end table
22983
22984 @node ABI
22985 @section Configuring the Current ABI
22986
22987 @value{GDBN} can determine the @dfn{ABI} (Application Binary Interface) of your
22988 application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
22989 conclusions. Use these commands to manage @value{GDBN}'s view of the
22990 current ABI.
22991
22992 @cindex OS ABI
22993 @kindex set osabi
22994 @kindex show osabi
22995 @cindex Newlib OS ABI and its influence on the longjmp handling
22996
22997 One @value{GDBN} configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
22998 system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation.
22999 @value{GDBN} will autodetect the @dfn{OS ABI} (Operating System ABI) in use,
23000 but you can override its conclusion using the @code{set osabi} command.
23001 One example where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use
23002 an alternate C library (e.g.@: @sc{uClibc} for @sc{gnu}/Linux) which does
23003 not have the same identifying marks that the standard C library for your
23004 platform provides.
23005
23006 When @value{GDBN} is debugging the AArch64 architecture, it provides a
23007 ``Newlib'' OS ABI. This is useful for handling @code{setjmp} and
23008 @code{longjmp} when debugging binaries that use the @sc{newlib} C library.
23009 The ``Newlib'' OS ABI can be selected by @code{set osabi Newlib}.
23010
23011 @table @code
23012 @item show osabi
23013 Show the OS ABI currently in use.
23014
23015 @item set osabi
23016 With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
23017
23018 @item set osabi @var{abi}
23019 Set the current OS ABI to @var{abi}.
23020 @end table
23021
23022 @cindex float promotion
23023
23024 Generally, the way that an argument of type @code{float} is passed to a
23025 function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a prototyped
23026 (i.e.@: ANSI/ISO style) function, @code{float} arguments are passed unchanged,
23027 according to the architecture's convention for @code{float}. For unprototyped
23028 (i.e.@: K&R style) functions, @code{float} arguments are first promoted to type
23029 @code{double} and then passed.
23030
23031 Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably indicate whether
23032 a function is prototyped. If @value{GDBN} calls a function that is not marked
23033 as prototyped, it consults @kbd{set coerce-float-to-double}.
23034
23035 @table @code
23036 @kindex set coerce-float-to-double
23037 @item set coerce-float-to-double
23038 @itemx set coerce-float-to-double on
23039 Arguments of type @code{float} will be promoted to @code{double} when passed
23040 to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
23041
23042 @item set coerce-float-to-double off
23043 Arguments of type @code{float} will be passed directly to unprototyped
23044 functions.
23045
23046 @kindex show coerce-float-to-double
23047 @item show coerce-float-to-double
23048 Show the current setting of promoting @code{float} to @code{double}.
23049 @end table
23050
23051 @kindex set cp-abi
23052 @kindex show cp-abi
23053 @value{GDBN} needs to know the ABI used for your program's C@t{++}
23054 objects. The correct C@t{++} ABI depends on which C@t{++} compiler was
23055 used to build your application. @value{GDBN} only fully supports
23056 programs with a single C@t{++} ABI; if your program contains code using
23057 multiple C@t{++} ABI's or if @value{GDBN} can not identify your
23058 program's ABI correctly, you can tell @value{GDBN} which ABI to use.
23059 Currently supported ABI's include ``gnu-v2'', for @code{g++} versions
23060 before 3.0, ``gnu-v3'', for @code{g++} versions 3.0 and later, and
23061 ``hpaCC'' for the HP ANSI C@t{++} compiler. Other C@t{++} compilers may
23062 use the ``gnu-v2'' or ``gnu-v3'' ABI's as well. The default setting is
23063 ``auto''.
23064
23065 @table @code
23066 @item show cp-abi
23067 Show the C@t{++} ABI currently in use.
23068
23069 @item set cp-abi
23070 With no argument, show the list of supported C@t{++} ABI's.
23071
23072 @item set cp-abi @var{abi}
23073 @itemx set cp-abi auto
23074 Set the current C@t{++} ABI to @var{abi}, or return to automatic detection.
23075 @end table
23076
23077 @node Auto-loading
23078 @section Automatically loading associated files
23079 @cindex auto-loading
23080
23081 @value{GDBN} sometimes reads files with commands and settings automatically,
23082 without being explicitly told so by the user. We call this feature
23083 @dfn{auto-loading}. While auto-loading is useful for automatically adapting
23084 @value{GDBN} to the needs of your project, it can sometimes produce unexpected
23085 results or introduce security risks (e.g., if the file comes from untrusted
23086 sources).
23087
23088 @menu
23089 * Init File in the Current Directory:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load local-gdbinit}
23090 * libthread_db.so.1 file:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load libthread-db}
23091
23092 * Auto-loading safe path:: @samp{set/show/info auto-load safe-path}
23093 * Auto-loading verbose mode:: @samp{set/show debug auto-load}
23094 @end menu
23095
23096 There are various kinds of files @value{GDBN} can automatically load.
23097 In addition to these files, @value{GDBN} supports auto-loading code written
23098 in various extension languages. @xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
23099
23100 Note that loading of these associated files (including the local @file{.gdbinit}
23101 file) requires accordingly configured @code{auto-load safe-path}
23102 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
23103
23104 For these reasons, @value{GDBN} includes commands and options to let you
23105 control when to auto-load files and which files should be auto-loaded.
23106
23107 @table @code
23108 @anchor{set auto-load off}
23109 @kindex set auto-load off
23110 @item set auto-load off
23111 Globally disable loading of all auto-loaded files.
23112 You may want to use this command with the @samp{-iex} option
23113 (@pxref{Option -init-eval-command}) such as:
23114 @smallexample
23115 $ @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load off" untrusted-executable corefile}
23116 @end smallexample
23117
23118 Be aware that system init file (@pxref{System-wide configuration})
23119 and init files from your home directory (@pxref{Home Directory Init File})
23120 still get read (as they come from generally trusted directories).
23121 To prevent @value{GDBN} from auto-loading even those init files, use the
23122 @option{-nx} option (@pxref{Mode Options}), in addition to
23123 @code{set auto-load no}.
23124
23125 @anchor{show auto-load}
23126 @kindex show auto-load
23127 @item show auto-load
23128 Show whether auto-loading of each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) is enabled
23129 or disabled.
23130
23131 @smallexample
23132 (gdb) show auto-load
23133 gdb-scripts: Auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is on.
23134 libthread-db: Auto-loading of inferior specific libthread_db is on.
23135 local-gdbinit: Auto-loading of .gdbinit script from current directory
23136 is on.
23137 python-scripts: Auto-loading of Python scripts is on.
23138 safe-path: List of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
23139 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
23140 scripts-directory: List of directories from which to load auto-loaded scripts
23141 is $debugdir:$datadir/auto-load.
23142 @end smallexample
23143
23144 @anchor{info auto-load}
23145 @kindex info auto-load
23146 @item info auto-load
23147 Print whether each specific @samp{auto-load} file(s) have been auto-loaded or
23148 not.
23149
23150 @smallexample
23151 (gdb) info auto-load
23152 gdb-scripts:
23153 Loaded Script
23154 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb
23155 libthread-db: No auto-loaded libthread-db.
23156 local-gdbinit: Local .gdbinit file "/home/user/gdb/.gdbinit" has been
23157 loaded.
23158 python-scripts:
23159 Loaded Script
23160 Yes /home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py
23161 @end smallexample
23162 @end table
23163
23164 These are @value{GDBN} control commands for the auto-loading:
23165
23166 @multitable @columnfractions .5 .5
23167 @item @xref{set auto-load off}.
23168 @tab Disable auto-loading globally.
23169 @item @xref{show auto-load}.
23170 @tab Show setting of all kinds of files.
23171 @item @xref{info auto-load}.
23172 @tab Show state of all kinds of files.
23173 @item @xref{set auto-load gdb-scripts}.
23174 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} command scripts.
23175 @item @xref{show auto-load gdb-scripts}.
23176 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
23177 @item @xref{info auto-load gdb-scripts}.
23178 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} command scripts.
23179 @item @xref{set auto-load python-scripts}.
23180 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
23181 @item @xref{show auto-load python-scripts}.
23182 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
23183 @item @xref{info auto-load python-scripts}.
23184 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Python scripts.
23185 @item @xref{set auto-load guile-scripts}.
23186 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
23187 @item @xref{show auto-load guile-scripts}.
23188 @tab Show setting of @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
23189 @item @xref{info auto-load guile-scripts}.
23190 @tab Show state of @value{GDBN} Guile scripts.
23191 @item @xref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
23192 @tab Control for @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
23193 @item @xref{show auto-load scripts-directory}.
23194 @tab Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
23195 @item @xref{add-auto-load-scripts-directory}.
23196 @tab Add directory for auto-loaded scripts location list.
23197 @item @xref{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
23198 @tab Control for init file in the current directory.
23199 @item @xref{show auto-load local-gdbinit}.
23200 @tab Show setting of init file in the current directory.
23201 @item @xref{info auto-load local-gdbinit}.
23202 @tab Show state of init file in the current directory.
23203 @item @xref{set auto-load libthread-db}.
23204 @tab Control for thread debugging library.
23205 @item @xref{show auto-load libthread-db}.
23206 @tab Show setting of thread debugging library.
23207 @item @xref{info auto-load libthread-db}.
23208 @tab Show state of thread debugging library.
23209 @item @xref{set auto-load safe-path}.
23210 @tab Control directories trusted for automatic loading.
23211 @item @xref{show auto-load safe-path}.
23212 @tab Show directories trusted for automatic loading.
23213 @item @xref{add-auto-load-safe-path}.
23214 @tab Add directory trusted for automatic loading.
23215 @end multitable
23216
23217 @node Init File in the Current Directory
23218 @subsection Automatically loading init file in the current directory
23219 @cindex auto-loading init file in the current directory
23220
23221 By default, @value{GDBN} reads and executes the canned sequences of commands
23222 from init file (if any) in the current working directory,
23223 see @ref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}.
23224
23225 Note that loading of this local @file{.gdbinit} file also requires accordingly
23226 configured @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
23227
23228 @table @code
23229 @anchor{set auto-load local-gdbinit}
23230 @kindex set auto-load local-gdbinit
23231 @item set auto-load local-gdbinit [on|off]
23232 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands
23233 (@pxref{Sequences}) found in init file in the current directory.
23234
23235 @anchor{show auto-load local-gdbinit}
23236 @kindex show auto-load local-gdbinit
23237 @item show auto-load local-gdbinit
23238 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands from init file in the
23239 current directory is enabled or disabled.
23240
23241 @anchor{info auto-load local-gdbinit}
23242 @kindex info auto-load local-gdbinit
23243 @item info auto-load local-gdbinit
23244 Print whether canned sequences of commands from init file in the
23245 current directory have been auto-loaded.
23246 @end table
23247
23248 @node libthread_db.so.1 file
23249 @subsection Automatically loading thread debugging library
23250 @cindex auto-loading libthread_db.so.1
23251
23252 This feature is currently present only on @sc{gnu}/Linux native hosts.
23253
23254 @value{GDBN} reads in some cases thread debugging library from places specific
23255 to the inferior (@pxref{set libthread-db-search-path}).
23256
23257 The special @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entry @samp{$sdir} is processed
23258 without checking this @samp{set auto-load libthread-db} switch as system
23259 libraries have to be trusted in general. In all other cases of
23260 @samp{libthread-db-search-path} entries @value{GDBN} checks first if @samp{set
23261 auto-load libthread-db} is enabled before trying to open such thread debugging
23262 library.
23263
23264 Note that loading of this debugging library also requires accordingly configured
23265 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
23266
23267 @table @code
23268 @anchor{set auto-load libthread-db}
23269 @kindex set auto-load libthread-db
23270 @item set auto-load libthread-db [on|off]
23271 Enable or disable the auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library.
23272
23273 @anchor{show auto-load libthread-db}
23274 @kindex show auto-load libthread-db
23275 @item show auto-load libthread-db
23276 Show whether auto-loading of inferior specific thread debugging library is
23277 enabled or disabled.
23278
23279 @anchor{info auto-load libthread-db}
23280 @kindex info auto-load libthread-db
23281 @item info auto-load libthread-db
23282 Print the list of all loaded inferior specific thread debugging libraries and
23283 for each such library print list of inferior @var{pid}s using it.
23284 @end table
23285
23286 @node Auto-loading safe path
23287 @subsection Security restriction for auto-loading
23288 @cindex auto-loading safe-path
23289
23290 As the files of inferior can come from untrusted source (such as submitted by
23291 an application user) @value{GDBN} does not always load any files automatically.
23292 @value{GDBN} provides the @samp{set auto-load safe-path} setting to list
23293 directories trusted for loading files not explicitly requested by user.
23294 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern.
23295
23296 If the path is not set properly you will see a warning and the file will not
23297 get loaded:
23298
23299 @smallexample
23300 $ ./gdb -q ./gdb
23301 Reading symbols from /home/user/gdb/gdb...done.
23302 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been
23303 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
23304 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
23305 warning: File "/home/user/gdb/gdb-gdb.py" auto-loading has been
23306 declined by your `auto-load safe-path' set
23307 to "$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load".
23308 @end smallexample
23309
23310 @noindent
23311 To instruct @value{GDBN} to go ahead and use the init files anyway,
23312 invoke @value{GDBN} like this:
23313
23314 @smallexample
23315 $ gdb -q -iex "set auto-load safe-path /home/user/gdb" ./gdb
23316 @end smallexample
23317
23318 The list of trusted directories is controlled by the following commands:
23319
23320 @table @code
23321 @anchor{set auto-load safe-path}
23322 @kindex set auto-load safe-path
23323 @item set auto-load safe-path @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
23324 Set the list of directories (and their subdirectories) trusted for automatic
23325 loading and execution of scripts. You can also enter a specific trusted file.
23326 Each directory can also be a shell wildcard pattern; wildcards do not match
23327 directory separator - see @code{FNM_PATHNAME} for system function @code{fnmatch}
23328 (@pxref{Wildcard Matching, fnmatch, , libc, GNU C Library Reference Manual}).
23329 If you omit @var{directories}, @samp{auto-load safe-path} will be reset to
23330 its default value as specified during @value{GDBN} compilation.
23331
23332 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
23333 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
23334 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
23335
23336 @anchor{show auto-load safe-path}
23337 @kindex show auto-load safe-path
23338 @item show auto-load safe-path
23339 Show the list of directories trusted for automatic loading and execution of
23340 scripts.
23341
23342 @anchor{add-auto-load-safe-path}
23343 @kindex add-auto-load-safe-path
23344 @item add-auto-load-safe-path
23345 Add an entry (or list of entries) to the list of directories trusted for
23346 automatic loading and execution of scripts. Multiple entries may be delimited
23347 by the host platform path separator in use.
23348 @end table
23349
23350 This variable defaults to what @code{--with-auto-load-dir} has been configured
23351 to (@pxref{with-auto-load-dir}). @file{$debugdir} and @file{$datadir}
23352 substitution applies the same as for @ref{set auto-load scripts-directory}.
23353 The default @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by
23354 @value{GDBN} configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-safe-path}.
23355
23356 Setting this variable to @file{/} disables this security protection,
23357 corresponding @value{GDBN} configuration option is
23358 @option{--without-auto-load-safe-path}.
23359 This variable is supposed to be set to the system directories writable by the
23360 system superuser only. Users can add their source directories in init files in
23361 their home directories (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). See also deprecated
23362 init file in the current directory
23363 (@pxref{Init File in the Current Directory during Startup}).
23364
23365 To force @value{GDBN} to load the files it declined to load in the previous
23366 example, you could use one of the following ways:
23367
23368 @table @asis
23369 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{add-auto-load-safe-path ~/src/gdb}
23370 Specify this trusted directory (or a file) as additional component of the list.
23371 You have to specify also any existing directories displayed by
23372 by @samp{show auto-load safe-path} (such as @samp{/usr:/bin} in this example).
23373
23374 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /usr:/bin:~/src/gdb" @dots{}}
23375 Specify this directory as in the previous case but just for a single
23376 @value{GDBN} session.
23377
23378 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load safe-path /" @dots{}}
23379 Disable auto-loading safety for a single @value{GDBN} session.
23380 This assumes all the files you debug during this @value{GDBN} session will come
23381 from trusted sources.
23382
23383 @item @kbd{./configure --without-auto-load-safe-path}
23384 During compilation of @value{GDBN} you may disable any auto-loading safety.
23385 This assumes all the files you will ever debug with this @value{GDBN} come from
23386 trusted sources.
23387 @end table
23388
23389 On the other hand you can also explicitly forbid automatic files loading which
23390 also suppresses any such warning messages:
23391
23392 @table @asis
23393 @item @kbd{gdb -iex "set auto-load no" @dots{}}
23394 You can use @value{GDBN} command-line option for a single @value{GDBN} session.
23395
23396 @item @file{~/.gdbinit}: @samp{set auto-load no}
23397 Disable auto-loading globally for the user
23398 (@pxref{Home Directory Init File}). While it is improbable, you could also
23399 use system init file instead (@pxref{System-wide configuration}).
23400 @end table
23401
23402 This setting applies to the file names as entered by user. If no entry matches
23403 @value{GDBN} tries as a last resort to also resolve all the file names into
23404 their canonical form (typically resolving symbolic links) and compare the
23405 entries again. @value{GDBN} already canonicalizes most of the filenames on its
23406 own before starting the comparison so a canonical form of directories is
23407 recommended to be entered.
23408
23409 @node Auto-loading verbose mode
23410 @subsection Displaying files tried for auto-load
23411 @cindex auto-loading verbose mode
23412
23413 For better visibility of all the file locations where you can place scripts to
23414 be auto-loaded with inferior --- or to protect yourself against accidental
23415 execution of untrusted scripts --- @value{GDBN} provides a feature for printing
23416 all the files attempted to be loaded. Both existing and non-existing files may
23417 be printed.
23418
23419 For example the list of directories from which it is safe to auto-load files
23420 (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}) applies also to canonicalized filenames which
23421 may not be too obvious while setting it up.
23422
23423 @smallexample
23424 (gdb) set debug auto-load on
23425 (gdb) file ~/src/t/true
23426 auto-load: Loading canned sequences of commands script "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb"
23427 for objfile "/tmp/true".
23428 auto-load: Updating directories of "/usr:/opt".
23429 auto-load: Using directory "/usr".
23430 auto-load: Using directory "/opt".
23431 warning: File "/tmp/true-gdb.gdb" auto-loading has been declined
23432 by your `auto-load safe-path' set to "/usr:/opt".
23433 @end smallexample
23434
23435 @table @code
23436 @anchor{set debug auto-load}
23437 @kindex set debug auto-load
23438 @item set debug auto-load [on|off]
23439 Set whether to print the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded.
23440
23441 @anchor{show debug auto-load}
23442 @kindex show debug auto-load
23443 @item show debug auto-load
23444 Show whether printing of the filenames attempted to be auto-loaded is turned
23445 on or off.
23446 @end table
23447
23448 @node Messages/Warnings
23449 @section Optional Warnings and Messages
23450
23451 @cindex verbose operation
23452 @cindex optional warnings
23453 By default, @value{GDBN} is silent about its inner workings. If you are
23454 running on a slow machine, you may want to use the @code{set verbose}
23455 command. This makes @value{GDBN} tell you when it does a lengthy
23456 internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
23457
23458 Currently, the messages controlled by @code{set verbose} are those
23459 which announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read;
23460 see @code{symbol-file} in @ref{Files, ,Commands to Specify Files}.
23461
23462 @table @code
23463 @kindex set verbose
23464 @item set verbose on
23465 Enables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
23466
23467 @item set verbose off
23468 Disables @value{GDBN} output of certain informational messages.
23469
23470 @kindex show verbose
23471 @item show verbose
23472 Displays whether @code{set verbose} is on or off.
23473 @end table
23474
23475 By default, if @value{GDBN} encounters bugs in the symbol table of an
23476 object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may
23477 find this information useful (@pxref{Symbol Errors, ,Errors Reading
23478 Symbol Files}).
23479
23480 @table @code
23481
23482 @kindex set complaints
23483 @item set complaints @var{limit}
23484 Permits @value{GDBN} to output @var{limit} complaints about each type of
23485 unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set
23486 @var{limit} to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number
23487 to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
23488
23489 @kindex show complaints
23490 @item show complaints
23491 Displays how many symbol complaints @value{GDBN} is permitted to produce.
23492
23493 @end table
23494
23495 @anchor{confirmation requests}
23496 By default, @value{GDBN} is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
23497 lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
23498 you try to run a program which is already running:
23499
23500 @smallexample
23501 (@value{GDBP}) run
23502 The program being debugged has been started already.
23503 Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
23504 @end smallexample
23505
23506 If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
23507 commands, you can disable this ``feature'':
23508
23509 @table @code
23510
23511 @kindex set confirm
23512 @cindex flinching
23513 @cindex confirmation
23514 @cindex stupid questions
23515 @item set confirm off
23516 Disables confirmation requests. Note that running @value{GDBN} with
23517 the @option{--batch} option (@pxref{Mode Options, -batch}) also
23518 automatically disables confirmation requests.
23519
23520 @item set confirm on
23521 Enables confirmation requests (the default).
23522
23523 @kindex show confirm
23524 @item show confirm
23525 Displays state of confirmation requests.
23526
23527 @end table
23528
23529 @cindex command tracing
23530 If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may find it
23531 useful to enable @dfn{command tracing}. In this mode each command will be
23532 printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more @samp{+} symbols, the
23533 quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
23534
23535 @table @code
23536 @kindex set trace-commands
23537 @cindex command scripts, debugging
23538 @item set trace-commands on
23539 Enable command tracing.
23540 @item set trace-commands off
23541 Disable command tracing.
23542 @item show trace-commands
23543 Display the current state of command tracing.
23544 @end table
23545
23546 @node Debugging Output
23547 @section Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
23548 @cindex optional debugging messages
23549
23550 @value{GDBN} has commands that enable optional debugging messages from
23551 various @value{GDBN} subsystems; normally these commands are of
23552 interest to @value{GDBN} maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This
23553 section documents those commands.
23554
23555 @table @code
23556 @kindex set exec-done-display
23557 @item set exec-done-display
23558 Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
23559 completion. When on, @value{GDBN} will print a message when an
23560 asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
23561 @kindex show exec-done-display
23562 @item show exec-done-display
23563 Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
23564 notification.
23565 @kindex set debug
23566 @cindex ARM AArch64
23567 @item set debug aarch64
23568 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to ARM AArch64.
23569 The default is off.
23570 @kindex show debug
23571 @item show debug aarch64
23572 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
23573 ARM AArch64.
23574 @cindex gdbarch debugging info
23575 @cindex architecture debugging info
23576 @item set debug arch
23577 Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is off
23578 @item show debug arch
23579 Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
23580 @item set debug aix-solib
23581 @cindex AIX shared library debugging
23582 Control display of debugging messages from the AIX shared library
23583 support module. The default is off.
23584 @item show debug aix-thread
23585 Show the current state of displaying AIX shared library debugging messages.
23586 @item set debug aix-thread
23587 @cindex AIX threads
23588 Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
23589 module.
23590 @item show debug aix-thread
23591 Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
23592 @item set debug check-physname
23593 @cindex physname
23594 Check the results of the ``physname'' computation. When reading DWARF
23595 debugging information for C@t{++}, @value{GDBN} attempts to compute
23596 each entity's name. @value{GDBN} can do this computation in two
23597 different ways, depending on exactly what information is present.
23598 When enabled, this setting causes @value{GDBN} to compute the names
23599 both ways and display any discrepancies.
23600 @item show debug check-physname
23601 Show the current state of ``physname'' checking.
23602 @item set debug coff-pe-read
23603 @cindex COFF/PE exported symbols
23604 Control display of debugging messages related to reading of COFF/PE
23605 exported symbols. The default is off.
23606 @item show debug coff-pe-read
23607 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
23608 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
23609 @item set debug dwarf-die
23610 @cindex DWARF DIEs
23611 Dump DWARF DIEs after they are read in.
23612 The value is the number of nesting levels to print.
23613 A value of zero turns off the display.
23614 @item show debug dwarf-die
23615 Show the current state of DWARF DIE debugging.
23616 @item set debug dwarf-line
23617 @cindex DWARF Line Tables
23618 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
23619 DWARF line tables. The default is 0 (off).
23620 A value of 1 provides basic information.
23621 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23622 @item show debug dwarf-line
23623 Show the current state of DWARF line table debugging.
23624 @item set debug dwarf-read
23625 @cindex DWARF Reading
23626 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to reading
23627 DWARF debug info. The default is 0 (off).
23628 A value of 1 provides basic information.
23629 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23630 @item show debug dwarf-read
23631 Show the current state of DWARF reader debugging.
23632 @item set debug displaced
23633 @cindex displaced stepping debugging info
23634 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for the
23635 displaced stepping support. The default is off.
23636 @item show debug displaced
23637 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} debugging info
23638 related to displaced stepping.
23639 @item set debug event
23640 @cindex event debugging info
23641 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} event debugging info. The
23642 default is off.
23643 @item show debug event
23644 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} event debugging
23645 info.
23646 @item set debug expression
23647 @cindex expression debugging info
23648 Turns on or off display of debugging info about @value{GDBN}
23649 expression parsing. The default is off.
23650 @item show debug expression
23651 Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about
23652 @value{GDBN} expression parsing.
23653 @item set debug fbsd-lwp
23654 @cindex FreeBSD LWP debug messages
23655 Turns on or off debugging messages from the FreeBSD LWP debug support.
23656 @item show debug fbsd-lwp
23657 Show the current state of FreeBSD LWP debugging messages.
23658 @item set debug frame
23659 @cindex frame debugging info
23660 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} frame debugging info. The
23661 default is off.
23662 @item show debug frame
23663 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} frame debugging
23664 info.
23665 @item set debug gnu-nat
23666 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug messages
23667 Turn on or off debugging messages from the @sc{gnu}/Hurd debug support.
23668 @item show debug gnu-nat
23669 Show the current state of @sc{gnu}/Hurd debugging messages.
23670 @item set debug infrun
23671 @cindex inferior debugging info
23672 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} debugging info for running the inferior.
23673 The default is off. @file{infrun.c} contains GDB's runtime state machine used
23674 for implementing operations such as single-stepping the inferior.
23675 @item show debug infrun
23676 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} inferior debugging.
23677 @item set debug jit
23678 @cindex just-in-time compilation, debugging messages
23679 Turn on or off debugging messages from JIT debug support.
23680 @item show debug jit
23681 Displays the current state of @value{GDBN} JIT debugging.
23682 @item set debug lin-lwp
23683 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux LWP debug messages
23684 @cindex Linux lightweight processes
23685 Turn on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug support.
23686 @item show debug lin-lwp
23687 Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
23688 @item set debug linux-namespaces
23689 @cindex @sc{gnu}/Linux namespaces debug messages
23690 Turn on or off debugging messages from the Linux namespaces debug support.
23691 @item show debug linux-namespaces
23692 Show the current state of Linux namespaces debugging messages.
23693 @item set debug mach-o
23694 @cindex Mach-O symbols processing
23695 Control display of debugging messages related to Mach-O symbols
23696 processing. The default is off.
23697 @item show debug mach-o
23698 Displays the current state of displaying debugging messages related to
23699 reading of COFF/PE exported symbols.
23700 @item set debug notification
23701 @cindex remote async notification debugging info
23702 Turn on or off debugging messages about remote async notification.
23703 The default is off.
23704 @item show debug notification
23705 Displays the current state of remote async notification debugging messages.
23706 @item set debug observer
23707 @cindex observer debugging info
23708 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} observer debugging. This
23709 includes info such as the notification of observable events.
23710 @item show debug observer
23711 Displays the current state of observer debugging.
23712 @item set debug overload
23713 @cindex C@t{++} overload debugging info
23714 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload debugging
23715 info. This includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default
23716 is off.
23717 @item show debug overload
23718 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} C@t{++} overload
23719 debugging info.
23720 @cindex expression parser, debugging info
23721 @cindex debug expression parser
23722 @item set debug parser
23723 Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
23724 Internally, this sets the @code{yydebug} variable in the expression
23725 parser. @xref{Tracing, , Tracing Your Parser, bison, Bison}, for
23726 details. The default is off.
23727 @item show debug parser
23728 Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
23729 @cindex packets, reporting on stdout
23730 @cindex serial connections, debugging
23731 @cindex debug remote protocol
23732 @cindex remote protocol debugging
23733 @cindex display remote packets
23734 @item set debug remote
23735 Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and forth across
23736 the serial line to the remote machine. The info is printed on the
23737 @value{GDBN} standard output stream. The default is off.
23738 @item show debug remote
23739 Displays the state of display of remote packets.
23740 @item set debug serial
23741 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} serial debugging info. The
23742 default is off.
23743 @item show debug serial
23744 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} serial debugging
23745 info.
23746 @item set debug solib-frv
23747 @cindex FR-V shared-library debugging
23748 Turn on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
23749 @item show debug solib-frv
23750 Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
23751 messages.
23752 @item set debug symbol-lookup
23753 @cindex symbol lookup
23754 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol lookup.
23755 The default is 0 (off).
23756 A value of 1 provides basic information.
23757 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23758 @item show debug symbol-lookup
23759 Show the current state of symbol lookup debugging messages.
23760 @item set debug symfile
23761 @cindex symbol file functions
23762 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol file functions.
23763 The default is off. @xref{Files}.
23764 @item show debug symfile
23765 Show the current state of symbol file debugging messages.
23766 @item set debug symtab-create
23767 @cindex symbol table creation
23768 Turns on or off display of debugging messages related to symbol table creation.
23769 The default is 0 (off).
23770 A value of 1 provides basic information.
23771 A value greater than 1 provides more verbose information.
23772 @item show debug symtab-create
23773 Show the current state of symbol table creation debugging.
23774 @item set debug target
23775 @cindex target debugging info
23776 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} target debugging info. This info
23777 includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it happens. The
23778 default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2 to also track the
23779 value of large memory transfers.
23780 @item show debug target
23781 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} target debugging
23782 info.
23783 @item set debug timestamp
23784 @cindex timestampping debugging info
23785 Turns on or off display of timestamps with @value{GDBN} debugging info.
23786 When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each debugging
23787 message.
23788 @item show debug timestamp
23789 Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with @value{GDBN}
23790 debugging info.
23791 @item set debug varobj
23792 @cindex variable object debugging info
23793 Turns on or off display of @value{GDBN} variable object debugging
23794 info. The default is off.
23795 @item show debug varobj
23796 Displays the current state of displaying @value{GDBN} variable object
23797 debugging info.
23798 @item set debug xml
23799 @cindex XML parser debugging
23800 Turn on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
23801 @item show debug xml
23802 Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
23803 @end table
23804
23805 @node Other Misc Settings
23806 @section Other Miscellaneous Settings
23807 @cindex miscellaneous settings
23808
23809 @table @code
23810 @kindex set interactive-mode
23811 @item set interactive-mode
23812 If @code{on}, forces @value{GDBN} to assume that GDB was started
23813 in a terminal. In practice, this means that @value{GDBN} should wait
23814 for the user to answer queries generated by commands entered at
23815 the command prompt. If @code{off}, forces @value{GDBN} to operate
23816 in the opposite mode, and it uses the default answers to all queries.
23817 If @code{auto} (the default), @value{GDBN} tries to determine whether
23818 its standard input is a terminal, and works in interactive-mode if it
23819 is, non-interactively otherwise.
23820
23821 In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
23822 correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be useful
23823 in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW @value{GDBN}
23824 inside a cygwin window.
23825
23826 @kindex show interactive-mode
23827 @item show interactive-mode
23828 Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or not.
23829 @end table
23830
23831 @node Extending GDB
23832 @chapter Extending @value{GDBN}
23833 @cindex extending GDB
23834
23835 @value{GDBN} provides several mechanisms for extension.
23836 @value{GDBN} also provides the ability to automatically load
23837 extensions when it reads a file for debugging. This allows the
23838 user to automatically customize @value{GDBN} for the program
23839 being debugged.
23840
23841 @menu
23842 * Sequences:: Canned Sequences of @value{GDBN} Commands
23843 * Python:: Extending @value{GDBN} using Python
23844 * Guile:: Extending @value{GDBN} using Guile
23845 * Auto-loading extensions:: Automatically loading extensions
23846 * Multiple Extension Languages:: Working with multiple extension languages
23847 * Aliases:: Creating new spellings of existing commands
23848 @end menu
23849
23850 To facilitate the use of extension languages, @value{GDBN} is capable
23851 of evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, @value{GDBN}
23852 can recognize which extension language is being used by looking at
23853 the filename extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension
23854 are always treated as a @value{GDBN} Command Files.
23855 @xref{Command Files,, Command files}.
23856
23857 You can control how @value{GDBN} evaluates these files with the following
23858 setting:
23859
23860 @table @code
23861 @kindex set script-extension
23862 @kindex show script-extension
23863 @item set script-extension off
23864 All scripts are always evaluated as @value{GDBN} Command Files.
23865
23866 @item set script-extension soft
23867 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
23868 extension. If this scripting language is supported, @value{GDBN}
23869 evaluates the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates
23870 the file as a @value{GDBN} Command File.
23871
23872 @item set script-extension strict
23873 The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
23874 extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
23875 language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
23876
23877 @item show script-extension
23878 Display the current value of the @code{script-extension} option.
23879
23880 @end table
23881
23882 @node Sequences
23883 @section Canned Sequences of Commands
23884
23885 Aside from breakpoint commands (@pxref{Break Commands, ,Breakpoint
23886 Command Lists}), @value{GDBN} provides two ways to store sequences of
23887 commands for execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command
23888 files.
23889
23890 @menu
23891 * Define:: How to define your own commands
23892 * Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
23893 * Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
23894 * Output:: Commands for controlled output
23895 * Auto-loading sequences:: Controlling auto-loaded command files
23896 @end menu
23897
23898 @node Define
23899 @subsection User-defined Commands
23900
23901 @cindex user-defined command
23902 @cindex arguments, to user-defined commands
23903 A @dfn{user-defined command} is a sequence of @value{GDBN} commands to
23904 which you assign a new name as a command. This is done with the
23905 @code{define} command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments
23906 separated by whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command
23907 via @code{$arg0@dots{}$arg9}. A trivial example:
23908
23909 @smallexample
23910 define adder
23911 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
23912 end
23913 @end smallexample
23914
23915 @noindent
23916 To execute the command use:
23917
23918 @smallexample
23919 adder 1 2 3
23920 @end smallexample
23921
23922 @noindent
23923 This defines the command @code{adder}, which prints the sum of
23924 its three arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
23925 reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
23926 functions calls.
23927
23928 @cindex argument count in user-defined commands
23929 @cindex how many arguments (user-defined commands)
23930 In addition, @code{$argc} may be used to find out how many arguments have
23931 been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0@dots{}10.
23932
23933 @smallexample
23934 define adder
23935 if $argc == 2
23936 print $arg0 + $arg1
23937 end
23938 if $argc == 3
23939 print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
23940 end
23941 end
23942 @end smallexample
23943
23944 @table @code
23945
23946 @kindex define
23947 @item define @var{commandname}
23948 Define a command named @var{commandname}. If there is already a command
23949 by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine it.
23950 The argument @var{commandname} may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
23951 numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any predefined
23952 prefix command. For example, @samp{define target my-target} creates
23953 a user-defined @samp{target my-target} command.
23954
23955 The definition of the command is made up of other @value{GDBN} command lines,
23956 which are given following the @code{define} command. The end of these
23957 commands is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
23958
23959 @kindex document
23960 @kindex end@r{ (user-defined commands)}
23961 @item document @var{commandname}
23962 Document the user-defined command @var{commandname}, so that it can be
23963 accessed by @code{help}. The command @var{commandname} must already be
23964 defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as @code{define}
23965 reads the lines of the command definition, ending with @code{end}.
23966 After the @code{document} command is finished, @code{help} on command
23967 @var{commandname} displays the documentation you have written.
23968
23969 You may use the @code{document} command again to change the
23970 documentation of a command. Redefining the command with @code{define}
23971 does not change the documentation.
23972
23973 @kindex dont-repeat
23974 @cindex don't repeat command
23975 @item dont-repeat
23976 Used inside a user-defined command, this tells @value{GDBN} that this
23977 command should not be repeated when the user hits @key{RET}
23978 (@pxref{Command Syntax, repeat last command}).
23979
23980 @kindex help user-defined
23981 @item help user-defined
23982 List all user-defined commands and all python commands defined in class
23983 COMAND_USER. The first line of the documentation or docstring is
23984 included (if any).
23985
23986 @kindex show user
23987 @item show user
23988 @itemx show user @var{commandname}
23989 Display the @value{GDBN} commands used to define @var{commandname} (but
23990 not its documentation). If no @var{commandname} is given, display the
23991 definitions for all user-defined commands.
23992 This does not work for user-defined python commands.
23993
23994 @cindex infinite recursion in user-defined commands
23995 @kindex show max-user-call-depth
23996 @kindex set max-user-call-depth
23997 @item show max-user-call-depth
23998 @itemx set max-user-call-depth
23999 The value of @code{max-user-call-depth} controls how many recursion
24000 levels are allowed in user-defined commands before @value{GDBN} suspects an
24001 infinite recursion and aborts the command.
24002 This does not apply to user-defined python commands.
24003 @end table
24004
24005 In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
24006 use control flow commands, described in @ref{Command Files}.
24007
24008 When user-defined commands are executed, the
24009 commands of the definition are not printed. An error in any command
24010 stops execution of the user-defined command.
24011
24012 If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation proceed
24013 without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many @value{GDBN}
24014 commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
24015 messages when used in a user-defined command.
24016
24017 @node Hooks
24018 @subsection User-defined Command Hooks
24019 @cindex command hooks
24020 @cindex hooks, for commands
24021 @cindex hooks, pre-command
24022
24023 @kindex hook
24024 You may define @dfn{hooks}, which are a special kind of user-defined
24025 command. Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined
24026 command @samp{hook-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments)
24027 before that command.
24028
24029 @cindex hooks, post-command
24030 @kindex hookpost
24031 A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you executed.
24032 Whenever you run the command @samp{foo}, if the user-defined command
24033 @samp{hookpost-foo} exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
24034 that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
24035 pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
24036
24037 It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
24038 occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite recursion.
24039
24040 @c It would be nice if hookpost could be passed a parameter indicating
24041 @c if the command it hooks executed properly or not. FIXME!
24042
24043 @kindex stop@r{, a pseudo-command}
24044 In addition, a pseudo-command, @samp{stop} exists. Defining
24045 (@samp{hook-stop}) makes the associated commands execute every time
24046 execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
24047 displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
24048
24049 For example, to ignore @code{SIGALRM} signals while
24050 single-stepping, but treat them normally during normal execution,
24051 you could define:
24052
24053 @smallexample
24054 define hook-stop
24055 handle SIGALRM nopass
24056 end
24057
24058 define hook-run
24059 handle SIGALRM pass
24060 end
24061
24062 define hook-continue
24063 handle SIGALRM pass
24064 end
24065 @end smallexample
24066
24067 As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the @code{echo}
24068 command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
24069 you could define:
24070
24071 @smallexample
24072 define hook-echo
24073 echo <<<---
24074 end
24075
24076 define hookpost-echo
24077 echo --->>>\n
24078 end
24079
24080 (@value{GDBP}) echo Hello World
24081 <<<---Hello World--->>>
24082 (@value{GDBP})
24083
24084 @end smallexample
24085
24086 You can define a hook for any single-word command in @value{GDBN}, but
24087 not for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
24088 name, e.g.@: @code{backtrace} rather than @code{bt}.
24089 @c FIXME! So how does Joe User discover whether a command is an alias
24090 @c or not?
24091 You can hook a multi-word command by adding @code{hook-} or
24092 @code{hookpost-} to the last word of the command, e.g.@:
24093 @samp{define target hook-remote} to add a hook to @samp{target remote}.
24094
24095 If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
24096 @value{GDBN} commands stops and @value{GDBN} issues a prompt
24097 (before the command that you actually typed had a chance to run).
24098
24099 If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command, you
24100 get a warning from the @code{define} command.
24101
24102 @node Command Files
24103 @subsection Command Files
24104
24105 @cindex command files
24106 @cindex scripting commands
24107 A command file for @value{GDBN} is a text file made of lines that are
24108 @value{GDBN} commands. Comments (lines starting with @kbd{#}) may
24109 also be included. An empty line in a command file does nothing; it
24110 does not mean to repeat the last command, as it would from the
24111 terminal.
24112
24113 You can request the execution of a command file with the @code{source}
24114 command. Note that the @code{source} command is also used to evaluate
24115 scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be configured
24116 using the @code{script-extension} setting.
24117 @xref{Extending GDB,, Extending GDB}.
24118
24119 @table @code
24120 @kindex source
24121 @cindex execute commands from a file
24122 @item source [-s] [-v] @var{filename}
24123 Execute the command file @var{filename}.
24124 @end table
24125
24126 The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
24127 unless the order of execution is changed by one of the
24128 @emph{flow-control commands} described below. The commands are not
24129 printed as they are executed. An error in any command terminates
24130 execution of the command file and control is returned to the console.
24131
24132 @value{GDBN} first searches for @var{filename} in the current directory.
24133 If the file is not found there, and @var{filename} does not specify a
24134 directory, then @value{GDBN} also looks for the file on the source search path
24135 (specified with the @samp{directory} command);
24136 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched because the compilation directory
24137 is not relevant to scripts.
24138
24139 If @code{-s} is specified, then @value{GDBN} searches for @var{filename}
24140 on the search path even if @var{filename} specifies a directory.
24141 The search is done by appending @var{filename} to each element of the
24142 search path. So, for example, if @var{filename} is @file{mylib/myscript}
24143 and the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
24144 look for the script @file{/home/user/mylib/myscript}.
24145 The search is also done if @var{filename} is an absolute path.
24146 For example, if @var{filename} is @file{/tmp/myscript} and
24147 the search path contains @file{/home/user} then @value{GDBN} will
24148 look for the script @file{/home/user/tmp/myscript}.
24149 For DOS-like systems, if @var{filename} contains a drive specification,
24150 it is stripped before concatenation. For example, if @var{filename} is
24151 @file{d:myscript} and the search path contains @file{c:/tmp} then @value{GDBN}
24152 will look for the script @file{c:/tmp/myscript}.
24153
24154 If @code{-v}, for verbose mode, is given then @value{GDBN} displays
24155 each command as it is executed. The option must be given before
24156 @var{filename}, and is interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
24157
24158 Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively proceed
24159 without asking when used in a command file. Many @value{GDBN} commands that
24160 normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the messages
24161 when called from command files.
24162
24163 @value{GDBN} also accepts command input from standard input. In this
24164 mode, normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to
24165 standard error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do
24166 not terminate execution of the command file---execution continues with
24167 the next command.
24168
24169 @smallexample
24170 gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
24171 @end smallexample
24172
24173 (The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This example
24174 will execute commands from the file @file{cmds}. All output and errors
24175 would be directed to @file{log}.
24176
24177 Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
24178 commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
24179 complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
24180 variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
24181 built, etc. @value{GDBN} provides a set of flow-control commands to
24182 deal with these complexities. Using these commands, you can write
24183 complex scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands
24184 conditionally, etc.
24185
24186 @table @code
24187 @kindex if
24188 @kindex else
24189 @item if
24190 @itemx else
24191 This command allows to include in your script conditionally executed
24192 commands. The @code{if} command takes a single argument, which is an
24193 expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of commands that
24194 are executed only if the expression is true (its value is nonzero).
24195 There can then optionally be an @code{else} line, followed by a series
24196 of commands that are only executed if the expression was false. The
24197 end of the list is marked by a line containing @code{end}.
24198
24199 @kindex while
24200 @item while
24201 This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
24202 @code{if}: the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
24203 to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one per
24204 line, terminated by an @code{end}. These commands are called the
24205 @dfn{body} of the loop. The commands in the body of @code{while} are
24206 executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
24207
24208 @kindex loop_break
24209 @item loop_break
24210 This command exits the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included.
24211 Execution of the script continues after that @code{while}s @code{end}
24212 line.
24213
24214 @kindex loop_continue
24215 @item loop_continue
24216 This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of commands
24217 in the @code{while} loop in whose body it is included. Execution
24218 branches to the beginning of the @code{while} loop, where it evaluates
24219 the controlling expression.
24220
24221 @kindex end@r{ (if/else/while commands)}
24222 @item end
24223 Terminate the block of commands that are the body of @code{if},
24224 @code{else}, or @code{while} flow-control commands.
24225 @end table
24226
24227
24228 @node Output
24229 @subsection Commands for Controlled Output
24230
24231 During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
24232 @value{GDBN} output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
24233 explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
24234 describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
24235 want.
24236
24237 @table @code
24238 @kindex echo
24239 @item echo @var{text}
24240 @c I do not consider backslash-space a standard C escape sequence
24241 @c because it is not in ANSI.
24242 Print @var{text}. Nonprinting characters can be included in
24243 @var{text} using C escape sequences, such as @samp{\n} to print a
24244 newline. @strong{No newline is printed unless you specify one.}
24245 In addition to the standard C escape sequences, a backslash followed
24246 by a space stands for a space. This is useful for displaying a
24247 string with spaces at the beginning or the end, since leading and
24248 trailing spaces are otherwise trimmed from all arguments.
24249 To print @samp{@w{ }and foo =@w{ }}, use the command
24250 @samp{echo \@w{ }and foo = \@w{ }}.
24251
24252 A backslash at the end of @var{text} can be used, as in C, to continue
24253 the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
24254
24255 @smallexample
24256 echo This is some text\n\
24257 which is continued\n\
24258 onto several lines.\n
24259 @end smallexample
24260
24261 produces the same output as
24262
24263 @smallexample
24264 echo This is some text\n
24265 echo which is continued\n
24266 echo onto several lines.\n
24267 @end smallexample
24268
24269 @kindex output
24270 @item output @var{expression}
24271 Print the value of @var{expression} and nothing but that value: no
24272 newlines, no @samp{$@var{nn} = }. The value is not entered in the
24273 value history either. @xref{Expressions, ,Expressions}, for more information
24274 on expressions.
24275
24276 @item output/@var{fmt} @var{expression}
24277 Print the value of @var{expression} in format @var{fmt}. You can use
24278 the same formats as for @code{print}. @xref{Output Formats,,Output
24279 Formats}, for more information.
24280
24281 @kindex printf
24282 @item printf @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
24283 Print the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
24284 the string @var{template}. To print several values, make
24285 @var{expressions} be a comma-separated list of individual expressions,
24286 which may be either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as
24287 specified by @var{template}, exactly as a C program would do by
24288 executing the code below:
24289
24290 @smallexample
24291 printf (@var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{});
24292 @end smallexample
24293
24294 As in @code{C} @code{printf}, ordinary characters in @var{template}
24295 are printed verbatim, while @dfn{conversion specification} introduced
24296 by the @samp{%} character cause subsequent @var{expressions} to be
24297 evaluated, their values converted and formatted according to type and
24298 style information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
24299 printed.
24300
24301 For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
24302
24303 @smallexample
24304 printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
24305 @end smallexample
24306
24307 @code{printf} supports all the standard @code{C} conversion
24308 specifications, including the flags and modifiers between the @samp{%}
24309 character and the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
24310
24311 @itemize @bullet
24312 @item
24313 The argument-ordering modifiers, such as @samp{2$}, are not supported.
24314
24315 @item
24316 The modifier @samp{*} is not supported for specifying precision or
24317 width.
24318
24319 @item
24320 The @samp{'} flag (for separation of digits into groups according to
24321 @code{LC_NUMERIC'}) is not supported.
24322
24323 @item
24324 The type modifiers @samp{hh}, @samp{j}, @samp{t}, and @samp{z} are not
24325 supported.
24326
24327 @item
24328 The conversion letter @samp{n} (as in @samp{%n}) is not supported.
24329
24330 @item
24331 The conversion letters @samp{a} and @samp{A} are not supported.
24332 @end itemize
24333
24334 @noindent
24335 Note that the @samp{ll} type modifier is supported only if the
24336 underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} supports
24337 the @code{long long int} type, and the @samp{L} type modifier is
24338 supported only if @code{long double} type is available.
24339
24340 As in @code{C}, @code{printf} supports simple backslash-escape
24341 sequences, such as @code{\n}, @samp{\t}, @samp{\\}, @samp{\"},
24342 @samp{\a}, and @samp{\f}, that consist of backslash followed by a
24343 single character. Octal and hexadecimal escape sequences are not
24344 supported.
24345
24346 Additionally, @code{printf} supports conversion specifications for DFP
24347 (@dfn{Decimal Floating Point}) types using the following length modifiers
24348 together with a floating point specifier.
24349 letters:
24350
24351 @itemize @bullet
24352 @item
24353 @samp{H} for printing @code{Decimal32} types.
24354
24355 @item
24356 @samp{D} for printing @code{Decimal64} types.
24357
24358 @item
24359 @samp{DD} for printing @code{Decimal128} types.
24360 @end itemize
24361
24362 If the underlying @code{C} implementation used to build @value{GDBN} has
24363 support for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers
24364 such as width and precision will also be available for @value{GDBN} to use.
24365
24366 In case there is no such @code{C} support, no additional modifiers will be
24367 available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
24368
24369 Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion letters:
24370 @smallexample
24371 printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
24372 @end smallexample
24373
24374 @kindex eval
24375 @item eval @var{template}, @var{expressions}@dots{}
24376 Convert the values of one or more @var{expressions} under the control of
24377 the string @var{template} to a command line, and call it.
24378
24379 @end table
24380
24381 @node Auto-loading sequences
24382 @subsection Controlling auto-loading native @value{GDBN} scripts
24383 @cindex native script auto-loading
24384
24385 When a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
24386 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library),
24387 @value{GDBN} will look for the command file @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}.
24388 @xref{Auto-loading extensions}.
24389
24390 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
24391 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
24392
24393 @table @code
24394 @anchor{set auto-load gdb-scripts}
24395 @kindex set auto-load gdb-scripts
24396 @item set auto-load gdb-scripts [on|off]
24397 Enable or disable the auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts.
24398
24399 @anchor{show auto-load gdb-scripts}
24400 @kindex show auto-load gdb-scripts
24401 @item show auto-load gdb-scripts
24402 Show whether auto-loading of canned sequences of commands scripts is enabled or
24403 disabled.
24404
24405 @anchor{info auto-load gdb-scripts}
24406 @kindex info auto-load gdb-scripts
24407 @cindex print list of auto-loaded canned sequences of commands scripts
24408 @item info auto-load gdb-scripts [@var{regexp}]
24409 Print the list of all canned sequences of commands scripts that @value{GDBN}
24410 auto-loaded.
24411 @end table
24412
24413 If @var{regexp} is supplied only canned sequences of commands scripts with
24414 matching names are printed.
24415
24416 @c Python docs live in a separate file.
24417 @include python.texi
24418
24419 @c Guile docs live in a separate file.
24420 @include guile.texi
24421
24422 @node Auto-loading extensions
24423 @section Auto-loading extensions
24424 @cindex auto-loading extensions
24425
24426 @value{GDBN} provides two mechanisms for automatically loading extensions
24427 when a new object file is read (for example, due to the @code{file}
24428 command, or because the inferior has loaded a shared library):
24429 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} and the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}
24430 section of modern file formats like ELF.
24431
24432 @menu
24433 * objfile-gdb.ext file: objfile-gdbdotext file. The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} file
24434 * .debug_gdb_scripts section: dotdebug_gdb_scripts section. The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24435 * Which flavor to choose?::
24436 @end menu
24437
24438 The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
24439 debugging commands and features.
24440
24441 Auto-loading can be enabled or disabled,
24442 and the list of auto-loaded scripts can be printed.
24443 See the @samp{auto-loading} section of each extension language
24444 for more information.
24445 For @value{GDBN} command files see @ref{Auto-loading sequences}.
24446 For Python files see @ref{Python Auto-loading}.
24447
24448 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
24449 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24450
24451 @node objfile-gdbdotext file
24452 @subsection The @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} file
24453 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
24454 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
24455 @cindex @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.scm}
24456
24457 When a new object file is read, @value{GDBN} looks for a file named
24458 @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.@var{ext}} (we call it @var{script-name} below),
24459 where @var{objfile} is the object file's name and
24460 where @var{ext} is the file extension for the extension language:
24461
24462 @table @code
24463 @item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.gdb}
24464 GDB's own command language
24465 @item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.py}
24466 Python
24467 @item @file{@var{objfile}-gdb.scm}
24468 Guile
24469 @end table
24470
24471 @var{script-name} is formed by ensuring that the file name of @var{objfile}
24472 is absolute, following all symlinks, and resolving @code{.} and @code{..}
24473 components, and appending the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} suffix.
24474 If this file exists and is readable, @value{GDBN} will evaluate it as a
24475 script in the specified extension language.
24476
24477 If this file does not exist, then @value{GDBN} will look for
24478 @var{script-name} file in all of the directories as specified below.
24479
24480 Note that loading of these files requires an accordingly configured
24481 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24482
24483 For object files using @file{.exe} suffix @value{GDBN} tries to load first the
24484 scripts normally according to its @file{.exe} filename. But if no scripts are
24485 found @value{GDBN} also tries script filenames matching the object file without
24486 its @file{.exe} suffix. This @file{.exe} stripping is case insensitive and it
24487 is attempted on any platform. This makes the script filenames compatible
24488 between Unix and MS-Windows hosts.
24489
24490 @table @code
24491 @anchor{set auto-load scripts-directory}
24492 @kindex set auto-load scripts-directory
24493 @item set auto-load scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@r{]}
24494 Control @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location. Multiple directory entries
24495 may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use
24496 (@samp{:} on Unix, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS).
24497
24498 Each entry here needs to be covered also by the security setting
24499 @code{set auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{set auto-load safe-path}).
24500
24501 @anchor{with-auto-load-dir}
24502 This variable defaults to @file{$debugdir:$datadir/auto-load}. The default
24503 @code{set auto-load safe-path} value can be also overriden by @value{GDBN}
24504 configuration option @option{--with-auto-load-dir}.
24505
24506 Any reference to @file{$debugdir} will get replaced by
24507 @var{debug-file-directory} value (@pxref{Separate Debug Files}) and any
24508 reference to @file{$datadir} will get replaced by @var{data-directory} which is
24509 determined at @value{GDBN} startup (@pxref{Data Files}). @file{$debugdir} and
24510 @file{$datadir} must be placed as a directory component --- either alone or
24511 delimited by @file{/} or @file{\} directory separators, depending on the host
24512 platform.
24513
24514 The list of directories uses path separator (@samp{:} on GNU and Unix
24515 systems, @samp{;} on MS-Windows and MS-DOS) to separate directories, similarly
24516 to the @env{PATH} environment variable.
24517
24518 @anchor{show auto-load scripts-directory}
24519 @kindex show auto-load scripts-directory
24520 @item show auto-load scripts-directory
24521 Show @value{GDBN} auto-loaded scripts location.
24522
24523 @anchor{add-auto-load-scripts-directory}
24524 @kindex add-auto-load-scripts-directory
24525 @item add-auto-load-scripts-directory @r{[}@var{directories}@dots{}@r{]}
24526 Add an entry (or list of entries) to the list of auto-loaded scripts locations.
24527 Multiple entries may be delimited by the host platform path separator in use.
24528 @end table
24529
24530 @value{GDBN} does not track which files it has already auto-loaded this way.
24531 @value{GDBN} will load the associated script every time the corresponding
24532 @var{objfile} is opened.
24533 So your @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} file should be careful to avoid errors if it
24534 is evaluated more than once.
24535
24536 @node dotdebug_gdb_scripts section
24537 @subsection The @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24538 @cindex @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section
24539
24540 For systems using file formats like ELF and COFF,
24541 when @value{GDBN} loads a new object file
24542 it will look for a special section named @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
24543 If this section exists, its contents is a list of null-terminated entries
24544 specifying scripts to load. Each entry begins with a non-null prefix byte that
24545 specifies the kind of entry, typically the extension language and whether the
24546 script is in a file or inlined in @code{.debug_gdb_scripts}.
24547
24548 The following entries are supported:
24549
24550 @table @code
24551 @item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_FILE = 1
24552 @item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_SCHEME_FILE = 3
24553 @item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_TEXT = 4
24554 @item SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_SCHEME_TEXT = 6
24555 @end table
24556
24557 @subsubsection Script File Entries
24558
24559 If the entry specifies a file, @value{GDBN} will look for the file first
24560 in the current directory and then along the source search path
24561 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories}),
24562 except that @file{$cdir} is not searched, since the compilation
24563 directory is not relevant to scripts.
24564
24565 File entries can be placed in section @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} with,
24566 for example, this GCC macro for Python scripts.
24567
24568 @example
24569 /* Note: The "MS" section flags are to remove duplicates. */
24570 #define DEFINE_GDB_PY_SCRIPT(script_name) \
24571 asm("\
24572 .pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n\
24573 .byte 1 /* Python */\n\
24574 .asciz \"" script_name "\"\n\
24575 .popsection \n\
24576 ");
24577 @end example
24578
24579 @noindent
24580 For Guile scripts, replace @code{.byte 1} with @code{.byte 3}.
24581 Then one can reference the macro in a header or source file like this:
24582
24583 @example
24584 DEFINE_GDB_PY_SCRIPT ("my-app-scripts.py")
24585 @end example
24586
24587 The script name may include directories if desired.
24588
24589 Note that loading of this script file also requires accordingly configured
24590 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24591
24592 If the macro invocation is put in a header, any application or library
24593 using this header will get a reference to the specified script,
24594 and with the use of @code{"MS"} attributes on the section, the linker
24595 will remove duplicates.
24596
24597 @subsubsection Script Text Entries
24598
24599 Script text entries allow to put the executable script in the entry
24600 itself instead of loading it from a file.
24601 The first line of the entry, everything after the prefix byte and up to
24602 the first newline (@code{0xa}) character, is the script name, and must not
24603 contain any kind of space character, e.g., spaces or tabs.
24604 The rest of the entry, up to the trailing null byte, is the script to
24605 execute in the specified language. The name needs to be unique among
24606 all script names, as @value{GDBN} executes each script only once based
24607 on its name.
24608
24609 Here is an example from file @file{py-section-script.c} in the @value{GDBN}
24610 testsuite.
24611
24612 @example
24613 #include "symcat.h"
24614 #include "gdb/section-scripts.h"
24615 asm(
24616 ".pushsection \".debug_gdb_scripts\", \"MS\",@@progbits,1\n"
24617 ".byte " XSTRING (SECTION_SCRIPT_ID_PYTHON_TEXT) "\n"
24618 ".ascii \"gdb.inlined-script\\n\"\n"
24619 ".ascii \"class test_cmd (gdb.Command):\\n\"\n"
24620 ".ascii \" def __init__ (self):\\n\"\n"
24621 ".ascii \" super (test_cmd, self).__init__ ("
24622 "\\\"test-cmd\\\", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)\\n\"\n"
24623 ".ascii \" def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):\\n\"\n"
24624 ".ascii \" print (\\\"test-cmd output, arg = %s\\\" % arg)\\n\"\n"
24625 ".ascii \"test_cmd ()\\n\"\n"
24626 ".byte 0\n"
24627 ".popsection\n"
24628 );
24629 @end example
24630
24631 Loading of inlined scripts requires a properly configured
24632 @code{auto-load safe-path} (@pxref{Auto-loading safe path}).
24633 The path to specify in @code{auto-load safe-path} is the path of the file
24634 containing the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section.
24635
24636 @node Which flavor to choose?
24637 @subsection Which flavor to choose?
24638
24639 Given the multiple ways of auto-loading extensions, it might not always
24640 be clear which one to choose. This section provides some guidance.
24641
24642 @noindent
24643 Benefits of the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} way:
24644
24645 @itemize @bullet
24646 @item
24647 Can be used with file formats that don't support multiple sections.
24648
24649 @item
24650 Ease of finding scripts for public libraries.
24651
24652 Scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section are searched for
24653 in the source search path.
24654 For publicly installed libraries, e.g., @file{libstdc++}, there typically
24655 isn't a source directory in which to find the script.
24656
24657 @item
24658 Doesn't require source code additions.
24659 @end itemize
24660
24661 @noindent
24662 Benefits of the @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} way:
24663
24664 @itemize @bullet
24665 @item
24666 Works with static linking.
24667
24668 Scripts for libraries done the @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} way require an objfile to
24669 trigger their loading. When an application is statically linked the only
24670 objfile available is the executable, and it is cumbersome to attach all the
24671 scripts from all the input libraries to the executable's
24672 @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} script.
24673
24674 @item
24675 Works with classes that are entirely inlined.
24676
24677 Some classes can be entirely inlined, and thus there may not be an associated
24678 shared library to attach a @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} script to.
24679
24680 @item
24681 Scripts needn't be copied out of the source tree.
24682
24683 In some circumstances, apps can be built out of large collections of internal
24684 libraries, and the build infrastructure necessary to install the
24685 @file{-gdb.@var{ext}} scripts in a place where @value{GDBN} can find them is
24686 cumbersome. It may be easier to specify the scripts in the
24687 @code{.debug_gdb_scripts} section as relative paths, and add a path to the
24688 top of the source tree to the source search path.
24689 @end itemize
24690
24691 @node Multiple Extension Languages
24692 @section Multiple Extension Languages
24693
24694 The Guile and Python extension languages do not share any state,
24695 and generally do not interfere with each other.
24696 There are some things to be aware of, however.
24697
24698 @subsection Python comes first
24699
24700 Python was @value{GDBN}'s first extension language, and to avoid breaking
24701 existing behaviour Python comes first. This is generally solved by the
24702 ``first one wins'' principle. @value{GDBN} maintains a list of enabled
24703 extension languages, and when it makes a call to an extension language,
24704 (say to pretty-print a value), it tries each in turn until an extension
24705 language indicates it has performed the request (e.g., has returned the
24706 pretty-printed form of a value).
24707 This extends to errors while performing such requests: If an error happens
24708 while, for example, trying to pretty-print an object then the error is
24709 reported and any following extension languages are not tried.
24710
24711 @node Aliases
24712 @section Creating new spellings of existing commands
24713 @cindex aliases for commands
24714
24715 It is often useful to define alternate spellings of existing commands.
24716 For example, if a new @value{GDBN} command defined in Python has
24717 a long name to type, it is handy to have an abbreviated version of it
24718 that involves less typing.
24719
24720 @value{GDBN} itself uses aliases. For example @samp{s} is an alias
24721 of the @samp{step} command even though it is otherwise an ambiguous
24722 abbreviation of other commands like @samp{set} and @samp{show}.
24723
24724 Aliases are also used to provide shortened or more common versions
24725 of multi-word commands. For example, @value{GDBN} provides the
24726 @samp{tty} alias of the @samp{set inferior-tty} command.
24727
24728 You can define a new alias with the @samp{alias} command.
24729
24730 @table @code
24731
24732 @kindex alias
24733 @item alias [-a] [--] @var{ALIAS} = @var{COMMAND}
24734
24735 @end table
24736
24737 @var{ALIAS} specifies the name of the new alias.
24738 Each word of @var{ALIAS} must consist of letters, numbers, dashes and
24739 underscores.
24740
24741 @var{COMMAND} specifies the name of an existing command
24742 that is being aliased.
24743
24744 The @samp{-a} option specifies that the new alias is an abbreviation
24745 of the command. Abbreviations are not shown in command
24746 lists displayed by the @samp{help} command.
24747
24748 The @samp{--} option specifies the end of options,
24749 and is useful when @var{ALIAS} begins with a dash.
24750
24751 Here is a simple example showing how to make an abbreviation
24752 of a command so that there is less to type.
24753 Suppose you were tired of typing @samp{disas}, the current
24754 shortest unambiguous abbreviation of the @samp{disassemble} command
24755 and you wanted an even shorter version named @samp{di}.
24756 The following will accomplish this.
24757
24758 @smallexample
24759 (gdb) alias -a di = disas
24760 @end smallexample
24761
24762 Note that aliases are different from user-defined commands.
24763 With a user-defined command, you also need to write documentation
24764 for it with the @samp{document} command.
24765 An alias automatically picks up the documentation of the existing command.
24766
24767 Here is an example where we make @samp{elms} an abbreviation of
24768 @samp{elements} in the @samp{set print elements} command.
24769 This is to show that you can make an abbreviation of any part
24770 of a command.
24771
24772 @smallexample
24773 (gdb) alias -a set print elms = set print elements
24774 (gdb) alias -a show print elms = show print elements
24775 (gdb) set p elms 20
24776 (gdb) show p elms
24777 Limit on string chars or array elements to print is 200.
24778 @end smallexample
24779
24780 Note that if you are defining an alias of a @samp{set} command,
24781 and you want to have an alias for the corresponding @samp{show}
24782 command, then you need to define the latter separately.
24783
24784 Unambiguously abbreviated commands are allowed in @var{COMMAND} and
24785 @var{ALIAS}, just as they are normally.
24786
24787 @smallexample
24788 (gdb) alias -a set pr elms = set p ele
24789 @end smallexample
24790
24791 Finally, here is an example showing the creation of a one word
24792 alias for a more complex command.
24793 This creates alias @samp{spe} of the command @samp{set print elements}.
24794
24795 @smallexample
24796 (gdb) alias spe = set print elements
24797 (gdb) spe 20
24798 @end smallexample
24799
24800 @node Interpreters
24801 @chapter Command Interpreters
24802 @cindex command interpreters
24803
24804 @value{GDBN} supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
24805 infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
24806 between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
24807
24808 @value{GDBN} currently supports two command interpreters, the console
24809 interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or @sc{cli})
24810 and the machine interface interpreter (or @sc{gdb/mi}). This manual
24811 describes both of these interfaces in great detail.
24812
24813 By default, @value{GDBN} will start with the console interpreter.
24814 However, the user may choose to start @value{GDBN} with another
24815 interpreter by specifying the @option{-i} or @option{--interpreter}
24816 startup options. Defined interpreters include:
24817
24818 @table @code
24819 @item console
24820 @cindex console interpreter
24821 The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often
24822 used interpreter with @value{GDBN}. With no interpreter specified at runtime,
24823 @value{GDBN} will use this interpreter.
24824
24825 @item mi
24826 @cindex mi interpreter
24827 The newest @sc{gdb/mi} interface (currently @code{mi2}). Used primarily
24828 by programs wishing to use @value{GDBN} as a backend for a debugger GUI
24829 or an IDE. For more information, see @ref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi}
24830 Interface}.
24831
24832 @item mi2
24833 @cindex mi2 interpreter
24834 The current @sc{gdb/mi} interface.
24835
24836 @item mi1
24837 @cindex mi1 interpreter
24838 The @sc{gdb/mi} interface included in @value{GDBN} 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
24839
24840 @end table
24841
24842 @cindex invoke another interpreter
24843 The interpreter being used by @value{GDBN} may not be dynamically
24844 switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very
24845 precarious situation. Consider an IDE using @sc{gdb/mi}. If a user
24846 enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view,
24847 @value{GDBN} would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering
24848 the IDE inoperable!
24849
24850 @kindex interpreter-exec
24851 Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute
24852 commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate
24853 command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the
24854 @code{interpreter-exec} command:
24855
24856 @smallexample
24857 interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
24858 @end smallexample
24859
24860 @sc{gdb/mi} has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of
24861 @value{GDBN} which support @sc{gdb/mi} version 2 (or greater).
24862
24863 @node TUI
24864 @chapter @value{GDBN} Text User Interface
24865 @cindex TUI
24866 @cindex Text User Interface
24867
24868 @menu
24869 * TUI Overview:: TUI overview
24870 * TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
24871 * TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
24872 * TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
24873 * TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
24874 @end menu
24875
24876 The @value{GDBN} Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal
24877 interface which uses the @code{curses} library to show the source
24878 file, the assembly output, the program registers and @value{GDBN}
24879 commands in separate text windows. The TUI mode is supported only
24880 on platforms where a suitable version of the @code{curses} library
24881 is available.
24882
24883 The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke @value{GDBN} as
24884 @samp{@value{GDBP} -tui}.
24885 You can also switch in and out of TUI mode while @value{GDBN} runs by
24886 using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as @command{tui
24887 enable} or @kbd{C-x C-a}. @xref{TUI Commands, ,TUI Commands}, and
24888 @ref{TUI Keys, ,TUI Key Bindings}.
24889
24890 @node TUI Overview
24891 @section TUI Overview
24892
24893 In TUI mode, @value{GDBN} can display several text windows:
24894
24895 @table @emph
24896 @item command
24897 This window is the @value{GDBN} command window with the @value{GDBN}
24898 prompt and the @value{GDBN} output. The @value{GDBN} input is still
24899 managed using readline.
24900
24901 @item source
24902 The source window shows the source file of the program. The current
24903 line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
24904
24905 @item assembly
24906 The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
24907
24908 @item register
24909 This window shows the processor registers. Registers are highlighted
24910 when their values change.
24911 @end table
24912
24913 The source and assembly windows show the current program position
24914 by highlighting the current line and marking it with a @samp{>} marker.
24915 Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker
24916 indicates the breakpoint type:
24917
24918 @table @code
24919 @item B
24920 Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
24921
24922 @item b
24923 Breakpoint which was never hit.
24924
24925 @item H
24926 Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
24927
24928 @item h
24929 Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
24930 @end table
24931
24932 The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
24933
24934 @table @code
24935 @item +
24936 Breakpoint is enabled.
24937
24938 @item -
24939 Breakpoint is disabled.
24940 @end table
24941
24942 The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the current
24943 thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program counter
24944 changes.
24945
24946 These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
24947 window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
24948 layouts:
24949
24950 @itemize @bullet
24951 @item
24952 source only,
24953
24954 @item
24955 assembly only,
24956
24957 @item
24958 source and assembly,
24959
24960 @item
24961 source and registers, or
24962
24963 @item
24964 assembly and registers.
24965 @end itemize
24966
24967 A status line above the command window shows the following information:
24968
24969 @table @emph
24970 @item target
24971 Indicates the current @value{GDBN} target.
24972 (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
24973
24974 @item process
24975 Gives the current process or thread number.
24976 When no process is being debugged, this field is set to @code{No process}.
24977
24978 @item function
24979 Gives the current function name for the selected frame.
24980 The name is demangled if demangling is turned on (@pxref{Print Settings}).
24981 When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program counter,
24982 the string @code{??} is displayed.
24983
24984 @item line
24985 Indicates the current line number for the selected frame.
24986 When the current line number is not known, the string @code{??} is displayed.
24987
24988 @item pc
24989 Indicates the current program counter address.
24990 @end table
24991
24992 @node TUI Keys
24993 @section TUI Key Bindings
24994 @cindex TUI key bindings
24995
24996 The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps
24997 @ifset SYSTEM_READLINE
24998 (@pxref{Command Line Editing, , , rluserman, GNU Readline Library}).
24999 @end ifset
25000 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
25001 (@pxref{Command Line Editing}).
25002 @end ifclear
25003 The following key bindings are installed for both TUI mode and the
25004 @value{GDBN} standard mode.
25005
25006 @table @kbd
25007 @kindex C-x C-a
25008 @item C-x C-a
25009 @kindex C-x a
25010 @itemx C-x a
25011 @kindex C-x A
25012 @itemx C-x A
25013 Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode,
25014 the curses window management stops and @value{GDBN} operates using
25015 its standard mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering
25016 the TUI mode, control is given back to the curses windows.
25017 The screen is then refreshed.
25018
25019 @kindex C-x 1
25020 @item C-x 1
25021 Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will
25022 either be @samp{source} or @samp{assembly}. When the TUI mode
25023 is not active, it will switch to the TUI mode.
25024
25025 Think of this key binding as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 1} binding.
25026
25027 @kindex C-x 2
25028 @item C-x 2
25029 Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
25030 layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows is used.
25031 When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be common to the
25032 previous layout and the new one.
25033
25034 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x 2} binding.
25035
25036 @kindex C-x o
25037 @item C-x o
25038 Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
25039 (like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This command
25040 gives the focus to the next TUI window.
25041
25042 Think of it as the Emacs @kbd{C-x o} binding.
25043
25044 @kindex C-x s
25045 @item C-x s
25046 Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single
25047 keys to @value{GDBN} commands (@pxref{TUI Single Key Mode}).
25048 @end table
25049
25050 The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
25051
25052 @table @asis
25053 @kindex PgUp
25054 @item @key{PgUp}
25055 Scroll the active window one page up.
25056
25057 @kindex PgDn
25058 @item @key{PgDn}
25059 Scroll the active window one page down.
25060
25061 @kindex Up
25062 @item @key{Up}
25063 Scroll the active window one line up.
25064
25065 @kindex Down
25066 @item @key{Down}
25067 Scroll the active window one line down.
25068
25069 @kindex Left
25070 @item @key{Left}
25071 Scroll the active window one column left.
25072
25073 @kindex Right
25074 @item @key{Right}
25075 Scroll the active window one column right.
25076
25077 @kindex C-L
25078 @item @kbd{C-L}
25079 Refresh the screen.
25080 @end table
25081
25082 Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
25083 are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
25084 window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
25085 other readline key bindings such as @kbd{C-p}, @kbd{C-n}, @kbd{C-b}
25086 and @kbd{C-f} to control the command window.
25087
25088 @node TUI Single Key Mode
25089 @section TUI Single Key Mode
25090 @cindex TUI single key mode
25091
25092 The TUI also provides a @dfn{SingleKey} mode, which binds several
25093 frequently used @value{GDBN} commands to single keys. Type @kbd{C-x s} to
25094 switch into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
25095
25096 @table @kbd
25097 @kindex c @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25098 @item c
25099 continue
25100
25101 @kindex d @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25102 @item d
25103 down
25104
25105 @kindex f @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25106 @item f
25107 finish
25108
25109 @kindex n @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25110 @item n
25111 next
25112
25113 @kindex q @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25114 @item q
25115 exit the SingleKey mode.
25116
25117 @kindex r @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25118 @item r
25119 run
25120
25121 @kindex s @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25122 @item s
25123 step
25124
25125 @kindex u @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25126 @item u
25127 up
25128
25129 @kindex v @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25130 @item v
25131 info locals
25132
25133 @kindex w @r{(SingleKey TUI key)}
25134 @item w
25135 where
25136 @end table
25137
25138 Other keys temporarily switch to the @value{GDBN} command prompt.
25139 The key that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that
25140 it is possible to type most @value{GDBN} commands without interaction
25141 with the TUI SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI
25142 SingleKey mode is restored. The only way to permanently leave
25143 this mode is by typing @kbd{q} or @kbd{C-x s}.
25144
25145
25146 @node TUI Commands
25147 @section TUI-specific Commands
25148 @cindex TUI commands
25149
25150 The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows.
25151 These commands are always available, even when @value{GDBN} is not in
25152 the TUI mode. When @value{GDBN} is in the standard mode, most
25153 of these commands will automatically switch to the TUI mode.
25154
25155 Note that if @value{GDBN}'s @code{stdout} is not connected to a
25156 terminal, or @value{GDBN} has been started with the machine interface
25157 interpreter (@pxref{GDB/MI, ,The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface}), most of
25158 these commands will fail with an error, because it would not be
25159 possible or desirable to enable curses window management.
25160
25161 @table @code
25162 @item tui enable
25163 @kindex tui enable
25164 Activate TUI mode. The last active TUI window layout will be used if
25165 TUI mode has prevsiouly been used in the current debugging session,
25166 otherwise a default layout is used.
25167
25168 @item tui disable
25169 @kindex tui disable
25170 Disable TUI mode, returning to the console interpreter.
25171
25172 @item info win
25173 @kindex info win
25174 List and give the size of all displayed windows.
25175
25176 @item layout @var{name}
25177 @kindex layout
25178 Changes which TUI windows are displayed. In each layout the command
25179 window is always displayed, the @var{name} parameter controls which
25180 additional windows are displayed, and can be any of the following:
25181
25182 @table @code
25183 @item next
25184 Display the next layout.
25185
25186 @item prev
25187 Display the previous layout.
25188
25189 @item src
25190 Display the source and command windows.
25191
25192 @item asm
25193 Display the assembly and command windows.
25194
25195 @item split
25196 Display the source, assembly, and command windows.
25197
25198 @item regs
25199 When in @code{src} layout display the register, source, and command
25200 windows. When in @code{asm} or @code{split} layout display the
25201 register, assembler, and command windows.
25202 @end table
25203
25204 @item focus @var{name}
25205 @kindex focus
25206 Changes which TUI window is currently active for scrolling. The
25207 @var{name} parameter can be any of the following:
25208
25209 @table @code
25210 @item next
25211 Make the next window active for scrolling.
25212
25213 @item prev
25214 Make the previous window active for scrolling.
25215
25216 @item src
25217 Make the source window active for scrolling.
25218
25219 @item asm
25220 Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
25221
25222 @item regs
25223 Make the register window active for scrolling.
25224
25225 @item cmd
25226 Make the command window active for scrolling.
25227 @end table
25228
25229 @item refresh
25230 @kindex refresh
25231 Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing @kbd{C-L}.
25232
25233 @item tui reg @var{group}
25234 @kindex tui reg
25235 Changes the register group displayed in the tui register window to
25236 @var{group}. If the register window is not currently displayed this
25237 command will cause the register window to be displayed. The list of
25238 register groups, as well as their order is target specific. The
25239 following groups are available on most targets:
25240 @table @code
25241 @item next
25242 Repeatedly selecting this group will cause the display to cycle
25243 through all of the available register groups.
25244
25245 @item prev
25246 Repeatedly selecting this group will cause the display to cycle
25247 through all of the available register groups in the reverse order to
25248 @var{next}.
25249
25250 @item general
25251 Display the general registers.
25252 @item float
25253 Display the floating point registers.
25254 @item system
25255 Display the system registers.
25256 @item vector
25257 Display the vector registers.
25258 @item all
25259 Display all registers.
25260 @end table
25261
25262 @item update
25263 @kindex update
25264 Update the source window and the current execution point.
25265
25266 @item winheight @var{name} +@var{count}
25267 @itemx winheight @var{name} -@var{count}
25268 @kindex winheight
25269 Change the height of the window @var{name} by @var{count}
25270 lines. Positive counts increase the height, while negative counts
25271 decrease it. The @var{name} parameter can be one of @code{src} (the
25272 source window), @code{cmd} (the command window), @code{asm} (the
25273 disassembly window), or @code{regs} (the register display window).
25274
25275 @item tabset @var{nchars}
25276 @kindex tabset
25277 Set the width of tab stops to be @var{nchars} characters. This
25278 setting affects the display of TAB characters in the source and
25279 assembly windows.
25280 @end table
25281
25282 @node TUI Configuration
25283 @section TUI Configuration Variables
25284 @cindex TUI configuration variables
25285
25286 Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
25287
25288 @table @code
25289 @item set tui border-kind @var{kind}
25290 @kindex set tui border-kind
25291 Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register windows.
25292 The possible values are the following:
25293 @table @code
25294 @item space
25295 Use a space character to draw the border.
25296
25297 @item ascii
25298 Use @sc{ascii} characters @samp{+}, @samp{-} and @samp{|} to draw the border.
25299
25300 @item acs
25301 Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The border is
25302 drawn using character line graphics if the terminal supports them.
25303 @end table
25304
25305 @item set tui border-mode @var{mode}
25306 @kindex set tui border-mode
25307 @itemx set tui active-border-mode @var{mode}
25308 @kindex set tui active-border-mode
25309 Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive windows
25310 or the active window. The @var{mode} can be one of the following:
25311 @table @code
25312 @item normal
25313 Use normal attributes to display the border.
25314
25315 @item standout
25316 Use standout mode.
25317
25318 @item reverse
25319 Use reverse video mode.
25320
25321 @item half
25322 Use half bright mode.
25323
25324 @item half-standout
25325 Use half bright and standout mode.
25326
25327 @item bold
25328 Use extra bright or bold mode.
25329
25330 @item bold-standout
25331 Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
25332 @end table
25333 @end table
25334
25335 @node Emacs
25336 @chapter Using @value{GDBN} under @sc{gnu} Emacs
25337
25338 @cindex Emacs
25339 @cindex @sc{gnu} Emacs
25340 A special interface allows you to use @sc{gnu} Emacs to view (and
25341 edit) the source files for the program you are debugging with
25342 @value{GDBN}.
25343
25344 To use this interface, use the command @kbd{M-x gdb} in Emacs. Give the
25345 executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
25346 @value{GDBN} as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
25347 created Emacs buffer.
25348 @c (Do not use the @code{-tui} option to run @value{GDBN} from Emacs.)
25349
25350 Running @value{GDBN} under Emacs can be just like running @value{GDBN} normally except for two
25351 things:
25352
25353 @itemize @bullet
25354 @item
25355 All ``terminal'' input and output goes through an Emacs buffer, called
25356 the GUD buffer.
25357
25358 This applies both to @value{GDBN} commands and their output, and to the input
25359 and output done by the program you are debugging.
25360
25361 This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of previous
25362 commands and input them again; you can even use parts of the output
25363 in this way.
25364
25365 All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for interacting
25366 with your program. In particular, you can send signals the usual
25367 way---for example, @kbd{C-c C-c} for an interrupt, @kbd{C-c C-z} for a
25368 stop.
25369
25370 @item
25371 @value{GDBN} displays source code through Emacs.
25372
25373 Each time @value{GDBN} displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
25374 source file for that frame and puts an arrow (@samp{=>}) at the
25375 left margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
25376 source display, and splits the screen to show both your @value{GDBN} session
25377 and the source.
25378
25379 Explicit @value{GDBN} @code{list} or search commands still produce output as
25380 usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
25381 @end itemize
25382
25383 We call this @dfn{text command mode}. Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
25384 a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
25385 that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
25386 @xref{GDB Graphical Interface,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}.
25387
25388 If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the @kbd{M-x
25389 gdb} argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where
25390 your program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs
25391 sets your current working directory to the directory associated
25392 with the previous buffer. In this case, @value{GDBN} may find your
25393 program by searching your environment's @code{PATH} variable, but on
25394 some operating systems it might not find the source. So, although the
25395 @value{GDBN} input and output session proceeds normally, the auxiliary
25396 buffer does not display the current source and line of execution.
25397
25398 The initial working directory of @value{GDBN} is printed on the top
25399 line of the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands
25400 that specify files for @value{GDBN} to operate on. @xref{Files,
25401 ,Commands to Specify Files}.
25402
25403 By default, @kbd{M-x gdb} calls the program called @file{gdb}. If you
25404 need to call @value{GDBN} by a different name (for example, if you
25405 keep several configurations around, with different names) you can
25406 customize the Emacs variable @code{gud-gdb-command-name} to run the
25407 one you want.
25408
25409 In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
25410 addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
25411
25412 @table @kbd
25413 @item C-h m
25414 Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
25415
25416 @item C-c C-s
25417 Execute to another source line, like the @value{GDBN} @code{step} command; also
25418 update the display window to show the current file and location.
25419
25420 @item C-c C-n
25421 Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
25422 calls, like the @value{GDBN} @code{next} command. Then update the display window
25423 to show the current file and location.
25424
25425 @item C-c C-i
25426 Execute one instruction, like the @value{GDBN} @code{stepi} command; update
25427 display window accordingly.
25428
25429 @item C-c C-f
25430 Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the @value{GDBN}
25431 @code{finish} command.
25432
25433 @item C-c C-r
25434 Continue execution of your program, like the @value{GDBN} @code{continue}
25435 command.
25436
25437 @item C-c <
25438 Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
25439 (@pxref{Arguments, , Numeric Arguments, Emacs, The @sc{gnu} Emacs Manual}),
25440 like the @value{GDBN} @code{up} command.
25441
25442 @item C-c >
25443 Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument, like the
25444 @value{GDBN} @code{down} command.
25445 @end table
25446
25447 In any source file, the Emacs command @kbd{C-x @key{SPC}} (@code{gud-break})
25448 tells @value{GDBN} to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
25449
25450 In text command mode, if you type @kbd{M-x speedbar}, Emacs displays a
25451 separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
25452 Move point to any frame in the stack and type @key{RET} to make it
25453 become the current frame and display the associated source in the
25454 source buffer. Alternatively, click @kbd{Mouse-2} to make the
25455 selected frame become the current one. In graphical mode, the
25456 speedbar displays watch expressions.
25457
25458 If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to get
25459 it back is to type the command @code{f} in the @value{GDBN} buffer, to
25460 request a frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates
25461 the source buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current
25462 frame.
25463
25464 The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
25465 which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit
25466 the files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that @value{GDBN}
25467 communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or
25468 delete lines from the text, the line numbers that @value{GDBN} knows cease
25469 to correspond properly with the code.
25470
25471 A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with @value{GDBN} is
25472 given in the Emacs manual (@pxref{Debuggers,,, Emacs, The @sc{gnu}
25473 Emacs Manual}).
25474
25475 @node GDB/MI
25476 @chapter The @sc{gdb/mi} Interface
25477
25478 @unnumberedsec Function and Purpose
25479
25480 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, its purpose
25481 @sc{gdb/mi} is a line based machine oriented text interface to
25482 @value{GDBN} and is activated by specifying using the
25483 @option{--interpreter} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}). It
25484 is specifically intended to support the development of systems which
25485 use the debugger as just one small component of a larger system.
25486
25487 This chapter is a specification of the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. It is written
25488 in the form of a reference manual.
25489
25490 Note that @sc{gdb/mi} is still under construction, so some of the
25491 features described below are incomplete and subject to change
25492 (@pxref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, , @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends}).
25493
25494 @unnumberedsec Notation and Terminology
25495
25496 @cindex notational conventions, for @sc{gdb/mi}
25497 This chapter uses the following notation:
25498
25499 @itemize @bullet
25500 @item
25501 @code{|} separates two alternatives.
25502
25503 @item
25504 @code{[ @var{something} ]} indicates that @var{something} is optional:
25505 it may or may not be given.
25506
25507 @item
25508 @code{( @var{group} )*} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25509 may repeat zero or more times.
25510
25511 @item
25512 @code{( @var{group} )+} means that @var{group} inside the parentheses
25513 may repeat one or more times.
25514
25515 @item
25516 @code{"@var{string}"} means a literal @var{string}.
25517 @end itemize
25518
25519 @ignore
25520 @heading Dependencies
25521 @end ignore
25522
25523 @menu
25524 * GDB/MI General Design::
25525 * GDB/MI Command Syntax::
25526 * GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
25527 * GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
25528 * GDB/MI Output Records::
25529 * GDB/MI Simple Examples::
25530 * GDB/MI Command Description Format::
25531 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
25532 * GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
25533 * GDB/MI Program Context::
25534 * GDB/MI Thread Commands::
25535 * GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands::
25536 * GDB/MI Program Execution::
25537 * GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
25538 * GDB/MI Variable Objects::
25539 * GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
25540 * GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
25541 * GDB/MI Symbol Query::
25542 * GDB/MI File Commands::
25543 @ignore
25544 * GDB/MI Kod Commands::
25545 * GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands::
25546 * GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands::
25547 @end ignore
25548 * GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
25549 * GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
25550 * GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands::
25551 * GDB/MI Support Commands::
25552 * GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
25553 @end menu
25554
25555 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25556 @node GDB/MI General Design
25557 @section @sc{gdb/mi} General Design
25558 @cindex GDB/MI General Design
25559
25560 Interaction of a @sc{GDB/MI} frontend with @value{GDBN} involves three
25561 parts---commands sent to @value{GDBN}, responses to those commands
25562 and notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
25563 indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
25564 For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains the
25565 requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
25566 response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
25567 Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
25568 target, or in @value{GDBN} state, that cannot conveniently be associated with
25569 a command and reported as part of that command response.
25570
25571 The important examples of notifications are:
25572 @itemize @bullet
25573
25574 @item
25575 Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in
25576 target state---when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not
25577 be feasible to include this information in response of resuming
25578 commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple events in
25579 different threads. Also, quite some time may pass before any event
25580 happens in the target, while a frontend needs to know whether the resuming
25581 command itself was successfully executed.
25582
25583 @item
25584 Console output, and status notifications. Console output
25585 notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
25586 diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
25587 report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally, including
25588 this information in command response would mean no output is produced
25589 until the command is finished, which is undesirable.
25590
25591 @item
25592 General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
25593 the @value{GDBN} or target state beyond their official purpose. For example,
25594 a command may change the selected thread. Although such changes can
25595 be included in command response, using notification allows for more
25596 orthogonal frontend design.
25597
25598 @end itemize
25599
25600 There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
25601 @value{GDBN} or the target are in any specific state, and especially,
25602 the state is not reverted to the state before the MI command was
25603 processed. Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error,
25604 we recommend that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in
25605 the user interface.
25606
25607
25608 @menu
25609 * Context management::
25610 * Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
25611 * Thread groups::
25612 @end menu
25613
25614 @node Context management
25615 @subsection Context management
25616
25617 @subsubsection Threads and Frames
25618
25619 In most cases when @value{GDBN} accesses the target, this access is
25620 done in context of a specific thread and frame (@pxref{Frames}).
25621 Often, even when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread
25622 be specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
25623 and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
25624 because a command line user would not want to specify that information
25625 explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with
25626 @value{GDBN} via a single terminal, so no confusion is possible as
25627 to what thread and frame are the current ones.
25628
25629 In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
25630 useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information
25631 itself. Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window,
25632 each one used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might
25633 want to access additional threads for internal purposes. This
25634 increases the risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the
25635 frontend may be operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command
25636 should explicitly specify which thread and frame to operate on. To
25637 make it possible, each MI command accepts the @samp{--thread} and
25638 @samp{--frame} options, the value to each is @value{GDBN} global
25639 identifier for thread and frame to operate on.
25640
25641 Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to select
25642 a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for further
25643 operations. However, in some cases @value{GDBN} may suggest that the
25644 current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
25645 it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
25646 another example, if the user issues the CLI @samp{thread} command via
25647 the frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to the
25648 one specified by user. @value{GDBN} communicates the suggestion to
25649 change current thread using the @samp{=thread-selected} notification.
25650 No such notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
25651
25652 Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
25653 frontends used the @code{-thread-select} to execute commands in the
25654 right context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
25655 simplest way is for frontend to emit @code{-thread-select} command
25656 before every command. This doubles the number of commands that need
25657 to be sent. The alternative approach is to suppress @code{-thread-select}
25658 if the selected thread in @value{GDBN} is supposed to be identical to the
25659 thread the frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this
25660 optimization right can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend
25661 sends several commands to @value{GDBN}, and one of the commands changes the
25662 selected thread, then the behaviour of subsequent commands will
25663 change. So, a frontend should either wait for response from such
25664 problematic commands, or explicitly add @code{-thread-select} for
25665 all subsequent commands. No frontend is known to do this exactly
25666 right, so it is suggested to just always pass the @samp{--thread} and
25667 @samp{--frame} options.
25668
25669 @subsubsection Language
25670
25671 The execution of several commands depends on which language is selected.
25672 By default, the current language (@pxref{show language}) is used.
25673 But for commands known to be language-sensitive, it is recommended
25674 to use the @samp{--language} option. This option takes one argument,
25675 which is the name of the language to use while executing the command.
25676 For instance:
25677
25678 @smallexample
25679 -data-evaluate-expression --language c "sizeof (void*)"
25680 ^done,value="4"
25681 (gdb)
25682 @end smallexample
25683
25684 The valid language names are the same names accepted by the
25685 @samp{set language} command (@pxref{Manually}), excluding @samp{auto},
25686 @samp{local} or @samp{unknown}.
25687
25688 @node Asynchronous and non-stop modes
25689 @subsection Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
25690
25691 On some targets, @value{GDBN} is capable of processing MI commands
25692 even while the target is running. This is called @dfn{asynchronous
25693 command execution} (@pxref{Background Execution}). The frontend may
25694 specify a preferrence for asynchronous execution using the
25695 @code{-gdb-set mi-async 1} command, which should be emitted before
25696 either running the executable or attaching to the target. After the
25697 frontend has started the executable or attached to the target, it can
25698 find if asynchronous execution is enabled using the
25699 @code{-list-target-features} command.
25700
25701 @table @code
25702 @item -gdb-set mi-async on
25703 @item -gdb-set mi-async off
25704 Set whether MI is in asynchronous mode.
25705
25706 When @code{off}, which is the default, MI execution commands (e.g.,
25707 @code{-exec-continue}) are foreground commands, and @value{GDBN} waits
25708 for the program to stop before processing further commands.
25709
25710 When @code{on}, MI execution commands are background execution
25711 commands (e.g., @code{-exec-continue} becomes the equivalent of the
25712 @code{c&} CLI command), and so @value{GDBN} is capable of processing
25713 MI commands even while the target is running.
25714
25715 @item -gdb-show mi-async
25716 Show whether MI asynchronous mode is enabled.
25717 @end table
25718
25719 Note: In @value{GDBN} version 7.7 and earlier, this option was called
25720 @code{target-async} instead of @code{mi-async}, and it had the effect
25721 of both putting MI in asynchronous mode and making CLI background
25722 commands possible. CLI background commands are now always possible
25723 ``out of the box'' if the target supports them. The old spelling is
25724 kept as a deprecated alias for backwards compatibility.
25725
25726 Even if @value{GDBN} can accept a command while target is running,
25727 many commands that access the target do not work when the target is
25728 running. Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful
25729 when combined with non-stop mode (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}). Then,
25730 it is possible to examine the state of one thread, while other threads
25731 are running.
25732
25733 When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
25734 target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
25735 some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
25736 stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
25737 modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
25738 that even commands that operate on global state, such as @code{print},
25739 @code{set}, and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the
25740 context of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a
25741 stopped thread and perform the operation on that thread (using the
25742 @samp{--thread} option).
25743
25744 Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
25745 highly target dependent. However, the two commands
25746 @code{-exec-interrupt}, to stop a thread, and @code{-thread-info},
25747 to find the state of a thread, will always work.
25748
25749 @node Thread groups
25750 @subsection Thread groups
25751 @value{GDBN} may be used to debug several processes at the same time.
25752 On some platfroms, @value{GDBN} may support debugging of several
25753 hardware systems, each one having several cores with several different
25754 processes running on each core. This section describes the MI
25755 mechanism to support such debugging scenarios.
25756
25757 The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
25758 target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
25759 accept the @samp{--thread} option do not need to know what process that
25760 thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce
25761 neither additional @samp{--process} option, nor an notion of the
25762 current process in the MI interface. The only strictly new feature
25763 that is required is the ability to find how the threads are grouped
25764 into processes.
25765
25766 To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
25767 hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
25768 @dfn{thread group}. Thread group is a collection of threads and other
25769 thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
25770 and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
25771 command, @code{-list-thread-groups}, returns the list of top-level
25772 thread groups, which correspond to processes that @value{GDBN} is
25773 debugging at the moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group
25774 to the @code{-list-thread-groups} command, it is possible to obtain
25775 the members of specific thread group.
25776
25777 To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
25778 wishes to debug, a concept of @dfn{available thread group} is
25779 introduced. Available thread group is an thread group that
25780 @value{GDBN} is not debugging, but that can be attached to, using the
25781 @code{-target-attach} command. The list of available top-level thread
25782 groups can be obtained using @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}.
25783 In general, the content of a thread group may be only retrieved only
25784 after attaching to that thread group.
25785
25786 Thread groups are related to inferiors (@pxref{Inferiors and
25787 Programs}). Each inferior corresponds to a thread group of a special
25788 type @samp{process}, and some additional operations are permitted on
25789 such thread groups.
25790
25791 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
25792 @node GDB/MI Command Syntax
25793 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Syntax
25794
25795 @menu
25796 * GDB/MI Input Syntax::
25797 * GDB/MI Output Syntax::
25798 @end menu
25799
25800 @node GDB/MI Input Syntax
25801 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Input Syntax
25802
25803 @cindex input syntax for @sc{gdb/mi}
25804 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, input syntax
25805 @table @code
25806 @item @var{command} @expansion{}
25807 @code{@var{cli-command} | @var{mi-command}}
25808
25809 @item @var{cli-command} @expansion{}
25810 @code{[ @var{token} ] @var{cli-command} @var{nl}}, where
25811 @var{cli-command} is any existing @value{GDBN} CLI command.
25812
25813 @item @var{mi-command} @expansion{}
25814 @code{[ @var{token} ] "-" @var{operation} ( " " @var{option} )*
25815 @code{[} " --" @code{]} ( " " @var{parameter} )* @var{nl}}
25816
25817 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
25818 "any sequence of digits"
25819
25820 @item @var{option} @expansion{}
25821 @code{"-" @var{parameter} [ " " @var{parameter} ]}
25822
25823 @item @var{parameter} @expansion{}
25824 @code{@var{non-blank-sequence} | @var{c-string}}
25825
25826 @item @var{operation} @expansion{}
25827 @emph{any of the operations described in this chapter}
25828
25829 @item @var{non-blank-sequence} @expansion{}
25830 @emph{anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
25831 "-", @var{nl}, """ and of course " "}
25832
25833 @item @var{c-string} @expansion{}
25834 @code{""" @var{seven-bit-iso-c-string-content} """}
25835
25836 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
25837 @code{CR | CR-LF}
25838 @end table
25839
25840 @noindent
25841 Notes:
25842
25843 @itemize @bullet
25844 @item
25845 The CLI commands are still handled by the @sc{mi} interpreter; their
25846 output is described below.
25847
25848 @item
25849 The @code{@var{token}}, when present, is passed back when the command
25850 finishes.
25851
25852 @item
25853 Some @sc{mi} commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
25854 list. Each option is identified by a leading @samp{-} (dash) and may be
25855 followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first in the
25856 parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters using
25857 @samp{--} (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
25858 @end itemize
25859
25860 Pragmatics:
25861
25862 @itemize @bullet
25863 @item
25864 We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
25865
25866 @item
25867 We want it to be easy to spot a @sc{mi} operation.
25868 @end itemize
25869
25870 @node GDB/MI Output Syntax
25871 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax
25872
25873 @cindex output syntax of @sc{gdb/mi}
25874 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, output syntax
25875 The output from @sc{gdb/mi} consists of zero or more out-of-band records
25876 followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record
25877 is for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
25878 terminated by @samp{(gdb)}.
25879
25880 If an input command was prefixed with a @code{@var{token}} then the
25881 corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
25882 @var{token}.
25883
25884 @table @code
25885 @item @var{output} @expansion{}
25886 @code{( @var{out-of-band-record} )* [ @var{result-record} ] "(gdb)" @var{nl}}
25887
25888 @item @var{result-record} @expansion{}
25889 @code{ [ @var{token} ] "^" @var{result-class} ( "," @var{result} )* @var{nl}}
25890
25891 @item @var{out-of-band-record} @expansion{}
25892 @code{@var{async-record} | @var{stream-record}}
25893
25894 @item @var{async-record} @expansion{}
25895 @code{@var{exec-async-output} | @var{status-async-output} | @var{notify-async-output}}
25896
25897 @item @var{exec-async-output} @expansion{}
25898 @code{[ @var{token} ] "*" @var{async-output nl}}
25899
25900 @item @var{status-async-output} @expansion{}
25901 @code{[ @var{token} ] "+" @var{async-output nl}}
25902
25903 @item @var{notify-async-output} @expansion{}
25904 @code{[ @var{token} ] "=" @var{async-output nl}}
25905
25906 @item @var{async-output} @expansion{}
25907 @code{@var{async-class} ( "," @var{result} )*}
25908
25909 @item @var{result-class} @expansion{}
25910 @code{"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"}
25911
25912 @item @var{async-class} @expansion{}
25913 @code{"stopped" | @var{others}} (where @var{others} will be added
25914 depending on the needs---this is still in development).
25915
25916 @item @var{result} @expansion{}
25917 @code{ @var{variable} "=" @var{value}}
25918
25919 @item @var{variable} @expansion{}
25920 @code{ @var{string} }
25921
25922 @item @var{value} @expansion{}
25923 @code{ @var{const} | @var{tuple} | @var{list} }
25924
25925 @item @var{const} @expansion{}
25926 @code{@var{c-string}}
25927
25928 @item @var{tuple} @expansion{}
25929 @code{ "@{@}" | "@{" @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "@}" }
25930
25931 @item @var{list} @expansion{}
25932 @code{ "[]" | "[" @var{value} ( "," @var{value} )* "]" | "["
25933 @var{result} ( "," @var{result} )* "]" }
25934
25935 @item @var{stream-record} @expansion{}
25936 @code{@var{console-stream-output} | @var{target-stream-output} | @var{log-stream-output}}
25937
25938 @item @var{console-stream-output} @expansion{}
25939 @code{"~" @var{c-string nl}}
25940
25941 @item @var{target-stream-output} @expansion{}
25942 @code{"@@" @var{c-string nl}}
25943
25944 @item @var{log-stream-output} @expansion{}
25945 @code{"&" @var{c-string nl}}
25946
25947 @item @var{nl} @expansion{}
25948 @code{CR | CR-LF}
25949
25950 @item @var{token} @expansion{}
25951 @emph{any sequence of digits}.
25952 @end table
25953
25954 @noindent
25955 Notes:
25956
25957 @itemize @bullet
25958 @item
25959 All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
25960
25961 @item
25962 The @code{@var{token}} is from the corresponding request. Note that
25963 for all async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and
25964 may be output by future versions of @value{GDBN} for select async
25965 output messages, it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat
25966 all async output as reporting general changes in the state of the
25967 target and there should be no need to associate async output to any
25968 prior command.
25969
25970 @item
25971 @cindex status output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25972 @var{status-async-output} contains on-going status information about the
25973 progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status output is
25974 prefixed by @samp{+}.
25975
25976 @item
25977 @cindex async output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25978 @var{exec-async-output} contains asynchronous state change on the target
25979 (stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
25980 @samp{*}.
25981
25982 @item
25983 @cindex notify output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25984 @var{notify-async-output} contains supplementary information that the
25985 client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All notify
25986 output is prefixed by @samp{=}.
25987
25988 @item
25989 @cindex console output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25990 @var{console-stream-output} is output that should be displayed as is in the
25991 console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All the console
25992 output is prefixed by @samp{~}.
25993
25994 @item
25995 @cindex target output in @sc{gdb/mi}
25996 @var{target-stream-output} is the output produced by the target program.
25997 All the target output is prefixed by @samp{@@}.
25998
25999 @item
26000 @cindex log output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26001 @var{log-stream-output} is output text coming from @value{GDBN}'s internals, for
26002 instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error log. All
26003 the log output is prefixed by @samp{&}.
26004
26005 @item
26006 @cindex list output in @sc{gdb/mi}
26007 New @sc{gdb/mi} commands should only output @var{lists} containing
26008 @var{values}.
26009
26010
26011 @end itemize
26012
26013 @xref{GDB/MI Stream Records, , @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records}, for more
26014 details about the various output records.
26015
26016 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26017 @node GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
26018 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Compatibility with CLI
26019
26020 @cindex compatibility, @sc{gdb/mi} and CLI
26021 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, compatibility with CLI
26022
26023 For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
26024 but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands
26025 that query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
26026 command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as
26027 @code{if}, @code{when} and @code{define}, prompt for further input with
26028 @samp{>}, which is not valid MI output.
26029
26030 This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
26031 recommended that front ends use the @code{-interpreter-exec} command
26032 (@pxref{-interpreter-exec}).
26033
26034 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26035 @node GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
26036 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Development and Front Ends
26037 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi} development
26038
26039 The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
26040 program being debugged to the user is called a @dfn{front end}.
26041
26042 Although @sc{gdb/mi} is still incomplete, it is currently being used
26043 by a variety of front ends to @value{GDBN}. This makes it difficult
26044 to introduce new functionality without breaking existing usage. This
26045 section tries to minimize the problems by describing how the protocol
26046 might change.
26047
26048 Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
26049 for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
26050 list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
26051 parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
26052
26053 @itemize @bullet
26054 @item
26055 New MI commands may be added.
26056
26057 @item
26058 New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
26059
26060 @item
26061 The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
26062 @code{in_scope} (@pxref{-var-update}) may be extended.
26063
26064 @c The format of field's content e.g type prefix, may change so parse it
26065 @c at your own risk. Yes, in general?
26066
26067 @c The order of fields may change? Shouldn't really matter but it might
26068 @c resolve inconsistencies.
26069 @end itemize
26070
26071 If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
26072 will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
26073 output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
26074 @value{GDBN} will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
26075 responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
26076
26077 @c Starting with mi3, add a new command -mi-version that prints the MI
26078 @c version?
26079
26080 The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your front
26081 end is to make your project known to @value{GDBN} developers and
26082 follow development on @email{gdb@@sourceware.org} and
26083 @email{gdb-patches@@sourceware.org}.
26084 @cindex mailing lists
26085
26086 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26087 @node GDB/MI Output Records
26088 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Output Records
26089
26090 @menu
26091 * GDB/MI Result Records::
26092 * GDB/MI Stream Records::
26093 * GDB/MI Async Records::
26094 * GDB/MI Breakpoint Information::
26095 * GDB/MI Frame Information::
26096 * GDB/MI Thread Information::
26097 * GDB/MI Ada Exception Information::
26098 @end menu
26099
26100 @node GDB/MI Result Records
26101 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Result Records
26102
26103 @cindex result records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26104 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, result records
26105 In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
26106 @sc{gdb/mi} command includes one of the following result indications:
26107
26108 @table @code
26109 @findex ^done
26110 @item "^done" [ "," @var{results} ]
26111 The synchronous operation was successful, @code{@var{results}} are the return
26112 values.
26113
26114 @item "^running"
26115 @findex ^running
26116 This result record is equivalent to @samp{^done}. Historically, it
26117 was output instead of @samp{^done} if the command has resumed the
26118 target. This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but
26119 all frontends should treat @samp{^done} and @samp{^running}
26120 identically and rely on the @samp{*running} output record to determine
26121 which threads are resumed.
26122
26123 @item "^connected"
26124 @findex ^connected
26125 @value{GDBN} has connected to a remote target.
26126
26127 @item "^error" "," "msg=" @var{c-string} [ "," "code=" @var{c-string} ]
26128 @findex ^error
26129 The operation failed. The @code{msg=@var{c-string}} variable contains
26130 the corresponding error message.
26131
26132 If present, the @code{code=@var{c-string}} variable provides an error
26133 code on which consumers can rely on to detect the corresponding
26134 error condition. At present, only one error code is defined:
26135
26136 @table @samp
26137 @item "undefined-command"
26138 Indicates that the command causing the error does not exist.
26139 @end table
26140
26141 @item "^exit"
26142 @findex ^exit
26143 @value{GDBN} has terminated.
26144
26145 @end table
26146
26147 @node GDB/MI Stream Records
26148 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Stream Records
26149
26150 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, stream records
26151 @cindex stream records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26152 @value{GDBN} internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
26153 target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
26154 funneled through the @sc{gdb/mi} interface using @dfn{stream records}.
26155
26156 Each stream record begins with a unique @dfn{prefix character} which
26157 identifies its stream (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, , @sc{gdb/mi} Output
26158 Syntax}). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
26159 @code{@var{string-output}}. This is either raw text (with an implicit new
26160 line) or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
26161
26162 @table @code
26163 @item "~" @var{string-output}
26164 The console output stream contains text that should be displayed in the
26165 CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to CLI commands.
26166
26167 @item "@@" @var{string-output}
26168 The target output stream contains any textual output from the running
26169 target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is truly
26170 asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote targets.
26171
26172 @item "&" @var{string-output}
26173 The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by @value{GDBN}'s
26174 internals.
26175 @end table
26176
26177 @node GDB/MI Async Records
26178 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Async Records
26179
26180 @cindex async records in @sc{gdb/mi}
26181 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, async records
26182 @dfn{Async} records are used to notify the @sc{gdb/mi} client of
26183 additional changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a
26184 consequence of @sc{gdb/mi} commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of
26185 target activity (e.g., target stopped).
26186
26187 The following is the list of possible async records:
26188
26189 @table @code
26190
26191 @item *running,thread-id="@var{thread}"
26192 The target is now running. The @var{thread} field can be the global
26193 thread ID of the the thread that is now running, and it can be
26194 @samp{all} if all threads are running. The frontend should assume
26195 that no interaction with a running thread is possible after this
26196 notification is produced. The frontend should not assume that this
26197 notification is output only once for any command. @value{GDBN} may
26198 emit this notification several times, either for different threads,
26199 because it cannot resume all threads together, or even for a single
26200 thread, if the thread must be stepped though some code before letting
26201 it run freely.
26202
26203 @item *stopped,reason="@var{reason}",thread-id="@var{id}",stopped-threads="@var{stopped}",core="@var{core}"
26204 The target has stopped. The @var{reason} field can have one of the
26205 following values:
26206
26207 @table @code
26208 @item breakpoint-hit
26209 A breakpoint was reached.
26210 @item watchpoint-trigger
26211 A watchpoint was triggered.
26212 @item read-watchpoint-trigger
26213 A read watchpoint was triggered.
26214 @item access-watchpoint-trigger
26215 An access watchpoint was triggered.
26216 @item function-finished
26217 An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26218 @item location-reached
26219 An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
26220 @item watchpoint-scope
26221 A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
26222 @item end-stepping-range
26223 An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step, -exec-step-instruction or
26224 similar CLI command was accomplished.
26225 @item exited-signalled
26226 The inferior exited because of a signal.
26227 @item exited
26228 The inferior exited.
26229 @item exited-normally
26230 The inferior exited normally.
26231 @item signal-received
26232 A signal was received by the inferior.
26233 @item solib-event
26234 The inferior has stopped due to a library being loaded or unloaded.
26235 This can happen when @code{stop-on-solib-events} (@pxref{Files}) is
26236 set or when a @code{catch load} or @code{catch unload} catchpoint is
26237 in use (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}).
26238 @item fork
26239 The inferior has forked. This is reported when @code{catch fork}
26240 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26241 @item vfork
26242 The inferior has vforked. This is reported in when @code{catch vfork}
26243 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26244 @item syscall-entry
26245 The inferior entered a system call. This is reported when @code{catch
26246 syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26247 @item syscall-return
26248 The inferior returned from a system call. This is reported when
26249 @code{catch syscall} (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26250 @item exec
26251 The inferior called @code{exec}. This is reported when @code{catch exec}
26252 (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}) has been used.
26253 @end table
26254
26255 The @var{id} field identifies the global thread ID of the thread
26256 that directly caused the stop -- for example by hitting a breakpoint.
26257 Depending on whether all-stop
26258 mode is in effect (@pxref{All-Stop Mode}), @value{GDBN} may either
26259 stop all threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop.
26260 If all threads are stopped, the @var{stopped} field will have the
26261 value of @code{"all"}. Otherwise, the value of the @var{stopped}
26262 field will be a list of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will
26263 always include a single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see
26264 several threads in the list. The @var{core} field reports the
26265 processor core on which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent
26266 if such information is not available.
26267
26268 @item =thread-group-added,id="@var{id}"
26269 @itemx =thread-group-removed,id="@var{id}"
26270 A thread group was either added or removed. The @var{id} field
26271 contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. When a thread
26272 group is added, it generally might not be associated with a running
26273 process. When a thread group is removed, its id becomes invalid and
26274 cannot be used in any way.
26275
26276 @item =thread-group-started,id="@var{id}",pid="@var{pid}"
26277 A thread group became associated with a running program,
26278 either because the program was just started or the thread group
26279 was attached to a program. The @var{id} field contains the
26280 @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread group. The @var{pid} field
26281 contains process identifier, specific to the operating system.
26282
26283 @item =thread-group-exited,id="@var{id}"[,exit-code="@var{code}"]
26284 A thread group is no longer associated with a running program,
26285 either because the program has exited, or because it was detached
26286 from. The @var{id} field contains the @value{GDBN} identifier of the
26287 thread group. The @var{code} field is the exit code of the inferior; it exists
26288 only when the inferior exited with some code.
26289
26290 @item =thread-created,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26291 @itemx =thread-exited,id="@var{id}",group-id="@var{gid}"
26292 A thread either was created, or has exited. The @var{id} field
26293 contains the global @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread. The @var{gid}
26294 field identifies the thread group this thread belongs to.
26295
26296 @item =thread-selected,id="@var{id}"
26297 Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
26298 command. This notification is not emitted as result of @code{-thread-select}
26299 command but is emitted whenever an MI command that is not documented
26300 to change the selected thread actually changes it. In particular,
26301 invoking, directly or indirectly (via user-defined command), the CLI
26302 @code{thread} command, will generate this notification.
26303
26304 We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
26305 highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to apply to
26306 that thread.
26307
26308 @item =library-loaded,...
26309 Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
26310 notification has 4 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name},
26311 @var{host-name}, and @var{symbols-loaded}. The @var{id} field is an
26312 opaque identifier of the library. For remote debugging case,
26313 @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} fields give the name of the
26314 library file on the target, and on the host respectively. For native
26315 debugging, both those fields have the same value. The
26316 @var{symbols-loaded} field is emitted only for backward compatibility
26317 and should not be relied on to convey any useful information. The
26318 @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the thread
26319 group in whose context the library was loaded. If the field is
26320 absent, it means the library was loaded in the context of all present
26321 thread groups.
26322
26323 @item =library-unloaded,...
26324 Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This notification
26325 has 3 fields---@var{id}, @var{target-name} and @var{host-name} with
26326 the same meaning as for the @code{=library-loaded} notification.
26327 The @var{thread-group} field, if present, specifies the id of the
26328 thread group in whose context the library was unloaded. If the field is
26329 absent, it means the library was unloaded in the context of all present
26330 thread groups.
26331
26332 @item =traceframe-changed,num=@var{tfnum},tracepoint=@var{tpnum}
26333 @itemx =traceframe-changed,end
26334 Reports that the trace frame was changed and its new number is
26335 @var{tfnum}. The number of the tracepoint associated with this trace
26336 frame is @var{tpnum}.
26337
26338 @item =tsv-created,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}
26339 Reports that the new trace state variable @var{name} is created with
26340 initial value @var{initial}.
26341
26342 @item =tsv-deleted,name=@var{name}
26343 @itemx =tsv-deleted
26344 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is deleted or all
26345 trace state variables are deleted.
26346
26347 @item =tsv-modified,name=@var{name},initial=@var{initial}[,current=@var{current}]
26348 Reports that the trace state variable @var{name} is modified with
26349 the initial value @var{initial}. The current value @var{current} of
26350 trace state variable is optional and is reported if the current
26351 value of trace state variable is known.
26352
26353 @item =breakpoint-created,bkpt=@{...@}
26354 @itemx =breakpoint-modified,bkpt=@{...@}
26355 @itemx =breakpoint-deleted,id=@var{number}
26356 Reports that a breakpoint was created, modified, or deleted,
26357 respectively. Only user-visible breakpoints are reported to the MI
26358 user.
26359
26360 The @var{bkpt} argument is of the same form as returned by the various
26361 breakpoint commands; @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}. The
26362 @var{number} is the ordinal number of the breakpoint.
26363
26364 Note that if a breakpoint is emitted in the result record of a
26365 command, then it will not also be emitted in an async record.
26366
26367 @item =record-started,thread-group="@var{id}"
26368 @itemx =record-stopped,thread-group="@var{id}"
26369 Execution log recording was either started or stopped on an
26370 inferior. The @var{id} is the @value{GDBN} identifier of the thread
26371 group corresponding to the affected inferior.
26372
26373 @item =cmd-param-changed,param=@var{param},value=@var{value}
26374 Reports that a parameter of the command @code{set @var{param}} is
26375 changed to @var{value}. In the multi-word @code{set} command,
26376 the @var{param} is the whole parameter list to @code{set} command.
26377 For example, In command @code{set check type on}, @var{param}
26378 is @code{check type} and @var{value} is @code{on}.
26379
26380 @item =memory-changed,thread-group=@var{id},addr=@var{addr},len=@var{len}[,type="code"]
26381 Reports that bytes from @var{addr} to @var{data} + @var{len} were
26382 written in an inferior. The @var{id} is the identifier of the
26383 thread group corresponding to the affected inferior. The optional
26384 @code{type="code"} part is reported if the memory written to holds
26385 executable code.
26386 @end table
26387
26388 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Information
26389 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Information
26390
26391 When @value{GDBN} reports information about a breakpoint, a
26392 tracepoint, a watchpoint, or a catchpoint, it uses a tuple with the
26393 following fields:
26394
26395 @table @code
26396 @item number
26397 The breakpoint number. For a breakpoint that represents one location
26398 of a multi-location breakpoint, this will be a dotted pair, like
26399 @samp{1.2}.
26400
26401 @item type
26402 The type of the breakpoint. For ordinary breakpoints this will be
26403 @samp{breakpoint}, but many values are possible.
26404
26405 @item catch-type
26406 If the type of the breakpoint is @samp{catchpoint}, then this
26407 indicates the exact type of catchpoint.
26408
26409 @item disp
26410 This is the breakpoint disposition---either @samp{del}, meaning that
26411 the breakpoint will be deleted at the next stop, or @samp{keep},
26412 meaning that the breakpoint will not be deleted.
26413
26414 @item enabled
26415 This indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled, in which case the
26416 value is @samp{y}, or disabled, in which case the value is @samp{n}.
26417 Note that this is not the same as the field @code{enable}.
26418
26419 @item addr
26420 The address of the breakpoint. This may be a hexidecimal number,
26421 giving the address; or the string @samp{<PENDING>}, for a pending
26422 breakpoint; or the string @samp{<MULTIPLE>}, for a breakpoint with
26423 multiple locations. This field will not be present if no address can
26424 be determined. For example, a watchpoint does not have an address.
26425
26426 @item func
26427 If known, the function in which the breakpoint appears.
26428 If not known, this field is not present.
26429
26430 @item filename
26431 The name of the source file which contains this function, if known.
26432 If not known, this field is not present.
26433
26434 @item fullname
26435 The full file name of the source file which contains this function, if
26436 known. If not known, this field is not present.
26437
26438 @item line
26439 The line number at which this breakpoint appears, if known.
26440 If not known, this field is not present.
26441
26442 @item at
26443 If the source file is not known, this field may be provided. If
26444 provided, this holds the address of the breakpoint, possibly followed
26445 by a symbol name.
26446
26447 @item pending
26448 If this breakpoint is pending, this field is present and holds the
26449 text used to set the breakpoint, as entered by the user.
26450
26451 @item evaluated-by
26452 Where this breakpoint's condition is evaluated, either @samp{host} or
26453 @samp{target}.
26454
26455 @item thread
26456 If this is a thread-specific breakpoint, then this identifies the
26457 thread in which the breakpoint can trigger.
26458
26459 @item task
26460 If this breakpoint is restricted to a particular Ada task, then this
26461 field will hold the task identifier.
26462
26463 @item cond
26464 If the breakpoint is conditional, this is the condition expression.
26465
26466 @item ignore
26467 The ignore count of the breakpoint.
26468
26469 @item enable
26470 The enable count of the breakpoint.
26471
26472 @item traceframe-usage
26473 FIXME.
26474
26475 @item static-tracepoint-marker-string-id
26476 For a static tracepoint, the name of the static tracepoint marker.
26477
26478 @item mask
26479 For a masked watchpoint, this is the mask.
26480
26481 @item pass
26482 A tracepoint's pass count.
26483
26484 @item original-location
26485 The location of the breakpoint as originally specified by the user.
26486 This field is optional.
26487
26488 @item times
26489 The number of times the breakpoint has been hit.
26490
26491 @item installed
26492 This field is only given for tracepoints. This is either @samp{y},
26493 meaning that the tracepoint is installed, or @samp{n}, meaning that it
26494 is not.
26495
26496 @item what
26497 Some extra data, the exact contents of which are type-dependent.
26498
26499 @end table
26500
26501 For example, here is what the output of @code{-break-insert}
26502 (@pxref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands}) might be:
26503
26504 @smallexample
26505 -> -break-insert main
26506 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26507 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26508 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
26509 times="0"@}
26510 <- (gdb)
26511 @end smallexample
26512
26513 @node GDB/MI Frame Information
26514 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Frame Information
26515
26516 Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
26517 frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following
26518 fields:
26519
26520 @table @code
26521 @item level
26522 The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
26523 zero. This field is always present.
26524
26525 @item func
26526 The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field may
26527 be absent if @value{GDBN} is unable to determine the function name.
26528
26529 @item addr
26530 The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
26531
26532 @item file
26533 The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
26534 address. This field may be absent.
26535
26536 @item line
26537 The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This field
26538 may be absent.
26539
26540 @item from
26541 The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library) the
26542 corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be absent.
26543
26544 @end table
26545
26546 @node GDB/MI Thread Information
26547 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Information
26548
26549 Whenever @value{GDBN} has to report an information about a thread, it
26550 uses a tuple with the following fields:
26551
26552 @table @code
26553 @item id
26554 The global numeric id assigned to the thread by @value{GDBN}. This field is
26555 always present.
26556
26557 @item target-id
26558 Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is always present.
26559
26560 @item details
26561 Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
26562 It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
26563 frontend. This field is optional.
26564
26565 @item state
26566 Either @samp{stopped} or @samp{running}, depending on whether the
26567 thread is presently running. This field is always present.
26568
26569 @item core
26570 The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core the
26571 thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
26572 @end table
26573
26574 @node GDB/MI Ada Exception Information
26575 @subsection @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Exception Information
26576
26577 Whenever a @code{*stopped} record is emitted because the program
26578 stopped after hitting an exception catchpoint (@pxref{Set Catchpoints}),
26579 @value{GDBN} provides the name of the exception that was raised via
26580 the @code{exception-name} field.
26581
26582 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26583 @node GDB/MI Simple Examples
26584 @section Simple Examples of @sc{gdb/mi} Interaction
26585 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, simple examples
26586
26587 This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
26588 the @sc{gdb/mi} interface. In these examples, @samp{->} means that the
26589 following line is passed to @sc{gdb/mi} as input, while @samp{<-} means
26590 the output received from @sc{gdb/mi}.
26591
26592 Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
26593 readability, they don't appear in the real output.
26594
26595 @subheading Setting a Breakpoint
26596
26597 Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains detailed
26598 information of the breakpoint.
26599
26600 @smallexample
26601 -> -break-insert main
26602 <- ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26603 enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
26604 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",thread-groups=["i1"],
26605 times="0"@}
26606 <- (gdb)
26607 @end smallexample
26608
26609 @subheading Program Execution
26610
26611 Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
26612 reason that execution stopped.
26613
26614 @smallexample
26615 -> -exec-run
26616 <- ^running
26617 <- (gdb)
26618 <- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
26619 frame=@{addr="0x08048564",func="main",
26620 args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},@{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"@}],
26621 file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"@}
26622 <- (gdb)
26623 -> -exec-continue
26624 <- ^running
26625 <- (gdb)
26626 <- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
26627 <- (gdb)
26628 @end smallexample
26629
26630 @subheading Quitting @value{GDBN}
26631
26632 Quitting @value{GDBN} just prints the result class @samp{^exit}.
26633
26634 @smallexample
26635 -> (gdb)
26636 <- -gdb-exit
26637 <- ^exit
26638 @end smallexample
26639
26640 Please note that @samp{^exit} is printed immediately, but it might
26641 take some time for @value{GDBN} to actually exit. During that time, @value{GDBN}
26642 performs necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged
26643 or disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till
26644 @value{GDBN} exits and should only forcibly kill @value{GDBN} if it
26645 fails to exit in reasonable time.
26646
26647 @subheading A Bad Command
26648
26649 Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
26650
26651 @smallexample
26652 -> -rubbish
26653 <- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
26654 <- (gdb)
26655 @end smallexample
26656
26657
26658 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26659 @node GDB/MI Command Description Format
26660 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Command Description Format
26661
26662 The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
26663 commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
26664
26665 @subheading Motivation
26666
26667 The motivation for this collection of commands.
26668
26669 @subheading Introduction
26670
26671 A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
26672
26673 @subheading Commands
26674
26675 For each command in the block, the following is described:
26676
26677 @subsubheading Synopsis
26678
26679 @smallexample
26680 -command @var{args}@dots{}
26681 @end smallexample
26682
26683 @subsubheading Result
26684
26685 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26686
26687 The corresponding @value{GDBN} CLI command(s), if any.
26688
26689 @subsubheading Example
26690
26691 Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands have
26692 not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A.@: (not available).
26693
26694
26695 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
26696 @node GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
26697 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Breakpoint Commands
26698
26699 @cindex breakpoint commands for @sc{gdb/mi}
26700 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, breakpoint commands
26701 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
26702 breakpoints.
26703
26704 @subheading The @code{-break-after} Command
26705 @findex -break-after
26706
26707 @subsubheading Synopsis
26708
26709 @smallexample
26710 -break-after @var{number} @var{count}
26711 @end smallexample
26712
26713 The breakpoint number @var{number} is not in effect until it has been
26714 hit @var{count} times. To see how this is reflected in the output of
26715 the @samp{-break-list} command, see the description of the
26716 @samp{-break-list} command below.
26717
26718 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26719
26720 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ignore}.
26721
26722 @subsubheading Example
26723
26724 @smallexample
26725 (gdb)
26726 -break-insert main
26727 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26728 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26729 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
26730 times="0"@}
26731 (gdb)
26732 -break-after 1 3
26733 ~
26734 ^done
26735 (gdb)
26736 -break-list
26737 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26738 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26739 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26740 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26741 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26742 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26743 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26744 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26745 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26746 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26747 (gdb)
26748 @end smallexample
26749
26750 @ignore
26751 @subheading The @code{-break-catch} Command
26752 @findex -break-catch
26753 @end ignore
26754
26755 @subheading The @code{-break-commands} Command
26756 @findex -break-commands
26757
26758 @subsubheading Synopsis
26759
26760 @smallexample
26761 -break-commands @var{number} [ @var{command1} ... @var{commandN} ]
26762 @end smallexample
26763
26764 Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
26765 @var{number} is hit. The parameters @var{command1} to @var{commandN}
26766 are the commands. If no command is specified, any previously-set
26767 commands are cleared. @xref{Break Commands}. Typical use of this
26768 functionality is tracing a program, that is, printing of values of
26769 some variables whenever breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
26770
26771 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26772
26773 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{commands}.
26774
26775 @subsubheading Example
26776
26777 @smallexample
26778 (gdb)
26779 -break-insert main
26780 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
26781 enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
26782 fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
26783 times="0"@}
26784 (gdb)
26785 -break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
26786 ^done
26787 (gdb)
26788 @end smallexample
26789
26790 @subheading The @code{-break-condition} Command
26791 @findex -break-condition
26792
26793 @subsubheading Synopsis
26794
26795 @smallexample
26796 -break-condition @var{number} @var{expr}
26797 @end smallexample
26798
26799 Breakpoint @var{number} will stop the program only if the condition in
26800 @var{expr} is true. The condition becomes part of the
26801 @samp{-break-list} output (see the description of the @samp{-break-list}
26802 command below).
26803
26804 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26805
26806 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{condition}.
26807
26808 @subsubheading Example
26809
26810 @smallexample
26811 (gdb)
26812 -break-condition 1 1
26813 ^done
26814 (gdb)
26815 -break-list
26816 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26817 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26818 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26819 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26820 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26821 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26822 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26823 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26824 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26825 line="5",cond="1",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",ignore="3"@}]@}
26826 (gdb)
26827 @end smallexample
26828
26829 @subheading The @code{-break-delete} Command
26830 @findex -break-delete
26831
26832 @subsubheading Synopsis
26833
26834 @smallexample
26835 -break-delete ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26836 @end smallexample
26837
26838 Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the argument
26839 list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
26840
26841 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26842
26843 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{delete}.
26844
26845 @subsubheading Example
26846
26847 @smallexample
26848 (gdb)
26849 -break-delete 1
26850 ^done
26851 (gdb)
26852 -break-list
26853 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
26854 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26855 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26856 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26857 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26858 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26859 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26860 body=[]@}
26861 (gdb)
26862 @end smallexample
26863
26864 @subheading The @code{-break-disable} Command
26865 @findex -break-disable
26866
26867 @subsubheading Synopsis
26868
26869 @smallexample
26870 -break-disable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26871 @end smallexample
26872
26873 Disable the named @var{breakpoint}(s). The field @samp{enabled} in the
26874 break list is now set to @samp{n} for the named @var{breakpoint}(s).
26875
26876 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26877
26878 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disable}.
26879
26880 @subsubheading Example
26881
26882 @smallexample
26883 (gdb)
26884 -break-disable 2
26885 ^done
26886 (gdb)
26887 -break-list
26888 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26889 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26890 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26891 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26892 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26893 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26894 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26895 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
26896 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26897 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
26898 (gdb)
26899 @end smallexample
26900
26901 @subheading The @code{-break-enable} Command
26902 @findex -break-enable
26903
26904 @subsubheading Synopsis
26905
26906 @smallexample
26907 -break-enable ( @var{breakpoint} )+
26908 @end smallexample
26909
26910 Enable (previously disabled) @var{breakpoint}(s).
26911
26912 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26913
26914 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{enable}.
26915
26916 @subsubheading Example
26917
26918 @smallexample
26919 (gdb)
26920 -break-enable 2
26921 ^done
26922 (gdb)
26923 -break-list
26924 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
26925 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
26926 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
26927 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
26928 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
26929 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
26930 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
26931 body=[bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
26932 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
26933 line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
26934 (gdb)
26935 @end smallexample
26936
26937 @subheading The @code{-break-info} Command
26938 @findex -break-info
26939
26940 @subsubheading Synopsis
26941
26942 @smallexample
26943 -break-info @var{breakpoint}
26944 @end smallexample
26945
26946 @c REDUNDANT???
26947 Get information about a single breakpoint.
26948
26949 The result is a table of breakpoints. @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint
26950 Information}, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the
26951 table.
26952
26953 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
26954
26955 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break @var{breakpoint}}.
26956
26957 @subsubheading Example
26958 N.A.
26959
26960 @subheading The @code{-break-insert} Command
26961 @findex -break-insert
26962 @anchor{-break-insert}
26963
26964 @subsubheading Synopsis
26965
26966 @smallexample
26967 -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
26968 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
26969 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ]
26970 @end smallexample
26971
26972 @noindent
26973 If specified, @var{location}, can be one of:
26974
26975 @table @var
26976 @item linespec location
26977 A linespec location. @xref{Linespec Locations}.
26978
26979 @item explicit location
26980 An explicit location. @sc{gdb/mi} explicit locations are
26981 analogous to the CLI's explicit locations using the option names
26982 listed below. @xref{Explicit Locations}.
26983
26984 @table @samp
26985 @item --source @var{filename}
26986 The source file name of the location. This option requires the use
26987 of either @samp{--function} or @samp{--line}.
26988
26989 @item --function @var{function}
26990 The name of a function or method.
26991
26992 @item --label @var{label}
26993 The name of a label.
26994
26995 @item --line @var{lineoffset}
26996 An absolute or relative line offset from the start of the location.
26997 @end table
26998
26999 @item address location
27000 An address location, *@var{address}. @xref{Address Locations}.
27001 @end table
27002
27003 @noindent
27004 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
27005
27006 @table @samp
27007 @item -t
27008 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
27009 @item -h
27010 Insert a hardware breakpoint.
27011 @item -f
27012 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example if it
27013 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
27014 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
27015 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
27016 cannot be parsed.
27017 @item -d
27018 Create a disabled breakpoint.
27019 @item -a
27020 Create a tracepoint. @xref{Tracepoints}. When this parameter
27021 is used together with @samp{-h}, a fast tracepoint is created.
27022 @item -c @var{condition}
27023 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
27024 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
27025 Initialize the @var{ignore-count}.
27026 @item -p @var{thread-id}
27027 Restrict the breakpoint to the thread with the specified global
27028 @var{thread-id}.
27029 @end table
27030
27031 @subsubheading Result
27032
27033 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
27034 resulting breakpoint.
27035
27036 Note: this format is open to change.
27037 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
27038
27039 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27040
27041 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{break}, @samp{tbreak},
27042 @samp{hbreak}, and @samp{thbreak}. @c and @samp{rbreak}.
27043
27044 @subsubheading Example
27045
27046 @smallexample
27047 (gdb)
27048 -break-insert main
27049 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
27050 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
27051 times="0"@}
27052 (gdb)
27053 -break-insert -t foo
27054 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
27055 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
27056 times="0"@}
27057 (gdb)
27058 -break-list
27059 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27060 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27061 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27062 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27063 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27064 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27065 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27066 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27067 addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
27068 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
27069 times="0"@},
27070 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
27071 addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
27072 fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
27073 times="0"@}]@}
27074 (gdb)
27075 @c -break-insert -r foo.*
27076 @c ~int foo(int, int);
27077 @c ^done,bkpt=@{number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
27078 @c "fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
27079 @c times="0"@}
27080 @c (gdb)
27081 @end smallexample
27082
27083 @subheading The @code{-dprintf-insert} Command
27084 @findex -dprintf-insert
27085
27086 @subsubheading Synopsis
27087
27088 @smallexample
27089 -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
27090 [ -c @var{condition} ] [ -i @var{ignore-count} ]
27091 [ -p @var{thread-id} ] [ @var{location} ] [ @var{format} ]
27092 [ @var{argument} ]
27093 @end smallexample
27094
27095 @noindent
27096 If supplied, @var{location} may be specified the same way as for
27097 the @code{-break-insert} command. @xref{-break-insert}.
27098
27099 The possible optional parameters of this command are:
27100
27101 @table @samp
27102 @item -t
27103 Insert a temporary breakpoint.
27104 @item -f
27105 If @var{location} cannot be parsed (for example, if it
27106 refers to unknown files or functions), create a pending
27107 breakpoint. Without this flag, @value{GDBN} will report
27108 an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if @var{location}
27109 cannot be parsed.
27110 @item -d
27111 Create a disabled breakpoint.
27112 @item -c @var{condition}
27113 Make the breakpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
27114 @item -i @var{ignore-count}
27115 Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (@pxref{Conditions, ignore count})
27116 to @var{ignore-count}.
27117 @item -p @var{thread-id}
27118 Restrict the breakpoint to the thread with the specified global
27119 @var{thread-id}.
27120 @end table
27121
27122 @subsubheading Result
27123
27124 @xref{GDB/MI Breakpoint Information}, for details on the format of the
27125 resulting breakpoint.
27126
27127 @c An out-of-band breakpoint instead of part of the result?
27128
27129 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27130
27131 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dprintf}.
27132
27133 @subsubheading Example
27134
27135 @smallexample
27136 (gdb)
27137 4-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
27138 4^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27139 addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
27140 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
27141 times="0",script=@{"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"@},
27142 original-location="foo"@}
27143 (gdb)
27144 5-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
27145 5^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27146 addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
27147 fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
27148 times="0",script=@{"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"@},
27149 original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"@}
27150 (gdb)
27151 @end smallexample
27152
27153 @subheading The @code{-break-list} Command
27154 @findex -break-list
27155
27156 @subsubheading Synopsis
27157
27158 @smallexample
27159 -break-list
27160 @end smallexample
27161
27162 Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following fields:
27163
27164 @table @samp
27165 @item Number
27166 number of the breakpoint
27167 @item Type
27168 type of the breakpoint: @samp{breakpoint} or @samp{watchpoint}
27169 @item Disposition
27170 should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: @samp{keep}
27171 or @samp{nokeep}
27172 @item Enabled
27173 is the breakpoint enabled or no: @samp{y} or @samp{n}
27174 @item Address
27175 memory location at which the breakpoint is set
27176 @item What
27177 logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name, file
27178 name, line number
27179 @item Thread-groups
27180 list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
27181 @item Times
27182 number of times the breakpoint has been hit
27183 @end table
27184
27185 If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the @code{BreakpointTable}
27186 @code{body} field is an empty list.
27187
27188 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27189
27190 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info break}.
27191
27192 @subsubheading Example
27193
27194 @smallexample
27195 (gdb)
27196 -break-list
27197 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27198 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27199 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27200 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27201 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27202 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27203 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27204 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27205 addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",thread-groups=["i1"],
27206 times="0"@},
27207 bkpt=@{number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27208 addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
27209 line="13",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
27210 (gdb)
27211 @end smallexample
27212
27213 Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
27214
27215 @smallexample
27216 (gdb)
27217 -break-list
27218 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
27219 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27220 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27221 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27222 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27223 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27224 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27225 body=[]@}
27226 (gdb)
27227 @end smallexample
27228
27229 @subheading The @code{-break-passcount} Command
27230 @findex -break-passcount
27231
27232 @subsubheading Synopsis
27233
27234 @smallexample
27235 -break-passcount @var{tracepoint-number} @var{passcount}
27236 @end smallexample
27237
27238 Set the passcount for tracepoint @var{tracepoint-number} to
27239 @var{passcount}. If the breakpoint referred to by @var{tracepoint-number}
27240 is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI
27241 command @samp{passcount}.
27242
27243 @subheading The @code{-break-watch} Command
27244 @findex -break-watch
27245
27246 @subsubheading Synopsis
27247
27248 @smallexample
27249 -break-watch [ -a | -r ]
27250 @end smallexample
27251
27252 Create a watchpoint. With the @samp{-a} option it will create an
27253 @dfn{access} watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a
27254 read from or on a write to the memory location. With the @samp{-r}
27255 option, the watchpoint created is a @dfn{read} watchpoint, i.e., it will
27256 trigger only when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without
27257 either of the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint,
27258 i.e., it will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing.
27259 @xref{Set Watchpoints, , Setting Watchpoints}.
27260
27261 Note that @samp{-break-list} will report a single list of watchpoints and
27262 breakpoints inserted.
27263
27264 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27265
27266 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{watch}, @samp{awatch}, and
27267 @samp{rwatch}.
27268
27269 @subsubheading Example
27270
27271 Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the @code{main} function:
27272
27273 @smallexample
27274 (gdb)
27275 -break-watch x
27276 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@}
27277 (gdb)
27278 -exec-continue
27279 ^running
27280 (gdb)
27281 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="x"@},
27282 value=@{old="-268439212",new="55"@},
27283 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
27284 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"@}
27285 (gdb)
27286 @end smallexample
27287
27288 Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. @value{GDBN} will stop
27289 the program execution twice: first for the variable changing value, then
27290 for the watchpoint going out of scope.
27291
27292 @smallexample
27293 (gdb)
27294 -break-watch C
27295 ^done,wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@}
27296 (gdb)
27297 -exec-continue
27298 ^running
27299 (gdb)
27300 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
27301 wpt=@{number="5",exp="C"@},value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
27302 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27303 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27304 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
27305 (gdb)
27306 -exec-continue
27307 ^running
27308 (gdb)
27309 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
27310 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
27311 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27312 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27313 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27314 (gdb)
27315 @end smallexample
27316
27317 Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the program
27318 execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it is
27319 deleted.
27320
27321 @smallexample
27322 (gdb)
27323 -break-watch C
27324 ^done,wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@}
27325 (gdb)
27326 -break-list
27327 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27328 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27329 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27330 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27331 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27332 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27333 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27334 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27335 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27336 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27337 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
27338 times="1"@},
27339 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
27340 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"@}]@}
27341 (gdb)
27342 -exec-continue
27343 ^running
27344 (gdb)
27345 *stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt=@{number="2",exp="C"@},
27346 value=@{old="-276895068",new="3"@},
27347 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
27348 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27349 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"@}
27350 (gdb)
27351 -break-list
27352 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
27353 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27354 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27355 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27356 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27357 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27358 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27359 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27360 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27361 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27362 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",thread-groups=["i1"],
27363 times="1"@},
27364 bkpt=@{number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
27365 enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],times="-5"@}]@}
27366 (gdb)
27367 -exec-continue
27368 ^running
27369 ^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
27370 frame=@{func="callee3",args=[@{name="strarg",
27371 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
27372 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27373 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
27374 (gdb)
27375 -break-list
27376 ^done,BreakpointTable=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
27377 hdr=[@{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"@},
27378 @{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"@},
27379 @{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"@},
27380 @{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"@},
27381 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"@},
27382 @{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"@}],
27383 body=[bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
27384 addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
27385 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
27386 fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
27387 thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"@}]@}
27388 (gdb)
27389 @end smallexample
27390
27391
27392 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27393 @node GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
27394 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoint Commands
27395
27396 This section documents @sc{gdb/mi} commands for manipulating
27397 catchpoints.
27398
27399 @menu
27400 * Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
27401 * Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands::
27402 @end menu
27403
27404 @node Shared Library GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
27405 @subsection Shared Library @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
27406
27407 @subheading The @code{-catch-load} Command
27408 @findex -catch-load
27409
27410 @subsubheading Synopsis
27411
27412 @smallexample
27413 -catch-load [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
27414 @end smallexample
27415
27416 Add a catchpoint for library load events. If the @samp{-t} option is used,
27417 the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
27418 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is created
27419 in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
27420 expression used to match the name of the loaded library.
27421
27422
27423 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27424
27425 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch load}.
27426
27427 @subsubheading Example
27428
27429 @smallexample
27430 -catch-load -t foo.so
27431 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="catchpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
27432 what="load of library matching foo.so",catch-type="load",times="0"@}
27433 (gdb)
27434 @end smallexample
27435
27436
27437 @subheading The @code{-catch-unload} Command
27438 @findex -catch-unload
27439
27440 @subsubheading Synopsis
27441
27442 @smallexample
27443 -catch-unload [ -t ] [ -d ] @var{regexp}
27444 @end smallexample
27445
27446 Add a catchpoint for library unload events. If the @samp{-t} option is
27447 used, the catchpoint is a temporary one (@pxref{Set Breaks, ,Setting
27448 Breakpoints}). If the @samp{-d} option is used, the catchpoint is
27449 created in a disabled state. The @samp{regexp} argument is a regular
27450 expression used to match the name of the unloaded library.
27451
27452 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27453
27454 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch unload}.
27455
27456 @subsubheading Example
27457
27458 @smallexample
27459 -catch-unload -d bar.so
27460 ^done,bkpt=@{number="2",type="catchpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
27461 what="load of library matching bar.so",catch-type="unload",times="0"@}
27462 (gdb)
27463 @end smallexample
27464
27465 @node Ada Exception GDB/MI Catchpoint Commands
27466 @subsection Ada Exception @sc{gdb/mi} Catchpoints
27467
27468 The following @sc{gdb/mi} commands can be used to create catchpoints
27469 that stop the execution when Ada exceptions are being raised.
27470
27471 @subheading The @code{-catch-assert} Command
27472 @findex -catch-assert
27473
27474 @subsubheading Synopsis
27475
27476 @smallexample
27477 -catch-assert [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -t ]
27478 @end smallexample
27479
27480 Add a catchpoint for failed Ada assertions.
27481
27482 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
27483
27484 @table @samp
27485 @item -c @var{condition}
27486 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
27487 @item -d
27488 Create a disabled catchpoint.
27489 @item -t
27490 Create a temporary catchpoint.
27491 @end table
27492
27493 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27494
27495 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{catch assert}.
27496
27497 @subsubheading Example
27498
27499 @smallexample
27500 -catch-assert
27501 ^done,bkptno="5",bkpt=@{number="5",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27502 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404888",what="failed Ada assertions",
27503 thread-groups=["i1"],times="0",
27504 original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_assert_failure"@}
27505 (gdb)
27506 @end smallexample
27507
27508 @subheading The @code{-catch-exception} Command
27509 @findex -catch-exception
27510
27511 @subsubheading Synopsis
27512
27513 @smallexample
27514 -catch-exception [ -c @var{condition}] [ -d ] [ -e @var{exception-name} ]
27515 [ -t ] [ -u ]
27516 @end smallexample
27517
27518 Add a catchpoint stopping when Ada exceptions are raised.
27519 By default, the command stops the program when any Ada exception
27520 gets raised. But it is also possible, by using some of the
27521 optional parameters described below, to create more selective
27522 catchpoints.
27523
27524 The possible optional parameters for this command are:
27525
27526 @table @samp
27527 @item -c @var{condition}
27528 Make the catchpoint conditional on @var{condition}.
27529 @item -d
27530 Create a disabled catchpoint.
27531 @item -e @var{exception-name}
27532 Only stop when @var{exception-name} is raised. This option cannot
27533 be used combined with @samp{-u}.
27534 @item -t
27535 Create a temporary catchpoint.
27536 @item -u
27537 Stop only when an unhandled exception gets raised. This option
27538 cannot be used combined with @samp{-e}.
27539 @end table
27540
27541 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27542
27543 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{catch exception}
27544 and @samp{catch exception unhandled}.
27545
27546 @subsubheading Example
27547
27548 @smallexample
27549 -catch-exception -e Program_Error
27550 ^done,bkptno="4",bkpt=@{number="4",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
27551 enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000404874",
27552 what="`Program_Error' Ada exception", thread-groups=["i1"],
27553 times="0",original-location="__gnat_debug_raise_exception"@}
27554 (gdb)
27555 @end smallexample
27556
27557 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27558 @node GDB/MI Program Context
27559 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Context
27560
27561 @subheading The @code{-exec-arguments} Command
27562 @findex -exec-arguments
27563
27564
27565 @subsubheading Synopsis
27566
27567 @smallexample
27568 -exec-arguments @var{args}
27569 @end smallexample
27570
27571 Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
27572 @samp{-exec-run}.
27573
27574 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27575
27576 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set args}.
27577
27578 @subsubheading Example
27579
27580 @smallexample
27581 (gdb)
27582 -exec-arguments -v word
27583 ^done
27584 (gdb)
27585 @end smallexample
27586
27587
27588 @ignore
27589 @subheading The @code{-exec-show-arguments} Command
27590 @findex -exec-show-arguments
27591
27592 @subsubheading Synopsis
27593
27594 @smallexample
27595 -exec-show-arguments
27596 @end smallexample
27597
27598 Print the arguments of the program.
27599
27600 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27601
27602 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show args}.
27603
27604 @subsubheading Example
27605 N.A.
27606 @end ignore
27607
27608
27609 @subheading The @code{-environment-cd} Command
27610 @findex -environment-cd
27611
27612 @subsubheading Synopsis
27613
27614 @smallexample
27615 -environment-cd @var{pathdir}
27616 @end smallexample
27617
27618 Set @value{GDBN}'s working directory.
27619
27620 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27621
27622 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{cd}.
27623
27624 @subsubheading Example
27625
27626 @smallexample
27627 (gdb)
27628 -environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27629 ^done
27630 (gdb)
27631 @end smallexample
27632
27633
27634 @subheading The @code{-environment-directory} Command
27635 @findex -environment-directory
27636
27637 @subsubheading Synopsis
27638
27639 @smallexample
27640 -environment-directory [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27641 @end smallexample
27642
27643 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for source files.
27644 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the default
27645 search path. If directories @var{pathdir} are supplied in addition to the
27646 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27647 occurs as normal.
27648 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27649 multiple directories in a single command
27650 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27651 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27652 If blanks are needed as
27653 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27654 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27655 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27656 character must not be used
27657 in any directory name.
27658 If no directories are specified, the current search path is displayed.
27659
27660 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27661
27662 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{dir}.
27663
27664 @subsubheading Example
27665
27666 @smallexample
27667 (gdb)
27668 -environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
27669 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27670 (gdb)
27671 -environment-directory ""
27672 ^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
27673 (gdb)
27674 -environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
27675 ^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
27676 (gdb)
27677 -environment-directory -r
27678 ^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
27679 (gdb)
27680 @end smallexample
27681
27682
27683 @subheading The @code{-environment-path} Command
27684 @findex -environment-path
27685
27686 @subsubheading Synopsis
27687
27688 @smallexample
27689 -environment-path [ -r ] [ @var{pathdir} ]+
27690 @end smallexample
27691
27692 Add directories @var{pathdir} to beginning of search path for object files.
27693 If the @samp{-r} option is used, the search path is reset to the original
27694 search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories @var{pathdir} are
27695 supplied in addition to the
27696 @samp{-r} option, the search path is first reset and then addition
27697 occurs as normal.
27698 Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks. Specifying
27699 multiple directories in a single command
27700 results in the directories added to the beginning of the
27701 search path in the same order they were presented in the command.
27702 If blanks are needed as
27703 part of a directory name, double-quotes should be used around
27704 the name. In the command output, the path will show up separated
27705 by the system directory-separator character. The directory-separator
27706 character must not be used
27707 in any directory name.
27708 If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
27709
27710
27711 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27712
27713 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{path}.
27714
27715 @subsubheading Example
27716
27717 @smallexample
27718 (gdb)
27719 -environment-path
27720 ^done,path="/usr/bin"
27721 (gdb)
27722 -environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
27723 ^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
27724 (gdb)
27725 -environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
27726 ^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
27727 (gdb)
27728 @end smallexample
27729
27730
27731 @subheading The @code{-environment-pwd} Command
27732 @findex -environment-pwd
27733
27734 @subsubheading Synopsis
27735
27736 @smallexample
27737 -environment-pwd
27738 @end smallexample
27739
27740 Show the current working directory.
27741
27742 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27743
27744 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{pwd}.
27745
27746 @subsubheading Example
27747
27748 @smallexample
27749 (gdb)
27750 -environment-pwd
27751 ^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
27752 (gdb)
27753 @end smallexample
27754
27755 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27756 @node GDB/MI Thread Commands
27757 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Thread Commands
27758
27759
27760 @subheading The @code{-thread-info} Command
27761 @findex -thread-info
27762
27763 @subsubheading Synopsis
27764
27765 @smallexample
27766 -thread-info [ @var{thread-id} ]
27767 @end smallexample
27768
27769 Reports information about either a specific thread, if the
27770 @var{thread-id} parameter is present, or about all threads.
27771 @var{thread-id} is the thread's global thread ID. When printing
27772 information about all threads, also reports the global ID of the
27773 current thread.
27774
27775 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27776
27777 The @samp{info thread} command prints the same information
27778 about all threads.
27779
27780 @subsubheading Result
27781
27782 The result is a list of threads. The following attributes are
27783 defined for a given thread:
27784
27785 @table @samp
27786 @item current
27787 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27788
27789 @item id
27790 The global identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the thread.
27791
27792 @item target-id
27793 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the thread.
27794
27795 @item details
27796 Extra information about the thread, in a target-specific format. This
27797 field is optional.
27798
27799 @item name
27800 The name of the thread. If the user specified a name using the
27801 @code{thread name} command, then this name is given. Otherwise, if
27802 @value{GDBN} can extract the thread name from the target, then that
27803 name is given. If @value{GDBN} cannot find the thread name, then this
27804 field is omitted.
27805
27806 @item frame
27807 The stack frame currently executing in the thread.
27808
27809 @item state
27810 The thread's state. The @samp{state} field may have the following
27811 values:
27812
27813 @table @code
27814 @item stopped
27815 The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
27816 threads.
27817
27818 @item running
27819 The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
27820 threads.
27821
27822 @end table
27823
27824 @item core
27825 If @value{GDBN} can find the CPU core on which this thread is running,
27826 then this field is the core identifier. This field is optional.
27827
27828 @end table
27829
27830 @subsubheading Example
27831
27832 @smallexample
27833 -thread-info
27834 ^done,threads=[
27835 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
27836 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",
27837 args=[]@},state="running"@},
27838 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
27839 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",
27840 args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
27841 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},
27842 state="running"@}],
27843 current-thread-id="1"
27844 (gdb)
27845 @end smallexample
27846
27847 @subheading The @code{-thread-list-ids} Command
27848 @findex -thread-list-ids
27849
27850 @subsubheading Synopsis
27851
27852 @smallexample
27853 -thread-list-ids
27854 @end smallexample
27855
27856 Produces a list of the currently known global @value{GDBN} thread ids.
27857 At the end of the list it also prints the total number of such
27858 threads.
27859
27860 This command is retained for historical reasons, the
27861 @code{-thread-info} command should be used instead.
27862
27863 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27864
27865 Part of @samp{info threads} supplies the same information.
27866
27867 @subsubheading Example
27868
27869 @smallexample
27870 (gdb)
27871 -thread-list-ids
27872 ^done,thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27873 current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
27874 (gdb)
27875 @end smallexample
27876
27877
27878 @subheading The @code{-thread-select} Command
27879 @findex -thread-select
27880
27881 @subsubheading Synopsis
27882
27883 @smallexample
27884 -thread-select @var{thread-id}
27885 @end smallexample
27886
27887 Make thread with global thread number @var{thread-id} the current
27888 thread. It prints the number of the new current thread, and the
27889 topmost frame for that thread.
27890
27891 This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
27892 @samp{--thread} option to each command.
27893
27894 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27895
27896 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{thread}.
27897
27898 @subsubheading Example
27899
27900 @smallexample
27901 (gdb)
27902 -exec-next
27903 ^running
27904 (gdb)
27905 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
27906 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
27907 (gdb)
27908 -thread-list-ids
27909 ^done,
27910 thread-ids=@{thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"@},
27911 number-of-threads="3"
27912 (gdb)
27913 -thread-select 3
27914 ^done,new-thread-id="3",
27915 frame=@{level="0",func="vprintf",
27916 args=[@{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""@},
27917 @{name="arg",value="0x2"@}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"@}
27918 (gdb)
27919 @end smallexample
27920
27921 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
27922 @node GDB/MI Ada Tasking Commands
27923 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Ada Tasking Commands
27924
27925 @subheading The @code{-ada-task-info} Command
27926 @findex -ada-task-info
27927
27928 @subsubheading Synopsis
27929
27930 @smallexample
27931 -ada-task-info [ @var{task-id} ]
27932 @end smallexample
27933
27934 Reports information about either a specific Ada task, if the
27935 @var{task-id} parameter is present, or about all Ada tasks.
27936
27937 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
27938
27939 The @samp{info tasks} command prints the same information
27940 about all Ada tasks (@pxref{Ada Tasks}).
27941
27942 @subsubheading Result
27943
27944 The result is a table of Ada tasks. The following columns are
27945 defined for each Ada task:
27946
27947 @table @samp
27948 @item current
27949 This field exists only for the current thread. It has the value @samp{*}.
27950
27951 @item id
27952 The identifier that @value{GDBN} uses to refer to the Ada task.
27953
27954 @item task-id
27955 The identifier that the target uses to refer to the Ada task.
27956
27957 @item thread-id
27958 The global thread identifier of the thread corresponding to the Ada
27959 task.
27960
27961 This field should always exist, as Ada tasks are always implemented
27962 on top of a thread. But if @value{GDBN} cannot find this corresponding
27963 thread for any reason, the field is omitted.
27964
27965 @item parent-id
27966 This field exists only when the task was created by another task.
27967 In this case, it provides the ID of the parent task.
27968
27969 @item priority
27970 The base priority of the task.
27971
27972 @item state
27973 The current state of the task. For a detailed description of the
27974 possible states, see @ref{Ada Tasks}.
27975
27976 @item name
27977 The name of the task.
27978
27979 @end table
27980
27981 @subsubheading Example
27982
27983 @smallexample
27984 -ada-task-info
27985 ^done,tasks=@{nr_rows="3",nr_cols="8",
27986 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr=""@},
27987 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="id",colhdr="ID"@},
27988 @{width="9",alignment="1",col_name="task-id",colhdr="TID"@},
27989 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="thread-id",colhdr=""@},
27990 @{width="4",alignment="1",col_name="parent-id",colhdr="P-ID"@},
27991 @{width="3",alignment="1",col_name="priority",colhdr="Pri"@},
27992 @{width="22",alignment="-1",col_name="state",colhdr="State"@},
27993 @{width="1",alignment="2",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@}],
27994 body=[@{current="*",id="1",task-id=" 644010",thread-id="1",priority="48",
27995 state="Child Termination Wait",name="main_task"@}]@}
27996 (gdb)
27997 @end smallexample
27998
27999 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28000 @node GDB/MI Program Execution
28001 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Program Execution
28002
28003 These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
28004 record @samp{*stopped}. Currently @value{GDBN} only really executes
28005 asynchronously with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in
28006 other cases.
28007
28008 @subheading The @code{-exec-continue} Command
28009 @findex -exec-continue
28010
28011 @subsubheading Synopsis
28012
28013 @smallexample
28014 -exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
28015 @end smallexample
28016
28017 Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
28018 to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the
28019 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until
28020 it reaches a stop event. Stop events may include
28021 @itemize @bullet
28022 @item
28023 breakpoints or watchpoints
28024 @item
28025 signals or exceptions
28026 @item
28027 the end of the process (or its beginning under @samp{--reverse})
28028 @item
28029 the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
28030 @end itemize
28031 In all-stop mode (@pxref{All-Stop
28032 Mode}), may resume only one thread, or all threads, depending on the
28033 value of the @samp{scheduler-locking} variable. If @samp{--all} is
28034 specified, all threads (in all inferiors) will be resumed. The @samp{--all} option is
28035 ignored in all-stop mode. If the @samp{--thread-group} options is
28036 specified, then all threads in that thread group are resumed.
28037
28038 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28039
28040 The corresponding @value{GDBN} corresponding is @samp{continue}.
28041
28042 @subsubheading Example
28043
28044 @smallexample
28045 -exec-continue
28046 ^running
28047 (gdb)
28048 @@Hello world
28049 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame=@{
28050 func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
28051 line="13"@}
28052 (gdb)
28053 @end smallexample
28054
28055
28056 @subheading The @code{-exec-finish} Command
28057 @findex -exec-finish
28058
28059 @subsubheading Synopsis
28060
28061 @smallexample
28062 -exec-finish [--reverse]
28063 @end smallexample
28064
28065 Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
28066 function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function.
28067 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes the reverse
28068 execution of the inferior program until the point where current
28069 function was called.
28070
28071 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28072
28073 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{finish}.
28074
28075 @subsubheading Example
28076
28077 Function returning @code{void}.
28078
28079 @smallexample
28080 -exec-finish
28081 ^running
28082 (gdb)
28083 @@hello from foo
28084 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
28085 file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"@}
28086 (gdb)
28087 @end smallexample
28088
28089 Function returning other than @code{void}. The name of the internal
28090 @value{GDBN} variable storing the result is printed, together with the
28091 value itself.
28092
28093 @smallexample
28094 -exec-finish
28095 ^running
28096 (gdb)
28097 *stopped,reason="function-finished",frame=@{addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
28098 args=[@{name="a",value="1"],@{name="b",value="9"@}@},
28099 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28100 gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
28101 (gdb)
28102 @end smallexample
28103
28104
28105 @subheading The @code{-exec-interrupt} Command
28106 @findex -exec-interrupt
28107
28108 @subsubheading Synopsis
28109
28110 @smallexample
28111 -exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
28112 @end smallexample
28113
28114 Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the token
28115 associated with the stop message is the one for the execution command
28116 that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself only
28117 appears in the @samp{^done} output. If the user is trying to
28118 interrupt a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
28119
28120 Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
28121 asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
28122 @samp{^done} response will be printed, and the target stop will be
28123 reported after that using the @samp{*stopped} notification.
28124
28125 In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
28126 All threads (in all inferiors) will be interrupted if the
28127 @samp{--all} option is specified. If the @samp{--thread-group}
28128 option is specified, all threads in that group will be interrupted.
28129
28130 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28131
28132 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interrupt}.
28133
28134 @subsubheading Example
28135
28136 @smallexample
28137 (gdb)
28138 111-exec-continue
28139 111^running
28140
28141 (gdb)
28142 222-exec-interrupt
28143 222^done
28144 (gdb)
28145 111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
28146 frame=@{addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28147 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"@}
28148 (gdb)
28149
28150 (gdb)
28151 -exec-interrupt
28152 ^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
28153 (gdb)
28154 @end smallexample
28155
28156 @subheading The @code{-exec-jump} Command
28157 @findex -exec-jump
28158
28159 @subsubheading Synopsis
28160
28161 @smallexample
28162 -exec-jump @var{location}
28163 @end smallexample
28164
28165 Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified by
28166 parameter. @xref{Specify Location}, for a description of the
28167 different forms of @var{location}.
28168
28169 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28170
28171 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{jump}.
28172
28173 @subsubheading Example
28174
28175 @smallexample
28176 -exec-jump foo.c:10
28177 *running,thread-id="all"
28178 ^running
28179 @end smallexample
28180
28181
28182 @subheading The @code{-exec-next} Command
28183 @findex -exec-next
28184
28185 @subsubheading Synopsis
28186
28187 @smallexample
28188 -exec-next [--reverse]
28189 @end smallexample
28190
28191 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
28192 of the next source line is reached.
28193
28194 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
28195 of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous
28196 source line. If you issue this command on the first line of a
28197 function, it will take you back to the caller of that function, to the
28198 source line where the function was called.
28199
28200
28201 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28202
28203 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{next}.
28204
28205 @subsubheading Example
28206
28207 @smallexample
28208 -exec-next
28209 ^running
28210 (gdb)
28211 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
28212 (gdb)
28213 @end smallexample
28214
28215
28216 @subheading The @code{-exec-next-instruction} Command
28217 @findex -exec-next-instruction
28218
28219 @subsubheading Synopsis
28220
28221 @smallexample
28222 -exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
28223 @end smallexample
28224
28225 Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
28226 call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
28227 instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be
28228 printed as well.
28229
28230 If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution
28231 of the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
28232 previously executed instruction was a return from another function,
28233 it will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
28234 (from the current stack frame) is reached.
28235
28236 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28237
28238 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{nexti}.
28239
28240 @subsubheading Example
28241
28242 @smallexample
28243 (gdb)
28244 -exec-next-instruction
28245 ^running
28246
28247 (gdb)
28248 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28249 addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
28250 (gdb)
28251 @end smallexample
28252
28253
28254 @subheading The @code{-exec-return} Command
28255 @findex -exec-return
28256
28257 @subsubheading Synopsis
28258
28259 @smallexample
28260 -exec-return
28261 @end smallexample
28262
28263 Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the inferior.
28264 Displays the new current frame.
28265
28266 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28267
28268 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{return}.
28269
28270 @subsubheading Example
28271
28272 @smallexample
28273 (gdb)
28274 200-break-insert callee4
28275 200^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x00010734",
28276 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
28277 (gdb)
28278 000-exec-run
28279 000^running
28280 (gdb)
28281 000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
28282 frame=@{func="callee4",args=[],
28283 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28284 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@}
28285 (gdb)
28286 205-break-delete
28287 205^done
28288 (gdb)
28289 111-exec-return
28290 111^done,frame=@{level="0",func="callee3",
28291 args=[@{name="strarg",
28292 value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}],
28293 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28294 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"@}
28295 (gdb)
28296 @end smallexample
28297
28298
28299 @subheading The @code{-exec-run} Command
28300 @findex -exec-run
28301
28302 @subsubheading Synopsis
28303
28304 @smallexample
28305 -exec-run [ --all | --thread-group N ] [ --start ]
28306 @end smallexample
28307
28308 Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
28309 executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program
28310 exits. In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if
28311 the program has exited exceptionally.
28312
28313 When neither the @samp{--all} nor the @samp{--thread-group} option
28314 is specified, the current inferior is started. If the
28315 @samp{--thread-group} option is specified, it should refer to a thread
28316 group of type @samp{process}, and that thread group will be started.
28317 If the @samp{--all} option is specified, then all inferiors will be started.
28318
28319 Using the @samp{--start} option instructs the debugger to stop
28320 the execution at the start of the inferior's main subprogram,
28321 following the same behavior as the @code{start} command
28322 (@pxref{Starting}).
28323
28324 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28325
28326 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{run}.
28327
28328 @subsubheading Examples
28329
28330 @smallexample
28331 (gdb)
28332 -break-insert main
28333 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"@}
28334 (gdb)
28335 -exec-run
28336 ^running
28337 (gdb)
28338 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
28339 frame=@{func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
28340 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}
28341 (gdb)
28342 @end smallexample
28343
28344 @noindent
28345 Program exited normally:
28346
28347 @smallexample
28348 (gdb)
28349 -exec-run
28350 ^running
28351 (gdb)
28352 x = 55
28353 *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
28354 (gdb)
28355 @end smallexample
28356
28357 @noindent
28358 Program exited exceptionally:
28359
28360 @smallexample
28361 (gdb)
28362 -exec-run
28363 ^running
28364 (gdb)
28365 x = 55
28366 *stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
28367 (gdb)
28368 @end smallexample
28369
28370 Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal such as
28371 @code{SIGINT}. In this case, @sc{gdb/mi} displays this:
28372
28373 @smallexample
28374 (gdb)
28375 *stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
28376 signal-meaning="Interrupt"
28377 @end smallexample
28378
28379
28380 @c @subheading -exec-signal
28381
28382
28383 @subheading The @code{-exec-step} Command
28384 @findex -exec-step
28385
28386 @subsubheading Synopsis
28387
28388 @smallexample
28389 -exec-step [--reverse]
28390 @end smallexample
28391
28392 Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the beginning
28393 of the next source line is reached, if the next source line is not a
28394 function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the called
28395 function. If the @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse
28396 execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the
28397 previously executed source line.
28398
28399 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28400
28401 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{step}.
28402
28403 @subsubheading Example
28404
28405 Stepping into a function:
28406
28407 @smallexample
28408 -exec-step
28409 ^running
28410 (gdb)
28411 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28412 frame=@{func="foo",args=[@{name="a",value="10"@},
28413 @{name="b",value="0"@}],file="recursive2.c",
28414 fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@}
28415 (gdb)
28416 @end smallexample
28417
28418 Regular stepping:
28419
28420 @smallexample
28421 -exec-step
28422 ^running
28423 (gdb)
28424 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
28425 (gdb)
28426 @end smallexample
28427
28428
28429 @subheading The @code{-exec-step-instruction} Command
28430 @findex -exec-step-instruction
28431
28432 @subsubheading Synopsis
28433
28434 @smallexample
28435 -exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
28436 @end smallexample
28437
28438 Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
28439 @samp{--reverse} option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
28440 inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction.
28441 The output, once @value{GDBN} has stopped, will vary depending on
28442 whether we have stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the
28443 former case, the address at which the program stopped will be printed
28444 as well.
28445
28446 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28447
28448 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{stepi}.
28449
28450 @subsubheading Example
28451
28452 @smallexample
28453 (gdb)
28454 -exec-step-instruction
28455 ^running
28456
28457 (gdb)
28458 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28459 frame=@{func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28460 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
28461 (gdb)
28462 -exec-step-instruction
28463 ^running
28464
28465 (gdb)
28466 *stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
28467 frame=@{addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
28468 fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"@}
28469 (gdb)
28470 @end smallexample
28471
28472
28473 @subheading The @code{-exec-until} Command
28474 @findex -exec-until
28475
28476 @subsubheading Synopsis
28477
28478 @smallexample
28479 -exec-until [ @var{location} ]
28480 @end smallexample
28481
28482 Executes the inferior until the @var{location} specified in the
28483 argument is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes
28484 until a source line greater than the current one is reached. The
28485 reason for stopping in this case will be @samp{location-reached}.
28486
28487 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28488
28489 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{until}.
28490
28491 @subsubheading Example
28492
28493 @smallexample
28494 (gdb)
28495 -exec-until recursive2.c:6
28496 ^running
28497 (gdb)
28498 x = 55
28499 *stopped,reason="location-reached",frame=@{func="main",args=[],
28500 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"@}
28501 (gdb)
28502 @end smallexample
28503
28504 @ignore
28505 @subheading -file-clear
28506 Is this going away????
28507 @end ignore
28508
28509 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28510 @node GDB/MI Stack Manipulation
28511 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Stack Manipulation Commands
28512
28513 @subheading The @code{-enable-frame-filters} Command
28514 @findex -enable-frame-filters
28515
28516 @smallexample
28517 -enable-frame-filters
28518 @end smallexample
28519
28520 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based frame filters to affect the output of
28521 the MI commands relating to stack traces. As there is no way to
28522 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
28523 request that this functionality be enabled.
28524
28525 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
28526
28527 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
28528 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
28529
28530 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-frame} Command
28531 @findex -stack-info-frame
28532
28533 @subsubheading Synopsis
28534
28535 @smallexample
28536 -stack-info-frame
28537 @end smallexample
28538
28539 Get info on the selected frame.
28540
28541 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28542
28543 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info frame} or @samp{frame}
28544 (without arguments).
28545
28546 @subsubheading Example
28547
28548 @smallexample
28549 (gdb)
28550 -stack-info-frame
28551 ^done,frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28552 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28553 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@}
28554 (gdb)
28555 @end smallexample
28556
28557 @subheading The @code{-stack-info-depth} Command
28558 @findex -stack-info-depth
28559
28560 @subsubheading Synopsis
28561
28562 @smallexample
28563 -stack-info-depth [ @var{max-depth} ]
28564 @end smallexample
28565
28566 Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument @var{max-depth}
28567 is specified, do not count beyond @var{max-depth} frames.
28568
28569 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28570
28571 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
28572
28573 @subsubheading Example
28574
28575 For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
28576
28577 @smallexample
28578 (gdb)
28579 -stack-info-depth
28580 ^done,depth="12"
28581 (gdb)
28582 -stack-info-depth 4
28583 ^done,depth="4"
28584 (gdb)
28585 -stack-info-depth 12
28586 ^done,depth="12"
28587 (gdb)
28588 -stack-info-depth 11
28589 ^done,depth="11"
28590 (gdb)
28591 -stack-info-depth 13
28592 ^done,depth="12"
28593 (gdb)
28594 @end smallexample
28595
28596 @anchor{-stack-list-arguments}
28597 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-arguments} Command
28598 @findex -stack-list-arguments
28599
28600 @subsubheading Synopsis
28601
28602 @smallexample
28603 -stack-list-arguments [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
28604 [ @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28605 @end smallexample
28606
28607 Display a list of the arguments for the frames between @var{low-frame}
28608 and @var{high-frame} (inclusive). If @var{low-frame} and
28609 @var{high-frame} are not provided, list the arguments for the whole
28610 call stack. If the two arguments are equal, show the single frame
28611 at the corresponding level. It is an error if @var{low-frame} is
28612 larger than the actual number of frames. On the other hand,
28613 @var{high-frame} may be larger than the actual number of frames, in
28614 which case only existing frames will be returned.
28615
28616 If @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28617 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28618 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28619 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28620 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
28621 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
28622
28623 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, arguments that
28624 are not available are not listed. Partially available arguments
28625 are still displayed, however.
28626
28627 Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
28628 deprecated in favor of the @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28629
28630 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28631
28632 @value{GDBN} does not have an equivalent command. @code{gdbtk} has a
28633 @samp{gdb_get_args} command which partially overlaps with the
28634 functionality of @samp{-stack-list-arguments}.
28635
28636 @subsubheading Example
28637
28638 @smallexample
28639 (gdb)
28640 -stack-list-frames
28641 ^done,
28642 stack=[
28643 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
28644 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28645 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"@},
28646 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
28647 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28648 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"@},
28649 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
28650 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28651 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"@},
28652 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
28653 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28654 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"@},
28655 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
28656 file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
28657 fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"@}]
28658 (gdb)
28659 -stack-list-arguments 0
28660 ^done,
28661 stack-args=[
28662 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28663 frame=@{level="1",args=[name="strarg"]@},
28664 frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@},
28665 frame=@{level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]@},
28666 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28667 (gdb)
28668 -stack-list-arguments 1
28669 ^done,
28670 stack-args=[
28671 frame=@{level="0",args=[]@},
28672 frame=@{level="1",
28673 args=[@{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28674 frame=@{level="2",args=[
28675 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28676 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@},
28677 @{frame=@{level="3",args=[
28678 @{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28679 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@},
28680 @{name="fltarg",value="3.5"@}]@},
28681 frame=@{level="4",args=[]@}]
28682 (gdb)
28683 -stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
28684 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]@}]
28685 (gdb)
28686 -stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
28687 ^done,stack-args=[frame=@{level="2",
28688 args=[@{name="intarg",value="2"@},
28689 @{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""@}]@}]
28690 (gdb)
28691 @end smallexample
28692
28693 @c @subheading -stack-list-exception-handlers
28694
28695
28696 @anchor{-stack-list-frames}
28697 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-frames} Command
28698 @findex -stack-list-frames
28699
28700 @subsubheading Synopsis
28701
28702 @smallexample
28703 -stack-list-frames [ --no-frame-filters @var{low-frame} @var{high-frame} ]
28704 @end smallexample
28705
28706 List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays the
28707 following info:
28708
28709 @table @samp
28710 @item @var{level}
28711 The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost function.
28712 @item @var{addr}
28713 The @code{$pc} value for that frame.
28714 @item @var{func}
28715 Function name.
28716 @item @var{file}
28717 File name of the source file where the function lives.
28718 @item @var{fullname}
28719 The full file name of the source file where the function lives.
28720 @item @var{line}
28721 Line number corresponding to the @code{$pc}.
28722 @item @var{from}
28723 The shared library where this function is defined. This is only given
28724 if the frame's function is not known.
28725 @end table
28726
28727 If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
28728 whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
28729 levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
28730 are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
28731 an error if @var{low-frame} is larger than the actual number of
28732 frames. On the other hand, @var{high-frame} may be larger than the
28733 actual number of frames, in which case only existing frames will be
28734 returned. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
28735 Python frame filters will not be executed.
28736
28737 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28738
28739 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{backtrace} and @samp{where}.
28740
28741 @subsubheading Example
28742
28743 Full stack backtrace:
28744
28745 @smallexample
28746 (gdb)
28747 -stack-list-frames
28748 ^done,stack=
28749 [frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
28750 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"@},
28751 frame=@{level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28752 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28753 frame=@{level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28754 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28755 frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28756 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28757 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28758 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28759 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28760 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28761 frame=@{level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28762 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28763 frame=@{level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28764 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28765 frame=@{level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28766 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28767 frame=@{level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28768 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28769 frame=@{level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28770 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28771 frame=@{level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
28772 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"@}]
28773 (gdb)
28774 @end smallexample
28775
28776 Show frames between @var{low_frame} and @var{high_frame}:
28777
28778 @smallexample
28779 (gdb)
28780 -stack-list-frames 3 5
28781 ^done,stack=
28782 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28783 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28784 frame=@{level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28785 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@},
28786 frame=@{level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28787 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28788 (gdb)
28789 @end smallexample
28790
28791 Show a single frame:
28792
28793 @smallexample
28794 (gdb)
28795 -stack-list-frames 3 3
28796 ^done,stack=
28797 [frame=@{level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
28798 file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"@}]
28799 (gdb)
28800 @end smallexample
28801
28802
28803 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-locals} Command
28804 @findex -stack-list-locals
28805 @anchor{-stack-list-locals}
28806
28807 @subsubheading Synopsis
28808
28809 @smallexample
28810 -stack-list-locals [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
28811 @end smallexample
28812
28813 Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
28814 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28815 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28816 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28817 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28818 structures and unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately
28819 display the value of simple data types and create variable objects for
28820 other data types when the user wishes to explore their values in
28821 more detail. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is supplied, then
28822 Python frame filters will not be executed.
28823
28824 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
28825 that are not available are not listed. Partially available local
28826 variables are still displayed, however.
28827
28828 This command is deprecated in favor of the
28829 @samp{-stack-list-variables} command.
28830
28831 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28832
28833 @samp{info locals} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_get_locals} in @code{gdbtk}.
28834
28835 @subsubheading Example
28836
28837 @smallexample
28838 (gdb)
28839 -stack-list-locals 0
28840 ^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
28841 (gdb)
28842 -stack-list-locals --all-values
28843 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",value="1"@},@{name="B",value="2"@},
28844 @{name="C",value="@{1, 2, 3@}"@}]
28845 -stack-list-locals --simple-values
28846 ^done,locals=[@{name="A",type="int",value="1"@},
28847 @{name="B",type="int",value="2"@},@{name="C",type="int [3]"@}]
28848 (gdb)
28849 @end smallexample
28850
28851 @anchor{-stack-list-variables}
28852 @subheading The @code{-stack-list-variables} Command
28853 @findex -stack-list-variables
28854
28855 @subsubheading Synopsis
28856
28857 @smallexample
28858 -stack-list-variables [ --no-frame-filters ] [ --skip-unavailable ] @var{print-values}
28859 @end smallexample
28860
28861 Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the selected frame. If
28862 @var{print-values} is 0 or @code{--no-values}, print only the names of
28863 the variables; if it is 1 or @code{--all-values}, print also their
28864 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values}, print the name,
28865 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
28866 structures and unions. If the option @code{--no-frame-filters} is
28867 supplied, then Python frame filters will not be executed.
28868
28869 If the @code{--skip-unavailable} option is specified, local variables
28870 and arguments that are not available are not listed. Partially
28871 available arguments and local variables are still displayed, however.
28872
28873 @subsubheading Example
28874
28875 @smallexample
28876 (gdb)
28877 -stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
28878 ^done,variables=[@{name="x",value="11"@},@{name="s",value="@{a = 1, b = 2@}"@}]
28879 (gdb)
28880 @end smallexample
28881
28882
28883 @subheading The @code{-stack-select-frame} Command
28884 @findex -stack-select-frame
28885
28886 @subsubheading Synopsis
28887
28888 @smallexample
28889 -stack-select-frame @var{framenum}
28890 @end smallexample
28891
28892 Change the selected frame. Select a different frame @var{framenum} on
28893 the stack.
28894
28895 This command in deprecated in favor of passing the @samp{--frame}
28896 option to every command.
28897
28898 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
28899
28900 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{frame}, @samp{up},
28901 @samp{down}, @samp{select-frame}, @samp{up-silent}, and @samp{down-silent}.
28902
28903 @subsubheading Example
28904
28905 @smallexample
28906 (gdb)
28907 -stack-select-frame 2
28908 ^done
28909 (gdb)
28910 @end smallexample
28911
28912 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
28913 @node GDB/MI Variable Objects
28914 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Variable Objects
28915
28916 @ignore
28917
28918 @subheading Motivation for Variable Objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28919
28920 For the implementation of a variable debugger window (locals, watched
28921 expressions, etc.), we are proposing the adaptation of the existing code
28922 used by @code{Insight}.
28923
28924 The two main reasons for that are:
28925
28926 @enumerate 1
28927 @item
28928 It has been proven in practice (it is already on its second generation).
28929
28930 @item
28931 It will shorten development time (needless to say how important it is
28932 now).
28933 @end enumerate
28934
28935 The original interface was designed to be used by Tcl code, so it was
28936 slightly changed so it could be used through @sc{gdb/mi}. This section
28937 describes the @sc{gdb/mi} operations that will be available and gives some
28938 hints about their use.
28939
28940 @emph{Note}: In addition to the set of operations described here, we
28941 expect the @sc{gui} implementation of a variable window to require, at
28942 least, the following operations:
28943
28944 @itemize @bullet
28945 @item @code{-gdb-show} @code{output-radix}
28946 @item @code{-stack-list-arguments}
28947 @item @code{-stack-list-locals}
28948 @item @code{-stack-select-frame}
28949 @end itemize
28950
28951 @end ignore
28952
28953 @subheading Introduction to Variable Objects
28954
28955 @cindex variable objects in @sc{gdb/mi}
28956
28957 Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
28958 changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
28959 work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
28960 simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
28961 is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
28962 frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
28963 expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
28964 expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
28965 variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
28966 operations---for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
28967 object, or to change display format.
28968
28969 Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable object
28970 that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
28971 a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
28972 element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
28973 children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach
28974 leaf variable objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable
28975 objects are created only by explicit request, so if a frontend
28976 is not interested in the children of a particular variable object, no
28977 child will be created.
28978
28979 For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
28980 string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
28981 obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
28982 that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
28983 contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
28984
28985 A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects each time
28986 the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command that lists all
28987 variable objects whose values has changed since the last update
28988 operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that must
28989 be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
28990 objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
28991 real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
28992 variables that frontend has created.
28993
28994 The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a frontend
28995 might want to keep a value of some expression for future reference,
28996 and never update it. For another example, fetching memory is
28997 relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want
28998 to disable automatic update for the variables that are either not
28999 visible on the screen, or ``closed''. This is possible using so
29000 called ``frozen variable objects''. Such variable objects are never
29001 implicitly updated.
29002
29003 Variable objects can be either @dfn{fixed} or @dfn{floating}. For the
29004 fixed variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable
29005 object is created, including associating identifiers to specific
29006 variables. The meaning of expression never changes. For a floating
29007 variable object the values of variables whose names appear in the
29008 expressions are re-evaluated every time in the context of the current
29009 frame. Consider this example:
29010
29011 @smallexample
29012 void do_work(...)
29013 @{
29014 struct work_state state;
29015
29016 if (...)
29017 do_work(...);
29018 @}
29019 @end smallexample
29020
29021 If a fixed variable object for the @code{state} variable is created in
29022 this function, and we enter the recursive call, the variable
29023 object will report the value of @code{state} in the top-level
29024 @code{do_work} invocation. On the other hand, a floating variable
29025 object will report the value of @code{state} in the current frame.
29026
29027 If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
29028 refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
29029 thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
29030 variable object is updated, @value{GDBN} makes sure that the
29031 thread/frame combination the variable object is bound to still exists,
29032 and re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
29033
29034 The following is the complete set of @sc{gdb/mi} operations defined to
29035 access this functionality:
29036
29037 @multitable @columnfractions .4 .6
29038 @item @strong{Operation}
29039 @tab @strong{Description}
29040
29041 @item @code{-enable-pretty-printing}
29042 @tab enable Python-based pretty-printing
29043 @item @code{-var-create}
29044 @tab create a variable object
29045 @item @code{-var-delete}
29046 @tab delete the variable object and/or its children
29047 @item @code{-var-set-format}
29048 @tab set the display format of this variable
29049 @item @code{-var-show-format}
29050 @tab show the display format of this variable
29051 @item @code{-var-info-num-children}
29052 @tab tells how many children this object has
29053 @item @code{-var-list-children}
29054 @tab return a list of the object's children
29055 @item @code{-var-info-type}
29056 @tab show the type of this variable object
29057 @item @code{-var-info-expression}
29058 @tab print parent-relative expression that this variable object represents
29059 @item @code{-var-info-path-expression}
29060 @tab print full expression that this variable object represents
29061 @item @code{-var-show-attributes}
29062 @tab is this variable editable? does it exist here?
29063 @item @code{-var-evaluate-expression}
29064 @tab get the value of this variable
29065 @item @code{-var-assign}
29066 @tab set the value of this variable
29067 @item @code{-var-update}
29068 @tab update the variable and its children
29069 @item @code{-var-set-frozen}
29070 @tab set frozeness attribute
29071 @item @code{-var-set-update-range}
29072 @tab set range of children to display on update
29073 @end multitable
29074
29075 In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and suggest
29076 how it can be used.
29077
29078 @subheading Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
29079
29080 @subheading The @code{-enable-pretty-printing} Command
29081 @findex -enable-pretty-printing
29082
29083 @smallexample
29084 -enable-pretty-printing
29085 @end smallexample
29086
29087 @value{GDBN} allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the
29088 MI variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
29089 implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
29090 request that this functionality be enabled.
29091
29092 Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
29093
29094 Note that if Python support has not been compiled into @value{GDBN},
29095 this command will still succeed (and do nothing).
29096
29097 This feature is currently (as of @value{GDBN} 7.0) experimental, and
29098 may work differently in future versions of @value{GDBN}.
29099
29100 @subheading The @code{-var-create} Command
29101 @findex -var-create
29102
29103 @subsubheading Synopsis
29104
29105 @smallexample
29106 -var-create @{@var{name} | "-"@}
29107 @{@var{frame-addr} | "*" | "@@"@} @var{expression}
29108 @end smallexample
29109
29110 This operation creates a variable object, which allows the monitoring of
29111 a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or a CPU
29112 register.
29113
29114 The @var{name} parameter is the string by which the object can be
29115 referenced. It must be unique. If @samp{-} is specified, the varobj
29116 system will generate a string ``varNNNNNN'' automatically. It will be
29117 unique provided that one does not specify @var{name} of that format.
29118 The command fails if a duplicate name is found.
29119
29120 The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
29121 specified by @var{frame-addr}. A @samp{*} indicates that the current
29122 frame should be used. A @samp{@@} indicates that a floating variable
29123 object must be created.
29124
29125 @var{expression} is any expression valid on the current language set (must not
29126 begin with a @samp{*}), or one of the following:
29127
29128 @itemize @bullet
29129 @item
29130 @samp{*@var{addr}}, where @var{addr} is the address of a memory cell
29131
29132 @item
29133 @samp{*@var{addr}-@var{addr}} --- a memory address range (TBD)
29134
29135 @item
29136 @samp{$@var{regname}} --- a CPU register name
29137 @end itemize
29138
29139 @cindex dynamic varobj
29140 A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based pretty-printer. In this
29141 case the varobj is known as a @dfn{dynamic varobj}. Dynamic varobjs
29142 have slightly different semantics in some cases. If the
29143 @code{-enable-pretty-printing} command is not sent, then @value{GDBN}
29144 will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
29145 compatibility for existing clients.
29146
29147 @subsubheading Result
29148
29149 This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
29150 are:
29151
29152 @table @samp
29153 @item name
29154 The name of the varobj.
29155
29156 @item numchild
29157 The number of children of the varobj. This number is not necessarily
29158 reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must examine the
29159 @samp{has_more} attribute.
29160
29161 @item value
29162 The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
29163 aggregate (e.g., a @code{struct}), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
29164 will not be interesting.
29165
29166 @item type
29167 The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
29168 would be printed by the @value{GDBN} CLI. If @samp{print object}
29169 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
29170 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
29171 @emph{declared} one.
29172
29173 @item thread-id
29174 If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is the
29175 thread's global identifier.
29176
29177 @item has_more
29178 For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
29179 children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
29180
29181 @item dynamic
29182 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29183 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29184 then this attribute will not be present.
29185
29186 @item displayhint
29187 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29188 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29189 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29190 @end table
29191
29192 Typical output will look like this:
29193
29194 @smallexample
29195 name="@var{name}",numchild="@var{N}",type="@var{type}",thread-id="@var{M}",
29196 has_more="@var{has_more}"
29197 @end smallexample
29198
29199
29200 @subheading The @code{-var-delete} Command
29201 @findex -var-delete
29202
29203 @subsubheading Synopsis
29204
29205 @smallexample
29206 -var-delete [ -c ] @var{name}
29207 @end smallexample
29208
29209 Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
29210 With the @samp{-c} option, just deletes the children.
29211
29212 Returns an error if the object @var{name} is not found.
29213
29214
29215 @subheading The @code{-var-set-format} Command
29216 @findex -var-set-format
29217
29218 @subsubheading Synopsis
29219
29220 @smallexample
29221 -var-set-format @var{name} @var{format-spec}
29222 @end smallexample
29223
29224 Sets the output format for the value of the object @var{name} to be
29225 @var{format-spec}.
29226
29227 @anchor{-var-set-format}
29228 The syntax for the @var{format-spec} is as follows:
29229
29230 @smallexample
29231 @var{format-spec} @expansion{}
29232 @{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural | zero-hexadecimal@}
29233 @end smallexample
29234
29235 The natural format is the default format choosen automatically
29236 based on the variable type (like decimal for an @code{int}, hex
29237 for pointers, etc.).
29238
29239 The zero-hexadecimal format has a representation similar to hexadecimal
29240 but with padding zeroes to the left of the value. For example, a 32-bit
29241 hexadecimal value of 0x1234 would be represented as 0x00001234 in the
29242 zero-hexadecimal format.
29243
29244 For a variable with children, the format is set only on the
29245 variable itself, and the children are not affected.
29246
29247 @subheading The @code{-var-show-format} Command
29248 @findex -var-show-format
29249
29250 @subsubheading Synopsis
29251
29252 @smallexample
29253 -var-show-format @var{name}
29254 @end smallexample
29255
29256 Returns the format used to display the value of the object @var{name}.
29257
29258 @smallexample
29259 @var{format} @expansion{}
29260 @var{format-spec}
29261 @end smallexample
29262
29263
29264 @subheading The @code{-var-info-num-children} Command
29265 @findex -var-info-num-children
29266
29267 @subsubheading Synopsis
29268
29269 @smallexample
29270 -var-info-num-children @var{name}
29271 @end smallexample
29272
29273 Returns the number of children of a variable object @var{name}:
29274
29275 @smallexample
29276 numchild=@var{n}
29277 @end smallexample
29278
29279 Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic varobj.
29280 It will return the current number of children, but more children may
29281 be available.
29282
29283
29284 @subheading The @code{-var-list-children} Command
29285 @findex -var-list-children
29286
29287 @subsubheading Synopsis
29288
29289 @smallexample
29290 -var-list-children [@var{print-values}] @var{name} [@var{from} @var{to}]
29291 @end smallexample
29292 @anchor{-var-list-children}
29293
29294 Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
29295 create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With
29296 a single argument or if @var{print-values} has a value of 0 or
29297 @code{--no-values}, print only the names of the variables; if
29298 @var{print-values} is 1 or @code{--all-values}, also print their
29299 values; and if it is 2 or @code{--simple-values} print the name and
29300 value for simple data types and just the name for arrays, structures
29301 and unions.
29302
29303 @var{from} and @var{to}, if specified, indicate the range of children
29304 to report. If @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is
29305 reset and all children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting
29306 at @var{from} (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be
29307 reported.
29308
29309 If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call to
29310 @code{-var-list-children}, but not future calls to @code{-var-update}.
29311 For this, you must instead use @code{-var-set-update-range}. The
29312 intent of this approach is to enable a front end to implement any
29313 update approach it likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the
29314 front end to request more children with @code{-var-list-children}, and
29315 then the front end could call @code{-var-set-update-range} with a
29316 different range to ensure that future updates are restricted to just
29317 the visible items.
29318
29319 For each child the following results are returned:
29320
29321 @table @var
29322
29323 @item name
29324 Name of the variable object created for this child.
29325
29326 @item exp
29327 The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to designate this child.
29328 For example this may be the name of a structure member.
29329
29330 For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
29331 expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic varobj.
29332
29333 For C/C@t{++} structures there are several pseudo children returned to
29334 designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children @var{exp} is
29335 @samp{public}, @samp{private}, or @samp{protected}. In this case the
29336 type and value are not present.
29337
29338 A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
29339 pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is not
29340 available at all with a dynamic varobj.
29341
29342 @item numchild
29343 Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this will be
29344 0.
29345
29346 @item type
29347 The type of the child. If @samp{print object}
29348 (@pxref{Print Settings, set print object}) is set to @code{on}, the
29349 @emph{actual} (derived) type of the object is shown rather than the
29350 @emph{declared} one.
29351
29352 @item value
29353 If values were requested, this is the value.
29354
29355 @item thread-id
29356 If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the
29357 thread's global thread id. Otherwise this result is not present.
29358
29359 @item frozen
29360 If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present with a value of 1.
29361
29362 @item displayhint
29363 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29364 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29365 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29366
29367 @item dynamic
29368 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29369 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29370 then this attribute will not be present.
29371
29372 @end table
29373
29374 The result may have its own attributes:
29375
29376 @table @samp
29377 @item displayhint
29378 A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
29379 value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
29380 @code{display_hint} method. @xref{Pretty Printing API}.
29381
29382 @item has_more
29383 This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
29384 remaining after the end of the selected range.
29385 @end table
29386
29387 @subsubheading Example
29388
29389 @smallexample
29390 (gdb)
29391 -var-list-children n
29392 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
29393 numchild=@var{n},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
29394 (gdb)
29395 -var-list-children --all-values n
29396 ^done,numchild=@var{n},children=[child=@{name=@var{name},exp=@var{exp},
29397 numchild=@var{n},value=@var{value},type=@var{type}@},@r{(repeats N times)}]
29398 @end smallexample
29399
29400
29401 @subheading The @code{-var-info-type} Command
29402 @findex -var-info-type
29403
29404 @subsubheading Synopsis
29405
29406 @smallexample
29407 -var-info-type @var{name}
29408 @end smallexample
29409
29410 Returns the type of the specified variable @var{name}. The type is
29411 returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the
29412 @value{GDBN} CLI:
29413
29414 @smallexample
29415 type=@var{typename}
29416 @end smallexample
29417
29418
29419 @subheading The @code{-var-info-expression} Command
29420 @findex -var-info-expression
29421
29422 @subsubheading Synopsis
29423
29424 @smallexample
29425 -var-info-expression @var{name}
29426 @end smallexample
29427
29428 Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this
29429 variable object in user interface. The string is generally
29430 not valid expression in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
29431
29432 For example, if @code{a} is an array, and variable object
29433 @code{A} was created for @code{a}, then we'll get this output:
29434
29435 @smallexample
29436 (gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
29437 ^done,lang="C",exp="1"
29438 @end smallexample
29439
29440 @noindent
29441 Here, the value of @code{lang} is the language name, which can be
29442 found in @ref{Supported Languages}.
29443
29444 Note that the output of the @code{-var-list-children} command also
29445 includes those expressions, so the @code{-var-info-expression} command
29446 is of limited use.
29447
29448 @subheading The @code{-var-info-path-expression} Command
29449 @findex -var-info-path-expression
29450
29451 @subsubheading Synopsis
29452
29453 @smallexample
29454 -var-info-path-expression @var{name}
29455 @end smallexample
29456
29457 Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current
29458 context and will yield the same value that a variable object has.
29459 Compare this with the @code{-var-info-expression} command, which
29460 result can be used only for UI presentation. Typical use of
29461 the @code{-var-info-path-expression} command is creating a
29462 watchpoint from a variable object.
29463
29464 This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
29465 and will give an error when invoked on one.
29466
29467 For example, suppose @code{C} is a C@t{++} class, derived from class
29468 @code{Base}, and that the @code{Base} class has a member called
29469 @code{m_size}. Assume a variable @code{c} is has the type of
29470 @code{C} and a variable object @code{C} was created for variable
29471 @code{c}. Then, we'll get this output:
29472 @smallexample
29473 (gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
29474 ^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
29475 @end smallexample
29476
29477 @subheading The @code{-var-show-attributes} Command
29478 @findex -var-show-attributes
29479
29480 @subsubheading Synopsis
29481
29482 @smallexample
29483 -var-show-attributes @var{name}
29484 @end smallexample
29485
29486 List attributes of the specified variable object @var{name}:
29487
29488 @smallexample
29489 status=@var{attr} [ ( ,@var{attr} )* ]
29490 @end smallexample
29491
29492 @noindent
29493 where @var{attr} is @code{@{ @{ editable | noneditable @} | TBD @}}.
29494
29495 @subheading The @code{-var-evaluate-expression} Command
29496 @findex -var-evaluate-expression
29497
29498 @subsubheading Synopsis
29499
29500 @smallexample
29501 -var-evaluate-expression [-f @var{format-spec}] @var{name}
29502 @end smallexample
29503
29504 Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified variable
29505 object and returns its value as a string. The format of the string
29506 can be specified with the @samp{-f} option. The possible values of
29507 this option are the same as for @code{-var-set-format}
29508 (@pxref{-var-set-format}). If the @samp{-f} option is not specified,
29509 the current display format will be used. The current display format
29510 can be changed using the @code{-var-set-format} command.
29511
29512 @smallexample
29513 value=@var{value}
29514 @end smallexample
29515
29516 Note that one must invoke @code{-var-list-children} for a variable
29517 before the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
29518
29519 @subheading The @code{-var-assign} Command
29520 @findex -var-assign
29521
29522 @subsubheading Synopsis
29523
29524 @smallexample
29525 -var-assign @var{name} @var{expression}
29526 @end smallexample
29527
29528 Assigns the value of @var{expression} to the variable object specified
29529 by @var{name}. The object must be @samp{editable}. If the variable's
29530 value is altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any
29531 subsequent @code{-var-update} list.
29532
29533 @subsubheading Example
29534
29535 @smallexample
29536 (gdb)
29537 -var-assign var1 3
29538 ^done,value="3"
29539 (gdb)
29540 -var-update *
29541 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"@}]
29542 (gdb)
29543 @end smallexample
29544
29545 @subheading The @code{-var-update} Command
29546 @findex -var-update
29547
29548 @subsubheading Synopsis
29549
29550 @smallexample
29551 -var-update [@var{print-values}] @{@var{name} | "*"@}
29552 @end smallexample
29553
29554 Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object
29555 @var{name} and all its direct and indirect children, and return the
29556 list of variable objects whose values have changed; @var{name} must
29557 be a root variable object. Here, ``changed'' means that the result of
29558 @code{-var-evaluate-expression} before and after the
29559 @code{-var-update} is different. If @samp{*} is used as the variable
29560 object names, all existing variable objects are updated, except
29561 for frozen ones (@pxref{-var-set-frozen}). The option
29562 @var{print-values} determines whether both names and values, or just
29563 names are printed. The possible values of this option are the same
29564 as for @code{-var-list-children} (@pxref{-var-list-children}). It is
29565 recommended to use the @samp{--all-values} option, to reduce the
29566 number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
29567
29568 With the @samp{*} parameter, if a variable object is bound to a
29569 currently running thread, it will not be updated, without any
29570 diagnostic.
29571
29572 If @code{-var-set-update-range} was previously used on a varobj, then
29573 only the selected range of children will be reported.
29574
29575 @code{-var-update} reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
29576 @samp{changelist}.
29577
29578 Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
29579
29580 @table @samp
29581 @item name
29582 The name of the varobj.
29583
29584 @item value
29585 If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
29586 present and will hold the value of the varobj.
29587
29588 @item in_scope
29589 @anchor{-var-update}
29590 This field is a string which may take one of three values:
29591
29592 @table @code
29593 @item "true"
29594 The variable object's current value is valid.
29595
29596 @item "false"
29597 The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but it may
29598 hold one in the future if its associated expression comes back into
29599 scope.
29600
29601 @item "invalid"
29602 The variable object no longer holds a valid value.
29603 This can occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
29604 either through recompilation or by using the @value{GDBN} @code{file}
29605 command. The front end should normally choose to delete these variable
29606 objects.
29607 @end table
29608
29609 In the future new values may be added to this list so the front should
29610 be prepared for this possibility. @xref{GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, ,@sc{GDB/MI} Development and Front Ends}.
29611
29612 @item type_changed
29613 This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
29614 changed, then this will be the string @samp{true}; otherwise it will
29615 be @samp{false}.
29616
29617 When a varobj's type changes, its children are also likely to have
29618 become incorrect. Therefore, the varobj's children are automatically
29619 deleted when this attribute is @samp{true}. Also, the varobj's update
29620 range, when set using the @code{-var-set-update-range} command, is
29621 unset.
29622
29623 @item new_type
29624 If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and will
29625 hold the new type.
29626
29627 @item new_num_children
29628 For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
29629 type changed, this will be the new number of children.
29630
29631 The @samp{numchild} field in other varobj responses is generally not
29632 valid for a dynamic varobj -- it will show the number of children that
29633 @value{GDBN} knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
29634 instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
29635 children which may be available.
29636
29637 The @samp{new_num_children} attribute only reports changes to the
29638 number of children known by @value{GDBN}. This is the only way to
29639 detect whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can
29640 only happen at the end of the update range).
29641
29642 @item displayhint
29643 The display hint, if any.
29644
29645 @item has_more
29646 This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more children
29647 available outside the varobj's update range.
29648
29649 @item dynamic
29650 This attribute will be present and have the value @samp{1} if the
29651 varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
29652 then this attribute will not be present.
29653
29654 @item new_children
29655 If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
29656 update range (as set by @code{-var-set-update-range}), then they will
29657 be listed in this attribute.
29658 @end table
29659
29660 @subsubheading Example
29661
29662 @smallexample
29663 (gdb)
29664 -var-assign var1 3
29665 ^done,value="3"
29666 (gdb)
29667 -var-update --all-values var1
29668 ^done,changelist=[@{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
29669 type_changed="false"@}]
29670 (gdb)
29671 @end smallexample
29672
29673 @subheading The @code{-var-set-frozen} Command
29674 @findex -var-set-frozen
29675 @anchor{-var-set-frozen}
29676
29677 @subsubheading Synopsis
29678
29679 @smallexample
29680 -var-set-frozen @var{name} @var{flag}
29681 @end smallexample
29682
29683 Set the frozenness flag on the variable object @var{name}. The
29684 @var{flag} parameter should be either @samp{1} to make the variable
29685 frozen or @samp{0} to make it unfrozen. If a variable object is
29686 frozen, then neither itself, nor any of its children, are
29687 implicitly updated by @code{-var-update} of
29688 a parent variable or by @code{-var-update *}. Only
29689 @code{-var-update} of the variable itself will update its value and
29690 values of its children. After a variable object is unfrozen, it is
29691 implicitly updated by all subsequent @code{-var-update} operations.
29692 Unfreezing a variable does not update it, only subsequent
29693 @code{-var-update} does.
29694
29695 @subsubheading Example
29696
29697 @smallexample
29698 (gdb)
29699 -var-set-frozen V 1
29700 ^done
29701 (gdb)
29702 @end smallexample
29703
29704 @subheading The @code{-var-set-update-range} command
29705 @findex -var-set-update-range
29706 @anchor{-var-set-update-range}
29707
29708 @subsubheading Synopsis
29709
29710 @smallexample
29711 -var-set-update-range @var{name} @var{from} @var{to}
29712 @end smallexample
29713
29714 Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
29715 @code{-var-update}.
29716
29717 @var{from} and @var{to} indicate the range of children to report. If
29718 @var{from} or @var{to} is less than zero, the range is reset and all
29719 children will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at @var{from}
29720 (zero-based) and up to and excluding @var{to} will be reported.
29721
29722 @subsubheading Example
29723
29724 @smallexample
29725 (gdb)
29726 -var-set-update-range V 1 2
29727 ^done
29728 @end smallexample
29729
29730 @subheading The @code{-var-set-visualizer} command
29731 @findex -var-set-visualizer
29732 @anchor{-var-set-visualizer}
29733
29734 @subsubheading Synopsis
29735
29736 @smallexample
29737 -var-set-visualizer @var{name} @var{visualizer}
29738 @end smallexample
29739
29740 Set a visualizer for the variable object @var{name}.
29741
29742 @var{visualizer} is the visualizer to use. The special value
29743 @samp{None} means to disable any visualizer in use.
29744
29745 If not @samp{None}, @var{visualizer} must be a Python expression.
29746 This expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a
29747 single argument. @value{GDBN} will call this object with the value of
29748 the varobj @var{name} as an argument (this is done so that the same
29749 Python pretty-printing code can be used for both the CLI and MI).
29750 When called, this object must return an object which conforms to the
29751 pretty-printing interface (@pxref{Pretty Printing API}).
29752
29753 The pre-defined function @code{gdb.default_visualizer} may be used to
29754 select a visualizer by following the built-in process
29755 (@pxref{Selecting Pretty-Printers}). This is done automatically when
29756 a varobj is created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
29757
29758 This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
29759 command @code{-list-features} (@pxref{GDB/MI Support Commands})
29760 can be used to check this.
29761
29762 @subsubheading Example
29763
29764 Resetting the visualizer:
29765
29766 @smallexample
29767 (gdb)
29768 -var-set-visualizer V None
29769 ^done
29770 @end smallexample
29771
29772 Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
29773
29774 @smallexample
29775 (gdb)
29776 -var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
29777 ^done
29778 @end smallexample
29779
29780 Suppose @code{SomeClass} is a visualizer class. A lambda expression
29781 can be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
29782
29783 @smallexample
29784 (gdb)
29785 -var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
29786 ^done
29787 @end smallexample
29788
29789 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
29790 @node GDB/MI Data Manipulation
29791 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Data Manipulation
29792
29793 @cindex data manipulation, in @sc{gdb/mi}
29794 @cindex @sc{gdb/mi}, data manipulation
29795 This section describes the @sc{gdb/mi} commands that manipulate data:
29796 examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
29797
29798 For details about what an addressable memory unit is,
29799 @pxref{addressable memory unit}.
29800
29801 @c REMOVED FROM THE INTERFACE.
29802 @c @subheading -data-assign
29803 @c Change the value of a program variable. Plenty of side effects.
29804 @c @subsubheading GDB Command
29805 @c set variable
29806 @c @subsubheading Example
29807 @c N.A.
29808
29809 @subheading The @code{-data-disassemble} Command
29810 @findex -data-disassemble
29811
29812 @subsubheading Synopsis
29813
29814 @smallexample
29815 -data-disassemble
29816 [ -s @var{start-addr} -e @var{end-addr} ]
29817 | [ -f @var{filename} -l @var{linenum} [ -n @var{lines} ] ]
29818 -- @var{mode}
29819 @end smallexample
29820
29821 @noindent
29822 Where:
29823
29824 @table @samp
29825 @item @var{start-addr}
29826 is the beginning address (or @code{$pc})
29827 @item @var{end-addr}
29828 is the end address
29829 @item @var{filename}
29830 is the name of the file to disassemble
29831 @item @var{linenum}
29832 is the line number to disassemble around
29833 @item @var{lines}
29834 is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
29835 the whole function will be disassembled, in case no @var{end-addr} is
29836 specified. If @var{end-addr} is specified as a non-zero value, and
29837 @var{lines} is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
29838 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only @var{lines} lines are
29839 displayed; if @var{lines} is higher than the number of lines between
29840 @var{start-addr} and @var{end-addr}, only the lines up to @var{end-addr}
29841 are displayed.
29842 @item @var{mode}
29843 is one of:
29844 @itemize @bullet
29845 @item 0 disassembly only
29846 @item 1 mixed source and disassembly (deprecated)
29847 @item 2 disassembly with raw opcodes
29848 @item 3 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes (deprecated)
29849 @item 4 mixed source and disassembly
29850 @item 5 mixed source and disassembly with raw opcodes
29851 @end itemize
29852
29853 Modes 1 and 3 are deprecated. The output is ``source centric''
29854 which hasn't proved useful in practice.
29855 @xref{Machine Code}, for a discussion of the difference between
29856 @code{/m} and @code{/s} output of the @code{disassemble} command.
29857 @end table
29858
29859 @subsubheading Result
29860
29861 The result of the @code{-data-disassemble} command will be a list named
29862 @samp{asm_insns}, the contents of this list depend on the @var{mode}
29863 used with the @code{-data-disassemble} command.
29864
29865 For modes 0 and 2 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples with the
29866 following fields:
29867
29868 @table @code
29869 @item address
29870 The address at which this instruction was disassembled.
29871
29872 @item func-name
29873 The name of the function this instruction is within.
29874
29875 @item offset
29876 The decimal offset in bytes from the start of @samp{func-name}.
29877
29878 @item inst
29879 The text disassembly for this @samp{address}.
29880
29881 @item opcodes
29882 This field is only present for modes 2, 3 and 5. This contains the raw opcode
29883 bytes for the @samp{inst} field.
29884
29885 @end table
29886
29887 For modes 1, 3, 4 and 5 the @samp{asm_insns} list contains tuples named
29888 @samp{src_and_asm_line}, each of which has the following fields:
29889
29890 @table @code
29891 @item line
29892 The line number within @samp{file}.
29893
29894 @item file
29895 The file name from the compilation unit. This might be an absolute
29896 file name or a relative file name depending on the compile command
29897 used.
29898
29899 @item fullname
29900 Absolute file name of @samp{file}. It is converted to a canonical form
29901 using the source file search path
29902 (@pxref{Source Path, ,Specifying Source Directories})
29903 and after resolving all the symbolic links.
29904
29905 If the source file is not found this field will contain the path as
29906 present in the debug information.
29907
29908 @item line_asm_insn
29909 This is a list of tuples containing the disassembly for @samp{line} in
29910 @samp{file}. The fields of each tuple are the same as for
29911 @code{-data-disassemble} in @var{mode} 0 and 2, so @samp{address},
29912 @samp{func-name}, @samp{offset}, @samp{inst}, and optionally
29913 @samp{opcodes}.
29914
29915 @end table
29916
29917 Note that whatever included in the @samp{inst} field, is not
29918 manipulated directly by @sc{gdb/mi}, i.e., it is not possible to
29919 adjust its format.
29920
29921 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
29922
29923 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disassemble}.
29924
29925 @subsubheading Example
29926
29927 Disassemble from the current value of @code{$pc} to @code{$pc + 20}:
29928
29929 @smallexample
29930 (gdb)
29931 -data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
29932 ^done,
29933 asm_insns=[
29934 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29935 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29936 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29937 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29938 @{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
29939 inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"@},
29940 @{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
29941 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29942 @{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
29943 inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"@}]
29944 (gdb)
29945 @end smallexample
29946
29947 Disassemble the whole @code{main} function. Line 32 is part of
29948 @code{main}.
29949
29950 @smallexample
29951 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
29952 ^done,asm_insns=[
29953 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29954 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29955 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29956 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29957 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29958 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@},
29959 [@dots{}]
29960 @{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "@},
29961 @{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "@}]
29962 (gdb)
29963 @end smallexample
29964
29965 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main}:
29966
29967 @smallexample
29968 (gdb)
29969 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
29970 ^done,asm_insns=[
29971 @{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
29972 inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@},
29973 @{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
29974 inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29975 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29976 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]
29977 (gdb)
29978 @end smallexample
29979
29980 Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of @code{main} in mixed mode:
29981
29982 @smallexample
29983 (gdb)
29984 -data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
29985 ^done,asm_insns=[
29986 src_and_asm_line=@{line="31",
29987 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29988 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29989 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107bc",
29990 func-name="main",offset="0",inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"@}]@},
29991 src_and_asm_line=@{line="32",
29992 file="../../../src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29993 fullname="/absolute/path/to/src/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
29994 line_asm_insn=[@{address="0x000107c0",
29995 func-name="main",offset="4",inst="mov 2, %o0"@},
29996 @{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
29997 inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"@}]@}]
29998 (gdb)
29999 @end smallexample
30000
30001
30002 @subheading The @code{-data-evaluate-expression} Command
30003 @findex -data-evaluate-expression
30004
30005 @subsubheading Synopsis
30006
30007 @smallexample
30008 -data-evaluate-expression @var{expr}
30009 @end smallexample
30010
30011 Evaluate @var{expr} as an expression. The expression could contain an
30012 inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
30013 If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
30014
30015 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30016
30017 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{print}, @samp{output}, and
30018 @samp{call}. In @code{gdbtk} only, there's a corresponding
30019 @samp{gdb_eval} command.
30020
30021 @subsubheading Example
30022
30023 In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
30024 @dfn{tokens} described in @ref{GDB/MI Command Syntax, ,@sc{gdb/mi}
30025 Command Syntax}. Notice how @sc{gdb/mi} returns the same tokens in its
30026 output.
30027
30028 @smallexample
30029 211-data-evaluate-expression A
30030 211^done,value="1"
30031 (gdb)
30032 311-data-evaluate-expression &A
30033 311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
30034 (gdb)
30035 411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
30036 411^done,value="4"
30037 (gdb)
30038 511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
30039 511^done,value="4"
30040 (gdb)
30041 @end smallexample
30042
30043
30044 @subheading The @code{-data-list-changed-registers} Command
30045 @findex -data-list-changed-registers
30046
30047 @subsubheading Synopsis
30048
30049 @smallexample
30050 -data-list-changed-registers
30051 @end smallexample
30052
30053 Display a list of the registers that have changed.
30054
30055 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30056
30057 @value{GDBN} doesn't have a direct analog for this command; @code{gdbtk}
30058 has the corresponding command @samp{gdb_changed_register_list}.
30059
30060 @subsubheading Example
30061
30062 On a PPC MBX board:
30063
30064 @smallexample
30065 (gdb)
30066 -exec-continue
30067 ^running
30068
30069 (gdb)
30070 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame=@{
30071 func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
30072 line="5"@}
30073 (gdb)
30074 -data-list-changed-registers
30075 ^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
30076 "10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
30077 "24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
30078 (gdb)
30079 @end smallexample
30080
30081
30082 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-names} Command
30083 @findex -data-list-register-names
30084
30085 @subsubheading Synopsis
30086
30087 @smallexample
30088 -data-list-register-names [ ( @var{regno} )+ ]
30089 @end smallexample
30090
30091 Show a list of register names for the current target. If no arguments
30092 are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers. If
30093 integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
30094 names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
30095 consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
30096 include empty register names.
30097
30098 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30099
30100 @value{GDBN} does not have a command which corresponds to
30101 @samp{-data-list-register-names}. In @code{gdbtk} there is a
30102 corresponding command @samp{gdb_regnames}.
30103
30104 @subsubheading Example
30105
30106 For the PPC MBX board:
30107 @smallexample
30108 (gdb)
30109 -data-list-register-names
30110 ^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
30111 "r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
30112 "r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
30113 "r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
30114 "f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
30115 "f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
30116 "", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
30117 (gdb)
30118 -data-list-register-names 1 2 3
30119 ^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
30120 (gdb)
30121 @end smallexample
30122
30123 @subheading The @code{-data-list-register-values} Command
30124 @findex -data-list-register-values
30125
30126 @subsubheading Synopsis
30127
30128 @smallexample
30129 -data-list-register-values
30130 [ @code{--skip-unavailable} ] @var{fmt} [ ( @var{regno} )*]
30131 @end smallexample
30132
30133 Display the registers' contents. The format according to which the
30134 registers' contents are to be returned is given by @var{fmt}, followed
30135 by an optional list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A
30136 missing list of numbers indicates that the contents of all the
30137 registers must be returned. The @code{--skip-unavailable} option
30138 indicates that only the available registers are to be returned.
30139
30140 Allowed formats for @var{fmt} are:
30141
30142 @table @code
30143 @item x
30144 Hexadecimal
30145 @item o
30146 Octal
30147 @item t
30148 Binary
30149 @item d
30150 Decimal
30151 @item r
30152 Raw
30153 @item N
30154 Natural
30155 @end table
30156
30157 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30158
30159 The corresponding @value{GDBN} commands are @samp{info reg}, @samp{info
30160 all-reg}, and (in @code{gdbtk}) @samp{gdb_fetch_registers}.
30161
30162 @subsubheading Example
30163
30164 For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
30165 don't appear in the actual output):
30166
30167 @smallexample
30168 (gdb)
30169 -data-list-register-values r 64 65
30170 ^done,register-values=[@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30171 @{number="65",value="0x00029002"@}]
30172 (gdb)
30173 -data-list-register-values x
30174 ^done,register-values=[@{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"@},
30175 @{number="1",value="0x3fff88"@},@{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30176 @{number="3",value="0x0"@},@{number="4",value="0xa"@},
30177 @{number="5",value="0x3fff68"@},@{number="6",value="0x3fff58"@},
30178 @{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"@},@{number="8",value="0x2"@},
30179 @{number="9",value="0xfa202820"@},@{number="10",value="0xfa202808"@},
30180 @{number="11",value="0x1"@},@{number="12",value="0x0"@},
30181 @{number="13",value="0x4544"@},@{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"@},
30182 @{number="15",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"@},
30183 @{number="17",value="0xefffffed"@},@{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"@},
30184 @{number="19",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="20",value="0xffffffff"@},
30185 @{number="21",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"@},
30186 @{number="23",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="24",value="0xffffffff"@},
30187 @{number="25",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"@},
30188 @{number="27",value="0xffffffff"@},@{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"@},
30189 @{number="29",value="0x0"@},@{number="30",value="0xfe010000"@},
30190 @{number="31",value="0x0"@},@{number="32",value="0x0"@},
30191 @{number="33",value="0x0"@},@{number="34",value="0x0"@},
30192 @{number="35",value="0x0"@},@{number="36",value="0x0"@},
30193 @{number="37",value="0x0"@},@{number="38",value="0x0"@},
30194 @{number="39",value="0x0"@},@{number="40",value="0x0"@},
30195 @{number="41",value="0x0"@},@{number="42",value="0x0"@},
30196 @{number="43",value="0x0"@},@{number="44",value="0x0"@},
30197 @{number="45",value="0x0"@},@{number="46",value="0x0"@},
30198 @{number="47",value="0x0"@},@{number="48",value="0x0"@},
30199 @{number="49",value="0x0"@},@{number="50",value="0x0"@},
30200 @{number="51",value="0x0"@},@{number="52",value="0x0"@},
30201 @{number="53",value="0x0"@},@{number="54",value="0x0"@},
30202 @{number="55",value="0x0"@},@{number="56",value="0x0"@},
30203 @{number="57",value="0x0"@},@{number="58",value="0x0"@},
30204 @{number="59",value="0x0"@},@{number="60",value="0x0"@},
30205 @{number="61",value="0x0"@},@{number="62",value="0x0"@},
30206 @{number="63",value="0x0"@},@{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"@},
30207 @{number="65",value="0x29002"@},@{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"@},
30208 @{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"@},@{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"@},
30209 @{number="69",value="0x20002b03"@}]
30210 (gdb)
30211 @end smallexample
30212
30213
30214 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory} Command
30215 @findex -data-read-memory
30216
30217 This command is deprecated, use @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} instead.
30218
30219 @subsubheading Synopsis
30220
30221 @smallexample
30222 -data-read-memory [ -o @var{byte-offset} ]
30223 @var{address} @var{word-format} @var{word-size}
30224 @var{nr-rows} @var{nr-cols} [ @var{aschar} ]
30225 @end smallexample
30226
30227 @noindent
30228 where:
30229
30230 @table @samp
30231 @item @var{address}
30232 An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
30233 read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30234 quoted using the C convention.
30235
30236 @item @var{word-format}
30237 The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is the
30238 same as for @value{GDBN}'s @code{print} command (@pxref{Output Formats,
30239 ,Output Formats}).
30240
30241 @item @var{word-size}
30242 The size of each memory word in bytes.
30243
30244 @item @var{nr-rows}
30245 The number of rows in the output table.
30246
30247 @item @var{nr-cols}
30248 The number of columns in the output table.
30249
30250 @item @var{aschar}
30251 If present, indicates that each row should include an @sc{ascii} dump. The
30252 value of @var{aschar} is used as a padding character when a byte is not a
30253 member of the printable @sc{ascii} character set (printable @sc{ascii}
30254 characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126, inclusively).
30255
30256 @item @var{byte-offset}
30257 An offset to add to the @var{address} before fetching memory.
30258 @end table
30259
30260 This command displays memory contents as a table of @var{nr-rows} by
30261 @var{nr-cols} words, each word being @var{word-size} bytes. In total,
30262 @code{@var{nr-rows} * @var{nr-cols} * @var{word-size}} bytes are read
30263 (returned as @samp{total-bytes}). Should less than the requested number
30264 of bytes be returned by the target, the missing words are identified
30265 using @samp{N/A}. The number of bytes read from the target is returned
30266 in @samp{nr-bytes} and the starting address used to read memory in
30267 @samp{addr}.
30268
30269 The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
30270 @samp{next-row} and @samp{prev-row}, @samp{next-page} and
30271 @samp{prev-page}.
30272
30273 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30274
30275 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}. @code{gdbtk} has
30276 @samp{gdb_get_mem} memory read command.
30277
30278 @subsubheading Example
30279
30280 Read six bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+6} but then offset by
30281 @code{-6} bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per
30282 word. Display each word in hex.
30283
30284 @smallexample
30285 (gdb)
30286 9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
30287 9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
30288 next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
30289 prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
30290 @{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]@},
30291 @{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]@},
30292 @{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]@}]
30293 (gdb)
30294 @end smallexample
30295
30296 Read two bytes of memory starting at address @code{shorts + 64} and
30297 display as a single word formatted in decimal.
30298
30299 @smallexample
30300 (gdb)
30301 5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
30302 5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
30303 next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
30304 next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
30305 @{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]@}]
30306 (gdb)
30307 @end smallexample
30308
30309 Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at @code{bytes+16} and format
30310 as eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with @samp{x}
30311 used as the non-printable character.
30312
30313 @smallexample
30314 (gdb)
30315 4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
30316 4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
30317 next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
30318 next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
30319 @{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30320 @{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30321 @{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30322 @{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"@},
30323 @{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"@},
30324 @{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"@},
30325 @{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"@},
30326 @{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"@}]
30327 (gdb)
30328 @end smallexample
30329
30330 @subheading The @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} Command
30331 @findex -data-read-memory-bytes
30332
30333 @subsubheading Synopsis
30334
30335 @smallexample
30336 -data-read-memory-bytes [ -o @var{offset} ]
30337 @var{address} @var{count}
30338 @end smallexample
30339
30340 @noindent
30341 where:
30342
30343 @table @samp
30344 @item @var{address}
30345 An expression specifying the address of the first addressable memory unit
30346 to be read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should be
30347 quoted using the C convention.
30348
30349 @item @var{count}
30350 The number of addressable memory units to read. This should be an integer
30351 literal.
30352
30353 @item @var{offset}
30354 The offset relative to @var{address} at which to start reading. This
30355 should be an integer literal. This option is provided so that a frontend
30356 is not required to first evaluate address and then perform address
30357 arithmetics itself.
30358
30359 @end table
30360
30361 This command attempts to read all accessible memory regions in the
30362 specified range. First, all regions marked as unreadable in the memory
30363 map (if one is defined) will be skipped. @xref{Memory Region
30364 Attributes}. Second, @value{GDBN} will attempt to read the remaining
30365 regions. For each one, if reading full region results in an errors,
30366 @value{GDBN} will try to read a subset of the region.
30367
30368 In general, every single memory unit in the region may be readable or not,
30369 and the only way to read every readable unit is to try a read at
30370 every address, which is not practical. Therefore, @value{GDBN} will
30371 attempt to read all accessible memory units at either beginning or the end
30372 of the region, using a binary division scheme. This heuristic works
30373 well for reading accross a memory map boundary. Note that if a region
30374 has a readable range that is neither at the beginning or the end,
30375 @value{GDBN} will not read it.
30376
30377 The result record (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}) that is output of
30378 the command includes a field named @samp{memory} whose content is a
30379 list of tuples. Each tuple represent a successfully read memory block
30380 and has the following fields:
30381
30382 @table @code
30383 @item begin
30384 The start address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
30385
30386 @item end
30387 The end address of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal.
30388
30389 @item offset
30390 The offset of the memory block, as hexadecimal literal, relative to
30391 the start address passed to @code{-data-read-memory-bytes}.
30392
30393 @item contents
30394 The contents of the memory block, in hex.
30395
30396 @end table
30397
30398
30399
30400 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30401
30402 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{x}.
30403
30404 @subsubheading Example
30405
30406 @smallexample
30407 (gdb)
30408 -data-read-memory-bytes &a 10
30409 ^done,memory=[@{begin="0xbffff154",offset="0x00000000",
30410 end="0xbffff15e",
30411 contents="01000000020000000300"@}]
30412 (gdb)
30413 @end smallexample
30414
30415
30416 @subheading The @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} Command
30417 @findex -data-write-memory-bytes
30418
30419 @subsubheading Synopsis
30420
30421 @smallexample
30422 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents}
30423 -data-write-memory-bytes @var{address} @var{contents} @r{[}@var{count}@r{]}
30424 @end smallexample
30425
30426 @noindent
30427 where:
30428
30429 @table @samp
30430 @item @var{address}
30431 An expression specifying the address of the first addressable memory unit
30432 to be written. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should
30433 be quoted using the C convention.
30434
30435 @item @var{contents}
30436 The hex-encoded data to write. It is an error if @var{contents} does
30437 not represent an integral number of addressable memory units.
30438
30439 @item @var{count}
30440 Optional argument indicating the number of addressable memory units to be
30441 written. If @var{count} is greater than @var{contents}' length,
30442 @value{GDBN} will repeatedly write @var{contents} until it fills
30443 @var{count} memory units.
30444
30445 @end table
30446
30447 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30448
30449 There's no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30450
30451 @subsubheading Example
30452
30453 @smallexample
30454 (gdb)
30455 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd"
30456 ^done
30457 (gdb)
30458 @end smallexample
30459
30460 @smallexample
30461 (gdb)
30462 -data-write-memory-bytes &a "aabbccdd" 16e
30463 ^done
30464 (gdb)
30465 @end smallexample
30466
30467 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30468 @node GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
30469 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Tracepoint Commands
30470
30471 The commands defined in this section implement MI support for
30472 tracepoints. For detailed introduction, see @ref{Tracepoints}.
30473
30474 @subheading The @code{-trace-find} Command
30475 @findex -trace-find
30476
30477 @subsubheading Synopsis
30478
30479 @smallexample
30480 -trace-find @var{mode} [@var{parameters}@dots{}]
30481 @end smallexample
30482
30483 Find a trace frame using criteria defined by @var{mode} and
30484 @var{parameters}. The following table lists permissible
30485 modes and their parameters. For details of operation, see @ref{tfind}.
30486
30487 @table @samp
30488
30489 @item none
30490 No parameters are required. Stops examining trace frames.
30491
30492 @item frame-number
30493 An integer is required as parameter. Selects tracepoint frame with
30494 that index.
30495
30496 @item tracepoint-number
30497 An integer is required as parameter. Finds next
30498 trace frame that corresponds to tracepoint with the specified number.
30499
30500 @item pc
30501 An address is required as parameter. Finds
30502 next trace frame that corresponds to any tracepoint at the specified
30503 address.
30504
30505 @item pc-inside-range
30506 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds next trace
30507 frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address inside the
30508 specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
30509
30510 @item pc-outside-range
30511 Two addresses are required as parameters. Finds
30512 next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at an address outside
30513 the specified range. Both bounds are considered to be inside the range.
30514
30515 @item line
30516 Line specification is required as parameter. @xref{Specify Location}.
30517 Finds next trace frame that corresponds to a tracepoint at
30518 the specified location.
30519
30520 @end table
30521
30522 If @samp{none} was passed as @var{mode}, the response does not
30523 have fields. Otherwise, the response may have the following fields:
30524
30525 @table @samp
30526 @item found
30527 This field has either @samp{0} or @samp{1} as the value, depending
30528 on whether a matching tracepoint was found.
30529
30530 @item traceframe
30531 The index of the found traceframe. This field is present iff
30532 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
30533
30534 @item tracepoint
30535 The index of the found tracepoint. This field is present iff
30536 the @samp{found} field has value of @samp{1}.
30537
30538 @item frame
30539 The information about the frame corresponding to the found trace
30540 frame. This field is present only if a trace frame was found.
30541 @xref{GDB/MI Frame Information}, for description of this field.
30542
30543 @end table
30544
30545 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30546
30547 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tfind}.
30548
30549 @subheading -trace-define-variable
30550 @findex -trace-define-variable
30551
30552 @subsubheading Synopsis
30553
30554 @smallexample
30555 -trace-define-variable @var{name} [ @var{value} ]
30556 @end smallexample
30557
30558 Create trace variable @var{name} if it does not exist. If
30559 @var{value} is specified, sets the initial value of the specified
30560 trace variable to that value. Note that the @var{name} should start
30561 with the @samp{$} character.
30562
30563 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30564
30565 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariable}.
30566
30567 @subheading The @code{-trace-frame-collected} Command
30568 @findex -trace-frame-collected
30569
30570 @subsubheading Synopsis
30571
30572 @smallexample
30573 -trace-frame-collected
30574 [--var-print-values @var{var_pval}]
30575 [--comp-print-values @var{comp_pval}]
30576 [--registers-format @var{regformat}]
30577 [--memory-contents]
30578 @end smallexample
30579
30580 This command returns the set of collected objects, register names,
30581 trace state variable names, memory ranges and computed expressions
30582 that have been collected at a particular trace frame. The optional
30583 parameters to the command affect the output format in different ways.
30584 See the output description table below for more details.
30585
30586 The reported names can be used in the normal manner to create
30587 varobjs and inspect the objects themselves. The items returned by
30588 this command are categorized so that it is clear which is a variable,
30589 which is a register, which is a trace state variable, which is a
30590 memory range and which is a computed expression.
30591
30592 For instance, if the actions were
30593 @smallexample
30594 collect myVar, myArray[myIndex], myObj.field, myPtr->field, myCount + 2
30595 collect *(int*)0xaf02bef0@@40
30596 @end smallexample
30597
30598 @noindent
30599 the object collected in its entirety would be @code{myVar}. The
30600 object @code{myArray} would be partially collected, because only the
30601 element at index @code{myIndex} would be collected. The remaining
30602 objects would be computed expressions.
30603
30604 An example output would be:
30605
30606 @smallexample
30607 (gdb)
30608 -trace-frame-collected
30609 ^done,
30610 explicit-variables=[@{name="myVar",value="1"@}],
30611 computed-expressions=[@{name="myArray[myIndex]",value="0"@},
30612 @{name="myObj.field",value="0"@},
30613 @{name="myPtr->field",value="1"@},
30614 @{name="myCount + 2",value="3"@},
30615 @{name="$tvar1 + 1",value="43970027"@}],
30616 registers=[@{number="0",value="0x7fe2c6e79ec8"@},
30617 @{number="1",value="0x0"@},
30618 @{number="2",value="0x4"@},
30619 ...
30620 @{number="125",value="0x0"@}],
30621 tvars=[@{name="$tvar1",current="43970026"@}],
30622 memory=[@{address="0x0000000000602264",length="4"@},
30623 @{address="0x0000000000615bc0",length="4"@}]
30624 (gdb)
30625 @end smallexample
30626
30627 Where:
30628
30629 @table @code
30630 @item explicit-variables
30631 The set of objects that have been collected in their entirety (as
30632 opposed to collecting just a few elements of an array or a few struct
30633 members). For each object, its name and value are printed.
30634 The @code{--var-print-values} option affects how or whether the value
30635 field is output. If @var{var_pval} is 0, then print only the names;
30636 if it is 1, print also their values; and if it is 2, print the name,
30637 type and value for simple data types, and the name and type for
30638 arrays, structures and unions.
30639
30640 @item computed-expressions
30641 The set of computed expressions that have been collected at the
30642 current trace frame. The @code{--comp-print-values} option affects
30643 this set like the @code{--var-print-values} option affects the
30644 @code{explicit-variables} set. See above.
30645
30646 @item registers
30647 The registers that have been collected at the current trace frame.
30648 For each register collected, the name and current value are returned.
30649 The value is formatted according to the @code{--registers-format}
30650 option. See the @command{-data-list-register-values} command for a
30651 list of the allowed formats. The default is @samp{x}.
30652
30653 @item tvars
30654 The trace state variables that have been collected at the current
30655 trace frame. For each trace state variable collected, the name and
30656 current value are returned.
30657
30658 @item memory
30659 The set of memory ranges that have been collected at the current trace
30660 frame. Its content is a list of tuples. Each tuple represents a
30661 collected memory range and has the following fields:
30662
30663 @table @code
30664 @item address
30665 The start address of the memory range, as hexadecimal literal.
30666
30667 @item length
30668 The length of the memory range, as decimal literal.
30669
30670 @item contents
30671 The contents of the memory block, in hex. This field is only present
30672 if the @code{--memory-contents} option is specified.
30673
30674 @end table
30675
30676 @end table
30677
30678 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30679
30680 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30681
30682 @subsubheading Example
30683
30684 @subheading -trace-list-variables
30685 @findex -trace-list-variables
30686
30687 @subsubheading Synopsis
30688
30689 @smallexample
30690 -trace-list-variables
30691 @end smallexample
30692
30693 Return a table of all defined trace variables. Each element of the
30694 table has the following fields:
30695
30696 @table @samp
30697 @item name
30698 The name of the trace variable. This field is always present.
30699
30700 @item initial
30701 The initial value. This is a 64-bit signed integer. This
30702 field is always present.
30703
30704 @item current
30705 The value the trace variable has at the moment. This is a 64-bit
30706 signed integer. This field is absent iff current value is
30707 not defined, for example if the trace was never run, or is
30708 presently running.
30709
30710 @end table
30711
30712 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30713
30714 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tvariables}.
30715
30716 @subsubheading Example
30717
30718 @smallexample
30719 (gdb)
30720 -trace-list-variables
30721 ^done,trace-variables=@{nr_rows="1",nr_cols="3",
30722 hdr=[@{width="15",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
30723 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="initial",colhdr="Initial"@},
30724 @{width="11",alignment="-1",col_name="current",colhdr="Current"@}],
30725 body=[variable=@{name="$trace_timestamp",initial="0"@}
30726 variable=@{name="$foo",initial="10",current="15"@}]@}
30727 (gdb)
30728 @end smallexample
30729
30730 @subheading -trace-save
30731 @findex -trace-save
30732
30733 @subsubheading Synopsis
30734
30735 @smallexample
30736 -trace-save [-r ] @var{filename}
30737 @end smallexample
30738
30739 Saves the collected trace data to @var{filename}. Without the
30740 @samp{-r} option, the data is downloaded from the target and saved
30741 in a local file. With the @samp{-r} option the target is asked
30742 to perform the save.
30743
30744 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30745
30746 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tsave}.
30747
30748
30749 @subheading -trace-start
30750 @findex -trace-start
30751
30752 @subsubheading Synopsis
30753
30754 @smallexample
30755 -trace-start
30756 @end smallexample
30757
30758 Starts a tracing experiments. The result of this command does not
30759 have any fields.
30760
30761 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30762
30763 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstart}.
30764
30765 @subheading -trace-status
30766 @findex -trace-status
30767
30768 @subsubheading Synopsis
30769
30770 @smallexample
30771 -trace-status
30772 @end smallexample
30773
30774 Obtains the status of a tracing experiment. The result may include
30775 the following fields:
30776
30777 @table @samp
30778
30779 @item supported
30780 May have a value of either @samp{0}, when no tracing operations are
30781 supported, @samp{1}, when all tracing operations are supported, or
30782 @samp{file} when examining trace file. In the latter case, examining
30783 of trace frame is possible but new tracing experiement cannot be
30784 started. This field is always present.
30785
30786 @item running
30787 May have a value of either @samp{0} or @samp{1} depending on whether
30788 tracing experiement is in progress on target. This field is present
30789 if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30790
30791 @item stop-reason
30792 Report the reason why the tracing was stopped last time. This field
30793 may be absent iff tracing was never stopped on target yet. The
30794 value of @samp{request} means the tracing was stopped as result of
30795 the @code{-trace-stop} command. The value of @samp{overflow} means
30796 the tracing buffer is full. The value of @samp{disconnection} means
30797 tracing was automatically stopped when @value{GDBN} has disconnected.
30798 The value of @samp{passcount} means tracing was stopped when a
30799 tracepoint was passed a maximal number of times for that tracepoint.
30800 This field is present if @samp{supported} field is not @samp{0}.
30801
30802 @item stopping-tracepoint
30803 The number of tracepoint whose passcount as exceeded. This field is
30804 present iff the @samp{stop-reason} field has the value of
30805 @samp{passcount}.
30806
30807 @item frames
30808 @itemx frames-created
30809 The @samp{frames} field is a count of the total number of trace frames
30810 in the trace buffer, while @samp{frames-created} is the total created
30811 during the run, including ones that were discarded, such as when a
30812 circular trace buffer filled up. Both fields are optional.
30813
30814 @item buffer-size
30815 @itemx buffer-free
30816 These fields tell the current size of the tracing buffer and the
30817 remaining space. These fields are optional.
30818
30819 @item circular
30820 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
30821 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
30822 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
30823 and may fill up.
30824
30825 @item disconnected
30826 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
30827 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
30828 that the trace run will stop.
30829
30830 @item trace-file
30831 The filename of the trace file being examined. This field is
30832 optional, and only present when examining a trace file.
30833
30834 @end table
30835
30836 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30837
30838 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstatus}.
30839
30840 @subheading -trace-stop
30841 @findex -trace-stop
30842
30843 @subsubheading Synopsis
30844
30845 @smallexample
30846 -trace-stop
30847 @end smallexample
30848
30849 Stops a tracing experiment. The result of this command has the same
30850 fields as @code{-trace-status}, except that the @samp{supported} and
30851 @samp{running} fields are not output.
30852
30853 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30854
30855 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{tstop}.
30856
30857
30858 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
30859 @node GDB/MI Symbol Query
30860 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Symbol Query Commands
30861
30862
30863 @ignore
30864 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-address} Command
30865 @findex -symbol-info-address
30866
30867 @subsubheading Synopsis
30868
30869 @smallexample
30870 -symbol-info-address @var{symbol}
30871 @end smallexample
30872
30873 Describe where @var{symbol} is stored.
30874
30875 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30876
30877 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info address}.
30878
30879 @subsubheading Example
30880 N.A.
30881
30882
30883 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-file} Command
30884 @findex -symbol-info-file
30885
30886 @subsubheading Synopsis
30887
30888 @smallexample
30889 -symbol-info-file
30890 @end smallexample
30891
30892 Show the file for the symbol.
30893
30894 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30895
30896 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command. @code{gdbtk} has
30897 @samp{gdb_find_file}.
30898
30899 @subsubheading Example
30900 N.A.
30901
30902
30903 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-function} Command
30904 @findex -symbol-info-function
30905
30906 @subsubheading Synopsis
30907
30908 @smallexample
30909 -symbol-info-function
30910 @end smallexample
30911
30912 Show which function the symbol lives in.
30913
30914 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30915
30916 @samp{gdb_get_function} in @code{gdbtk}.
30917
30918 @subsubheading Example
30919 N.A.
30920
30921
30922 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-line} Command
30923 @findex -symbol-info-line
30924
30925 @subsubheading Synopsis
30926
30927 @smallexample
30928 -symbol-info-line
30929 @end smallexample
30930
30931 Show the core addresses of the code for a source line.
30932
30933 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30934
30935 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info line}.
30936 @code{gdbtk} has the @samp{gdb_get_line} and @samp{gdb_get_file} commands.
30937
30938 @subsubheading Example
30939 N.A.
30940
30941
30942 @subheading The @code{-symbol-info-symbol} Command
30943 @findex -symbol-info-symbol
30944
30945 @subsubheading Synopsis
30946
30947 @smallexample
30948 -symbol-info-symbol @var{addr}
30949 @end smallexample
30950
30951 Describe what symbol is at location @var{addr}.
30952
30953 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30954
30955 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info symbol}.
30956
30957 @subsubheading Example
30958 N.A.
30959
30960
30961 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-functions} Command
30962 @findex -symbol-list-functions
30963
30964 @subsubheading Synopsis
30965
30966 @smallexample
30967 -symbol-list-functions
30968 @end smallexample
30969
30970 List the functions in the executable.
30971
30972 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30973
30974 @samp{info functions} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_listfunc} and
30975 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
30976
30977 @subsubheading Example
30978 N.A.
30979 @end ignore
30980
30981
30982 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-lines} Command
30983 @findex -symbol-list-lines
30984
30985 @subsubheading Synopsis
30986
30987 @smallexample
30988 -symbol-list-lines @var{filename}
30989 @end smallexample
30990
30991 Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated program
30992 addresses for the given source filename. The entries are sorted in
30993 ascending PC order.
30994
30995 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
30996
30997 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
30998
30999 @subsubheading Example
31000 @smallexample
31001 (gdb)
31002 -symbol-list-lines basics.c
31003 ^done,lines=[@{pc="0x08048554",line="7"@},@{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"@}]
31004 (gdb)
31005 @end smallexample
31006
31007
31008 @ignore
31009 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-types} Command
31010 @findex -symbol-list-types
31011
31012 @subsubheading Synopsis
31013
31014 @smallexample
31015 -symbol-list-types
31016 @end smallexample
31017
31018 List all the type names.
31019
31020 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31021
31022 The corresponding commands are @samp{info types} in @value{GDBN},
31023 @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31024
31025 @subsubheading Example
31026 N.A.
31027
31028
31029 @subheading The @code{-symbol-list-variables} Command
31030 @findex -symbol-list-variables
31031
31032 @subsubheading Synopsis
31033
31034 @smallexample
31035 -symbol-list-variables
31036 @end smallexample
31037
31038 List all the global and static variable names.
31039
31040 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31041
31042 @samp{info variables} in @value{GDBN}, @samp{gdb_search} in @code{gdbtk}.
31043
31044 @subsubheading Example
31045 N.A.
31046
31047
31048 @subheading The @code{-symbol-locate} Command
31049 @findex -symbol-locate
31050
31051 @subsubheading Synopsis
31052
31053 @smallexample
31054 -symbol-locate
31055 @end smallexample
31056
31057 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31058
31059 @samp{gdb_loc} in @code{gdbtk}.
31060
31061 @subsubheading Example
31062 N.A.
31063
31064
31065 @subheading The @code{-symbol-type} Command
31066 @findex -symbol-type
31067
31068 @subsubheading Synopsis
31069
31070 @smallexample
31071 -symbol-type @var{variable}
31072 @end smallexample
31073
31074 Show type of @var{variable}.
31075
31076 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31077
31078 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{ptype}, @code{gdbtk} has
31079 @samp{gdb_obj_variable}.
31080
31081 @subsubheading Example
31082 N.A.
31083 @end ignore
31084
31085
31086 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31087 @node GDB/MI File Commands
31088 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Commands
31089
31090 This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file names
31091 and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
31092
31093 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-and-symbols} Command
31094 @findex -file-exec-and-symbols
31095
31096 @subsubheading Synopsis
31097
31098 @smallexample
31099 -file-exec-and-symbols @var{file}
31100 @end smallexample
31101
31102 Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one from
31103 which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
31104 command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
31105 are set when using this command with no arguments, @value{GDBN} will produce
31106 error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
31107 notification.
31108
31109 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31110
31111 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{file}.
31112
31113 @subsubheading Example
31114
31115 @smallexample
31116 (gdb)
31117 -file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31118 ^done
31119 (gdb)
31120 @end smallexample
31121
31122
31123 @subheading The @code{-file-exec-file} Command
31124 @findex -file-exec-file
31125
31126 @subsubheading Synopsis
31127
31128 @smallexample
31129 -file-exec-file @var{file}
31130 @end smallexample
31131
31132 Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
31133 @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols}, the symbol table is @emph{not} read
31134 from this file. If used without argument, @value{GDBN} clears the information
31135 about the executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
31136 notification.
31137
31138 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31139
31140 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{exec-file}.
31141
31142 @subsubheading Example
31143
31144 @smallexample
31145 (gdb)
31146 -file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31147 ^done
31148 (gdb)
31149 @end smallexample
31150
31151
31152 @ignore
31153 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-sections} Command
31154 @findex -file-list-exec-sections
31155
31156 @subsubheading Synopsis
31157
31158 @smallexample
31159 -file-list-exec-sections
31160 @end smallexample
31161
31162 List the sections of the current executable file.
31163
31164 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31165
31166 The @value{GDBN} command @samp{info file} shows, among the rest, the same
31167 information as this command. @code{gdbtk} has a corresponding command
31168 @samp{gdb_load_info}.
31169
31170 @subsubheading Example
31171 N.A.
31172 @end ignore
31173
31174
31175 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-file} Command
31176 @findex -file-list-exec-source-file
31177
31178 @subsubheading Synopsis
31179
31180 @smallexample
31181 -file-list-exec-source-file
31182 @end smallexample
31183
31184 List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
31185 to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
31186 information field has a value of @samp{1} or @samp{0} depending on
31187 whether or not the file includes preprocessor macro information.
31188
31189 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31190
31191 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info source}
31192
31193 @subsubheading Example
31194
31195 @smallexample
31196 (gdb)
31197 123-file-list-exec-source-file
31198 123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
31199 (gdb)
31200 @end smallexample
31201
31202
31203 @subheading The @code{-file-list-exec-source-files} Command
31204 @findex -file-list-exec-source-files
31205
31206 @subsubheading Synopsis
31207
31208 @smallexample
31209 -file-list-exec-source-files
31210 @end smallexample
31211
31212 List the source files for the current executable.
31213
31214 It will always output both the filename and fullname (absolute file
31215 name) of a source file.
31216
31217 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31218
31219 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{info sources}.
31220 @code{gdbtk} has an analogous command @samp{gdb_listfiles}.
31221
31222 @subsubheading Example
31223 @smallexample
31224 (gdb)
31225 -file-list-exec-source-files
31226 ^done,files=[
31227 @{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c@},
31228 @{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c@},
31229 @{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c@}]
31230 (gdb)
31231 @end smallexample
31232
31233 @ignore
31234 @subheading The @code{-file-list-shared-libraries} Command
31235 @findex -file-list-shared-libraries
31236
31237 @subsubheading Synopsis
31238
31239 @smallexample
31240 -file-list-shared-libraries
31241 @end smallexample
31242
31243 List the shared libraries in the program.
31244
31245 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31246
31247 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info shared}.
31248
31249 @subsubheading Example
31250 N.A.
31251
31252
31253 @subheading The @code{-file-list-symbol-files} Command
31254 @findex -file-list-symbol-files
31255
31256 @subsubheading Synopsis
31257
31258 @smallexample
31259 -file-list-symbol-files
31260 @end smallexample
31261
31262 List symbol files.
31263
31264 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31265
31266 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info file} (part of it).
31267
31268 @subsubheading Example
31269 N.A.
31270 @end ignore
31271
31272
31273 @subheading The @code{-file-symbol-file} Command
31274 @findex -file-symbol-file
31275
31276 @subsubheading Synopsis
31277
31278 @smallexample
31279 -file-symbol-file @var{file}
31280 @end smallexample
31281
31282 Read symbol table info from the specified @var{file} argument. When
31283 used without arguments, clears @value{GDBN}'s symbol table info. No output is
31284 produced, except for a completion notification.
31285
31286 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31287
31288 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{symbol-file}.
31289
31290 @subsubheading Example
31291
31292 @smallexample
31293 (gdb)
31294 -file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
31295 ^done
31296 (gdb)
31297 @end smallexample
31298
31299 @ignore
31300 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31301 @node GDB/MI Memory Overlay Commands
31302 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Memory Overlay Commands
31303
31304 The memory overlay commands are not implemented.
31305
31306 @c @subheading -overlay-auto
31307
31308 @c @subheading -overlay-list-mapping-state
31309
31310 @c @subheading -overlay-list-overlays
31311
31312 @c @subheading -overlay-map
31313
31314 @c @subheading -overlay-off
31315
31316 @c @subheading -overlay-on
31317
31318 @c @subheading -overlay-unmap
31319
31320 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31321 @node GDB/MI Signal Handling Commands
31322 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Signal Handling Commands
31323
31324 Signal handling commands are not implemented.
31325
31326 @c @subheading -signal-handle
31327
31328 @c @subheading -signal-list-handle-actions
31329
31330 @c @subheading -signal-list-signal-types
31331 @end ignore
31332
31333
31334 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31335 @node GDB/MI Target Manipulation
31336 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Target Manipulation Commands
31337
31338
31339 @subheading The @code{-target-attach} Command
31340 @findex -target-attach
31341
31342 @subsubheading Synopsis
31343
31344 @smallexample
31345 -target-attach @var{pid} | @var{gid} | @var{file}
31346 @end smallexample
31347
31348 Attach to a process @var{pid} or a file @var{file} outside of
31349 @value{GDBN}, or a thread group @var{gid}. If attaching to a thread
31350 group, the id previously returned by
31351 @samp{-list-thread-groups --available} must be used.
31352
31353 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31354
31355 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{attach}.
31356
31357 @subsubheading Example
31358 @smallexample
31359 (gdb)
31360 -target-attach 34
31361 =thread-created,id="1"
31362 *stopped,thread-id="1",frame=@{addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]@}
31363 ^done
31364 (gdb)
31365 @end smallexample
31366
31367 @ignore
31368 @subheading The @code{-target-compare-sections} Command
31369 @findex -target-compare-sections
31370
31371 @subsubheading Synopsis
31372
31373 @smallexample
31374 -target-compare-sections [ @var{section} ]
31375 @end smallexample
31376
31377 Compare data of section @var{section} on target to the exec file.
31378 Without the argument, all sections are compared.
31379
31380 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31381
31382 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{compare-sections}.
31383
31384 @subsubheading Example
31385 N.A.
31386 @end ignore
31387
31388
31389 @subheading The @code{-target-detach} Command
31390 @findex -target-detach
31391
31392 @subsubheading Synopsis
31393
31394 @smallexample
31395 -target-detach [ @var{pid} | @var{gid} ]
31396 @end smallexample
31397
31398 Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
31399 If either @var{pid} or @var{gid} is specified, detaches from either
31400 the specified process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
31401
31402 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31403
31404 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{detach}.
31405
31406 @subsubheading Example
31407
31408 @smallexample
31409 (gdb)
31410 -target-detach
31411 ^done
31412 (gdb)
31413 @end smallexample
31414
31415
31416 @subheading The @code{-target-disconnect} Command
31417 @findex -target-disconnect
31418
31419 @subsubheading Synopsis
31420
31421 @smallexample
31422 -target-disconnect
31423 @end smallexample
31424
31425 Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target is
31426 generally not resumed.
31427
31428 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31429
31430 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{disconnect}.
31431
31432 @subsubheading Example
31433
31434 @smallexample
31435 (gdb)
31436 -target-disconnect
31437 ^done
31438 (gdb)
31439 @end smallexample
31440
31441
31442 @subheading The @code{-target-download} Command
31443 @findex -target-download
31444
31445 @subsubheading Synopsis
31446
31447 @smallexample
31448 -target-download
31449 @end smallexample
31450
31451 Loads the executable onto the remote target.
31452 It prints out an update message every half second, which includes the fields:
31453
31454 @table @samp
31455 @item section
31456 The name of the section.
31457 @item section-sent
31458 The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
31459 @item section-size
31460 The size of the section.
31461 @item total-sent
31462 The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the previous sections).
31463 @item total-size
31464 The size of the overall executable to download.
31465 @end table
31466
31467 @noindent
31468 Each message is sent as status record (@pxref{GDB/MI Output Syntax, ,
31469 @sc{gdb/mi} Output Syntax}).
31470
31471 In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
31472 downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
31473
31474 @table @samp
31475 @item section
31476 The name of the section.
31477 @item section-size
31478 The size of the section.
31479 @item total-size
31480 The size of the overall executable to download.
31481 @end table
31482
31483 @noindent
31484 At the end, a summary is printed.
31485
31486 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31487
31488 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{load}.
31489
31490 @subsubheading Example
31491
31492 Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
31493 have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
31494
31495 @smallexample
31496 (gdb)
31497 -target-download
31498 +download,@{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"@}
31499 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
31500 total-sent="512",total-size="9880"@}
31501 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
31502 total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"@}
31503 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
31504 total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"@}
31505 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
31506 total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"@}
31507 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
31508 total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"@}
31509 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
31510 total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"@}
31511 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
31512 total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"@}
31513 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
31514 total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"@}
31515 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
31516 total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"@}
31517 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
31518 total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"@}
31519 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
31520 total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"@}
31521 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
31522 total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"@}
31523 +download,@{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
31524 total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"@}
31525 +download,@{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
31526 +download,@{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"@}
31527 +download,@{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"@}
31528 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
31529 total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"@}
31530 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
31531 total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"@}
31532 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
31533 total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"@}
31534 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
31535 total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"@}
31536 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
31537 total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"@}
31538 +download,@{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
31539 total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"@}
31540 ^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
31541 write-rate="429"
31542 (gdb)
31543 @end smallexample
31544
31545
31546 @ignore
31547 @subheading The @code{-target-exec-status} Command
31548 @findex -target-exec-status
31549
31550 @subsubheading Synopsis
31551
31552 @smallexample
31553 -target-exec-status
31554 @end smallexample
31555
31556 Provide information on the state of the target (whether it is running or
31557 not, for instance).
31558
31559 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31560
31561 There's no equivalent @value{GDBN} command.
31562
31563 @subsubheading Example
31564 N.A.
31565
31566
31567 @subheading The @code{-target-list-available-targets} Command
31568 @findex -target-list-available-targets
31569
31570 @subsubheading Synopsis
31571
31572 @smallexample
31573 -target-list-available-targets
31574 @end smallexample
31575
31576 List the possible targets to connect to.
31577
31578 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31579
31580 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{help target}.
31581
31582 @subsubheading Example
31583 N.A.
31584
31585
31586 @subheading The @code{-target-list-current-targets} Command
31587 @findex -target-list-current-targets
31588
31589 @subsubheading Synopsis
31590
31591 @smallexample
31592 -target-list-current-targets
31593 @end smallexample
31594
31595 Describe the current target.
31596
31597 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31598
31599 The corresponding information is printed by @samp{info file} (among
31600 other things).
31601
31602 @subsubheading Example
31603 N.A.
31604
31605
31606 @subheading The @code{-target-list-parameters} Command
31607 @findex -target-list-parameters
31608
31609 @subsubheading Synopsis
31610
31611 @smallexample
31612 -target-list-parameters
31613 @end smallexample
31614
31615 @c ????
31616 @end ignore
31617
31618 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31619
31620 No equivalent.
31621
31622 @subsubheading Example
31623 N.A.
31624
31625
31626 @subheading The @code{-target-select} Command
31627 @findex -target-select
31628
31629 @subsubheading Synopsis
31630
31631 @smallexample
31632 -target-select @var{type} @var{parameters @dots{}}
31633 @end smallexample
31634
31635 Connect @value{GDBN} to the remote target. This command takes two args:
31636
31637 @table @samp
31638 @item @var{type}
31639 The type of target, for instance @samp{remote}, etc.
31640 @item @var{parameters}
31641 Device names, host names and the like. @xref{Target Commands, ,
31642 Commands for Managing Targets}, for more details.
31643 @end table
31644
31645 The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
31646 which the target program is, in the following form:
31647
31648 @smallexample
31649 ^connected,addr="@var{address}",func="@var{function name}",
31650 args=[@var{arg list}]
31651 @end smallexample
31652
31653 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31654
31655 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{target}.
31656
31657 @subsubheading Example
31658
31659 @smallexample
31660 (gdb)
31661 -target-select remote /dev/ttya
31662 ^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
31663 (gdb)
31664 @end smallexample
31665
31666 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31667 @node GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
31668 @section @sc{gdb/mi} File Transfer Commands
31669
31670
31671 @subheading The @code{-target-file-put} Command
31672 @findex -target-file-put
31673
31674 @subsubheading Synopsis
31675
31676 @smallexample
31677 -target-file-put @var{hostfile} @var{targetfile}
31678 @end smallexample
31679
31680 Copy file @var{hostfile} from the host system (the machine running
31681 @value{GDBN}) to @var{targetfile} on the target system.
31682
31683 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31684
31685 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote put}.
31686
31687 @subsubheading Example
31688
31689 @smallexample
31690 (gdb)
31691 -target-file-put localfile remotefile
31692 ^done
31693 (gdb)
31694 @end smallexample
31695
31696
31697 @subheading The @code{-target-file-get} Command
31698 @findex -target-file-get
31699
31700 @subsubheading Synopsis
31701
31702 @smallexample
31703 -target-file-get @var{targetfile} @var{hostfile}
31704 @end smallexample
31705
31706 Copy file @var{targetfile} from the target system to @var{hostfile}
31707 on the host system.
31708
31709 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31710
31711 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote get}.
31712
31713 @subsubheading Example
31714
31715 @smallexample
31716 (gdb)
31717 -target-file-get remotefile localfile
31718 ^done
31719 (gdb)
31720 @end smallexample
31721
31722
31723 @subheading The @code{-target-file-delete} Command
31724 @findex -target-file-delete
31725
31726 @subsubheading Synopsis
31727
31728 @smallexample
31729 -target-file-delete @var{targetfile}
31730 @end smallexample
31731
31732 Delete @var{targetfile} from the target system.
31733
31734 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31735
31736 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{remote delete}.
31737
31738 @subsubheading Example
31739
31740 @smallexample
31741 (gdb)
31742 -target-file-delete remotefile
31743 ^done
31744 (gdb)
31745 @end smallexample
31746
31747
31748 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31749 @node GDB/MI Ada Exceptions Commands
31750 @section Ada Exceptions @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
31751
31752 @subheading The @code{-info-ada-exceptions} Command
31753 @findex -info-ada-exceptions
31754
31755 @subsubheading Synopsis
31756
31757 @smallexample
31758 -info-ada-exceptions [ @var{regexp}]
31759 @end smallexample
31760
31761 List all Ada exceptions defined within the program being debugged.
31762 With a regular expression @var{regexp}, only those exceptions whose
31763 names match @var{regexp} are listed.
31764
31765 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31766
31767 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info exceptions}.
31768
31769 @subsubheading Result
31770
31771 The result is a table of Ada exceptions. The following columns are
31772 defined for each exception:
31773
31774 @table @samp
31775 @item name
31776 The name of the exception.
31777
31778 @item address
31779 The address of the exception.
31780
31781 @end table
31782
31783 @subsubheading Example
31784
31785 @smallexample
31786 -info-ada-exceptions aint
31787 ^done,ada-exceptions=@{nr_rows="2",nr_cols="2",
31788 hdr=[@{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="name",colhdr="Name"@},
31789 @{width="1",alignment="-1",col_name="address",colhdr="Address"@}],
31790 body=[@{name="constraint_error",address="0x0000000000613da0"@},
31791 @{name="const.aint_global_e",address="0x0000000000613b00"@}]@}
31792 @end smallexample
31793
31794 @subheading Catching Ada Exceptions
31795
31796 The commands describing how to ask @value{GDBN} to stop when a program
31797 raises an exception are described at @ref{Ada Exception GDB/MI
31798 Catchpoint Commands}.
31799
31800
31801 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31802 @node GDB/MI Support Commands
31803 @section @sc{gdb/mi} Support Commands
31804
31805 Since new commands and features get regularly added to @sc{gdb/mi},
31806 some commands are available to help front-ends query the debugger
31807 about support for these capabilities. Similarly, it is also possible
31808 to query @value{GDBN} about target support of certain features.
31809
31810 @subheading The @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} Command
31811 @cindex @code{-info-gdb-mi-command}
31812 @findex -info-gdb-mi-command
31813
31814 @subsubheading Synopsis
31815
31816 @smallexample
31817 -info-gdb-mi-command @var{cmd_name}
31818 @end smallexample
31819
31820 Query support for the @sc{gdb/mi} command named @var{cmd_name}.
31821
31822 Note that the dash (@code{-}) starting all @sc{gdb/mi} commands
31823 is technically not part of the command name (@pxref{GDB/MI Input
31824 Syntax}), and thus should be omitted in @var{cmd_name}. However,
31825 for ease of use, this command also accepts the form with the leading
31826 dash.
31827
31828 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31829
31830 There is no corresponding @value{GDBN} command.
31831
31832 @subsubheading Result
31833
31834 The result is a tuple. There is currently only one field:
31835
31836 @table @samp
31837 @item exists
31838 This field is equal to @code{"true"} if the @sc{gdb/mi} command exists,
31839 @code{"false"} otherwise.
31840
31841 @end table
31842
31843 @subsubheading Example
31844
31845 Here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command does not exist:
31846
31847 @smallexample
31848 -info-gdb-mi-command unsupported-command
31849 ^done,command=@{exists="false"@}
31850 @end smallexample
31851
31852 @noindent
31853 And here is an example where the @sc{gdb/mi} command is known
31854 to the debugger:
31855
31856 @smallexample
31857 -info-gdb-mi-command symbol-list-lines
31858 ^done,command=@{exists="true"@}
31859 @end smallexample
31860
31861 @subheading The @code{-list-features} Command
31862 @findex -list-features
31863 @cindex supported @sc{gdb/mi} features, list
31864
31865 Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that
31866 this version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command,
31867 or a new field in an output of some command, or even an
31868 important bugfix. While a frontend can sometimes detect presence
31869 of a feature at runtime, it is easier to perform detection at debugger
31870 startup.
31871
31872 The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
31873 available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
31874 have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names
31875 is given below.
31876
31877 Example output:
31878
31879 @smallexample
31880 (gdb) -list-features
31881 ^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
31882 @end smallexample
31883
31884 The current list of features is:
31885
31886 @ftable @samp
31887 @item frozen-varobjs
31888 Indicates support for the @code{-var-set-frozen} command, as well
31889 as possible presense of the @code{frozen} field in the output
31890 of @code{-varobj-create}.
31891 @item pending-breakpoints
31892 Indicates support for the @option{-f} option to the @code{-break-insert}
31893 command.
31894 @item python
31895 Indicates Python scripting support, Python-based
31896 pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
31897 @samp{display_hint} field in the output of @code{-var-list-children}
31898 @item thread-info
31899 Indicates support for the @code{-thread-info} command.
31900 @item data-read-memory-bytes
31901 Indicates support for the @code{-data-read-memory-bytes} and the
31902 @code{-data-write-memory-bytes} commands.
31903 @item breakpoint-notifications
31904 Indicates that changes to breakpoints and breakpoints created via the
31905 CLI will be announced via async records.
31906 @item ada-task-info
31907 Indicates support for the @code{-ada-task-info} command.
31908 @item language-option
31909 Indicates that all @sc{gdb/mi} commands accept the @option{--language}
31910 option (@pxref{Context management}).
31911 @item info-gdb-mi-command
31912 Indicates support for the @code{-info-gdb-mi-command} command.
31913 @item undefined-command-error-code
31914 Indicates support for the "undefined-command" error code in error result
31915 records, produced when trying to execute an undefined @sc{gdb/mi} command
31916 (@pxref{GDB/MI Result Records}).
31917 @item exec-run-start-option
31918 Indicates that the @code{-exec-run} command supports the @option{--start}
31919 option (@pxref{GDB/MI Program Execution}).
31920 @end ftable
31921
31922 @subheading The @code{-list-target-features} Command
31923 @findex -list-target-features
31924
31925 Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the
31926 target. Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but
31927 unlike the features reported by the @code{-list-features} command, the
31928 features depend on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever
31929 a target can change, due to commands such as @code{-target-select},
31930 @code{-target-attach} or @code{-exec-run}, the list of target features
31931 may change, and the frontend should obtain it again.
31932 Example output:
31933
31934 @smallexample
31935 (gdb) -list-target-features
31936 ^done,result=["async"]
31937 @end smallexample
31938
31939 The current list of features is:
31940
31941 @table @samp
31942 @item async
31943 Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
31944 execution, which means that @value{GDBN} will accept further commands
31945 while the target is running.
31946
31947 @item reverse
31948 Indicates that the target is capable of reverse execution.
31949 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
31950
31951 @end table
31952
31953 @c %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% SECTION %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
31954 @node GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands
31955 @section Miscellaneous @sc{gdb/mi} Commands
31956
31957 @c @subheading -gdb-complete
31958
31959 @subheading The @code{-gdb-exit} Command
31960 @findex -gdb-exit
31961
31962 @subsubheading Synopsis
31963
31964 @smallexample
31965 -gdb-exit
31966 @end smallexample
31967
31968 Exit @value{GDBN} immediately.
31969
31970 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31971
31972 Approximately corresponds to @samp{quit}.
31973
31974 @subsubheading Example
31975
31976 @smallexample
31977 (gdb)
31978 -gdb-exit
31979 ^exit
31980 @end smallexample
31981
31982
31983 @ignore
31984 @subheading The @code{-exec-abort} Command
31985 @findex -exec-abort
31986
31987 @subsubheading Synopsis
31988
31989 @smallexample
31990 -exec-abort
31991 @end smallexample
31992
31993 Kill the inferior running program.
31994
31995 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
31996
31997 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{kill}.
31998
31999 @subsubheading Example
32000 N.A.
32001 @end ignore
32002
32003
32004 @subheading The @code{-gdb-set} Command
32005 @findex -gdb-set
32006
32007 @subsubheading Synopsis
32008
32009 @smallexample
32010 -gdb-set
32011 @end smallexample
32012
32013 Set an internal @value{GDBN} variable.
32014 @c IS THIS A DOLLAR VARIABLE? OR SOMETHING LIKE ANNOTATE ?????
32015
32016 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32017
32018 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set}.
32019
32020 @subsubheading Example
32021
32022 @smallexample
32023 (gdb)
32024 -gdb-set $foo=3
32025 ^done
32026 (gdb)
32027 @end smallexample
32028
32029
32030 @subheading The @code{-gdb-show} Command
32031 @findex -gdb-show
32032
32033 @subsubheading Synopsis
32034
32035 @smallexample
32036 -gdb-show
32037 @end smallexample
32038
32039 Show the current value of a @value{GDBN} variable.
32040
32041 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32042
32043 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show}.
32044
32045 @subsubheading Example
32046
32047 @smallexample
32048 (gdb)
32049 -gdb-show annotate
32050 ^done,value="0"
32051 (gdb)
32052 @end smallexample
32053
32054 @c @subheading -gdb-source
32055
32056
32057 @subheading The @code{-gdb-version} Command
32058 @findex -gdb-version
32059
32060 @subsubheading Synopsis
32061
32062 @smallexample
32063 -gdb-version
32064 @end smallexample
32065
32066 Show version information for @value{GDBN}. Used mostly in testing.
32067
32068 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32069
32070 The @value{GDBN} equivalent is @samp{show version}. @value{GDBN} by
32071 default shows this information when you start an interactive session.
32072
32073 @subsubheading Example
32074
32075 @c This example modifies the actual output from GDB to avoid overfull
32076 @c box in TeX.
32077 @smallexample
32078 (gdb)
32079 -gdb-version
32080 ~GNU gdb 5.2.1
32081 ~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32082 ~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
32083 ~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
32084 ~ certain conditions.
32085 ~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32086 ~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
32087 ~ details.
32088 ~This GDB was configured as
32089 "--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
32090 ^done
32091 (gdb)
32092 @end smallexample
32093
32094 @subheading The @code{-list-thread-groups} Command
32095 @findex -list-thread-groups
32096
32097 @subheading Synopsis
32098
32099 @smallexample
32100 -list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ @var{group} ... ]
32101 @end smallexample
32102
32103 Lists thread groups (@pxref{Thread groups}). When a single thread
32104 group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
32105 When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
32106 thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
32107 top-level thread groups.
32108
32109 Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported.
32110 With the @samp{--available} option, @value{GDBN} reports thread groups
32111 available on the target.
32112
32113 The output of this command may have either a @samp{threads} result or
32114 a @samp{groups} result. The @samp{thread} result has a list of tuples
32115 as value, with each tuple describing a thread (@pxref{GDB/MI Thread
32116 Information}). The @samp{groups} result has a list of tuples as value,
32117 each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
32118 requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups
32119 are passed, the output always has a @samp{groups} result. The format
32120 of the @samp{group} result is described below.
32121
32122 To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread groups
32123 together with their children, by passing the @samp{--recurse} option
32124 and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
32125 permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
32126 will also include its children, either as @samp{group} or
32127 @samp{threads} field.
32128
32129 In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted, with
32130 the following caveats:
32131
32132 @itemize @bullet
32133 @item
32134 When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically
32135 be the @samp{threads} result. Because threads may not contain
32136 anything, the @samp{recurse} option will be ignored.
32137
32138 @item
32139 When the @samp{--available} option is passed, limited information may
32140 be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process might
32141 be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups might
32142 not give any performance advantage over listing all thread groups.
32143 The frontend should assume that @samp{-list-thread-groups --available}
32144 is always an expensive operation and cache the results.
32145
32146 @end itemize
32147
32148 The @samp{groups} result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may
32149 have the following fields:
32150
32151 @table @code
32152 @item id
32153 Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
32154 The identifier is an opaque string; frontends should not try to
32155 convert it to an integer, even though it might look like one.
32156
32157 @item type
32158 The type of the thread group. At present, only @samp{process} is a
32159 valid type.
32160
32161 @item pid
32162 The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
32163 for thread groups of type @samp{process} and only if the process exists.
32164
32165 @item exit-code
32166 The exit code of this group's last exited thread, formatted in octal.
32167 This field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process} and
32168 only if the process is not running.
32169
32170 @item num_children
32171 The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
32172 absent for an available thread group.
32173
32174 @item threads
32175 This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
32176 thread. It may be present if the @samp{--recurse} option is
32177 specified, and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
32178
32179 @item cores
32180 This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
32181 thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
32182 such information is not available.
32183
32184 @item executable
32185 The name of the executable file that corresponds to this thread group.
32186 The field is only present for thread groups of type @samp{process},
32187 and only if there is a corresponding executable file.
32188
32189 @end table
32190
32191 @subheading Example
32192
32193 @smallexample
32194 @value{GDBP}
32195 -list-thread-groups
32196 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"@}]
32197 -list-thread-groups 17
32198 ^done,threads=[@{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
32199 frame=@{level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]@},state="running"@},
32200 @{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
32201 frame=@{level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[@{name="i",value="10"@}],
32202 file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"@},state="running"@}]]
32203 -list-thread-groups --available
32204 ^done,groups=[@{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]@}]
32205 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
32206 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32207 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32208 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},..]
32209 -list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
32210 ^done,groups=[@{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
32211 threads=[@{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]@},
32212 @{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]@}]@},...]
32213 @end smallexample
32214
32215 @subheading The @code{-info-os} Command
32216 @findex -info-os
32217
32218 @subsubheading Synopsis
32219
32220 @smallexample
32221 -info-os [ @var{type} ]
32222 @end smallexample
32223
32224 If no argument is supplied, the command returns a table of available
32225 operating-system-specific information types. If one of these types is
32226 supplied as an argument @var{type}, then the command returns a table
32227 of data of that type.
32228
32229 The types of information available depend on the target operating
32230 system.
32231
32232 @subsubheading @value{GDBN} Command
32233
32234 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{info os}.
32235
32236 @subsubheading Example
32237
32238 When run on a @sc{gnu}/Linux system, the output will look something
32239 like this:
32240
32241 @smallexample
32242 @value{GDBP}
32243 -info-os
32244 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="10",nr_cols="3",
32245 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="Type"@},
32246 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="Description"@},
32247 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="Title"@}],
32248 body=[item=@{col0="cpus",col1="Listing of all cpus/cores on the system",
32249 col2="CPUs"@},
32250 item=@{col0="files",col1="Listing of all file descriptors",
32251 col2="File descriptors"@},
32252 item=@{col0="modules",col1="Listing of all loaded kernel modules",
32253 col2="Kernel modules"@},
32254 item=@{col0="msg",col1="Listing of all message queues",
32255 col2="Message queues"@},
32256 item=@{col0="processes",col1="Listing of all processes",
32257 col2="Processes"@},
32258 item=@{col0="procgroups",col1="Listing of all process groups",
32259 col2="Process groups"@},
32260 item=@{col0="semaphores",col1="Listing of all semaphores",
32261 col2="Semaphores"@},
32262 item=@{col0="shm",col1="Listing of all shared-memory regions",
32263 col2="Shared-memory regions"@},
32264 item=@{col0="sockets",col1="Listing of all internet-domain sockets",
32265 col2="Sockets"@},
32266 item=@{col0="threads",col1="Listing of all threads",
32267 col2="Threads"@}]
32268 @value{GDBP}
32269 -info-os processes
32270 ^done,OSDataTable=@{nr_rows="190",nr_cols="4",
32271 hdr=[@{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col0",colhdr="pid"@},
32272 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col1",colhdr="user"@},
32273 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col2",colhdr="command"@},
32274 @{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="col3",colhdr="cores"@}],
32275 body=[item=@{col0="1",col1="root",col2="/sbin/init",col3="0"@},
32276 item=@{col0="2",col1="root",col2="[kthreadd]",col3="1"@},
32277 item=@{col0="3",col1="root",col2="[ksoftirqd/0]",col3="0"@},
32278 ...
32279 item=@{col0="26446",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="0"@},
32280 item=@{col0="28152",col1="stan",col2="bash",col3="1"@}]@}
32281 (gdb)
32282 @end smallexample
32283
32284 (Note that the MI output here includes a @code{"Title"} column that
32285 does not appear in command-line @code{info os}; this column is useful
32286 for MI clients that want to enumerate the types of data, such as in a
32287 popup menu, but is needless clutter on the command line, and
32288 @code{info os} omits it.)
32289
32290 @subheading The @code{-add-inferior} Command
32291 @findex -add-inferior
32292
32293 @subheading Synopsis
32294
32295 @smallexample
32296 -add-inferior
32297 @end smallexample
32298
32299 Creates a new inferior (@pxref{Inferiors and Programs}). The created
32300 inferior is not associated with any executable. Such association may
32301 be established with the @samp{-file-exec-and-symbols} command
32302 (@pxref{GDB/MI File Commands}). The command response has a single
32303 field, @samp{inferior}, whose value is the identifier of the
32304 thread group corresponding to the new inferior.
32305
32306 @subheading Example
32307
32308 @smallexample
32309 @value{GDBP}
32310 -add-inferior
32311 ^done,inferior="i3"
32312 @end smallexample
32313
32314 @subheading The @code{-interpreter-exec} Command
32315 @findex -interpreter-exec
32316
32317 @subheading Synopsis
32318
32319 @smallexample
32320 -interpreter-exec @var{interpreter} @var{command}
32321 @end smallexample
32322 @anchor{-interpreter-exec}
32323
32324 Execute the specified @var{command} in the given @var{interpreter}.
32325
32326 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32327
32328 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{interpreter-exec}.
32329
32330 @subheading Example
32331
32332 @smallexample
32333 (gdb)
32334 -interpreter-exec console "break main"
32335 &"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
32336 &"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
32337 ~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
32338 ^done
32339 (gdb)
32340 @end smallexample
32341
32342 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-set} Command
32343 @findex -inferior-tty-set
32344
32345 @subheading Synopsis
32346
32347 @smallexample
32348 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32349 @end smallexample
32350
32351 Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
32352
32353 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32354
32355 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{set inferior-tty} /dev/pts/1.
32356
32357 @subheading Example
32358
32359 @smallexample
32360 (gdb)
32361 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32362 ^done
32363 (gdb)
32364 @end smallexample
32365
32366 @subheading The @code{-inferior-tty-show} Command
32367 @findex -inferior-tty-show
32368
32369 @subheading Synopsis
32370
32371 @smallexample
32372 -inferior-tty-show
32373 @end smallexample
32374
32375 Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
32376
32377 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32378
32379 The corresponding @value{GDBN} command is @samp{show inferior-tty}.
32380
32381 @subheading Example
32382
32383 @smallexample
32384 (gdb)
32385 -inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
32386 ^done
32387 (gdb)
32388 -inferior-tty-show
32389 ^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
32390 (gdb)
32391 @end smallexample
32392
32393 @subheading The @code{-enable-timings} Command
32394 @findex -enable-timings
32395
32396 @subheading Synopsis
32397
32398 @smallexample
32399 -enable-timings [yes | no]
32400 @end smallexample
32401
32402 Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
32403 command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
32404 developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
32405 equivalent to @samp{yes}.
32406
32407 @subheading @value{GDBN} Command
32408
32409 No equivalent.
32410
32411 @subheading Example
32412
32413 @smallexample
32414 (gdb)
32415 -enable-timings
32416 ^done
32417 (gdb)
32418 -break-insert main
32419 ^done,bkpt=@{number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
32420 addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
32421 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",thread-groups=["i1"],
32422 times="0"@},
32423 time=@{wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"@}
32424 (gdb)
32425 -enable-timings no
32426 ^done
32427 (gdb)
32428 -exec-run
32429 ^running
32430 (gdb)
32431 *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
32432 frame=@{addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[@{name="argc",value="1"@},
32433 @{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"@}],file="myprog.c",
32434 fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"@}
32435 (gdb)
32436 @end smallexample
32437
32438 @node Annotations
32439 @chapter @value{GDBN} Annotations
32440
32441 This chapter describes annotations in @value{GDBN}. Annotations were
32442 designed to interface @value{GDBN} to graphical user interfaces or other
32443 similar programs which want to interact with @value{GDBN} at a
32444 relatively high level.
32445
32446 The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by @sc{gdb/mi}
32447 (@pxref{GDB/MI}).
32448
32449 @ignore
32450 This is Edition @value{EDITION}, @value{DATE}.
32451 @end ignore
32452
32453 @menu
32454 * Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
32455 * Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
32456 * Prompting:: Annotations marking @value{GDBN}'s need for input.
32457 * Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
32458 * Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
32459 * Annotations for Running::
32460 Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
32461 * Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
32462 @end menu
32463
32464 @node Annotations Overview
32465 @section What is an Annotation?
32466 @cindex annotations
32467
32468 Annotations start with a newline character, two @samp{control-z}
32469 characters, and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional
32470 information associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation
32471 is followed immediately by a newline. If there is additional
32472 information, the name of the annotation is followed by a space, the
32473 additional information, and a newline. The additional information
32474 cannot contain newline characters.
32475
32476 Any output not beginning with a newline and two @samp{control-z}
32477 characters denotes literal output from @value{GDBN}. Currently there is
32478 no need for @value{GDBN} to output a newline followed by two
32479 @samp{control-z} characters, but if there was such a need, the
32480 annotations could be extended with an @samp{escape} annotation which
32481 means those three characters as output.
32482
32483 The annotation @var{level}, which is specified using the
32484 @option{--annotate} command line option (@pxref{Mode Options}), controls
32485 how much information @value{GDBN} prints together with its prompt,
32486 values of expressions, source lines, and other types of output. Level 0
32487 is for no annotations, level 1 is for use when @value{GDBN} is run as a
32488 subprocess of @sc{gnu} Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable
32489 for programs that control @value{GDBN}, and level 2 annotations have
32490 been made obsolete (@pxref{Limitations, , Limitations of the Annotation
32491 Interface, annotate, GDB's Obsolete Annotations}).
32492
32493 @table @code
32494 @kindex set annotate
32495 @item set annotate @var{level}
32496 The @value{GDBN} command @code{set annotate} sets the level of
32497 annotations to the specified @var{level}.
32498
32499 @item show annotate
32500 @kindex show annotate
32501 Show the current annotation level.
32502 @end table
32503
32504 This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
32505
32506 A simple example of starting up @value{GDBN} with annotations is:
32507
32508 @smallexample
32509 $ @kbd{gdb --annotate=3}
32510 GNU gdb 6.0
32511 Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
32512 GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
32513 and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
32514 under certain conditions.
32515 Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
32516 There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
32517 for details.
32518 This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
32519
32520 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
32521 (@value{GDBP})
32522 ^Z^Zprompt
32523 @kbd{quit}
32524
32525 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
32526 $
32527 @end smallexample
32528
32529 Here @samp{quit} is input to @value{GDBN}; the rest is output from
32530 @value{GDBN}. The three lines beginning @samp{^Z^Z} (where @samp{^Z}
32531 denotes a @samp{control-z} character) are annotations; the rest is
32532 output from @value{GDBN}.
32533
32534 @node Server Prefix
32535 @section The Server Prefix
32536 @cindex server prefix
32537
32538 If you prefix a command with @samp{server } then it will not affect
32539 the command history, nor will it affect @value{GDBN}'s notion of which
32540 command to repeat if @key{RET} is pressed on a line by itself. This
32541 means that commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in
32542 a transparent manner.
32543
32544 The @code{server } prefix does not affect the recording of values into
32545 the value history; to print a value without recording it into the
32546 value history, use the @code{output} command instead of the
32547 @code{print} command.
32548
32549 Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests
32550 (@pxref{confirmation requests}).
32551
32552 @node Prompting
32553 @section Annotation for @value{GDBN} Input
32554
32555 @cindex annotations for prompts
32556 When @value{GDBN} prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible
32557 to know when to send output, when the output from a given command is
32558 over, etc.
32559
32560 Different kinds of input each have a different @dfn{input type}. Each
32561 input type has three annotations: a @code{pre-} annotation, which
32562 denotes the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain
32563 annotation, which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a @code{post-}
32564 annotation which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be
32565 associated with the input. For example, the @code{prompt} input type
32566 features the following annotations:
32567
32568 @smallexample
32569 ^Z^Zpre-prompt
32570 ^Z^Zprompt
32571 ^Z^Zpost-prompt
32572 @end smallexample
32573
32574 The input types are
32575
32576 @table @code
32577 @findex pre-prompt annotation
32578 @findex prompt annotation
32579 @findex post-prompt annotation
32580 @item prompt
32581 When @value{GDBN} is prompting for a command (the main @value{GDBN} prompt).
32582
32583 @findex pre-commands annotation
32584 @findex commands annotation
32585 @findex post-commands annotation
32586 @item commands
32587 When @value{GDBN} prompts for a set of commands, like in the @code{commands}
32588 command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is input.
32589
32590 @findex pre-overload-choice annotation
32591 @findex overload-choice annotation
32592 @findex post-overload-choice annotation
32593 @item overload-choice
32594 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to select between various overloaded functions.
32595
32596 @findex pre-query annotation
32597 @findex query annotation
32598 @findex post-query annotation
32599 @item query
32600 When @value{GDBN} wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous operation.
32601
32602 @findex pre-prompt-for-continue annotation
32603 @findex prompt-for-continue annotation
32604 @findex post-prompt-for-continue annotation
32605 @item prompt-for-continue
32606 When @value{GDBN} is asking the user to press return to continue. Note: Don't
32607 expect this to work well; instead use @code{set height 0} to disable
32608 prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy in the
32609 presence of annotations.
32610 @end table
32611
32612 @node Errors
32613 @section Errors
32614 @cindex annotations for errors, warnings and interrupts
32615
32616 @findex quit annotation
32617 @smallexample
32618 ^Z^Zquit
32619 @end smallexample
32620
32621 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an interrupt.
32622
32623 @findex error annotation
32624 @smallexample
32625 ^Z^Zerror
32626 @end smallexample
32627
32628 This annotation occurs right before @value{GDBN} responds to an error.
32629
32630 Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which @value{GDBN} was
32631 in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
32632 @code{value-history-begin} annotation is followed by a @code{error}, one
32633 cannot expect to receive the matching @code{value-history-end}. One
32634 cannot expect not to receive it either, however; an error annotation
32635 does not necessarily mean that @value{GDBN} is immediately returning all the way
32636 to the top level.
32637
32638 @findex error-begin annotation
32639 A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
32640
32641 @smallexample
32642 ^Z^Zerror-begin
32643 @end smallexample
32644
32645 Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
32646 message.
32647
32648 Warning messages are not yet annotated.
32649 @c If we want to change that, need to fix warning(), type_error(),
32650 @c range_error(), and possibly other places.
32651
32652 @node Invalidation
32653 @section Invalidation Notices
32654
32655 @cindex annotations for invalidation messages
32656 The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
32657 changed.
32658
32659 @table @code
32660 @findex frames-invalid annotation
32661 @item ^Z^Zframes-invalid
32662
32663 The frames (for example, output from the @code{backtrace} command) may
32664 have changed.
32665
32666 @findex breakpoints-invalid annotation
32667 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid
32668
32669 The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just added or
32670 deleted a breakpoint.
32671 @end table
32672
32673 @node Annotations for Running
32674 @section Running the Program
32675 @cindex annotations for running programs
32676
32677 @findex starting annotation
32678 @findex stopping annotation
32679 When the program starts executing due to a @value{GDBN} command such as
32680 @code{step} or @code{continue},
32681
32682 @smallexample
32683 ^Z^Zstarting
32684 @end smallexample
32685
32686 is output. When the program stops,
32687
32688 @smallexample
32689 ^Z^Zstopped
32690 @end smallexample
32691
32692 is output. Before the @code{stopped} annotation, a variety of
32693 annotations describe how the program stopped.
32694
32695 @table @code
32696 @findex exited annotation
32697 @item ^Z^Zexited @var{exit-status}
32698 The program exited, and @var{exit-status} is the exit status (zero for
32699 successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
32700
32701 @findex signalled annotation
32702 @findex signal-name annotation
32703 @findex signal-name-end annotation
32704 @findex signal-string annotation
32705 @findex signal-string-end annotation
32706 @item ^Z^Zsignalled
32707 The program exited with a signal. After the @code{^Z^Zsignalled}, the
32708 annotation continues:
32709
32710 @smallexample
32711 @var{intro-text}
32712 ^Z^Zsignal-name
32713 @var{name}
32714 ^Z^Zsignal-name-end
32715 @var{middle-text}
32716 ^Z^Zsignal-string
32717 @var{string}
32718 ^Z^Zsignal-string-end
32719 @var{end-text}
32720 @end smallexample
32721
32722 @noindent
32723 where @var{name} is the name of the signal, such as @code{SIGILL} or
32724 @code{SIGSEGV}, and @var{string} is the explanation of the signal, such
32725 as @code{Illegal Instruction} or @code{Segmentation fault}. The arguments
32726 @var{intro-text}, @var{middle-text}, and @var{end-text} are for the
32727 user's benefit and have no particular format.
32728
32729 @findex signal annotation
32730 @item ^Z^Zsignal
32731 The syntax of this annotation is just like @code{signalled}, but @value{GDBN} is
32732 just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
32733 terminated with it.
32734
32735 @findex breakpoint annotation
32736 @item ^Z^Zbreakpoint @var{number}
32737 The program hit breakpoint number @var{number}.
32738
32739 @findex watchpoint annotation
32740 @item ^Z^Zwatchpoint @var{number}
32741 The program hit watchpoint number @var{number}.
32742 @end table
32743
32744 @node Source Annotations
32745 @section Displaying Source
32746 @cindex annotations for source display
32747
32748 @findex source annotation
32749 The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
32750
32751 @smallexample
32752 ^Z^Zsource @var{filename}:@var{line}:@var{character}:@var{middle}:@var{addr}
32753 @end smallexample
32754
32755 where @var{filename} is an absolute file name indicating which source
32756 file, @var{line} is the line number within that file (where 1 is the
32757 first line in the file), @var{character} is the character position
32758 within the file (where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most
32759 debug formats this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line),
32760 @var{middle} is @samp{middle} if @var{addr} is in the middle of the
32761 line, or @samp{beg} if @var{addr} is at the beginning of the line, and
32762 @var{addr} is the address in the target program associated with the
32763 source which is being displayed. The @var{addr} is in the form @samp{0x}
32764 followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note that this does not
32765 depend on the language).
32766
32767 @node JIT Interface
32768 @chapter JIT Compilation Interface
32769 @cindex just-in-time compilation
32770 @cindex JIT compilation interface
32771
32772 This chapter documents @value{GDBN}'s @dfn{just-in-time} (JIT) compilation
32773 interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
32774 executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve good
32775 performance while maintaining platform independence.
32776
32777 Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug because
32778 portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of being loaded from
32779 object files, which is where @value{GDBN} normally finds the program's symbols
32780 and debug information. In order to debug programs that use JIT compilation,
32781 @value{GDBN} has an interface that allows the program to register in-memory
32782 symbol files with @value{GDBN} at runtime.
32783
32784 If you are using @value{GDBN} to debug a program that uses this interface, then
32785 it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the binary. If
32786 you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is documented in the rest
32787 of this chapter. At this time, the only known client of this interface is the
32788 LLVM JIT.
32789
32790 Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader interface. The
32791 JIT compiler communicates with @value{GDBN} by writing data into a global
32792 variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When @value{GDBN}
32793 attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global variable to
32794 find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function so that it can find
32795 out about additional code.
32796
32797 @menu
32798 * Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
32799 * Registering Code:: Steps to register code
32800 * Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
32801 * Custom Debug Info:: Emit debug information in a custom format
32802 @end menu
32803
32804 @node Declarations
32805 @section JIT Declarations
32806
32807 These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should include to
32808 implement the interface:
32809
32810 @smallexample
32811 typedef enum
32812 @{
32813 JIT_NOACTION = 0,
32814 JIT_REGISTER_FN,
32815 JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
32816 @} jit_actions_t;
32817
32818 struct jit_code_entry
32819 @{
32820 struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
32821 struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
32822 const char *symfile_addr;
32823 uint64_t symfile_size;
32824 @};
32825
32826 struct jit_descriptor
32827 @{
32828 uint32_t version;
32829 /* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
32830 to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
32831 uint32_t action_flag;
32832 struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
32833 struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
32834 @};
32835
32836 /* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
32837 void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() @{ @};
32838
32839 /* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
32840 debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
32841 struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = @{ 1, 0, 0, 0 @};
32842 @end smallexample
32843
32844 If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT synchronize any
32845 modifications to this global data properly, which can easily be done by putting
32846 a global mutex around modifications to these structures.
32847
32848 @node Registering Code
32849 @section Registering Code
32850
32851 To register code with @value{GDBN}, the JIT should follow this protocol:
32852
32853 @itemize @bullet
32854 @item
32855 Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired debug
32856 information. The file must include the virtual addresses of the sections.
32857
32858 @item
32859 Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size of the symbol
32860 file.
32861
32862 @item
32863 Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
32864
32865 @item
32866 Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
32867
32868 @item
32869 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_REGISTER} and call
32870 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32871 @end itemize
32872
32873 When @value{GDBN} is attached and the breakpoint fires, @value{GDBN} uses the
32874 @code{relevant_entry} pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
32875 new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order to allow
32876 @value{GDBN} to attach to a running process and still find the symbol files.
32877
32878 @node Unregistering Code
32879 @section Unregistering Code
32880
32881 If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
32882
32883 @itemize @bullet
32884 @item
32885 Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked list.
32886
32887 @item
32888 Point the @code{relevant_entry} field of the descriptor at the code entry.
32889
32890 @item
32891 Set @code{action_flag} to @code{JIT_UNREGISTER} and call
32892 @code{__jit_debug_register_code}.
32893 @end itemize
32894
32895 If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then @value{GDBN}
32896 and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol files.
32897
32898 @node Custom Debug Info
32899 @section Custom Debug Info
32900 @cindex custom JIT debug info
32901 @cindex JIT debug info reader
32902
32903 Generating debug information in platform-native file formats (like ELF
32904 or COFF) may be an overkill for JIT compilers; especially if all the
32905 debug info is used for is displaying a meaningful backtrace. The
32906 issue can be resolved by having the JIT writers decide on a debug info
32907 format and also provide a reader that parses the debug info generated
32908 by the JIT compiler. This section gives a brief overview on writing
32909 such a parser. More specific details can be found in the source file
32910 @file{gdb/jit-reader.in}, which is also installed as a header at
32911 @file{@var{includedir}/gdb/jit-reader.h} for easy inclusion.
32912
32913 The reader is implemented as a shared object (so this functionality is
32914 not available on platforms which don't allow loading shared objects at
32915 runtime). Two @value{GDBN} commands, @code{jit-reader-load} and
32916 @code{jit-reader-unload} are provided, to be used to load and unload
32917 the readers from a preconfigured directory. Once loaded, the shared
32918 object is used the parse the debug information emitted by the JIT
32919 compiler.
32920
32921 @menu
32922 * Using JIT Debug Info Readers:: How to use supplied readers correctly
32923 * Writing JIT Debug Info Readers:: Creating a debug-info reader
32924 @end menu
32925
32926 @node Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32927 @subsection Using JIT Debug Info Readers
32928 @kindex jit-reader-load
32929 @kindex jit-reader-unload
32930
32931 Readers can be loaded and unloaded using the @code{jit-reader-load}
32932 and @code{jit-reader-unload} commands.
32933
32934 @table @code
32935 @item jit-reader-load @var{reader}
32936 Load the JIT reader named @var{reader}, which is a shared
32937 object specified as either an absolute or a relative file name. In
32938 the latter case, @value{GDBN} will try to load the reader from a
32939 pre-configured directory, usually @file{@var{libdir}/gdb/} on a UNIX
32940 system (here @var{libdir} is the system library directory, often
32941 @file{/usr/local/lib}).
32942
32943 Only one reader can be active at a time; trying to load a second
32944 reader when one is already loaded will result in @value{GDBN}
32945 reporting an error. A new JIT reader can be loaded by first unloading
32946 the current one using @code{jit-reader-unload} and then invoking
32947 @code{jit-reader-load}.
32948
32949 @item jit-reader-unload
32950 Unload the currently loaded JIT reader.
32951
32952 @end table
32953
32954 @node Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32955 @subsection Writing JIT Debug Info Readers
32956 @cindex writing JIT debug info readers
32957
32958 As mentioned, a reader is essentially a shared object conforming to a
32959 certain ABI. This ABI is described in @file{jit-reader.h}.
32960
32961 @file{jit-reader.h} defines the structures, macros and functions
32962 required to write a reader. It is installed (along with
32963 @value{GDBN}), in @file{@var{includedir}/gdb} where @var{includedir} is
32964 the system include directory.
32965
32966 Readers need to be released under a GPL compatible license. A reader
32967 can be declared as released under such a license by placing the macro
32968 @code{GDB_DECLARE_GPL_COMPATIBLE_READER} in a source file.
32969
32970 The entry point for readers is the symbol @code{gdb_init_reader},
32971 which is expected to be a function with the prototype
32972
32973 @findex gdb_init_reader
32974 @smallexample
32975 extern struct gdb_reader_funcs *gdb_init_reader (void);
32976 @end smallexample
32977
32978 @cindex @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs}
32979
32980 @code{struct gdb_reader_funcs} contains a set of pointers to callback
32981 functions. These functions are executed to read the debug info
32982 generated by the JIT compiler (@code{read}), to unwind stack frames
32983 (@code{unwind}) and to create canonical frame IDs
32984 (@code{get_Frame_id}). It also has a callback that is called when the
32985 reader is being unloaded (@code{destroy}). The struct looks like this
32986
32987 @smallexample
32988 struct gdb_reader_funcs
32989 @{
32990 /* Must be set to GDB_READER_INTERFACE_VERSION. */
32991 int reader_version;
32992
32993 /* For use by the reader. */
32994 void *priv_data;
32995
32996 gdb_read_debug_info *read;
32997 gdb_unwind_frame *unwind;
32998 gdb_get_frame_id *get_frame_id;
32999 gdb_destroy_reader *destroy;
33000 @};
33001 @end smallexample
33002
33003 @cindex @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks}
33004 @cindex @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}
33005
33006 The callbacks are provided with another set of callbacks by
33007 @value{GDBN} to do their job. For @code{read}, these callbacks are
33008 passed in a @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} and for @code{unwind}
33009 and @code{get_frame_id}, in a @code{struct gdb_unwind_callbacks}.
33010 @code{struct gdb_symbol_callbacks} has callbacks to create new object
33011 files and new symbol tables inside those object files. @code{struct
33012 gdb_unwind_callbacks} has callbacks to read registers off the current
33013 frame and to write out the values of the registers in the previous
33014 frame. Both have a callback (@code{target_read}) to read bytes off the
33015 target's address space.
33016
33017 @node In-Process Agent
33018 @chapter In-Process Agent
33019 @cindex debugging agent
33020 The traditional debugging model is conceptually low-speed, but works fine,
33021 because most bugs can be reproduced in debugging-mode execution. However,
33022 as multi-core or many-core processors are becoming mainstream, and
33023 multi-threaded programs become more and more popular, there should be more
33024 and more bugs that only manifest themselves at normal-mode execution, for
33025 example, thread races, because debugger's interference with the program's
33026 timing may conceal the bugs. On the other hand, in some applications,
33027 it is not feasible for the debugger to interrupt the program's execution
33028 long enough for the developer to learn anything helpful about its behavior.
33029 If the program's correctness depends on its real-time behavior, delays
33030 introduced by a debugger might cause the program to fail, even when the
33031 code itself is correct. It is useful to be able to observe the program's
33032 behavior without interrupting it.
33033
33034 Therefore, traditional debugging model is too intrusive to reproduce
33035 some bugs. In order to reduce the interference with the program, we can
33036 reduce the number of operations performed by debugger. The
33037 @dfn{In-Process Agent}, a shared library, is running within the same
33038 process with inferior, and is able to perform some debugging operations
33039 itself. As a result, debugger is only involved when necessary, and
33040 performance of debugging can be improved accordingly. Note that
33041 interference with program can be reduced but can't be removed completely,
33042 because the in-process agent will still stop or slow down the program.
33043
33044 The in-process agent can interpret and execute Agent Expressions
33045 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}) during performing debugging operations. The
33046 agent expressions can be used for different purposes, such as collecting
33047 data in tracepoints, and condition evaluation in breakpoints.
33048
33049 @anchor{Control Agent}
33050 You can control whether the in-process agent is used as an aid for
33051 debugging with the following commands:
33052
33053 @table @code
33054 @kindex set agent on
33055 @item set agent on
33056 Causes the in-process agent to perform some operations on behalf of the
33057 debugger. Just which operations requested by the user will be done
33058 by the in-process agent depends on the its capabilities. For example,
33059 if you request to evaluate breakpoint conditions in the in-process agent,
33060 and the in-process agent has such capability as well, then breakpoint
33061 conditions will be evaluated in the in-process agent.
33062
33063 @kindex set agent off
33064 @item set agent off
33065 Disables execution of debugging operations by the in-process agent. All
33066 of the operations will be performed by @value{GDBN}.
33067
33068 @kindex show agent
33069 @item show agent
33070 Display the current setting of execution of debugging operations by
33071 the in-process agent.
33072 @end table
33073
33074 @menu
33075 * In-Process Agent Protocol::
33076 @end menu
33077
33078 @node In-Process Agent Protocol
33079 @section In-Process Agent Protocol
33080 @cindex in-process agent protocol
33081
33082 The in-process agent is able to communicate with both @value{GDBN} and
33083 GDBserver (@pxref{In-Process Agent}). This section documents the protocol
33084 used for communications between @value{GDBN} or GDBserver and the IPA.
33085 In general, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver sends commands
33086 (@pxref{IPA Protocol Commands}) and data to in-process agent, and then
33087 in-process agent replies back with the return result of the command, or
33088 some other information. The data sent to in-process agent is composed
33089 of primitive data types, such as 4-byte or 8-byte type, and composite
33090 types, which are called objects (@pxref{IPA Protocol Objects}).
33091
33092 @menu
33093 * IPA Protocol Objects::
33094 * IPA Protocol Commands::
33095 @end menu
33096
33097 @node IPA Protocol Objects
33098 @subsection IPA Protocol Objects
33099 @cindex ipa protocol objects
33100
33101 The commands sent to and results received from agent may contain some
33102 complex data types called @dfn{objects}.
33103
33104 The in-process agent is running on the same machine with @value{GDBN}
33105 or GDBserver, so it doesn't have to handle as much differences between
33106 two ends as remote protocol (@pxref{Remote Protocol}) tries to handle.
33107 However, there are still some differences of two ends in two processes:
33108
33109 @enumerate
33110 @item
33111 word size. On some 64-bit machines, @value{GDBN} or GDBserver can be
33112 compiled as a 64-bit executable, while in-process agent is a 32-bit one.
33113 @item
33114 ABI. Some machines may have multiple types of ABI, @value{GDBN} or
33115 GDBserver is compiled with one, and in-process agent is compiled with
33116 the other one.
33117 @end enumerate
33118
33119 Here are the IPA Protocol Objects:
33120
33121 @enumerate
33122 @item
33123 agent expression object. It represents an agent expression
33124 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}).
33125 @anchor{agent expression object}
33126 @item
33127 tracepoint action object. It represents a tracepoint action
33128 (@pxref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint Action Lists}) to collect registers,
33129 memory, static trace data and to evaluate expression.
33130 @anchor{tracepoint action object}
33131 @item
33132 tracepoint object. It represents a tracepoint (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
33133 @anchor{tracepoint object}
33134
33135 @end enumerate
33136
33137 The following table describes important attributes of each IPA protocol
33138 object:
33139
33140 @multitable @columnfractions .30 .20 .50
33141 @headitem Name @tab Size @tab Description
33142 @item @emph{agent expression object} @tab @tab
33143 @item length @tab 4 @tab length of bytes code
33144 @item byte code @tab @var{length} @tab contents of byte code
33145 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting memory} @tab @tab
33146 @item 'M' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33147 @item addr @tab 8 @tab if @var{basereg} is @samp{-1}, @var{addr} is the
33148 address of the lowest byte to collect, otherwise @var{addr} is the offset
33149 of @var{basereg} for memory collecting.
33150 @item len @tab 8 @tab length of memory for collecting
33151 @item basereg @tab 4 @tab the register number containing the starting
33152 memory address for collecting.
33153 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting registers} @tab @tab
33154 @item 'R' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33155 @item @emph{tracepoint action for collecting static trace data} @tab @tab
33156 @item 'L' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33157 @item @emph{tracepoint action for expression evaluation} @tab @tab
33158 @item 'X' @tab 1 @tab type of tracepoint action
33159 @item agent expression @tab length of @tab @ref{agent expression object}
33160 @item @emph{tracepoint object} @tab @tab
33161 @item number @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint
33162 @item address @tab 8 @tab address of tracepoint inserted on
33163 @item type @tab 4 @tab type of tracepoint
33164 @item enabled @tab 1 @tab enable or disable of tracepoint
33165 @item step_count @tab 8 @tab step
33166 @item pass_count @tab 8 @tab pass
33167 @item numactions @tab 4 @tab number of tracepoint actions
33168 @item hit count @tab 8 @tab hit count
33169 @item trace frame usage @tab 8 @tab trace frame usage
33170 @item compiled_cond @tab 8 @tab compiled condition
33171 @item orig_size @tab 8 @tab orig size
33172 @item condition @tab 4 if condition is NULL otherwise length of
33173 @ref{agent expression object}
33174 @tab zero if condition is NULL, otherwise is
33175 @ref{agent expression object}
33176 @item actions @tab variable
33177 @tab numactions number of @ref{tracepoint action object}
33178 @end multitable
33179
33180 @node IPA Protocol Commands
33181 @subsection IPA Protocol Commands
33182 @cindex ipa protocol commands
33183
33184 The spaces in each command are delimiters to ease reading this commands
33185 specification. They don't exist in real commands.
33186
33187 @table @samp
33188
33189 @item FastTrace:@var{tracepoint_object} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}
33190 Installs a new fast tracepoint described by @var{tracepoint_object}
33191 (@pxref{tracepoint object}). The @var{gdb_jump_pad_head}, 8-byte long, is the
33192 head of @dfn{jumppad}, which is used to jump to data collection routine
33193 in IPA finally.
33194
33195 Replies:
33196 @table @samp
33197 @item OK @var{target_address} @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} @var{fjump_size} @var{fjump}
33198 @var{target_address} is address of tracepoint in the inferior.
33199 The @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} is updated head of jumppad. Both of
33200 @var{target_address} and @var{gdb_jump_pad_head} are 8-byte long.
33201 The @var{fjump} contains a sequence of instructions jump to jumppad entry.
33202 The @var{fjump_size}, 4-byte long, is the size of @var{fjump}.
33203 @item E @var{NN}
33204 for an error
33205
33206 @end table
33207
33208 @item close
33209 Closes the in-process agent. This command is sent when @value{GDBN} or GDBserver
33210 is about to kill inferiors.
33211
33212 @item qTfSTM
33213 @xref{qTfSTM}.
33214 @item qTsSTM
33215 @xref{qTsSTM}.
33216 @item qTSTMat
33217 @xref{qTSTMat}.
33218 @item probe_marker_at:@var{address}
33219 Asks in-process agent to probe the marker at @var{address}.
33220
33221 Replies:
33222 @table @samp
33223 @item E @var{NN}
33224 for an error
33225 @end table
33226 @item unprobe_marker_at:@var{address}
33227 Asks in-process agent to unprobe the marker at @var{address}.
33228 @end table
33229
33230 @node GDB Bugs
33231 @chapter Reporting Bugs in @value{GDBN}
33232 @cindex bugs in @value{GDBN}
33233 @cindex reporting bugs in @value{GDBN}
33234
33235 Your bug reports play an essential role in making @value{GDBN} reliable.
33236
33237 Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem, or it
33238 may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report is to help
33239 the entire community by making the next version of @value{GDBN} work better. Bug
33240 reports are your contribution to the maintenance of @value{GDBN}.
33241
33242 In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
33243 information that enables us to fix the bug.
33244
33245 @menu
33246 * Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
33247 * Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
33248 @end menu
33249
33250 @node Bug Criteria
33251 @section Have You Found a Bug?
33252 @cindex bug criteria
33253
33254 If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some guidelines:
33255
33256 @itemize @bullet
33257 @cindex fatal signal
33258 @cindex debugger crash
33259 @cindex crash of debugger
33260 @item
33261 If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that is a
33262 @value{GDBN} bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
33263
33264 @cindex error on valid input
33265 @item
33266 If @value{GDBN} produces an error message for valid input, that is a
33267 bug. (Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
33268 somewhere in the connection to the target.)
33269
33270 @cindex invalid input
33271 @item
33272 If @value{GDBN} does not produce an error message for invalid input,
33273 that is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of
33274 ``invalid input'' might be our idea of ``an extension'' or ``support
33275 for traditional practice''.
33276
33277 @item
33278 If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
33279 for improvement of @value{GDBN} are welcome in any case.
33280 @end itemize
33281
33282 @node Bug Reporting
33283 @section How to Report Bugs
33284 @cindex bug reports
33285 @cindex @value{GDBN} bugs, reporting
33286
33287 A number of companies and individuals offer support for @sc{gnu} products.
33288 If you obtained @value{GDBN} from a support organization, we recommend you
33289 contact that organization first.
33290
33291 You can find contact information for many support companies and
33292 individuals in the file @file{etc/SERVICE} in the @sc{gnu} Emacs
33293 distribution.
33294 @c should add a web page ref...
33295
33296 @ifset BUGURL
33297 @ifset BUGURL_DEFAULT
33298 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33299 @value{GDBN}. The preferred method is to submit them directly using
33300 @uref{http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/, @value{GDBN}'s Bugs web
33301 page}. Alternatively, the @email{bug-gdb@@gnu.org, e-mail gateway} can
33302 be used.
33303
33304 @strong{Do not send bug reports to @samp{info-gdb}, or to
33305 @samp{help-gdb}, or to any newsgroups.} Most users of @value{GDBN} do
33306 not want to receive bug reports. Those that do have arranged to receive
33307 @samp{bug-gdb}.
33308
33309 The mailing list @samp{bug-gdb} has a newsgroup @samp{gnu.gdb.bug} which
33310 serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
33311 the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
33312 newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
33313 problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
33314 path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
33315 we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
33316 bug reports to the mailing list.
33317 @end ifset
33318 @ifclear BUGURL_DEFAULT
33319 In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for
33320 @value{GDBN} to @value{BUGURL}.
33321 @end ifclear
33322 @end ifset
33323
33324 The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
33325 @strong{report all the facts}. If you are not sure whether to state a
33326 fact or leave it out, state it!
33327
33328 Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
33329 problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
33330 assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not matter.
33331 Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps the bug is a
33332 stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the location where that
33333 name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were different, the contents
33334 of that location would fool the debugger into doing the right thing despite
33335 the bug. Play it safe and give a specific, complete example. That is the
33336 easiest thing for you to do, and the most helpful.
33337
33338 Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix the
33339 bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but neither
33340 you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
33341 self-contained.
33342
33343 Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, ``Does this ring a
33344 bell?'' Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to
33345 @emph{refuse to respond to them} except to chide the sender to report
33346 bugs properly.
33347
33348 To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
33349
33350 @itemize @bullet
33351 @item
33352 The version of @value{GDBN}. @value{GDBN} announces it if you start
33353 with no arguments; you can also print it at any time using @code{show
33354 version}.
33355
33356 Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in looking for
33357 the bug in the current version of @value{GDBN}.
33358
33359 @item
33360 The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name and
33361 version number.
33362
33363 @item
33364 The details of the @value{GDBN} build-time configuration.
33365 @value{GDBN} shows these details if you invoke it with the
33366 @option{--configuration} command-line option, or if you type
33367 @code{show configuration} at @value{GDBN}'s prompt.
33368
33369 @item
33370 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile @value{GDBN}---e.g.@:
33371 ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1''.
33372
33373 @item
33374 What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program you are
33375 debugging---e.g.@: ``@value{GCC}--2.8.1'', or ``HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
33376 C Compiler''. For @value{NGCC}, you can say @kbd{@value{GCC} --version}
33377 to get this information; for other compilers, see the documentation for
33378 those compilers.
33379
33380 @item
33381 The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your example and
33382 observe the bug. For example, did you use @samp{-O}? To guarantee
33383 you will not omit something important, list them all. A copy of the
33384 Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
33385
33386 If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess wrong
33387 and then we might not encounter the bug.
33388
33389 @item
33390 A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
33391 reproduce the bug.
33392
33393 @item
33394 A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
33395 incorrect. For example, ``It gets a fatal signal.''
33396
33397 Of course, if the bug is that @value{GDBN} gets a fatal signal, then we
33398 will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we might
33399 not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well not give us
33400 a chance to make a mistake.
33401
33402 Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should still
33403 say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on, such as, your
33404 copy of @value{GDBN} is out of synch, or you have encountered a bug in
33405 the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your copy might
33406 crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a crash, then when
33407 ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug was not happening for
33408 us. If you had not told us to expect a crash, then we would not be able
33409 to draw any conclusion from our observations.
33410
33411 @pindex script
33412 @cindex recording a session script
33413 To collect all this information, you can use a session recording program
33414 such as @command{script}, which is available on many Unix systems.
33415 Just run your @value{GDBN} session inside @command{script} and then
33416 include the @file{typescript} file with your bug report.
33417
33418 Another way to record a @value{GDBN} session is to run @value{GDBN}
33419 inside Emacs and then save the entire buffer to a file.
33420
33421 @item
33422 If you wish to suggest changes to the @value{GDBN} source, send us context
33423 diffs. If you even discuss something in the @value{GDBN} source, refer to
33424 it by context, not by line number.
33425
33426 The line numbers in our development sources will not match those in your
33427 sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful information to us.
33428
33429 @end itemize
33430
33431 Here are some things that are not necessary:
33432
33433 @itemize @bullet
33434 @item
33435 A description of the envelope of the bug.
33436
33437 Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
33438 which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
33439 changes will not affect it.
33440
33441 This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way we
33442 will find the bug is by running a single example under the debugger
33443 with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of examples.
33444 We recommend that you save your time for something else.
33445
33446 Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report @emph{instead}
33447 of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
33448 output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
33449 less time, and so on.
33450
33451 However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do this,
33452 report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you used.
33453
33454 @item
33455 A patch for the bug.
33456
33457 A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not omit
33458 the necessary information, such as the test case, on the assumption that
33459 a patch is all we need. We might see problems with your patch and decide
33460 to fix the problem another way, or we might not understand it at all.
33461
33462 Sometimes with a program as complicated as @value{GDBN} it is very hard to
33463 construct an example that will make the program follow a certain path
33464 through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will not be able
33465 to construct one, so we will not be able to verify that the bug is fixed.
33466
33467 And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why your
33468 patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A test case will
33469 help us to understand.
33470
33471 @item
33472 A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
33473
33474 Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about such
33475 things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
33476 @end itemize
33477
33478 @c The readline documentation is distributed with the readline code
33479 @c and consists of the two following files:
33480 @c rluser.texi
33481 @c hsuser.texi
33482 @c Use -I with makeinfo to point to the appropriate directory,
33483 @c environment var TEXINPUTS with TeX.
33484 @ifclear SYSTEM_READLINE
33485 @include rluser.texi
33486 @include hsuser.texi
33487 @end ifclear
33488
33489 @node In Memoriam
33490 @appendix In Memoriam
33491
33492 The @value{GDBN} project mourns the loss of the following long-time
33493 contributors:
33494
33495 @table @code
33496 @item Fred Fish
33497 Fred was a long-standing contributor to @value{GDBN} (1991-2006), and
33498 to Free Software in general. Outside of @value{GDBN}, he was known in
33499 the Amiga world for his series of Fish Disks, and the GeekGadget project.
33500
33501 @item Michael Snyder
33502 Michael was one of the Global Maintainers of the @value{GDBN} project,
33503 with contributions recorded as early as 1996, until 2011. In addition
33504 to his day to day participation, he was a large driving force behind
33505 adding Reverse Debugging to @value{GDBN}.
33506 @end table
33507
33508 Beyond their technical contributions to the project, they were also
33509 enjoyable members of the Free Software Community. We will miss them.
33510
33511 @node Formatting Documentation
33512 @appendix Formatting Documentation
33513
33514 @cindex @value{GDBN} reference card
33515 @cindex reference card
33516 The @value{GDBN} 4 release includes an already-formatted reference card, ready
33517 for printing with PostScript or Ghostscript, in the @file{gdb}
33518 subdirectory of the main source directory@footnote{In
33519 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/refcard.ps} of the version @value{GDBVN}
33520 release.}. If you can use PostScript or Ghostscript with your printer,
33521 you can print the reference card immediately with @file{refcard.ps}.
33522
33523 The release also includes the source for the reference card. You
33524 can format it, using @TeX{}, by typing:
33525
33526 @smallexample
33527 make refcard.dvi
33528 @end smallexample
33529
33530 The @value{GDBN} reference card is designed to print in @dfn{landscape}
33531 mode on US ``letter'' size paper;
33532 that is, on a sheet 11 inches wide by 8.5 inches
33533 high. You will need to specify this form of printing as an option to
33534 your @sc{dvi} output program.
33535
33536 @cindex documentation
33537
33538 All the documentation for @value{GDBN} comes as part of the machine-readable
33539 distribution. The documentation is written in Texinfo format, which is
33540 a documentation system that uses a single source file to produce both
33541 on-line information and a printed manual. You can use one of the Info
33542 formatting commands to create the on-line version of the documentation
33543 and @TeX{} (or @code{texi2roff}) to typeset the printed version.
33544
33545 @value{GDBN} includes an already formatted copy of the on-line Info
33546 version of this manual in the @file{gdb} subdirectory. The main Info
33547 file is @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/gdb.info}, and it refers to
33548 subordinate files matching @samp{gdb.info*} in the same directory. If
33549 necessary, you can print out these files, or read them with any editor;
33550 but they are easier to read using the @code{info} subsystem in @sc{gnu}
33551 Emacs or the standalone @code{info} program, available as part of the
33552 @sc{gnu} Texinfo distribution.
33553
33554 If you want to format these Info files yourself, you need one of the
33555 Info formatting programs, such as @code{texinfo-format-buffer} or
33556 @code{makeinfo}.
33557
33558 If you have @code{makeinfo} installed, and are in the top level
33559 @value{GDBN} source directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, in the case of
33560 version @value{GDBVN}), you can make the Info file by typing:
33561
33562 @smallexample
33563 cd gdb
33564 make gdb.info
33565 @end smallexample
33566
33567 If you want to typeset and print copies of this manual, you need @TeX{},
33568 a program to print its @sc{dvi} output files, and @file{texinfo.tex}, the
33569 Texinfo definitions file.
33570
33571 @TeX{} is a typesetting program; it does not print files directly, but
33572 produces output files called @sc{dvi} files. To print a typeset
33573 document, you need a program to print @sc{dvi} files. If your system
33574 has @TeX{} installed, chances are it has such a program. The precise
33575 command to use depends on your system; @kbd{lpr -d} is common; another
33576 (for PostScript devices) is @kbd{dvips}. The @sc{dvi} print command may
33577 require a file name without any extension or a @samp{.dvi} extension.
33578
33579 @TeX{} also requires a macro definitions file called
33580 @file{texinfo.tex}. This file tells @TeX{} how to typeset a document
33581 written in Texinfo format. On its own, @TeX{} cannot either read or
33582 typeset a Texinfo file. @file{texinfo.tex} is distributed with GDB
33583 and is located in the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}/texinfo}
33584 directory.
33585
33586 If you have @TeX{} and a @sc{dvi} printer program installed, you can
33587 typeset and print this manual. First switch to the @file{gdb}
33588 subdirectory of the main source directory (for example, to
33589 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb}) and type:
33590
33591 @smallexample
33592 make gdb.dvi
33593 @end smallexample
33594
33595 Then give @file{gdb.dvi} to your @sc{dvi} printing program.
33596
33597 @node Installing GDB
33598 @appendix Installing @value{GDBN}
33599 @cindex installation
33600
33601 @menu
33602 * Requirements:: Requirements for building @value{GDBN}
33603 * Running Configure:: Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} script
33604 * Separate Objdir:: Compiling @value{GDBN} in another directory
33605 * Config Names:: Specifying names for hosts and targets
33606 * Configure Options:: Summary of options for configure
33607 * System-wide configuration:: Having a system-wide init file
33608 @end menu
33609
33610 @node Requirements
33611 @section Requirements for Building @value{GDBN}
33612 @cindex building @value{GDBN}, requirements for
33613
33614 Building @value{GDBN} requires various tools and packages to be available.
33615 Other packages will be used only if they are found.
33616
33617 @heading Tools/Packages Necessary for Building @value{GDBN}
33618 @table @asis
33619 @item ISO C90 compiler
33620 @value{GDBN} is written in ISO C90. It should be buildable with any
33621 working C90 compiler, e.g.@: GCC.
33622
33623 @end table
33624
33625 @heading Tools/Packages Optional for Building @value{GDBN}
33626 @table @asis
33627 @item Expat
33628 @anchor{Expat}
33629 @value{GDBN} can use the Expat XML parsing library. This library may be
33630 included with your operating system distribution; if it is not, you
33631 can get the latest version from @url{http://expat.sourceforge.net}.
33632 The @file{configure} script will search for this library in several
33633 standard locations; if it is installed in an unusual path, you can
33634 use the @option{--with-libexpat-prefix} option to specify its location.
33635
33636 Expat is used for:
33637
33638 @itemize @bullet
33639 @item
33640 Remote protocol memory maps (@pxref{Memory Map Format})
33641 @item
33642 Target descriptions (@pxref{Target Descriptions})
33643 @item
33644 Remote shared library lists (@xref{Library List Format},
33645 or alternatively @pxref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets})
33646 @item
33647 MS-Windows shared libraries (@pxref{Shared Libraries})
33648 @item
33649 Traceframe info (@pxref{Traceframe Info Format})
33650 @item
33651 Branch trace (@pxref{Branch Trace Format},
33652 @pxref{Branch Trace Configuration Format})
33653 @end itemize
33654
33655 @item zlib
33656 @cindex compressed debug sections
33657 @value{GDBN} will use the @samp{zlib} library, if available, to read
33658 compressed debug sections. Some linkers, such as GNU gold, are capable
33659 of producing binaries with compressed debug sections. If @value{GDBN}
33660 is compiled with @samp{zlib}, it will be able to read the debug
33661 information in such binaries.
33662
33663 The @samp{zlib} library is likely included with your operating system
33664 distribution; if it is not, you can get the latest version from
33665 @url{http://zlib.net}.
33666
33667 @item iconv
33668 @value{GDBN}'s features related to character sets (@pxref{Character
33669 Sets}) require a functioning @code{iconv} implementation. If you are
33670 on a GNU system, then this is provided by the GNU C Library. Some
33671 other systems also provide a working @code{iconv}.
33672
33673 If @value{GDBN} is using the @code{iconv} program which is installed
33674 in a non-standard place, you will need to tell @value{GDBN} where to find it.
33675 This is done with @option{--with-iconv-bin} which specifies the
33676 directory that contains the @code{iconv} program.
33677
33678 On systems without @code{iconv}, you can install GNU Libiconv. If you
33679 have previously installed Libiconv, you can use the
33680 @option{--with-libiconv-prefix} option to configure.
33681
33682 @value{GDBN}'s top-level @file{configure} and @file{Makefile} will
33683 arrange to build Libiconv if a directory named @file{libiconv} appears
33684 in the top-most source directory. If Libiconv is built this way, and
33685 if the operating system does not provide a suitable @code{iconv}
33686 implementation, then the just-built library will automatically be used
33687 by @value{GDBN}. One easy way to set this up is to download GNU
33688 Libiconv, unpack it, and then rename the directory holding the
33689 Libiconv source code to @samp{libiconv}.
33690 @end table
33691
33692 @node Running Configure
33693 @section Invoking the @value{GDBN} @file{configure} Script
33694 @cindex configuring @value{GDBN}
33695 @value{GDBN} comes with a @file{configure} script that automates the process
33696 of preparing @value{GDBN} for installation; you can then use @code{make} to
33697 build the @code{gdb} program.
33698 @iftex
33699 @c irrelevant in info file; it's as current as the code it lives with.
33700 @footnote{If you have a more recent version of @value{GDBN} than @value{GDBVN},
33701 look at the @file{README} file in the sources; we may have improved the
33702 installation procedures since publishing this manual.}
33703 @end iftex
33704
33705 The @value{GDBN} distribution includes all the source code you need for
33706 @value{GDBN} in a single directory, whose name is usually composed by
33707 appending the version number to @samp{gdb}.
33708
33709 For example, the @value{GDBN} version @value{GDBVN} distribution is in the
33710 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory. That directory contains:
33711
33712 @table @code
33713 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure @r{(and supporting files)}
33714 script for configuring @value{GDBN} and all its supporting libraries
33715
33716 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb
33717 the source specific to @value{GDBN} itself
33718
33719 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/bfd
33720 source for the Binary File Descriptor library
33721
33722 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/include
33723 @sc{gnu} include files
33724
33725 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/libiberty
33726 source for the @samp{-liberty} free software library
33727
33728 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/opcodes
33729 source for the library of opcode tables and disassemblers
33730
33731 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/readline
33732 source for the @sc{gnu} command-line interface
33733
33734 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/glob
33735 source for the @sc{gnu} filename pattern-matching subroutine
33736
33737 @item gdb-@value{GDBVN}/mmalloc
33738 source for the @sc{gnu} memory-mapped malloc package
33739 @end table
33740
33741 The simplest way to configure and build @value{GDBN} is to run @file{configure}
33742 from the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory, which in
33743 this example is the @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} directory.
33744
33745 First switch to the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} source directory
33746 if you are not already in it; then run @file{configure}. Pass the
33747 identifier for the platform on which @value{GDBN} will run as an
33748 argument.
33749
33750 For example:
33751
33752 @smallexample
33753 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
33754 ./configure @var{host}
33755 make
33756 @end smallexample
33757
33758 @noindent
33759 where @var{host} is an identifier such as @samp{sun4} or
33760 @samp{decstation}, that identifies the platform where @value{GDBN} will run.
33761 (You can often leave off @var{host}; @file{configure} tries to guess the
33762 correct value by examining your system.)
33763
33764 Running @samp{configure @var{host}} and then running @code{make} builds the
33765 @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, @file{mmalloc}, and @file{libiberty}
33766 libraries, then @code{gdb} itself. The configured source files, and the
33767 binaries, are left in the corresponding source directories.
33768
33769 @need 750
33770 @file{configure} is a Bourne-shell (@code{/bin/sh}) script; if your
33771 system does not recognize this automatically when you run a different
33772 shell, you may need to run @code{sh} on it explicitly:
33773
33774 @smallexample
33775 sh configure @var{host}
33776 @end smallexample
33777
33778 If you run @file{configure} from a directory that contains source
33779 directories for multiple libraries or programs, such as the
33780 @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} source directory for version @value{GDBVN},
33781 @file{configure}
33782 creates configuration files for every directory level underneath (unless
33783 you tell it not to, with the @samp{--norecursion} option).
33784
33785 You should run the @file{configure} script from the top directory in the
33786 source tree, the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory. If you run
33787 @file{configure} from one of the subdirectories, you will configure only
33788 that subdirectory. That is usually not what you want. In particular,
33789 if you run the first @file{configure} from the @file{gdb} subdirectory
33790 of the @file{gdb-@var{version-number}} directory, you will omit the
33791 configuration of @file{bfd}, @file{readline}, and other sibling
33792 directories of the @file{gdb} subdirectory. This leads to build errors
33793 about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
33794
33795 You can install @code{@value{GDBP}} anywhere; it has no hardwired paths.
33796 However, you should make sure that the shell on your path (named by
33797 the @samp{SHELL} environment variable) is publicly readable. Remember
33798 that @value{GDBN} uses the shell to start your program---some systems refuse to
33799 let @value{GDBN} debug child processes whose programs are not readable.
33800
33801 @node Separate Objdir
33802 @section Compiling @value{GDBN} in Another Directory
33803
33804 If you want to run @value{GDBN} versions for several host or target machines,
33805 you need a different @code{gdb} compiled for each combination of
33806 host and target. @file{configure} is designed to make this easy by
33807 allowing you to generate each configuration in a separate subdirectory,
33808 rather than in the source directory. If your @code{make} program
33809 handles the @samp{VPATH} feature (@sc{gnu} @code{make} does), running
33810 @code{make} in each of these directories builds the @code{gdb}
33811 program specified there.
33812
33813 To build @code{gdb} in a separate directory, run @file{configure}
33814 with the @samp{--srcdir} option to specify where to find the source.
33815 (You also need to specify a path to find @file{configure}
33816 itself from your working directory. If the path to @file{configure}
33817 would be the same as the argument to @samp{--srcdir}, you can leave out
33818 the @samp{--srcdir} option; it is assumed.)
33819
33820 For example, with version @value{GDBVN}, you can build @value{GDBN} in a
33821 separate directory for a Sun 4 like this:
33822
33823 @smallexample
33824 @group
33825 cd gdb-@value{GDBVN}
33826 mkdir ../gdb-sun4
33827 cd ../gdb-sun4
33828 ../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/configure sun4
33829 make
33830 @end group
33831 @end smallexample
33832
33833 When @file{configure} builds a configuration using a remote source
33834 directory, it creates a tree for the binaries with the same structure
33835 (and using the same names) as the tree under the source directory. In
33836 the example, you'd find the Sun 4 library @file{libiberty.a} in the
33837 directory @file{gdb-sun4/libiberty}, and @value{GDBN} itself in
33838 @file{gdb-sun4/gdb}.
33839
33840 Make sure that your path to the @file{configure} script has just one
33841 instance of @file{gdb} in it. If your path to @file{configure} looks
33842 like @file{../gdb-@value{GDBVN}/gdb/configure}, you are configuring only
33843 one subdirectory of @value{GDBN}, not the whole package. This leads to
33844 build errors about missing include files such as @file{bfd/bfd.h}.
33845
33846 One popular reason to build several @value{GDBN} configurations in separate
33847 directories is to configure @value{GDBN} for cross-compiling (where
33848 @value{GDBN} runs on one machine---the @dfn{host}---while debugging
33849 programs that run on another machine---the @dfn{target}).
33850 You specify a cross-debugging target by
33851 giving the @samp{--target=@var{target}} option to @file{configure}.
33852
33853 When you run @code{make} to build a program or library, you must run
33854 it in a configured directory---whatever directory you were in when you
33855 called @file{configure} (or one of its subdirectories).
33856
33857 The @code{Makefile} that @file{configure} generates in each source
33858 directory also runs recursively. If you type @code{make} in a source
33859 directory such as @file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}} (or in a separate configured
33860 directory configured with @samp{--srcdir=@var{dirname}/gdb-@value{GDBVN}}), you
33861 will build all the required libraries, and then build GDB.
33862
33863 When you have multiple hosts or targets configured in separate
33864 directories, you can run @code{make} on them in parallel (for example,
33865 if they are NFS-mounted on each of the hosts); they will not interfere
33866 with each other.
33867
33868 @node Config Names
33869 @section Specifying Names for Hosts and Targets
33870
33871 The specifications used for hosts and targets in the @file{configure}
33872 script are based on a three-part naming scheme, but some short predefined
33873 aliases are also supported. The full naming scheme encodes three pieces
33874 of information in the following pattern:
33875
33876 @smallexample
33877 @var{architecture}-@var{vendor}-@var{os}
33878 @end smallexample
33879
33880 For example, you can use the alias @code{sun4} as a @var{host} argument,
33881 or as the value for @var{target} in a @code{--target=@var{target}}
33882 option. The equivalent full name is @samp{sparc-sun-sunos4}.
33883
33884 The @file{configure} script accompanying @value{GDBN} does not provide
33885 any query facility to list all supported host and target names or
33886 aliases. @file{configure} calls the Bourne shell script
33887 @code{config.sub} to map abbreviations to full names; you can read the
33888 script, if you wish, or you can use it to test your guesses on
33889 abbreviations---for example:
33890
33891 @smallexample
33892 % sh config.sub i386-linux
33893 i386-pc-linux-gnu
33894 % sh config.sub alpha-linux
33895 alpha-unknown-linux-gnu
33896 % sh config.sub hp9k700
33897 hppa1.1-hp-hpux
33898 % sh config.sub sun4
33899 sparc-sun-sunos4.1.1
33900 % sh config.sub sun3
33901 m68k-sun-sunos4.1.1
33902 % sh config.sub i986v
33903 Invalid configuration `i986v': machine `i986v' not recognized
33904 @end smallexample
33905
33906 @noindent
33907 @code{config.sub} is also distributed in the @value{GDBN} source
33908 directory (@file{gdb-@value{GDBVN}}, for version @value{GDBVN}).
33909
33910 @node Configure Options
33911 @section @file{configure} Options
33912
33913 Here is a summary of the @file{configure} options and arguments that
33914 are most often useful for building @value{GDBN}. @file{configure} also has
33915 several other options not listed here. @inforef{What Configure
33916 Does,,configure.info}, for a full explanation of @file{configure}.
33917
33918 @smallexample
33919 configure @r{[}--help@r{]}
33920 @r{[}--prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
33921 @r{[}--exec-prefix=@var{dir}@r{]}
33922 @r{[}--srcdir=@var{dirname}@r{]}
33923 @r{[}--norecursion@r{]} @r{[}--rm@r{]}
33924 @r{[}--target=@var{target}@r{]}
33925 @var{host}
33926 @end smallexample
33927
33928 @noindent
33929 You may introduce options with a single @samp{-} rather than
33930 @samp{--} if you prefer; but you may abbreviate option names if you use
33931 @samp{--}.
33932
33933 @table @code
33934 @item --help
33935 Display a quick summary of how to invoke @file{configure}.
33936
33937 @item --prefix=@var{dir}
33938 Configure the source to install programs and files under directory
33939 @file{@var{dir}}.
33940
33941 @item --exec-prefix=@var{dir}
33942 Configure the source to install programs under directory
33943 @file{@var{dir}}.
33944
33945 @c avoid splitting the warning from the explanation:
33946 @need 2000
33947 @item --srcdir=@var{dirname}
33948 @strong{Warning: using this option requires @sc{gnu} @code{make}, or another
33949 @code{make} that implements the @code{VPATH} feature.}@*
33950 Use this option to make configurations in directories separate from the
33951 @value{GDBN} source directories. Among other things, you can use this to
33952 build (or maintain) several configurations simultaneously, in separate
33953 directories. @file{configure} writes configuration-specific files in
33954 the current directory, but arranges for them to use the source in the
33955 directory @var{dirname}. @file{configure} creates directories under
33956 the working directory in parallel to the source directories below
33957 @var{dirname}.
33958
33959 @item --norecursion
33960 Configure only the directory level where @file{configure} is executed; do not
33961 propagate configuration to subdirectories.
33962
33963 @item --target=@var{target}
33964 Configure @value{GDBN} for cross-debugging programs running on the specified
33965 @var{target}. Without this option, @value{GDBN} is configured to debug
33966 programs that run on the same machine (@var{host}) as @value{GDBN} itself.
33967
33968 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available targets.
33969
33970 @item @var{host} @dots{}
33971 Configure @value{GDBN} to run on the specified @var{host}.
33972
33973 There is no convenient way to generate a list of all available hosts.
33974 @end table
33975
33976 There are many other options available as well, but they are generally
33977 needed for special purposes only.
33978
33979 @node System-wide configuration
33980 @section System-wide configuration and settings
33981 @cindex system-wide init file
33982
33983 @value{GDBN} can be configured to have a system-wide init file;
33984 this file will be read and executed at startup (@pxref{Startup, , What
33985 @value{GDBN} does during startup}).
33986
33987 Here is the corresponding configure option:
33988
33989 @table @code
33990 @item --with-system-gdbinit=@var{file}
33991 Specify that the default location of the system-wide init file is
33992 @var{file}.
33993 @end table
33994
33995 If @value{GDBN} has been configured with the option @option{--prefix=$prefix},
33996 it may be subject to relocation. Two possible cases:
33997
33998 @itemize @bullet
33999 @item
34000 If the default location of this init file contains @file{$prefix},
34001 it will be subject to relocation. Suppose that the configure options
34002 are @option{--prefix=$prefix --with-system-gdbinit=$prefix/etc/gdbinit};
34003 if @value{GDBN} is moved from @file{$prefix} to @file{$install}, the system
34004 init file is looked for as @file{$install/etc/gdbinit} instead of
34005 @file{$prefix/etc/gdbinit}.
34006
34007 @item
34008 By contrast, if the default location does not contain the prefix,
34009 it will not be relocated. E.g.@: if @value{GDBN} has been configured with
34010 @option{--prefix=/usr/local --with-system-gdbinit=/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
34011 then @value{GDBN} will always look for @file{/usr/share/gdb/gdbinit},
34012 wherever @value{GDBN} is installed.
34013 @end itemize
34014
34015 If the configured location of the system-wide init file (as given by the
34016 @option{--with-system-gdbinit} option at configure time) is in the
34017 data-directory (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure
34018 time) or in one of its subdirectories, then @value{GDBN} will look for the
34019 system-wide init file in the directory specified by the
34020 @option{--data-directory} command-line option.
34021 Note that the system-wide init file is only read once, during @value{GDBN}
34022 initialization. If the data-directory is changed after @value{GDBN} has
34023 started with the @code{set data-directory} command, the file will not be
34024 reread.
34025
34026 @menu
34027 * System-wide Configuration Scripts:: Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
34028 @end menu
34029
34030 @node System-wide Configuration Scripts
34031 @subsection Installed System-wide Configuration Scripts
34032 @cindex system-wide configuration scripts
34033
34034 The @file{system-gdbinit} directory, located inside the data-directory
34035 (as specified by @option{--with-gdb-datadir} at configure time) contains
34036 a number of scripts which can be used as system-wide init files. To
34037 automatically source those scripts at startup, @value{GDBN} should be
34038 configured with @option{--with-system-gdbinit}. Otherwise, any user
34039 should be able to source them by hand as needed.
34040
34041 The following scripts are currently available:
34042 @itemize @bullet
34043
34044 @item @file{elinos.py}
34045 @pindex elinos.py
34046 @cindex ELinOS system-wide configuration script
34047 This script is useful when debugging a program on an ELinOS target.
34048 It takes advantage of the environment variables defined in a standard
34049 ELinOS environment in order to determine the location of the system
34050 shared libraries, and then sets the @samp{solib-absolute-prefix}
34051 and @samp{solib-search-path} variables appropriately.
34052
34053 @item @file{wrs-linux.py}
34054 @pindex wrs-linux.py
34055 @cindex Wind River Linux system-wide configuration script
34056 This script is useful when debugging a program on a target running
34057 Wind River Linux. It expects the @env{ENV_PREFIX} to be set to
34058 the host-side sysroot used by the target system.
34059
34060 @end itemize
34061
34062 @node Maintenance Commands
34063 @appendix Maintenance Commands
34064 @cindex maintenance commands
34065 @cindex internal commands
34066
34067 In addition to commands intended for @value{GDBN} users, @value{GDBN}
34068 includes a number of commands intended for @value{GDBN} developers,
34069 that are not documented elsewhere in this manual. These commands are
34070 provided here for reference. (For commands that turn on debugging
34071 messages, see @ref{Debugging Output}.)
34072
34073 @table @code
34074 @kindex maint agent
34075 @kindex maint agent-eval
34076 @item maint agent @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
34077 @itemx maint agent-eval @r{[}-at @var{location}@r{,}@r{]} @var{expression}
34078 Translate the given @var{expression} into remote agent bytecodes.
34079 This command is useful for debugging the Agent Expression mechanism
34080 (@pxref{Agent Expressions}). The @samp{agent} version produces an
34081 expression useful for data collection, such as by tracepoints, while
34082 @samp{maint agent-eval} produces an expression that evaluates directly
34083 to a result. For instance, a collection expression for @code{globa +
34084 globb} will include bytecodes to record four bytes of memory at each
34085 of the addresses of @code{globa} and @code{globb}, while discarding
34086 the result of the addition, while an evaluation expression will do the
34087 addition and return the sum.
34088 If @code{-at} is given, generate remote agent bytecode for @var{location}.
34089 If not, generate remote agent bytecode for current frame PC address.
34090
34091 @kindex maint agent-printf
34092 @item maint agent-printf @var{format},@var{expr},...
34093 Translate the given format string and list of argument expressions
34094 into remote agent bytecodes and display them as a disassembled list.
34095 This command is useful for debugging the agent version of dynamic
34096 printf (@pxref{Dynamic Printf}).
34097
34098 @kindex maint info breakpoints
34099 @item @anchor{maint info breakpoints}maint info breakpoints
34100 Using the same format as @samp{info breakpoints}, display both the
34101 breakpoints you've set explicitly, and those @value{GDBN} is using for
34102 internal purposes. Internal breakpoints are shown with negative
34103 breakpoint numbers. The type column identifies what kind of breakpoint
34104 is shown:
34105
34106 @table @code
34107 @item breakpoint
34108 Normal, explicitly set breakpoint.
34109
34110 @item watchpoint
34111 Normal, explicitly set watchpoint.
34112
34113 @item longjmp
34114 Internal breakpoint, used to handle correctly stepping through
34115 @code{longjmp} calls.
34116
34117 @item longjmp resume
34118 Internal breakpoint at the target of a @code{longjmp}.
34119
34120 @item until
34121 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{until} command.
34122
34123 @item finish
34124 Temporary internal breakpoint used by the @value{GDBN} @code{finish} command.
34125
34126 @item shlib events
34127 Shared library events.
34128
34129 @end table
34130
34131 @kindex maint info btrace
34132 @item maint info btrace
34133 Pint information about raw branch tracing data.
34134
34135 @kindex maint btrace packet-history
34136 @item maint btrace packet-history
34137 Print the raw branch trace packets that are used to compute the
34138 execution history for the @samp{record btrace} command. Both the
34139 information and the format in which it is printed depend on the btrace
34140 recording format.
34141
34142 @table @code
34143 @item bts
34144 For the BTS recording format, print a list of blocks of sequential
34145 code. For each block, the following information is printed:
34146
34147 @table @asis
34148 @item Block number
34149 Newer blocks have higher numbers. The oldest block has number zero.
34150 @item Lowest @samp{PC}
34151 @item Highest @samp{PC}
34152 @end table
34153
34154 @item pt
34155 For the Intel Processor Trace recording format, print a list of
34156 Intel Processor Trace packets. For each packet, the following
34157 information is printed:
34158
34159 @table @asis
34160 @item Packet number
34161 Newer packets have higher numbers. The oldest packet has number zero.
34162 @item Trace offset
34163 The packet's offset in the trace stream.
34164 @item Packet opcode and payload
34165 @end table
34166 @end table
34167
34168 @kindex maint btrace clear-packet-history
34169 @item maint btrace clear-packet-history
34170 Discards the cached packet history printed by the @samp{maint btrace
34171 packet-history} command. The history will be computed again when
34172 needed.
34173
34174 @kindex maint btrace clear
34175 @item maint btrace clear
34176 Discard the branch trace data. The data will be fetched anew and the
34177 branch trace will be recomputed when needed.
34178
34179 This implicitly truncates the branch trace to a single branch trace
34180 buffer. When updating branch trace incrementally, the branch trace
34181 available to @value{GDBN} may be bigger than a single branch trace
34182 buffer.
34183
34184 @kindex maint set btrace pt skip-pad
34185 @item maint set btrace pt skip-pad
34186 @kindex maint show btrace pt skip-pad
34187 @item maint show btrace pt skip-pad
34188 Control whether @value{GDBN} will skip PAD packets when computing the
34189 packet history.
34190
34191 @kindex set displaced-stepping
34192 @kindex show displaced-stepping
34193 @cindex displaced stepping support
34194 @cindex out-of-line single-stepping
34195 @item set displaced-stepping
34196 @itemx show displaced-stepping
34197 Control whether or not @value{GDBN} will do @dfn{displaced stepping}
34198 if the target supports it. Displaced stepping is a way to single-step
34199 over breakpoints without removing them from the inferior, by executing
34200 an out-of-line copy of the instruction that was originally at the
34201 breakpoint location. It is also known as out-of-line single-stepping.
34202
34203 @table @code
34204 @item set displaced-stepping on
34205 If the target architecture supports it, @value{GDBN} will use
34206 displaced stepping to step over breakpoints.
34207
34208 @item set displaced-stepping off
34209 @value{GDBN} will not use displaced stepping to step over breakpoints,
34210 even if such is supported by the target architecture.
34211
34212 @cindex non-stop mode, and @samp{set displaced-stepping}
34213 @item set displaced-stepping auto
34214 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} will use displaced stepping
34215 only if non-stop mode is active (@pxref{Non-Stop Mode}) and the target
34216 architecture supports displaced stepping.
34217 @end table
34218
34219 @kindex maint check-psymtabs
34220 @item maint check-psymtabs
34221 Check the consistency of currently expanded psymtabs versus symtabs.
34222 Use this to check, for example, whether a symbol is in one but not the other.
34223
34224 @kindex maint check-symtabs
34225 @item maint check-symtabs
34226 Check the consistency of currently expanded symtabs.
34227
34228 @kindex maint expand-symtabs
34229 @item maint expand-symtabs [@var{regexp}]
34230 Expand symbol tables.
34231 If @var{regexp} is specified, only expand symbol tables for file
34232 names matching @var{regexp}.
34233
34234 @kindex maint set catch-demangler-crashes
34235 @kindex maint show catch-demangler-crashes
34236 @cindex demangler crashes
34237 @item maint set catch-demangler-crashes [on|off]
34238 @itemx maint show catch-demangler-crashes
34239 Control whether @value{GDBN} should attempt to catch crashes in the
34240 symbol name demangler. The default is to attempt to catch crashes.
34241 If enabled, the first time a crash is caught, a core file is created,
34242 the offending symbol is displayed and the user is presented with the
34243 option to terminate the current session.
34244
34245 @kindex maint cplus first_component
34246 @item maint cplus first_component @var{name}
34247 Print the first C@t{++} class/namespace component of @var{name}.
34248
34249 @kindex maint cplus namespace
34250 @item maint cplus namespace
34251 Print the list of possible C@t{++} namespaces.
34252
34253 @kindex maint deprecate
34254 @kindex maint undeprecate
34255 @cindex deprecated commands
34256 @item maint deprecate @var{command} @r{[}@var{replacement}@r{]}
34257 @itemx maint undeprecate @var{command}
34258 Deprecate or undeprecate the named @var{command}. Deprecated commands
34259 cause @value{GDBN} to issue a warning when you use them. The optional
34260 argument @var{replacement} says which newer command should be used in
34261 favor of the deprecated one; if it is given, @value{GDBN} will mention
34262 the replacement as part of the warning.
34263
34264 @kindex maint dump-me
34265 @item maint dump-me
34266 @cindex @code{SIGQUIT} signal, dump core of @value{GDBN}
34267 Cause a fatal signal in the debugger and force it to dump its core.
34268 This is supported only on systems which support aborting a program
34269 with the @code{SIGQUIT} signal.
34270
34271 @kindex maint internal-error
34272 @kindex maint internal-warning
34273 @kindex maint demangler-warning
34274 @cindex demangler crashes
34275 @item maint internal-error @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34276 @itemx maint internal-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34277 @itemx maint demangler-warning @r{[}@var{message-text}@r{]}
34278
34279 Cause @value{GDBN} to call the internal function @code{internal_error},
34280 @code{internal_warning} or @code{demangler_warning} and hence behave
34281 as though an internal problem has been detected. In addition to
34282 reporting the internal problem, these functions give the user the
34283 opportunity to either quit @value{GDBN} or (for @code{internal_error}
34284 and @code{internal_warning}) create a core file of the current
34285 @value{GDBN} session.
34286
34287 These commands take an optional parameter @var{message-text} that is
34288 used as the text of the error or warning message.
34289
34290 Here's an example of using @code{internal-error}:
34291
34292 @smallexample
34293 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint internal-error testing, 1, 2}
34294 @dots{}/maint.c:121: internal-error: testing, 1, 2
34295 A problem internal to GDB has been detected. Further
34296 debugging may prove unreliable.
34297 Quit this debugging session? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34298 Create a core file? (y or n) @kbd{n}
34299 (@value{GDBP})
34300 @end smallexample
34301
34302 @cindex @value{GDBN} internal error
34303 @cindex internal errors, control of @value{GDBN} behavior
34304 @cindex demangler crashes
34305
34306 @kindex maint set internal-error
34307 @kindex maint show internal-error
34308 @kindex maint set internal-warning
34309 @kindex maint show internal-warning
34310 @kindex maint set demangler-warning
34311 @kindex maint show demangler-warning
34312 @item maint set internal-error @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34313 @itemx maint show internal-error @var{action}
34314 @itemx maint set internal-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34315 @itemx maint show internal-warning @var{action}
34316 @itemx maint set demangler-warning @var{action} [ask|yes|no]
34317 @itemx maint show demangler-warning @var{action}
34318 When @value{GDBN} reports an internal problem (error or warning) it
34319 gives the user the opportunity to both quit @value{GDBN} and create a
34320 core file of the current @value{GDBN} session. These commands let you
34321 override the default behaviour for each particular @var{action},
34322 described in the table below.
34323
34324 @table @samp
34325 @item quit
34326 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34327 quit. The default is to ask the user what to do.
34328
34329 @item corefile
34330 You can specify that @value{GDBN} should always (yes) or never (no)
34331 create a core file. The default is to ask the user what to do. Note
34332 that there is no @code{corefile} option for @code{demangler-warning}:
34333 demangler warnings always create a core file and this cannot be
34334 disabled.
34335 @end table
34336
34337 @kindex maint packet
34338 @item maint packet @var{text}
34339 If @value{GDBN} is talking to an inferior via the serial protocol,
34340 then this command sends the string @var{text} to the inferior, and
34341 displays the response packet. @value{GDBN} supplies the initial
34342 @samp{$} character, the terminating @samp{#} character, and the
34343 checksum.
34344
34345 @kindex maint print architecture
34346 @item maint print architecture @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34347 Print the entire architecture configuration. The optional argument
34348 @var{file} names the file where the output goes.
34349
34350 @kindex maint print c-tdesc
34351 @item maint print c-tdesc
34352 Print the current target description (@pxref{Target Descriptions}) as
34353 a C source file. The created source file can be used in @value{GDBN}
34354 when an XML parser is not available to parse the description.
34355
34356 @kindex maint print dummy-frames
34357 @item maint print dummy-frames
34358 Prints the contents of @value{GDBN}'s internal dummy-frame stack.
34359
34360 @smallexample
34361 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{b add}
34362 @dots{}
34363 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{print add(2,3)}
34364 Breakpoint 2, add (a=2, b=3) at @dots{}
34365 58 return (a + b);
34366 The program being debugged stopped while in a function called from GDB.
34367 @dots{}
34368 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print dummy-frames}
34369 0xa8206d8: id=@{stack=0xbfffe734,code=0xbfffe73f,!special@}, ptid=process 9353
34370 (@value{GDBP})
34371 @end smallexample
34372
34373 Takes an optional file parameter.
34374
34375 @kindex maint print registers
34376 @kindex maint print raw-registers
34377 @kindex maint print cooked-registers
34378 @kindex maint print register-groups
34379 @kindex maint print remote-registers
34380 @item maint print registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34381 @itemx maint print raw-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34382 @itemx maint print cooked-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34383 @itemx maint print register-groups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34384 @itemx maint print remote-registers @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34385 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register data structures.
34386
34387 The command @code{maint print raw-registers} includes the contents of
34388 the raw register cache; the command @code{maint print
34389 cooked-registers} includes the (cooked) value of all registers,
34390 including registers which aren't available on the target nor visible
34391 to user; the command @code{maint print register-groups} includes the
34392 groups that each register is a member of; and the command @code{maint
34393 print remote-registers} includes the remote target's register numbers
34394 and offsets in the `G' packets.
34395
34396 These commands take an optional parameter, a file name to which to
34397 write the information.
34398
34399 @kindex maint print reggroups
34400 @item maint print reggroups @r{[}@var{file}@r{]}
34401 Print @value{GDBN}'s internal register group data structures. The
34402 optional argument @var{file} tells to what file to write the
34403 information.
34404
34405 The register groups info looks like this:
34406
34407 @smallexample
34408 (@value{GDBP}) @kbd{maint print reggroups}
34409 Group Type
34410 general user
34411 float user
34412 all user
34413 vector user
34414 system user
34415 save internal
34416 restore internal
34417 @end smallexample
34418
34419 @kindex flushregs
34420 @item flushregs
34421 This command forces @value{GDBN} to flush its internal register cache.
34422
34423 @kindex maint print objfiles
34424 @cindex info for known object files
34425 @item maint print objfiles @r{[}@var{regexp}@r{]}
34426 Print a dump of all known object files.
34427 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print object files whose names
34428 match @var{regexp}. For each object file, this command prints its name,
34429 address in memory, and all of its psymtabs and symtabs.
34430
34431 @kindex maint print user-registers
34432 @cindex user registers
34433 @item maint print user-registers
34434 List all currently available @dfn{user registers}. User registers
34435 typically provide alternate names for actual hardware registers. They
34436 include the four ``standard'' registers @code{$fp}, @code{$pc},
34437 @code{$sp}, and @code{$ps}. @xref{standard registers}. User
34438 registers can be used in expressions in the same way as the canonical
34439 register names, but only the latter are listed by the @code{info
34440 registers} and @code{maint print registers} commands.
34441
34442 @kindex maint print section-scripts
34443 @cindex info for known .debug_gdb_scripts-loaded scripts
34444 @item maint print section-scripts [@var{regexp}]
34445 Print a dump of scripts specified in the @code{.debug_gdb_section} section.
34446 If @var{regexp} is specified, only print scripts loaded by object files
34447 matching @var{regexp}.
34448 For each script, this command prints its name as specified in the objfile,
34449 and the full path if known.
34450 @xref{dotdebug_gdb_scripts section}.
34451
34452 @kindex maint print statistics
34453 @cindex bcache statistics
34454 @item maint print statistics
34455 This command prints, for each object file in the program, various data
34456 about that object file followed by the byte cache (@dfn{bcache})
34457 statistics for the object file. The objfile data includes the number
34458 of minimal, partial, full, and stabs symbols, the number of types
34459 defined by the objfile, the number of as yet unexpanded psym tables,
34460 the number of line tables and string tables, and the amount of memory
34461 used by the various tables. The bcache statistics include the counts,
34462 sizes, and counts of duplicates of all and unique objects, max,
34463 average, and median entry size, total memory used and its overhead and
34464 savings, and various measures of the hash table size and chain
34465 lengths.
34466
34467 @kindex maint print target-stack
34468 @cindex target stack description
34469 @item maint print target-stack
34470 A @dfn{target} is an interface between the debugger and a particular
34471 kind of file or process. Targets can be stacked in @dfn{strata},
34472 so that more than one target can potentially respond to a request.
34473 In particular, memory accesses will walk down the stack of targets
34474 until they find a target that is interested in handling that particular
34475 address.
34476
34477 This command prints a short description of each layer that was pushed on
34478 the @dfn{target stack}, starting from the top layer down to the bottom one.
34479
34480 @kindex maint print type
34481 @cindex type chain of a data type
34482 @item maint print type @var{expr}
34483 Print the type chain for a type specified by @var{expr}. The argument
34484 can be either a type name or a symbol. If it is a symbol, the type of
34485 that symbol is described. The type chain produced by this command is
34486 a recursive definition of the data type as stored in @value{GDBN}'s
34487 data structures, including its flags and contained types.
34488
34489 @kindex maint set dwarf always-disassemble
34490 @kindex maint show dwarf always-disassemble
34491 @item maint set dwarf always-disassemble
34492 @item maint show dwarf always-disassemble
34493 Control the behavior of @code{info address} when using DWARF debugging
34494 information.
34495
34496 The default is @code{off}, which means that @value{GDBN} should try to
34497 describe a variable's location in an easily readable format. When
34498 @code{on}, @value{GDBN} will instead display the DWARF location
34499 expression in an assembly-like format. Note that some locations are
34500 too complex for @value{GDBN} to describe simply; in this case you will
34501 always see the disassembly form.
34502
34503 Here is an example of the resulting disassembly:
34504
34505 @smallexample
34506 (gdb) info addr argc
34507 Symbol "argc" is a complex DWARF expression:
34508 1: DW_OP_fbreg 0
34509 @end smallexample
34510
34511 For more information on these expressions, see
34512 @uref{http://www.dwarfstd.org/, the DWARF standard}.
34513
34514 @kindex maint set dwarf max-cache-age
34515 @kindex maint show dwarf max-cache-age
34516 @item maint set dwarf max-cache-age
34517 @itemx maint show dwarf max-cache-age
34518 Control the DWARF compilation unit cache.
34519
34520 @cindex DWARF compilation units cache
34521 In object files with inter-compilation-unit references, such as those
34522 produced by the GCC option @samp{-feliminate-dwarf2-dups}, the DWARF
34523 reader needs to frequently refer to previously read compilation units.
34524 This setting controls how long a compilation unit will remain in the
34525 cache if it is not referenced. A higher limit means that cached
34526 compilation units will be stored in memory longer, and more total
34527 memory will be used. Setting it to zero disables caching, which will
34528 slow down @value{GDBN} startup, but reduce memory consumption.
34529
34530 @kindex maint set profile
34531 @kindex maint show profile
34532 @cindex profiling GDB
34533 @item maint set profile
34534 @itemx maint show profile
34535 Control profiling of @value{GDBN}.
34536
34537 Profiling will be disabled until you use the @samp{maint set profile}
34538 command to enable it. When you enable profiling, the system will begin
34539 collecting timing and execution count data; when you disable profiling or
34540 exit @value{GDBN}, the results will be written to a log file. Remember that
34541 if you use profiling, @value{GDBN} will overwrite the profiling log file
34542 (often called @file{gmon.out}). If you have a record of important profiling
34543 data in a @file{gmon.out} file, be sure to move it to a safe location.
34544
34545 Configuring with @samp{--enable-profiling} arranges for @value{GDBN} to be
34546 compiled with the @samp{-pg} compiler option.
34547
34548 @kindex maint set show-debug-regs
34549 @kindex maint show show-debug-regs
34550 @cindex hardware debug registers
34551 @item maint set show-debug-regs
34552 @itemx maint show show-debug-regs
34553 Control whether to show variables that mirror the hardware debug
34554 registers. Use @code{on} to enable, @code{off} to disable. If
34555 enabled, the debug registers values are shown when @value{GDBN} inserts or
34556 removes a hardware breakpoint or watchpoint, and when the inferior
34557 triggers a hardware-assisted breakpoint or watchpoint.
34558
34559 @kindex maint set show-all-tib
34560 @kindex maint show show-all-tib
34561 @item maint set show-all-tib
34562 @itemx maint show show-all-tib
34563 Control whether to show all non zero areas within a 1k block starting
34564 at thread local base, when using the @samp{info w32 thread-information-block}
34565 command.
34566
34567 @kindex maint set target-async
34568 @kindex maint show target-async
34569 @item maint set target-async
34570 @itemx maint show target-async
34571 This controls whether @value{GDBN} targets operate in synchronous or
34572 asynchronous mode (@pxref{Background Execution}). Normally the
34573 default is asynchronous, if it is available; but this can be changed
34574 to more easily debug problems occurring only in synchronous mode.
34575
34576 @kindex maint set target-non-stop @var{mode} [on|off|auto]
34577 @kindex maint show target-non-stop
34578 @item maint set target-non-stop
34579 @itemx maint show target-non-stop
34580
34581 This controls whether @value{GDBN} targets always operate in non-stop
34582 mode even if @code{set non-stop} is @code{off} (@pxref{Non-Stop
34583 Mode}). The default is @code{auto}, meaning non-stop mode is enabled
34584 if supported by the target.
34585
34586 @table @code
34587 @item maint set target-non-stop auto
34588 This is the default mode. @value{GDBN} controls the target in
34589 non-stop mode if the target supports it.
34590
34591 @item maint set target-non-stop on
34592 @value{GDBN} controls the target in non-stop mode even if the target
34593 does not indicate support.
34594
34595 @item maint set target-non-stop off
34596 @value{GDBN} does not control the target in non-stop mode even if the
34597 target supports it.
34598 @end table
34599
34600 @kindex maint set per-command
34601 @kindex maint show per-command
34602 @item maint set per-command
34603 @itemx maint show per-command
34604 @cindex resources used by commands
34605
34606 @value{GDBN} can display the resources used by each command.
34607 This is useful in debugging performance problems.
34608
34609 @table @code
34610 @item maint set per-command space [on|off]
34611 @itemx maint show per-command space
34612 Enable or disable the printing of the memory used by GDB for each command.
34613 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much memory each command
34614 took, following the command's own output.
34615 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
34616 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34617
34618 @item maint set per-command time [on|off]
34619 @itemx maint show per-command time
34620 Enable or disable the printing of the execution time of @value{GDBN}
34621 for each command.
34622 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display how much time it
34623 took to execute each command, following the command's own output.
34624 Both CPU time and wallclock time are printed.
34625 Printing both is useful when trying to determine whether the cost is
34626 CPU or, e.g., disk/network latency.
34627 Note that the CPU time printed is for @value{GDBN} only, it does not include
34628 the execution time of the inferior because there's no mechanism currently
34629 to compute how much time was spent by @value{GDBN} and how much time was
34630 spent by the program been debugged.
34631 This can also be requested by invoking @value{GDBN} with the
34632 @option{--statistics} command-line switch (@pxref{Mode Options}).
34633
34634 @item maint set per-command symtab [on|off]
34635 @itemx maint show per-command symtab
34636 Enable or disable the printing of basic symbol table statistics
34637 for each command.
34638 If enabled, @value{GDBN} will display the following information:
34639
34640 @enumerate a
34641 @item
34642 number of symbol tables
34643 @item
34644 number of primary symbol tables
34645 @item
34646 number of blocks in the blockvector
34647 @end enumerate
34648 @end table
34649
34650 @kindex maint space
34651 @cindex memory used by commands
34652 @item maint space @var{value}
34653 An alias for @code{maint set per-command space}.
34654 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
34655
34656 @kindex maint time
34657 @cindex time of command execution
34658 @item maint time @var{value}
34659 An alias for @code{maint set per-command time}.
34660 A non-zero value enables it, zero disables it.
34661
34662 @kindex maint translate-address
34663 @item maint translate-address @r{[}@var{section}@r{]} @var{addr}
34664 Find the symbol stored at the location specified by the address
34665 @var{addr} and an optional section name @var{section}. If found,
34666 @value{GDBN} prints the name of the closest symbol and an offset from
34667 the symbol's location to the specified address. This is similar to
34668 the @code{info address} command (@pxref{Symbols}), except that this
34669 command also allows to find symbols in other sections.
34670
34671 If section was not specified, the section in which the symbol was found
34672 is also printed. For dynamically linked executables, the name of
34673 executable or shared library containing the symbol is printed as well.
34674
34675 @end table
34676
34677 The following command is useful for non-interactive invocations of
34678 @value{GDBN}, such as in the test suite.
34679
34680 @table @code
34681 @item set watchdog @var{nsec}
34682 @kindex set watchdog
34683 @cindex watchdog timer
34684 @cindex timeout for commands
34685 Set the maximum number of seconds @value{GDBN} will wait for the
34686 target operation to finish. If this time expires, @value{GDBN}
34687 reports and error and the command is aborted.
34688
34689 @item show watchdog
34690 Show the current setting of the target wait timeout.
34691 @end table
34692
34693 @node Remote Protocol
34694 @appendix @value{GDBN} Remote Serial Protocol
34695
34696 @menu
34697 * Overview::
34698 * Packets::
34699 * Stop Reply Packets::
34700 * General Query Packets::
34701 * Architecture-Specific Protocol Details::
34702 * Tracepoint Packets::
34703 * Host I/O Packets::
34704 * Interrupts::
34705 * Notification Packets::
34706 * Remote Non-Stop::
34707 * Packet Acknowledgment::
34708 * Examples::
34709 * File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension::
34710 * Library List Format::
34711 * Library List Format for SVR4 Targets::
34712 * Memory Map Format::
34713 * Thread List Format::
34714 * Traceframe Info Format::
34715 * Branch Trace Format::
34716 * Branch Trace Configuration Format::
34717 @end menu
34718
34719 @node Overview
34720 @section Overview
34721
34722 There may be occasions when you need to know something about the
34723 protocol---for example, if there is only one serial port to your target
34724 machine, you might want your program to do something special if it
34725 recognizes a packet meant for @value{GDBN}.
34726
34727 In the examples below, @samp{->} and @samp{<-} are used to indicate
34728 transmitted and received data, respectively.
34729
34730 @cindex protocol, @value{GDBN} remote serial
34731 @cindex serial protocol, @value{GDBN} remote
34732 @cindex remote serial protocol
34733 All @value{GDBN} commands and responses (other than acknowledgments
34734 and notifications, see @ref{Notification Packets}) are sent as a
34735 @var{packet}. A @var{packet} is introduced with the character
34736 @samp{$}, the actual @var{packet-data}, and the terminating character
34737 @samp{#} followed by a two-digit @var{checksum}:
34738
34739 @smallexample
34740 @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34741 @end smallexample
34742 @noindent
34743
34744 @cindex checksum, for @value{GDBN} remote
34745 @noindent
34746 The two-digit @var{checksum} is computed as the modulo 256 sum of all
34747 characters between the leading @samp{$} and the trailing @samp{#} (an
34748 eight bit unsigned checksum).
34749
34750 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0 the protocol
34751 specification also included an optional two-digit @var{sequence-id}:
34752
34753 @smallexample
34754 @code{$}@var{sequence-id}@code{:}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34755 @end smallexample
34756
34757 @cindex sequence-id, for @value{GDBN} remote
34758 @noindent
34759 That @var{sequence-id} was appended to the acknowledgment. @value{GDBN}
34760 has never output @var{sequence-id}s. Stubs that handle packets added
34761 since @value{GDBN} 5.0 must not accept @var{sequence-id}.
34762
34763 When either the host or the target machine receives a packet, the first
34764 response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
34765 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request
34766 retransmission):
34767
34768 @smallexample
34769 -> @code{$}@var{packet-data}@code{#}@var{checksum}
34770 <- @code{+}
34771 @end smallexample
34772 @noindent
34773
34774 The @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments can be disabled
34775 once a connection is established.
34776 @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}, for details.
34777
34778 The host (@value{GDBN}) sends @var{command}s, and the target (the
34779 debugging stub incorporated in your program) sends a @var{response}. In
34780 the case of step and continue @var{command}s, the response is only sent
34781 when the operation has completed, and the target has again stopped all
34782 threads in all attached processes. This is the default all-stop mode
34783 behavior, but the remote protocol also supports @value{GDBN}'s non-stop
34784 execution mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}, for details.
34785
34786 @var{packet-data} consists of a sequence of characters with the
34787 exception of @samp{#} and @samp{$} (see @samp{X} packet for additional
34788 exceptions).
34789
34790 @cindex remote protocol, field separator
34791 Fields within the packet should be separated using @samp{,} @samp{;} or
34792 @samp{:}. Except where otherwise noted all numbers are represented in
34793 @sc{hex} with leading zeros suppressed.
34794
34795 Implementors should note that prior to @value{GDBN} 5.0, the character
34796 @samp{:} could not appear as the third character in a packet (as it
34797 would potentially conflict with the @var{sequence-id}).
34798
34799 @cindex remote protocol, binary data
34800 @anchor{Binary Data}
34801 Binary data in most packets is encoded either as two hexadecimal
34802 digits per byte of binary data. This allowed the traditional remote
34803 protocol to work over connections which were only seven-bit clean.
34804 Some packets designed more recently assume an eight-bit clean
34805 connection, and use a more efficient encoding to send and receive
34806 binary data.
34807
34808 The binary data representation uses @code{7d} (@sc{ascii} @samp{@}})
34809 as an escape character. Any escaped byte is transmitted as the escape
34810 character followed by the original character XORed with @code{0x20}.
34811 For example, the byte @code{0x7d} would be transmitted as the two
34812 bytes @code{0x7d 0x5d}. The bytes @code{0x23} (@sc{ascii} @samp{#}),
34813 @code{0x24} (@sc{ascii} @samp{$}), and @code{0x7d} (@sc{ascii}
34814 @samp{@}}) must always be escaped. Responses sent by the stub
34815 must also escape @code{0x2a} (@sc{ascii} @samp{*}), so that it
34816 is not interpreted as the start of a run-length encoded sequence
34817 (described next).
34818
34819 Response @var{data} can be run-length encoded to save space.
34820 Run-length encoding replaces runs of identical characters with one
34821 instance of the repeated character, followed by a @samp{*} and a
34822 repeat count. The repeat count is itself sent encoded, to avoid
34823 binary characters in @var{data}: a value of @var{n} is sent as
34824 @code{@var{n}+29}. For a repeat count greater or equal to 3, this
34825 produces a printable @sc{ascii} character, e.g.@: a space (@sc{ascii}
34826 code 32) for a repeat count of 3. (This is because run-length
34827 encoding starts to win for counts 3 or more.) Thus, for example,
34828 @samp{0* } is a run-length encoding of ``0000'': the space character
34829 after @samp{*} means repeat the leading @code{0} @w{@code{32 - 29 =
34830 3}} more times.
34831
34832 The printable characters @samp{#} and @samp{$} or with a numeric value
34833 greater than 126 must not be used. Runs of six repeats (@samp{#}) or
34834 seven repeats (@samp{$}) can be expanded using a repeat count of only
34835 five (@samp{"}). For example, @samp{00000000} can be encoded as
34836 @samp{0*"00}.
34837
34838 The error response returned for some packets includes a two character
34839 error number. That number is not well defined.
34840
34841 @cindex empty response, for unsupported packets
34842 For any @var{command} not supported by the stub, an empty response
34843 (@samp{$#00}) should be returned. That way it is possible to extend the
34844 protocol. A newer @value{GDBN} can tell if a packet is supported based
34845 on that response.
34846
34847 At a minimum, a stub is required to support the @samp{g} and @samp{G}
34848 commands for register access, and the @samp{m} and @samp{M} commands
34849 for memory access. Stubs that only control single-threaded targets
34850 can implement run control with the @samp{c} (continue), and @samp{s}
34851 (step) commands. Stubs that support multi-threading targets should
34852 support the @samp{vCont} command. All other commands are optional.
34853
34854 @node Packets
34855 @section Packets
34856
34857 The following table provides a complete list of all currently defined
34858 @var{command}s and their corresponding response @var{data}.
34859 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for details about the File
34860 I/O extension of the remote protocol.
34861
34862 Each packet's description has a template showing the packet's overall
34863 syntax, followed by an explanation of the packet's meaning. We
34864 include spaces in some of the templates for clarity; these are not
34865 part of the packet's syntax. No @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to
34866 separate its components. For example, a template like @samp{foo
34867 @var{bar} @var{baz}} describes a packet beginning with the three ASCII
34868 bytes @samp{foo}, followed by a @var{bar}, followed directly by a
34869 @var{baz}. @value{GDBN} does not transmit a space character between the
34870 @samp{foo} and the @var{bar}, or between the @var{bar} and the
34871 @var{baz}.
34872
34873 @cindex @var{thread-id}, in remote protocol
34874 @anchor{thread-id syntax}
34875 Several packets and replies include a @var{thread-id} field to identify
34876 a thread. Normally these are positive numbers with a target-specific
34877 interpretation, formatted as big-endian hex strings. A @var{thread-id}
34878 can also be a literal @samp{-1} to indicate all threads, or @samp{0} to
34879 pick any thread.
34880
34881 In addition, the remote protocol supports a multiprocess feature in
34882 which the @var{thread-id} syntax is extended to optionally include both
34883 process and thread ID fields, as @samp{p@var{pid}.@var{tid}}.
34884 The @var{pid} (process) and @var{tid} (thread) components each have the
34885 format described above: a positive number with target-specific
34886 interpretation formatted as a big-endian hex string, literal @samp{-1}
34887 to indicate all processes or threads (respectively), or @samp{0} to
34888 indicate an arbitrary process or thread. Specifying just a process, as
34889 @samp{p@var{pid}}, is equivalent to @samp{p@var{pid}.-1}. It is an
34890 error to specify all processes but a specific thread, such as
34891 @samp{p-1.@var{tid}}. Note that the @samp{p} prefix is @emph{not} used
34892 for those packets and replies explicitly documented to include a process
34893 ID, rather than a @var{thread-id}.
34894
34895 The multiprocess @var{thread-id} syntax extensions are only used if both
34896 @value{GDBN} and the stub report support for the @samp{multiprocess}
34897 feature using @samp{qSupported}. @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for
34898 more information.
34899
34900 Note that all packet forms beginning with an upper- or lower-case
34901 letter, other than those described here, are reserved for future use.
34902
34903 Here are the packet descriptions.
34904
34905 @table @samp
34906
34907 @item !
34908 @cindex @samp{!} packet
34909 @anchor{extended mode}
34910 Enable extended mode. In extended mode, the remote server is made
34911 persistent. The @samp{R} packet is used to restart the program being
34912 debugged.
34913
34914 Reply:
34915 @table @samp
34916 @item OK
34917 The remote target both supports and has enabled extended mode.
34918 @end table
34919
34920 @item ?
34921 @cindex @samp{?} packet
34922 @anchor{? packet}
34923 Indicate the reason the target halted. The reply is the same as for
34924 step and continue. This packet has a special interpretation when the
34925 target is in non-stop mode; see @ref{Remote Non-Stop}.
34926
34927 Reply:
34928 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34929
34930 @item A @var{arglen},@var{argnum},@var{arg},@dots{}
34931 @cindex @samp{A} packet
34932 Initialized @code{argv[]} array passed into program. @var{arglen}
34933 specifies the number of bytes in the hex encoded byte stream
34934 @var{arg}. See @code{gdbserver} for more details.
34935
34936 Reply:
34937 @table @samp
34938 @item OK
34939 The arguments were set.
34940 @item E @var{NN}
34941 An error occurred.
34942 @end table
34943
34944 @item b @var{baud}
34945 @cindex @samp{b} packet
34946 (Don't use this packet; its behavior is not well-defined.)
34947 Change the serial line speed to @var{baud}.
34948
34949 JTC: @emph{When does the transport layer state change? When it's
34950 received, or after the ACK is transmitted. In either case, there are
34951 problems if the command or the acknowledgment packet is dropped.}
34952
34953 Stan: @emph{If people really wanted to add something like this, and get
34954 it working for the first time, they ought to modify ser-unix.c to send
34955 some kind of out-of-band message to a specially-setup stub and have the
34956 switch happen "in between" packets, so that from remote protocol's point
34957 of view, nothing actually happened.}
34958
34959 @item B @var{addr},@var{mode}
34960 @cindex @samp{B} packet
34961 Set (@var{mode} is @samp{S}) or clear (@var{mode} is @samp{C}) a
34962 breakpoint at @var{addr}.
34963
34964 Don't use this packet. Use the @samp{Z} and @samp{z} packets instead
34965 (@pxref{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}).
34966
34967 @cindex @samp{bc} packet
34968 @anchor{bc}
34969 @item bc
34970 Backward continue. Execute the target system in reverse. No parameter.
34971 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34972
34973 Reply:
34974 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34975
34976 @cindex @samp{bs} packet
34977 @anchor{bs}
34978 @item bs
34979 Backward single step. Execute one instruction in reverse. No parameter.
34980 @xref{Reverse Execution}, for more information.
34981
34982 Reply:
34983 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34984
34985 @item c @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
34986 @cindex @samp{c} packet
34987 Continue at @var{addr}, which is the address to resume. If @var{addr}
34988 is omitted, resume at current address.
34989
34990 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
34991 packet}.
34992
34993 Reply:
34994 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
34995
34996 @item C @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
34997 @cindex @samp{C} packet
34998 Continue with signal @var{sig} (hex signal number). If
34999 @samp{;@var{addr}} is omitted, resume at same address.
35000
35001 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35002 packet}.
35003
35004 Reply:
35005 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35006
35007 @item d
35008 @cindex @samp{d} packet
35009 Toggle debug flag.
35010
35011 Don't use this packet; instead, define a general set packet
35012 (@pxref{General Query Packets}).
35013
35014 @item D
35015 @itemx D;@var{pid}
35016 @cindex @samp{D} packet
35017 The first form of the packet is used to detach @value{GDBN} from the
35018 remote system. It is sent to the remote target
35019 before @value{GDBN} disconnects via the @code{detach} command.
35020
35021 The second form, including a process ID, is used when multiprocess
35022 protocol extensions are enabled (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}), to
35023 detach only a specific process. The @var{pid} is specified as a
35024 big-endian hex string.
35025
35026 Reply:
35027 @table @samp
35028 @item OK
35029 for success
35030 @item E @var{NN}
35031 for an error
35032 @end table
35033
35034 @item F @var{RC},@var{EE},@var{CF};@var{XX}
35035 @cindex @samp{F} packet
35036 A reply from @value{GDBN} to an @samp{F} packet sent by the target.
35037 This is part of the File-I/O protocol extension. @xref{File-I/O
35038 Remote Protocol Extension}, for the specification.
35039
35040 @item g
35041 @anchor{read registers packet}
35042 @cindex @samp{g} packet
35043 Read general registers.
35044
35045 Reply:
35046 @table @samp
35047 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35048 Each byte of register data is described by two hex digits. The bytes
35049 with the register are transmitted in target byte order. The size of
35050 each register and their position within the @samp{g} packet are
35051 determined by the @value{GDBN} internal gdbarch functions
35052 @code{DEPRECATED_REGISTER_RAW_SIZE} and @code{gdbarch_register_name}. The
35053 specification of several standard @samp{g} packets is specified below.
35054
35055 When reading registers from a trace frame (@pxref{Analyze Collected
35056 Data,,Using the Collected Data}), the stub may also return a string of
35057 literal @samp{x}'s in place of the register data digits, to indicate
35058 that the corresponding register has not been collected, thus its value
35059 is unavailable. For example, for an architecture with 4 registers of
35060 4 bytes each, the following reply indicates to @value{GDBN} that
35061 registers 0 and 2 have not been collected, while registers 1 and 3
35062 have been collected, and both have zero value:
35063
35064 @smallexample
35065 -> @code{g}
35066 <- @code{xxxxxxxx00000000xxxxxxxx00000000}
35067 @end smallexample
35068
35069 @item E @var{NN}
35070 for an error.
35071 @end table
35072
35073 @item G @var{XX@dots{}}
35074 @cindex @samp{G} packet
35075 Write general registers. @xref{read registers packet}, for a
35076 description of the @var{XX@dots{}} data.
35077
35078 Reply:
35079 @table @samp
35080 @item OK
35081 for success
35082 @item E @var{NN}
35083 for an error
35084 @end table
35085
35086 @item H @var{op} @var{thread-id}
35087 @cindex @samp{H} packet
35088 Set thread for subsequent operations (@samp{m}, @samp{M}, @samp{g},
35089 @samp{G}, et.al.). Depending on the operation to be performed, @var{op}
35090 should be @samp{c} for step and continue operations (note that this
35091 is deprecated, supporting the @samp{vCont} command is a better
35092 option), and @samp{g} for other operations. The thread designator
35093 @var{thread-id} has the format and interpretation described in
35094 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35095
35096 Reply:
35097 @table @samp
35098 @item OK
35099 for success
35100 @item E @var{NN}
35101 for an error
35102 @end table
35103
35104 @c FIXME: JTC:
35105 @c 'H': How restrictive (or permissive) is the thread model. If a
35106 @c thread is selected and stopped, are other threads allowed
35107 @c to continue to execute? As I mentioned above, I think the
35108 @c semantics of each command when a thread is selected must be
35109 @c described. For example:
35110 @c
35111 @c 'g': If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
35112 @c selected, returns the register block from that thread;
35113 @c otherwise returns current registers.
35114 @c
35115 @c 'G' If the stub supports threads and a specific thread is
35116 @c selected, sets the registers of the register block of
35117 @c that thread; otherwise sets current registers.
35118
35119 @item i @r{[}@var{addr}@r{[},@var{nnn}@r{]]}
35120 @anchor{cycle step packet}
35121 @cindex @samp{i} packet
35122 Step the remote target by a single clock cycle. If @samp{,@var{nnn}} is
35123 present, cycle step @var{nnn} cycles. If @var{addr} is present, cycle
35124 step starting at that address.
35125
35126 @item I
35127 @cindex @samp{I} packet
35128 Signal, then cycle step. @xref{step with signal packet}. @xref{cycle
35129 step packet}.
35130
35131 @item k
35132 @cindex @samp{k} packet
35133 Kill request.
35134
35135 The exact effect of this packet is not specified.
35136
35137 For a bare-metal target, it may power cycle or reset the target
35138 system. For that reason, the @samp{k} packet has no reply.
35139
35140 For a single-process target, it may kill that process if possible.
35141
35142 A multiple-process target may choose to kill just one process, or all
35143 that are under @value{GDBN}'s control. For more precise control, use
35144 the vKill packet (@pxref{vKill packet}).
35145
35146 If the target system immediately closes the connection in response to
35147 @samp{k}, @value{GDBN} does not consider the lack of packet
35148 acknowledgment to be an error, and assumes the kill was successful.
35149
35150 If connected using @kbd{target extended-remote}, and the target does
35151 not close the connection in response to a kill request, @value{GDBN}
35152 probes the target state as if a new connection was opened
35153 (@pxref{? packet}).
35154
35155 @item m @var{addr},@var{length}
35156 @cindex @samp{m} packet
35157 Read @var{length} addressable memory units starting at address @var{addr}
35158 (@pxref{addressable memory unit}). Note that @var{addr} may not be aligned to
35159 any particular boundary.
35160
35161 The stub need not use any particular size or alignment when gathering
35162 data from memory for the response; even if @var{addr} is word-aligned
35163 and @var{length} is a multiple of the word size, the stub is free to
35164 use byte accesses, or not. For this reason, this packet may not be
35165 suitable for accessing memory-mapped I/O devices.
35166 @cindex alignment of remote memory accesses
35167 @cindex size of remote memory accesses
35168 @cindex memory, alignment and size of remote accesses
35169
35170 Reply:
35171 @table @samp
35172 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35173 Memory contents; each byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal number.
35174 The reply may contain fewer addressable memory units than requested if the
35175 server was able to read only part of the region of memory.
35176 @item E @var{NN}
35177 @var{NN} is errno
35178 @end table
35179
35180 @item M @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35181 @cindex @samp{M} packet
35182 Write @var{length} addressable memory units starting at address @var{addr}
35183 (@pxref{addressable memory unit}). The data is given by @var{XX@dots{}}; each
35184 byte is transmitted as a two-digit hexadecimal number.
35185
35186 Reply:
35187 @table @samp
35188 @item OK
35189 for success
35190 @item E @var{NN}
35191 for an error (this includes the case where only part of the data was
35192 written).
35193 @end table
35194
35195 @item p @var{n}
35196 @cindex @samp{p} packet
35197 Read the value of register @var{n}; @var{n} is in hex.
35198 @xref{read registers packet}, for a description of how the returned
35199 register value is encoded.
35200
35201 Reply:
35202 @table @samp
35203 @item @var{XX@dots{}}
35204 the register's value
35205 @item E @var{NN}
35206 for an error
35207 @item @w{}
35208 Indicating an unrecognized @var{query}.
35209 @end table
35210
35211 @item P @var{n@dots{}}=@var{r@dots{}}
35212 @anchor{write register packet}
35213 @cindex @samp{P} packet
35214 Write register @var{n@dots{}} with value @var{r@dots{}}. The register
35215 number @var{n} is in hexadecimal, and @var{r@dots{}} contains two hex
35216 digits for each byte in the register (target byte order).
35217
35218 Reply:
35219 @table @samp
35220 @item OK
35221 for success
35222 @item E @var{NN}
35223 for an error
35224 @end table
35225
35226 @item q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
35227 @itemx Q @var{name} @var{params}@dots{}
35228 @cindex @samp{q} packet
35229 @cindex @samp{Q} packet
35230 General query (@samp{q}) and set (@samp{Q}). These packets are
35231 described fully in @ref{General Query Packets}.
35232
35233 @item r
35234 @cindex @samp{r} packet
35235 Reset the entire system.
35236
35237 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{R} packet instead.
35238
35239 @item R @var{XX}
35240 @cindex @samp{R} packet
35241 Restart the program being debugged. The @var{XX}, while needed, is ignored.
35242 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35243
35244 The @samp{R} packet has no reply.
35245
35246 @item s @r{[}@var{addr}@r{]}
35247 @cindex @samp{s} packet
35248 Single step, resuming at @var{addr}. If
35249 @var{addr} is omitted, resume at same address.
35250
35251 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35252 packet}.
35253
35254 Reply:
35255 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35256
35257 @item S @var{sig}@r{[};@var{addr}@r{]}
35258 @anchor{step with signal packet}
35259 @cindex @samp{S} packet
35260 Step with signal. This is analogous to the @samp{C} packet, but
35261 requests a single-step, rather than a normal resumption of execution.
35262
35263 This packet is deprecated for multi-threading support. @xref{vCont
35264 packet}.
35265
35266 Reply:
35267 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35268
35269 @item t @var{addr}:@var{PP},@var{MM}
35270 @cindex @samp{t} packet
35271 Search backwards starting at address @var{addr} for a match with pattern
35272 @var{PP} and mask @var{MM}, both of which are are 4 byte long.
35273 There must be at least 3 digits in @var{addr}.
35274
35275 @item T @var{thread-id}
35276 @cindex @samp{T} packet
35277 Find out if the thread @var{thread-id} is alive. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
35278
35279 Reply:
35280 @table @samp
35281 @item OK
35282 thread is still alive
35283 @item E @var{NN}
35284 thread is dead
35285 @end table
35286
35287 @item v
35288 Packets starting with @samp{v} are identified by a multi-letter name,
35289 up to the first @samp{;} or @samp{?} (or the end of the packet).
35290
35291 @item vAttach;@var{pid}
35292 @cindex @samp{vAttach} packet
35293 Attach to a new process with the specified process ID @var{pid}.
35294 The process ID is a
35295 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. In all-stop mode, all
35296 threads in the attached process are stopped; in non-stop mode, it may be
35297 attached without being stopped if that is supported by the target.
35298
35299 @c In non-stop mode, on a successful vAttach, the stub should set the
35300 @c current thread to a thread of the newly-attached process. After
35301 @c attaching, GDB queries for the attached process's thread ID with qC.
35302 @c Also note that, from a user perspective, whether or not the
35303 @c target is stopped on attach in non-stop mode depends on whether you
35304 @c use the foreground or background version of the attach command, not
35305 @c on what vAttach does; GDB does the right thing with respect to either
35306 @c stopping or restarting threads.
35307
35308 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35309
35310 Reply:
35311 @table @samp
35312 @item E @var{nn}
35313 for an error
35314 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35315 for success in all-stop mode (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35316 @item OK
35317 for success in non-stop mode (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop})
35318 @end table
35319
35320 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@r{[}:@var{thread-id}@r{]]}@dots{}
35321 @cindex @samp{vCont} packet
35322 @anchor{vCont packet}
35323 Resume the inferior, specifying different actions for each thread.
35324 If an action is specified with no @var{thread-id}, then it is applied to any
35325 threads that don't have a specific action specified; if no default action is
35326 specified then other threads should remain stopped in all-stop mode and
35327 in their current state in non-stop mode.
35328 Specifying multiple
35329 default actions is an error; specifying no actions is also an error.
35330 Thread IDs are specified using the syntax described in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35331
35332 Currently supported actions are:
35333
35334 @table @samp
35335 @item c
35336 Continue.
35337 @item C @var{sig}
35338 Continue with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35339 @item s
35340 Step.
35341 @item S @var{sig}
35342 Step with signal @var{sig}. The signal @var{sig} should be two hex digits.
35343 @item t
35344 Stop.
35345 @item r @var{start},@var{end}
35346 Step once, and then keep stepping as long as the thread stops at
35347 addresses between @var{start} (inclusive) and @var{end} (exclusive).
35348 The remote stub reports a stop reply when either the thread goes out
35349 of the range or is stopped due to an unrelated reason, such as hitting
35350 a breakpoint. @xref{range stepping}.
35351
35352 If the range is empty (@var{start} == @var{end}), then the action
35353 becomes equivalent to the @samp{s} action. In other words,
35354 single-step once, and report the stop (even if the stepped instruction
35355 jumps to @var{start}).
35356
35357 (A stop reply may be sent at any point even if the PC is still within
35358 the stepping range; for example, it is valid to implement this packet
35359 in a degenerate way as a single instruction step operation.)
35360
35361 @end table
35362
35363 The optional argument @var{addr} normally associated with the
35364 @samp{c}, @samp{C}, @samp{s}, and @samp{S} packets is
35365 not supported in @samp{vCont}.
35366
35367 The @samp{t} action is only relevant in non-stop mode
35368 (@pxref{Remote Non-Stop}) and may be ignored by the stub otherwise.
35369 A stop reply should be generated for any affected thread not already stopped.
35370 When a thread is stopped by means of a @samp{t} action,
35371 the corresponding stop reply should indicate that the thread has stopped with
35372 signal @samp{0}, regardless of whether the target uses some other signal
35373 as an implementation detail.
35374
35375 The stub must support @samp{vCont} if it reports support for
35376 multiprocess extensions (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}). Note that in
35377 this case @samp{vCont} actions can be specified to apply to all threads
35378 in a process by using the @samp{p@var{pid}.-1} form of the
35379 @var{thread-id}.
35380
35381 Reply:
35382 @xref{Stop Reply Packets}, for the reply specifications.
35383
35384 @item vCont?
35385 @cindex @samp{vCont?} packet
35386 Request a list of actions supported by the @samp{vCont} packet.
35387
35388 Reply:
35389 @table @samp
35390 @item vCont@r{[};@var{action}@dots{}@r{]}
35391 The @samp{vCont} packet is supported. Each @var{action} is a supported
35392 command in the @samp{vCont} packet.
35393 @item @w{}
35394 The @samp{vCont} packet is not supported.
35395 @end table
35396
35397 @anchor{vCtrlC packet}
35398 @item vCtrlC
35399 @cindex @samp{vCtrlC} packet
35400 Interrupt remote target as if a control-C was pressed on the remote
35401 terminal. This is the equivalent to reacting to the @code{^C}
35402 (@samp{\003}, the control-C character) character in all-stop mode
35403 while the target is running, except this works in non-stop mode.
35404 @xref{interrupting remote targets}, for more info on the all-stop
35405 variant.
35406
35407 Reply:
35408 @table @samp
35409 @item E @var{nn}
35410 for an error
35411 @item OK
35412 for success
35413 @end table
35414
35415 @item vFile:@var{operation}:@var{parameter}@dots{}
35416 @cindex @samp{vFile} packet
35417 Perform a file operation on the target system. For details,
35418 see @ref{Host I/O Packets}.
35419
35420 @item vFlashErase:@var{addr},@var{length}
35421 @cindex @samp{vFlashErase} packet
35422 Direct the stub to erase @var{length} bytes of flash starting at
35423 @var{addr}. The region may enclose any number of flash blocks, but
35424 its start and end must fall on block boundaries, as indicated by the
35425 flash block size appearing in the memory map (@pxref{Memory Map
35426 Format}). @value{GDBN} groups flash memory programming operations
35427 together, and sends a @samp{vFlashDone} request after each group; the
35428 stub is allowed to delay erase operation until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35429 packet is received.
35430
35431 Reply:
35432 @table @samp
35433 @item OK
35434 for success
35435 @item E @var{NN}
35436 for an error
35437 @end table
35438
35439 @item vFlashWrite:@var{addr}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35440 @cindex @samp{vFlashWrite} packet
35441 Direct the stub to write data to flash address @var{addr}. The data
35442 is passed in binary form using the same encoding as for the @samp{X}
35443 packet (@pxref{Binary Data}). The memory ranges specified by
35444 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets preceding a @samp{vFlashDone} packet must
35445 not overlap, and must appear in order of increasing addresses
35446 (although @samp{vFlashErase} packets for higher addresses may already
35447 have been received; the ordering is guaranteed only between
35448 @samp{vFlashWrite} packets). If a packet writes to an address that was
35449 neither erased by a preceding @samp{vFlashErase} packet nor by some other
35450 target-specific method, the results are unpredictable.
35451
35452
35453 Reply:
35454 @table @samp
35455 @item OK
35456 for success
35457 @item E.memtype
35458 for vFlashWrite addressing non-flash memory
35459 @item E @var{NN}
35460 for an error
35461 @end table
35462
35463 @item vFlashDone
35464 @cindex @samp{vFlashDone} packet
35465 Indicate to the stub that flash programming operation is finished.
35466 The stub is permitted to delay or batch the effects of a group of
35467 @samp{vFlashErase} and @samp{vFlashWrite} packets until a
35468 @samp{vFlashDone} packet is received. The contents of the affected
35469 regions of flash memory are unpredictable until the @samp{vFlashDone}
35470 request is completed.
35471
35472 @item vKill;@var{pid}
35473 @cindex @samp{vKill} packet
35474 @anchor{vKill packet}
35475 Kill the process with the specified process ID @var{pid}, which is a
35476 hexadecimal integer identifying the process. This packet is used in
35477 preference to @samp{k} when multiprocess protocol extensions are
35478 supported; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35479
35480 Reply:
35481 @table @samp
35482 @item E @var{nn}
35483 for an error
35484 @item OK
35485 for success
35486 @end table
35487
35488 @item vRun;@var{filename}@r{[};@var{argument}@r{]}@dots{}
35489 @cindex @samp{vRun} packet
35490 Run the program @var{filename}, passing it each @var{argument} on its
35491 command line. The file and arguments are hex-encoded strings. If
35492 @var{filename} is an empty string, the stub may use a default program
35493 (e.g.@: the last program run). The program is created in the stopped
35494 state.
35495
35496 @c FIXME: What about non-stop mode?
35497
35498 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
35499
35500 Reply:
35501 @table @samp
35502 @item E @var{nn}
35503 for an error
35504 @item @r{Any stop packet}
35505 for success (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets})
35506 @end table
35507
35508 @item vStopped
35509 @cindex @samp{vStopped} packet
35510 @xref{Notification Packets}.
35511
35512 @item X @var{addr},@var{length}:@var{XX@dots{}}
35513 @anchor{X packet}
35514 @cindex @samp{X} packet
35515 Write data to memory, where the data is transmitted in binary.
35516 Memory is specified by its address @var{addr} and number of addressable memory
35517 units @var{length} (@pxref{addressable memory unit});
35518 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
35519
35520 Reply:
35521 @table @samp
35522 @item OK
35523 for success
35524 @item E @var{NN}
35525 for an error
35526 @end table
35527
35528 @item z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35529 @itemx Z @var{type},@var{addr},@var{kind}
35530 @anchor{insert breakpoint or watchpoint packet}
35531 @cindex @samp{z} packet
35532 @cindex @samp{Z} packets
35533 Insert (@samp{Z}) or remove (@samp{z}) a @var{type} breakpoint or
35534 watchpoint starting at address @var{address} of kind @var{kind}.
35535
35536 Each breakpoint and watchpoint packet @var{type} is documented
35537 separately.
35538
35539 @emph{Implementation notes: A remote target shall return an empty string
35540 for an unrecognized breakpoint or watchpoint packet @var{type}. A
35541 remote target shall support either both or neither of a given
35542 @samp{Z@var{type}@dots{}} and @samp{z@var{type}@dots{}} packet pair. To
35543 avoid potential problems with duplicate packets, the operations should
35544 be implemented in an idempotent way.}
35545
35546 @item z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35547 @itemx Z0,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}@r{[};cmds:@var{persist},@var{cmd_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35548 @cindex @samp{z0} packet
35549 @cindex @samp{Z0} packet
35550 Insert (@samp{Z0}) or remove (@samp{z0}) a memory breakpoint at address
35551 @var{addr} of type @var{kind}.
35552
35553 A memory breakpoint is implemented by replacing the instruction at
35554 @var{addr} with a software breakpoint or trap instruction. The
35555 @var{kind} is target-specific and typically indicates the size of
35556 the breakpoint in bytes that should be inserted. E.g., the @sc{arm}
35557 and @sc{mips} can insert either a 2 or 4 byte breakpoint. Some
35558 architectures have additional meanings for @var{kind};
35559 @var{cond_list} is an optional list of conditional expressions in bytecode
35560 form that should be evaluated on the target's side. These are the
35561 conditions that should be taken into consideration when deciding if
35562 the breakpoint trigger should be reported back to @var{GDBN}.
35563
35564 See also the @samp{swbreak} stop reason (@pxref{swbreak stop reason})
35565 for how to best report a memory breakpoint event to @value{GDBN}.
35566
35567 The @var{cond_list} parameter is comprised of a series of expressions,
35568 concatenated without separators. Each expression has the following form:
35569
35570 @table @samp
35571
35572 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35573 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
35574 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
35575
35576 @end table
35577
35578 The optional @var{cmd_list} parameter introduces commands that may be
35579 run on the target, rather than being reported back to @value{GDBN}.
35580 The parameter starts with a numeric flag @var{persist}; if the flag is
35581 nonzero, then the breakpoint may remain active and the commands
35582 continue to be run even when @value{GDBN} disconnects from the target.
35583 Following this flag is a series of expressions concatenated with no
35584 separators. Each expression has the following form:
35585
35586 @table @samp
35587
35588 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
35589 @var{len} is the length of the bytecode expression and @var{expr} is the
35590 actual conditional expression in bytecode form.
35591
35592 @end table
35593
35594 see @ref{Architecture-Specific Protocol Details}.
35595
35596 @emph{Implementation note: It is possible for a target to copy or move
35597 code that contains memory breakpoints (e.g., when implementing
35598 overlays). The behavior of this packet, in the presence of such a
35599 target, is not defined.}
35600
35601 Reply:
35602 @table @samp
35603 @item OK
35604 success
35605 @item @w{}
35606 not supported
35607 @item E @var{NN}
35608 for an error
35609 @end table
35610
35611 @item z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35612 @itemx Z1,@var{addr},@var{kind}@r{[};@var{cond_list}@dots{}@r{]}
35613 @cindex @samp{z1} packet
35614 @cindex @samp{Z1} packet
35615 Insert (@samp{Z1}) or remove (@samp{z1}) a hardware breakpoint at
35616 address @var{addr}.
35617
35618 A hardware breakpoint is implemented using a mechanism that is not
35619 dependant on being able to modify the target's memory. The @var{kind}
35620 and @var{cond_list} have the same meaning as in @samp{Z0} packets.
35621
35622 @emph{Implementation note: A hardware breakpoint is not affected by code
35623 movement.}
35624
35625 Reply:
35626 @table @samp
35627 @item OK
35628 success
35629 @item @w{}
35630 not supported
35631 @item E @var{NN}
35632 for an error
35633 @end table
35634
35635 @item z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35636 @itemx Z2,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35637 @cindex @samp{z2} packet
35638 @cindex @samp{Z2} packet
35639 Insert (@samp{Z2}) or remove (@samp{z2}) a write watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35640 The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
35641
35642 Reply:
35643 @table @samp
35644 @item OK
35645 success
35646 @item @w{}
35647 not supported
35648 @item E @var{NN}
35649 for an error
35650 @end table
35651
35652 @item z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35653 @itemx Z3,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35654 @cindex @samp{z3} packet
35655 @cindex @samp{Z3} packet
35656 Insert (@samp{Z3}) or remove (@samp{z3}) a read watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35657 The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
35658
35659 Reply:
35660 @table @samp
35661 @item OK
35662 success
35663 @item @w{}
35664 not supported
35665 @item E @var{NN}
35666 for an error
35667 @end table
35668
35669 @item z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35670 @itemx Z4,@var{addr},@var{kind}
35671 @cindex @samp{z4} packet
35672 @cindex @samp{Z4} packet
35673 Insert (@samp{Z4}) or remove (@samp{z4}) an access watchpoint at @var{addr}.
35674 The number of bytes to watch is specified by @var{kind}.
35675
35676 Reply:
35677 @table @samp
35678 @item OK
35679 success
35680 @item @w{}
35681 not supported
35682 @item E @var{NN}
35683 for an error
35684 @end table
35685
35686 @end table
35687
35688 @node Stop Reply Packets
35689 @section Stop Reply Packets
35690 @cindex stop reply packets
35691
35692 The @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}, @samp{s}, @samp{vCont},
35693 @samp{vAttach}, @samp{vRun}, @samp{vStopped}, and @samp{?} packets can
35694 receive any of the below as a reply. Except for @samp{?}
35695 and @samp{vStopped}, that reply is only returned
35696 when the target halts. In the below the exact meaning of @dfn{signal
35697 number} is defined by the header @file{include/gdb/signals.h} in the
35698 @value{GDBN} source code.
35699
35700 As in the description of request packets, we include spaces in the
35701 reply templates for clarity; these are not part of the reply packet's
35702 syntax. No @value{GDBN} stop reply packet uses spaces to separate its
35703 components.
35704
35705 @table @samp
35706
35707 @item S @var{AA}
35708 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35709 number). This is equivalent to a @samp{T} response with no
35710 @var{n}:@var{r} pairs.
35711
35712 @item T @var{AA} @var{n1}:@var{r1};@var{n2}:@var{r2};@dots{}
35713 @cindex @samp{T} packet reply
35714 The program received signal number @var{AA} (a two-digit hexadecimal
35715 number). This is equivalent to an @samp{S} response, except that the
35716 @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pairs can carry values of important registers
35717 and other information directly in the stop reply packet, reducing
35718 round-trip latency. Single-step and breakpoint traps are reported
35719 this way. Each @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair is interpreted as follows:
35720
35721 @itemize @bullet
35722 @item
35723 If @var{n} is a hexadecimal number, it is a register number, and the
35724 corresponding @var{r} gives that register's value. The data @var{r} is a
35725 series of bytes in target byte order, with each byte given by a
35726 two-digit hex number.
35727
35728 @item
35729 If @var{n} is @samp{thread}, then @var{r} is the @var{thread-id} of
35730 the stopped thread, as specified in @ref{thread-id syntax}.
35731
35732 @item
35733 If @var{n} is @samp{core}, then @var{r} is the hexadecimal number of
35734 the core on which the stop event was detected.
35735
35736 @item
35737 If @var{n} is a recognized @dfn{stop reason}, it describes a more
35738 specific event that stopped the target. The currently defined stop
35739 reasons are listed below. The @var{aa} should be @samp{05}, the trap
35740 signal. At most one stop reason should be present.
35741
35742 @item
35743 Otherwise, @value{GDBN} should ignore this @samp{@var{n}:@var{r}} pair
35744 and go on to the next; this allows us to extend the protocol in the
35745 future.
35746 @end itemize
35747
35748 The currently defined stop reasons are:
35749
35750 @table @samp
35751 @item watch
35752 @itemx rwatch
35753 @itemx awatch
35754 The packet indicates a watchpoint hit, and @var{r} is the data address, in
35755 hex.
35756
35757 @item syscall_entry
35758 @itemx syscall_return
35759 The packet indicates a syscall entry or return, and @var{r} is the
35760 syscall number, in hex.
35761
35762 @cindex shared library events, remote reply
35763 @item library
35764 The packet indicates that the loaded libraries have changed.
35765 @value{GDBN} should use @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} to fetch a new
35766 list of loaded libraries. The @var{r} part is ignored.
35767
35768 @cindex replay log events, remote reply
35769 @item replaylog
35770 The packet indicates that the target cannot continue replaying
35771 logged execution events, because it has reached the end (or the
35772 beginning when executing backward) of the log. The value of @var{r}
35773 will be either @samp{begin} or @samp{end}. @xref{Reverse Execution},
35774 for more information.
35775
35776 @item swbreak
35777 @anchor{swbreak stop reason}
35778 The packet indicates a memory breakpoint instruction was executed,
35779 irrespective of whether it was @value{GDBN} that planted the
35780 breakpoint or the breakpoint is hardcoded in the program. The @var{r}
35781 part must be left empty.
35782
35783 On some architectures, such as x86, at the architecture level, when a
35784 breakpoint instruction executes the program counter points at the
35785 breakpoint address plus an offset. On such targets, the stub is
35786 responsible for adjusting the PC to point back at the breakpoint
35787 address.
35788
35789 This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
35790 did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
35791 appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
35792 remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
35793 indicating support.
35794
35795 This packet is required for correct non-stop mode operation.
35796
35797 @item hwbreak
35798 The packet indicates the target stopped for a hardware breakpoint.
35799 The @var{r} part must be left empty.
35800
35801 The same remarks about @samp{qSupported} and non-stop mode above
35802 apply.
35803
35804 @cindex fork events, remote reply
35805 @item fork
35806 The packet indicates that @code{fork} was called, and @var{r}
35807 is the thread ID of the new child process. Refer to
35808 @ref{thread-id syntax} for the format of the @var{thread-id}
35809 field. This packet is only applicable to targets that support
35810 fork events.
35811
35812 This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
35813 did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
35814 appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
35815 remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
35816 indicating support.
35817
35818 @cindex vfork events, remote reply
35819 @item vfork
35820 The packet indicates that @code{vfork} was called, and @var{r}
35821 is the thread ID of the new child process. Refer to
35822 @ref{thread-id syntax} for the format of the @var{thread-id}
35823 field. This packet is only applicable to targets that support
35824 vfork events.
35825
35826 This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
35827 did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
35828 appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
35829 remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
35830 indicating support.
35831
35832 @cindex vforkdone events, remote reply
35833 @item vforkdone
35834 The packet indicates that a child process created by a vfork
35835 has either called @code{exec} or terminated, so that the
35836 address spaces of the parent and child process are no longer
35837 shared. The @var{r} part is ignored. This packet is only
35838 applicable to targets that support vforkdone events.
35839
35840 This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
35841 did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
35842 appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
35843 remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
35844 indicating support.
35845
35846 @cindex exec events, remote reply
35847 @item exec
35848 The packet indicates that @code{execve} was called, and @var{r}
35849 is the absolute pathname of the file that was executed, in hex.
35850 This packet is only applicable to targets that support exec events.
35851
35852 This packet should not be sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions
35853 did not support it. @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an
35854 appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The
35855 remote stub must also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature
35856 indicating support.
35857
35858 @cindex thread create event, remote reply
35859 @anchor{thread create event}
35860 @item create
35861 The packet indicates that the thread was just created. The new thread
35862 is stopped until @value{GDBN} sets it running with a resumption packet
35863 (@pxref{vCont packet}). This packet should not be sent by default;
35864 @value{GDBN} requests it with the @ref{QThreadEvents} packet. See
35865 also the @samp{w} (@ref{thread exit event}) remote reply below.
35866
35867 @end table
35868
35869 @item W @var{AA}
35870 @itemx W @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35871 The process exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This is only
35872 applicable to certain targets.
35873
35874 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the exited
35875 process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported support for
35876 multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess extensions}.
35877 The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35878
35879 @item X @var{AA}
35880 @itemx X @var{AA} ; process:@var{pid}
35881 The process terminated with signal @var{AA}.
35882
35883 The second form of the response, including the process ID of the
35884 terminated process, can be used only when @value{GDBN} has reported
35885 support for multiprocess protocol extensions; see @ref{multiprocess
35886 extensions}. The @var{pid} is formatted as a big-endian hex string.
35887
35888 @anchor{thread exit event}
35889 @cindex thread exit event, remote reply
35890 @item w @var{AA} ; @var{tid}
35891
35892 The thread exited, and @var{AA} is the exit status. This response
35893 should not be sent by default; @value{GDBN} requests it with the
35894 @ref{QThreadEvents} packet. See also @ref{thread create event} above.
35895
35896 @item N
35897 There are no resumed threads left in the target. In other words, even
35898 though the process is alive, the last resumed thread has exited. For
35899 example, say the target process has two threads: thread 1 and thread
35900 2. The client leaves thread 1 stopped, and resumes thread 2, which
35901 subsequently exits. At this point, even though the process is still
35902 alive, and thus no @samp{W} stop reply is sent, no thread is actually
35903 executing either. The @samp{N} stop reply thus informs the client
35904 that it can stop waiting for stop replies. This packet should not be
35905 sent by default; older @value{GDBN} versions did not support it.
35906 @value{GDBN} requests it, by supplying an appropriate
35907 @samp{qSupported} feature (@pxref{qSupported}). The remote stub must
35908 also supply the appropriate @samp{qSupported} feature indicating
35909 support.
35910
35911 @item O @var{XX}@dots{}
35912 @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data, to be
35913 written as the program's console output. This can happen at any time
35914 while the program is running and the debugger should continue to wait
35915 for @samp{W}, @samp{T}, etc. This reply is not permitted in non-stop mode.
35916
35917 @item F @var{call-id},@var{parameter}@dots{}
35918 @var{call-id} is the identifier which says which host system call should
35919 be called. This is just the name of the function. Translation into the
35920 correct system call is only applicable as it's defined in @value{GDBN}.
35921 @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension}, for a list of implemented
35922 system calls.
35923
35924 @samp{@var{parameter}@dots{}} is a list of parameters as defined for
35925 this very system call.
35926
35927 The target replies with this packet when it expects @value{GDBN} to
35928 call a host system call on behalf of the target. @value{GDBN} replies
35929 with an appropriate @samp{F} packet and keeps up waiting for the next
35930 reply packet from the target. The latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
35931 or @samp{s} action is expected to be continued. @xref{File-I/O Remote
35932 Protocol Extension}, for more details.
35933
35934 @end table
35935
35936 @node General Query Packets
35937 @section General Query Packets
35938 @cindex remote query requests
35939
35940 Packets starting with @samp{q} are @dfn{general query packets};
35941 packets starting with @samp{Q} are @dfn{general set packets}. General
35942 query and set packets are a semi-unified form for retrieving and
35943 sending information to and from the stub.
35944
35945 The initial letter of a query or set packet is followed by a name
35946 indicating what sort of thing the packet applies to. For example,
35947 @value{GDBN} may use a @samp{qSymbol} packet to exchange symbol
35948 definitions with the stub. These packet names follow some
35949 conventions:
35950
35951 @itemize @bullet
35952 @item
35953 The name must not contain commas, colons or semicolons.
35954 @item
35955 Most @value{GDBN} query and set packets have a leading upper case
35956 letter.
35957 @item
35958 The names of custom vendor packets should use a company prefix, in
35959 lower case, followed by a period. For example, packets designed at
35960 the Acme Corporation might begin with @samp{qacme.foo} (for querying
35961 foos) or @samp{Qacme.bar} (for setting bars).
35962 @end itemize
35963
35964 The name of a query or set packet should be separated from any
35965 parameters by a @samp{:}; the parameters themselves should be
35966 separated by @samp{,} or @samp{;}. Stubs must be careful to match the
35967 full packet name, and check for a separator or the end of the packet,
35968 in case two packet names share a common prefix. New packets should not begin
35969 with @samp{qC}, @samp{qP}, or @samp{qL}@footnote{The @samp{qP} and @samp{qL}
35970 packets predate these conventions, and have arguments without any terminator
35971 for the packet name; we suspect they are in widespread use in places that
35972 are difficult to upgrade. The @samp{qC} packet has no arguments, but some
35973 existing stubs (e.g.@: RedBoot) are known to not check for the end of the
35974 packet.}.
35975
35976 Like the descriptions of the other packets, each description here
35977 has a template showing the packet's overall syntax, followed by an
35978 explanation of the packet's meaning. We include spaces in some of the
35979 templates for clarity; these are not part of the packet's syntax. No
35980 @value{GDBN} packet uses spaces to separate its components.
35981
35982 Here are the currently defined query and set packets:
35983
35984 @table @samp
35985
35986 @item QAgent:1
35987 @itemx QAgent:0
35988 Turn on or off the agent as a helper to perform some debugging operations
35989 delegated from @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Control Agent}).
35990
35991 @item QAllow:@var{op}:@var{val}@dots{}
35992 @cindex @samp{QAllow} packet
35993 Specify which operations @value{GDBN} expects to request of the
35994 target, as a semicolon-separated list of operation name and value
35995 pairs. Possible values for @var{op} include @samp{WriteReg},
35996 @samp{WriteMem}, @samp{InsertBreak}, @samp{InsertTrace},
35997 @samp{InsertFastTrace}, and @samp{Stop}. @var{val} is either 0,
35998 indicating that @value{GDBN} will not request the operation, or 1,
35999 indicating that it may. (The target can then use this to set up its
36000 own internals optimally, for instance if the debugger never expects to
36001 insert breakpoints, it may not need to install its own trap handler.)
36002
36003 @item qC
36004 @cindex current thread, remote request
36005 @cindex @samp{qC} packet
36006 Return the current thread ID.
36007
36008 Reply:
36009 @table @samp
36010 @item QC @var{thread-id}
36011 Where @var{thread-id} is a thread ID as documented in
36012 @ref{thread-id syntax}.
36013 @item @r{(anything else)}
36014 Any other reply implies the old thread ID.
36015 @end table
36016
36017 @item qCRC:@var{addr},@var{length}
36018 @cindex CRC of memory block, remote request
36019 @cindex @samp{qCRC} packet
36020 @anchor{qCRC packet}
36021 Compute the CRC checksum of a block of memory using CRC-32 defined in
36022 IEEE 802.3. The CRC is computed byte at a time, taking the most
36023 significant bit of each byte first. The initial pattern code
36024 @code{0xffffffff} is used to ensure leading zeros affect the CRC.
36025
36026 @emph{Note:} This is the same CRC used in validating separate debug
36027 files (@pxref{Separate Debug Files, , Debugging Information in Separate
36028 Files}). However the algorithm is slightly different. When validating
36029 separate debug files, the CRC is computed taking the @emph{least}
36030 significant bit of each byte first, and the final result is inverted to
36031 detect trailing zeros.
36032
36033 Reply:
36034 @table @samp
36035 @item E @var{NN}
36036 An error (such as memory fault)
36037 @item C @var{crc32}
36038 The specified memory region's checksum is @var{crc32}.
36039 @end table
36040
36041 @item QDisableRandomization:@var{value}
36042 @cindex disable address space randomization, remote request
36043 @cindex @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet
36044 Some target operating systems will randomize the virtual address space
36045 of the inferior process as a security feature, but provide a feature
36046 to disable such randomization, e.g.@: to allow for a more deterministic
36047 debugging experience. On such systems, this packet with a @var{value}
36048 of 1 directs the target to disable address space randomization for
36049 processes subsequently started via @samp{vRun} packets, while a packet
36050 with a @var{value} of 0 tells the target to enable address space
36051 randomization.
36052
36053 This packet is only available in extended mode (@pxref{extended mode}).
36054
36055 Reply:
36056 @table @samp
36057 @item OK
36058 The request succeeded.
36059
36060 @item E @var{nn}
36061 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36062
36063 @item @w{}
36064 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QDisableRandomization} is not supported
36065 by the stub.
36066 @end table
36067
36068 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36069 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36070 This should only be done on targets that actually support disabling
36071 address space randomization.
36072
36073 @item qfThreadInfo
36074 @itemx qsThreadInfo
36075 @cindex list active threads, remote request
36076 @cindex @samp{qfThreadInfo} packet
36077 @cindex @samp{qsThreadInfo} packet
36078 Obtain a list of all active thread IDs from the target (OS). Since there
36079 may be too many active threads to fit into one reply packet, this query
36080 works iteratively: it may require more than one query/reply sequence to
36081 obtain the entire list of threads. The first query of the sequence will
36082 be the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query; subsequent queries in the
36083 sequence will be the @samp{qsThreadInfo} query.
36084
36085 NOTE: This packet replaces the @samp{qL} query (see below).
36086
36087 Reply:
36088 @table @samp
36089 @item m @var{thread-id}
36090 A single thread ID
36091 @item m @var{thread-id},@var{thread-id}@dots{}
36092 a comma-separated list of thread IDs
36093 @item l
36094 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
36095 @end table
36096
36097 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
36098 more thread IDs, separated by commas.
36099 @value{GDBN} will respond to each reply with a request for more thread
36100 ids (using the @samp{qs} form of the query), until the target responds
36101 with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for @dfn{last}).
36102 Refer to @ref{thread-id syntax}, for the format of the @var{thread-id}
36103 fields.
36104
36105 @emph{Note: @value{GDBN} will send the @code{qfThreadInfo} query during the
36106 initial connection with the remote target, and the very first thread ID
36107 mentioned in the reply will be stopped by @value{GDBN} in a subsequent
36108 message. Therefore, the stub should ensure that the first thread ID in
36109 the @code{qfThreadInfo} reply is suitable for being stopped by @value{GDBN}.}
36110
36111 @item qGetTLSAddr:@var{thread-id},@var{offset},@var{lm}
36112 @cindex get thread-local storage address, remote request
36113 @cindex @samp{qGetTLSAddr} packet
36114 Fetch the address associated with thread local storage specified
36115 by @var{thread-id}, @var{offset}, and @var{lm}.
36116
36117 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the
36118 thread for which to fetch the TLS address. @xref{thread-id syntax}.
36119
36120 @var{offset} is the (big endian, hex encoded) offset associated with the
36121 thread local variable. (This offset is obtained from the debug
36122 information associated with the variable.)
36123
36124 @var{lm} is the (big endian, hex encoded) OS/ABI-specific encoding of the
36125 load module associated with the thread local storage. For example,
36126 a @sc{gnu}/Linux system will pass the link map address of the shared
36127 object associated with the thread local storage under consideration.
36128 Other operating environments may choose to represent the load module
36129 differently, so the precise meaning of this parameter will vary.
36130
36131 Reply:
36132 @table @samp
36133 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
36134 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the address of the thread
36135 local storage requested.
36136
36137 @item E @var{nn}
36138 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36139
36140 @item @w{}
36141 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTLSAddr} is not supported by the stub.
36142 @end table
36143
36144 @item qGetTIBAddr:@var{thread-id}
36145 @cindex get thread information block address
36146 @cindex @samp{qGetTIBAddr} packet
36147 Fetch address of the Windows OS specific Thread Information Block.
36148
36149 @var{thread-id} is the thread ID associated with the thread.
36150
36151 Reply:
36152 @table @samp
36153 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
36154 Hex encoded (big endian) bytes representing the linear address of the
36155 thread information block.
36156
36157 @item E @var{nn}
36158 An error occured. This means that either the thread was not found, or the
36159 address could not be retrieved.
36160
36161 @item @w{}
36162 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qGetTIBAddr} is not supported by the stub.
36163 @end table
36164
36165 @item qL @var{startflag} @var{threadcount} @var{nextthread}
36166 Obtain thread information from RTOS. Where: @var{startflag} (one hex
36167 digit) is one to indicate the first query and zero to indicate a
36168 subsequent query; @var{threadcount} (two hex digits) is the maximum
36169 number of threads the response packet can contain; and @var{nextthread}
36170 (eight hex digits), for subsequent queries (@var{startflag} is zero), is
36171 returned in the response as @var{argthread}.
36172
36173 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qfThreadInfo} query instead (see above).
36174
36175 Reply:
36176 @table @samp
36177 @item qM @var{count} @var{done} @var{argthread} @var{thread}@dots{}
36178 Where: @var{count} (two hex digits) is the number of threads being
36179 returned; @var{done} (one hex digit) is zero to indicate more threads
36180 and one indicates no further threads; @var{argthreadid} (eight hex
36181 digits) is @var{nextthread} from the request packet; @var{thread}@dots{}
36182 is a sequence of thread IDs, @var{threadid} (eight hex
36183 digits), from the target. See @code{remote.c:parse_threadlist_response()}.
36184 @end table
36185
36186 @item qOffsets
36187 @cindex section offsets, remote request
36188 @cindex @samp{qOffsets} packet
36189 Get section offsets that the target used when relocating the downloaded
36190 image.
36191
36192 Reply:
36193 @table @samp
36194 @item Text=@var{xxx};Data=@var{yyy}@r{[};Bss=@var{zzz}@r{]}
36195 Relocate the @code{Text} section by @var{xxx} from its original address.
36196 Relocate the @code{Data} section by @var{yyy} from its original address.
36197 If the object file format provides segment information (e.g.@: @sc{elf}
36198 @samp{PT_LOAD} program headers), @value{GDBN} will relocate entire
36199 segments by the supplied offsets.
36200
36201 @emph{Note: while a @code{Bss} offset may be included in the response,
36202 @value{GDBN} ignores this and instead applies the @code{Data} offset
36203 to the @code{Bss} section.}
36204
36205 @item TextSeg=@var{xxx}@r{[};DataSeg=@var{yyy}@r{]}
36206 Relocate the first segment of the object file, which conventionally
36207 contains program code, to a starting address of @var{xxx}. If
36208 @samp{DataSeg} is specified, relocate the second segment, which
36209 conventionally contains modifiable data, to a starting address of
36210 @var{yyy}. @value{GDBN} will report an error if the object file
36211 does not contain segment information, or does not contain at least
36212 as many segments as mentioned in the reply. Extra segments are
36213 kept at fixed offsets relative to the last relocated segment.
36214 @end table
36215
36216 @item qP @var{mode} @var{thread-id}
36217 @cindex thread information, remote request
36218 @cindex @samp{qP} packet
36219 Returns information on @var{thread-id}. Where: @var{mode} is a hex
36220 encoded 32 bit mode; @var{thread-id} is a thread ID
36221 (@pxref{thread-id syntax}).
36222
36223 Don't use this packet; use the @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} query instead
36224 (see below).
36225
36226 Reply: see @code{remote.c:remote_unpack_thread_info_response()}.
36227
36228 @item QNonStop:1
36229 @itemx QNonStop:0
36230 @cindex non-stop mode, remote request
36231 @cindex @samp{QNonStop} packet
36232 @anchor{QNonStop}
36233 Enter non-stop (@samp{QNonStop:1}) or all-stop (@samp{QNonStop:0}) mode.
36234 @xref{Remote Non-Stop}, for more information.
36235
36236 Reply:
36237 @table @samp
36238 @item OK
36239 The request succeeded.
36240
36241 @item E @var{nn}
36242 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36243
36244 @item @w{}
36245 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QNonStop} is not supported by
36246 the stub.
36247 @end table
36248
36249 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36250 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36251 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set non-stop} command;
36252 @pxref{Non-Stop Mode}.
36253
36254 @item QCatchSyscalls:1 @r{[};@var{sysno}@r{]}@dots{}
36255 @itemx QCatchSyscalls:0
36256 @cindex catch syscalls from inferior, remote request
36257 @cindex @samp{QCatchSyscalls} packet
36258 @anchor{QCatchSyscalls}
36259 Enable (@samp{QCatchSyscalls:1}) or disable (@samp{QCatchSyscalls:0})
36260 catching syscalls from the inferior process.
36261
36262 For @samp{QCatchSyscalls:1}, each listed syscall @var{sysno} (encoded
36263 in hex) should be reported to @value{GDBN}. If no syscall @var{sysno}
36264 is listed, every system call should be reported.
36265
36266 Note that if a syscall not in the list is reported, @value{GDBN} will
36267 still filter the event according to its own list from all corresponding
36268 @code{catch syscall} commands. However, it is more efficient to only
36269 report the requested syscalls.
36270
36271 Multiple @samp{QCatchSyscalls:1} packets do not combine; any earlier
36272 @samp{QCatchSyscalls:1} list is completely replaced by the new list.
36273
36274 If the inferior process execs, the state of @samp{QCatchSyscalls} is
36275 kept for the new process too. On targets where exec may affect syscall
36276 numbers, for example with exec between 32 and 64-bit processes, the
36277 client should send a new packet with the new syscall list.
36278
36279 Reply:
36280 @table @samp
36281 @item OK
36282 The request succeeded.
36283
36284 @item E @var{nn}
36285 An error occurred. @var{nn} are hex digits.
36286
36287 @item @w{}
36288 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QCatchSyscalls} is not supported by
36289 the stub.
36290 @end table
36291
36292 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote catch-syscalls}
36293 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote catch-syscalls}).
36294 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36295 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36296
36297 @item QPassSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
36298 @cindex pass signals to inferior, remote request
36299 @cindex @samp{QPassSignals} packet
36300 @anchor{QPassSignals}
36301 Each listed @var{signal} should be passed directly to the inferior process.
36302 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
36303 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
36304 strictly greater than the previous item. These signals do not need to stop
36305 the inferior, or be reported to @value{GDBN}. All other signals should be
36306 reported to @value{GDBN}. Multiple @samp{QPassSignals} packets do not
36307 combine; any earlier @samp{QPassSignals} list is completely replaced by the
36308 new list. This packet improves performance when using @samp{handle
36309 @var{signal} nostop noprint pass}.
36310
36311 Reply:
36312 @table @samp
36313 @item OK
36314 The request succeeded.
36315
36316 @item E @var{nn}
36317 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36318
36319 @item @w{}
36320 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QPassSignals} is not supported by
36321 the stub.
36322 @end table
36323
36324 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote pass-signals}
36325 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote pass-signals}).
36326 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36327 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36328
36329 @item QProgramSignals: @var{signal} @r{[};@var{signal}@r{]}@dots{}
36330 @cindex signals the inferior may see, remote request
36331 @cindex @samp{QProgramSignals} packet
36332 @anchor{QProgramSignals}
36333 Each listed @var{signal} may be delivered to the inferior process.
36334 Others should be silently discarded.
36335
36336 In some cases, the remote stub may need to decide whether to deliver a
36337 signal to the program or not without @value{GDBN} involvement. One
36338 example of that is while detaching --- the program's threads may have
36339 stopped for signals that haven't yet had a chance of being reported to
36340 @value{GDBN}, and so the remote stub can use the signal list specified
36341 by this packet to know whether to deliver or ignore those pending
36342 signals.
36343
36344 This does not influence whether to deliver a signal as requested by a
36345 resumption packet (@pxref{vCont packet}).
36346
36347 Signals are numbered identically to continue packets and stop replies
36348 (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}). Each @var{signal} list item should be
36349 strictly greater than the previous item. Multiple
36350 @samp{QProgramSignals} packets do not combine; any earlier
36351 @samp{QProgramSignals} list is completely replaced by the new list.
36352
36353 Reply:
36354 @table @samp
36355 @item OK
36356 The request succeeded.
36357
36358 @item E @var{nn}
36359 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36360
36361 @item @w{}
36362 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QProgramSignals} is not supported
36363 by the stub.
36364 @end table
36365
36366 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote program-signals}
36367 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote program-signals}).
36368 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
36369 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
36370
36371 @anchor{QThreadEvents}
36372 @item QThreadEvents:1
36373 @itemx QThreadEvents:0
36374 @cindex thread create/exit events, remote request
36375 @cindex @samp{QThreadEvents} packet
36376
36377 Enable (@samp{QThreadEvents:1}) or disable (@samp{QThreadEvents:0})
36378 reporting of thread create and exit events. @xref{thread create
36379 event}, for the reply specifications. For example, this is used in
36380 non-stop mode when @value{GDBN} stops a set of threads and
36381 synchronously waits for the their corresponding stop replies. Without
36382 exit events, if one of the threads exits, @value{GDBN} would hang
36383 forever not knowing that it should no longer expect a stop for that
36384 same thread. @value{GDBN} does not enable this feature unless the
36385 stub reports that it supports it by including @samp{QThreadEvents+} in
36386 its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36387
36388 Reply:
36389 @table @samp
36390 @item OK
36391 The request succeeded.
36392
36393 @item E @var{nn}
36394 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
36395
36396 @item @w{}
36397 An empty reply indicates that @samp{QThreadEvents} is not supported by
36398 the stub.
36399 @end table
36400
36401 Use of this packet is controlled by the @code{set remote thread-events}
36402 command (@pxref{Remote Configuration, set remote thread-events}).
36403
36404 @item qRcmd,@var{command}
36405 @cindex execute remote command, remote request
36406 @cindex @samp{qRcmd} packet
36407 @var{command} (hex encoded) is passed to the local interpreter for
36408 execution. Invalid commands should be reported using the output
36409 string. Before the final result packet, the target may also respond
36410 with a number of intermediate @samp{O@var{output}} console output
36411 packets. @emph{Implementors should note that providing access to a
36412 stubs's interpreter may have security implications}.
36413
36414 Reply:
36415 @table @samp
36416 @item OK
36417 A command response with no output.
36418 @item @var{OUTPUT}
36419 A command response with the hex encoded output string @var{OUTPUT}.
36420 @item E @var{NN}
36421 Indicate a badly formed request.
36422 @item @w{}
36423 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qRcmd} is not recognized.
36424 @end table
36425
36426 (Note that the @code{qRcmd} packet's name is separated from the
36427 command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
36428 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
36429 packets.)
36430
36431 @item qSearch:memory:@var{address};@var{length};@var{search-pattern}
36432 @cindex searching memory, in remote debugging
36433 @ifnotinfo
36434 @cindex @samp{qSearch:memory} packet
36435 @end ifnotinfo
36436 @cindex @samp{qSearch memory} packet
36437 @anchor{qSearch memory}
36438 Search @var{length} bytes at @var{address} for @var{search-pattern}.
36439 Both @var{address} and @var{length} are encoded in hex;
36440 @var{search-pattern} is a sequence of bytes, also hex encoded.
36441
36442 Reply:
36443 @table @samp
36444 @item 0
36445 The pattern was not found.
36446 @item 1,address
36447 The pattern was found at @var{address}.
36448 @item E @var{NN}
36449 A badly formed request or an error was encountered while searching memory.
36450 @item @w{}
36451 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSearch:memory} is not recognized.
36452 @end table
36453
36454 @item QStartNoAckMode
36455 @cindex @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet
36456 @anchor{QStartNoAckMode}
36457 Request that the remote stub disable the normal @samp{+}/@samp{-}
36458 protocol acknowledgments (@pxref{Packet Acknowledgment}).
36459
36460 Reply:
36461 @table @samp
36462 @item OK
36463 The stub has switched to no-acknowledgment mode.
36464 @value{GDBN} acknowledges this reponse,
36465 but neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or expect further
36466 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments in the current connection.
36467 @item @w{}
36468 An empty reply indicates that the stub does not support no-acknowledgment mode.
36469 @end table
36470
36471 @item qSupported @r{[}:@var{gdbfeature} @r{[};@var{gdbfeature}@r{]}@dots{} @r{]}
36472 @cindex supported packets, remote query
36473 @cindex features of the remote protocol
36474 @cindex @samp{qSupported} packet
36475 @anchor{qSupported}
36476 Tell the remote stub about features supported by @value{GDBN}, and
36477 query the stub for features it supports. This packet allows
36478 @value{GDBN} and the remote stub to take advantage of each others'
36479 features. @samp{qSupported} also consolidates multiple feature probes
36480 at startup, to improve @value{GDBN} performance---a single larger
36481 packet performs better than multiple smaller probe packets on
36482 high-latency links. Some features may enable behavior which must not
36483 be on by default, e.g.@: because it would confuse older clients or
36484 stubs. Other features may describe packets which could be
36485 automatically probed for, but are not. These features must be
36486 reported before @value{GDBN} will use them. This ``default
36487 unsupported'' behavior is not appropriate for all packets, but it
36488 helps to keep the initial connection time under control with new
36489 versions of @value{GDBN} which support increasing numbers of packets.
36490
36491 Reply:
36492 @table @samp
36493 @item @var{stubfeature} @r{[};@var{stubfeature}@r{]}@dots{}
36494 The stub supports or does not support each returned @var{stubfeature},
36495 depending on the form of each @var{stubfeature} (see below for the
36496 possible forms).
36497 @item @w{}
36498 An empty reply indicates that @samp{qSupported} is not recognized,
36499 or that no features needed to be reported to @value{GDBN}.
36500 @end table
36501
36502 The allowed forms for each feature (either a @var{gdbfeature} in the
36503 @samp{qSupported} packet, or a @var{stubfeature} in the response)
36504 are:
36505
36506 @table @samp
36507 @item @var{name}=@var{value}
36508 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and associated
36509 with the specified @var{value}. The format of @var{value} depends
36510 on the feature, but it must not include a semicolon.
36511 @item @var{name}+
36512 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is supported, and does not
36513 need an associated value.
36514 @item @var{name}-
36515 The remote protocol feature @var{name} is not supported.
36516 @item @var{name}?
36517 The remote protocol feature @var{name} may be supported, and
36518 @value{GDBN} should auto-detect support in some other way when it is
36519 needed. This form will not be used for @var{gdbfeature} notifications,
36520 but may be used for @var{stubfeature} responses.
36521 @end table
36522
36523 Whenever the stub receives a @samp{qSupported} request, the
36524 supplied set of @value{GDBN} features should override any previous
36525 request. This allows @value{GDBN} to put the stub in a known
36526 state, even if the stub had previously been communicating with
36527 a different version of @value{GDBN}.
36528
36529 The following values of @var{gdbfeature} (for the packet sent by @value{GDBN})
36530 are defined:
36531
36532 @table @samp
36533 @item multiprocess
36534 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports multiprocess
36535 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36536 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36537 including @samp{multiprocess+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36538 @xref{multiprocess extensions}, for details.
36539
36540 @item xmlRegisters
36541 This feature indicates that @value{GDBN} supports the XML target
36542 description. If the stub sees @samp{xmlRegisters=} with target
36543 specific strings separated by a comma, it will report register
36544 description.
36545
36546 @item qRelocInsn
36547 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the
36548 @samp{qRelocInsn} packet (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
36549 instruction reply packet}).
36550
36551 @item swbreak
36552 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the swbreak stop
36553 reason in stop replies. @xref{swbreak stop reason}, for details.
36554
36555 @item hwbreak
36556 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports the hwbreak stop
36557 reason in stop replies. @xref{swbreak stop reason}, for details.
36558
36559 @item fork-events
36560 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports fork event
36561 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36562 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36563 including @samp{fork-events+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36564
36565 @item vfork-events
36566 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports vfork event
36567 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36568 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36569 including @samp{vfork-events+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36570
36571 @item exec-events
36572 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} supports exec event
36573 extensions to the remote protocol. @value{GDBN} does not use such
36574 extensions unless the stub also reports that it supports them by
36575 including @samp{exec-events+} in its @samp{qSupported} reply.
36576
36577 @item vContSupported
36578 This feature indicates whether @value{GDBN} wants to know the
36579 supported actions in the reply to @samp{vCont?} packet.
36580 @end table
36581
36582 Stubs should ignore any unknown values for
36583 @var{gdbfeature}. Any @value{GDBN} which sends a @samp{qSupported}
36584 packet supports receiving packets of unlimited length (earlier
36585 versions of @value{GDBN} may reject overly long responses). Additional values
36586 for @var{gdbfeature} may be defined in the future to let the stub take
36587 advantage of new features in @value{GDBN}, e.g.@: incompatible
36588 improvements in the remote protocol---the @samp{multiprocess} feature is
36589 an example of such a feature. The stub's reply should be independent
36590 of the @var{gdbfeature} entries sent by @value{GDBN}; first @value{GDBN}
36591 describes all the features it supports, and then the stub replies with
36592 all the features it supports.
36593
36594 Similarly, @value{GDBN} will silently ignore unrecognized stub feature
36595 responses, as long as each response uses one of the standard forms.
36596
36597 Some features are flags. A stub which supports a flag feature
36598 should respond with a @samp{+} form response. Other features
36599 require values, and the stub should respond with an @samp{=}
36600 form response.
36601
36602 Each feature has a default value, which @value{GDBN} will use if
36603 @samp{qSupported} is not available or if the feature is not mentioned
36604 in the @samp{qSupported} response. The default values are fixed; a
36605 stub is free to omit any feature responses that match the defaults.
36606
36607 Not all features can be probed, but for those which can, the probing
36608 mechanism is useful: in some cases, a stub's internal
36609 architecture may not allow the protocol layer to know some information
36610 about the underlying target in advance. This is especially common in
36611 stubs which may be configured for multiple targets.
36612
36613 These are the currently defined stub features and their properties:
36614
36615 @multitable @columnfractions 0.35 0.2 0.12 0.2
36616 @c NOTE: The first row should be @headitem, but we do not yet require
36617 @c a new enough version of Texinfo (4.7) to use @headitem.
36618 @item Feature Name
36619 @tab Value Required
36620 @tab Default
36621 @tab Probe Allowed
36622
36623 @item @samp{PacketSize}
36624 @tab Yes
36625 @tab @samp{-}
36626 @tab No
36627
36628 @item @samp{qXfer:auxv:read}
36629 @tab No
36630 @tab @samp{-}
36631 @tab Yes
36632
36633 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
36634 @tab No
36635 @tab @samp{-}
36636 @tab Yes
36637
36638 @item @samp{qXfer:btrace-conf:read}
36639 @tab No
36640 @tab @samp{-}
36641 @tab Yes
36642
36643 @item @samp{qXfer:exec-file:read}
36644 @tab No
36645 @tab @samp{-}
36646 @tab Yes
36647
36648 @item @samp{qXfer:features:read}
36649 @tab No
36650 @tab @samp{-}
36651 @tab Yes
36652
36653 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
36654 @tab No
36655 @tab @samp{-}
36656 @tab Yes
36657
36658 @item @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read}
36659 @tab No
36660 @tab @samp{-}
36661 @tab Yes
36662
36663 @item @samp{augmented-libraries-svr4-read}
36664 @tab No
36665 @tab @samp{-}
36666 @tab No
36667
36668 @item @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
36669 @tab No
36670 @tab @samp{-}
36671 @tab Yes
36672
36673 @item @samp{qXfer:sdata:read}
36674 @tab No
36675 @tab @samp{-}
36676 @tab Yes
36677
36678 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:read}
36679 @tab No
36680 @tab @samp{-}
36681 @tab Yes
36682
36683 @item @samp{qXfer:spu:write}
36684 @tab No
36685 @tab @samp{-}
36686 @tab Yes
36687
36688 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read}
36689 @tab No
36690 @tab @samp{-}
36691 @tab Yes
36692
36693 @item @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write}
36694 @tab No
36695 @tab @samp{-}
36696 @tab Yes
36697
36698 @item @samp{qXfer:threads:read}
36699 @tab No
36700 @tab @samp{-}
36701 @tab Yes
36702
36703 @item @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36704 @tab No
36705 @tab @samp{-}
36706 @tab Yes
36707
36708 @item @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36709 @tab No
36710 @tab @samp{-}
36711 @tab Yes
36712
36713 @item @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36714 @tab No
36715 @tab @samp{-}
36716 @tab Yes
36717
36718 @item @samp{Qbtrace:off}
36719 @tab Yes
36720 @tab @samp{-}
36721 @tab Yes
36722
36723 @item @samp{Qbtrace:bts}
36724 @tab Yes
36725 @tab @samp{-}
36726 @tab Yes
36727
36728 @item @samp{Qbtrace:pt}
36729 @tab Yes
36730 @tab @samp{-}
36731 @tab Yes
36732
36733 @item @samp{Qbtrace-conf:bts:size}
36734 @tab Yes
36735 @tab @samp{-}
36736 @tab Yes
36737
36738 @item @samp{Qbtrace-conf:pt:size}
36739 @tab Yes
36740 @tab @samp{-}
36741 @tab Yes
36742
36743 @item @samp{QNonStop}
36744 @tab No
36745 @tab @samp{-}
36746 @tab Yes
36747
36748 @item @samp{QCatchSyscalls}
36749 @tab No
36750 @tab @samp{-}
36751 @tab Yes
36752
36753 @item @samp{QPassSignals}
36754 @tab No
36755 @tab @samp{-}
36756 @tab Yes
36757
36758 @item @samp{QStartNoAckMode}
36759 @tab No
36760 @tab @samp{-}
36761 @tab Yes
36762
36763 @item @samp{multiprocess}
36764 @tab No
36765 @tab @samp{-}
36766 @tab No
36767
36768 @item @samp{ConditionalBreakpoints}
36769 @tab No
36770 @tab @samp{-}
36771 @tab No
36772
36773 @item @samp{ConditionalTracepoints}
36774 @tab No
36775 @tab @samp{-}
36776 @tab No
36777
36778 @item @samp{ReverseContinue}
36779 @tab No
36780 @tab @samp{-}
36781 @tab No
36782
36783 @item @samp{ReverseStep}
36784 @tab No
36785 @tab @samp{-}
36786 @tab No
36787
36788 @item @samp{TracepointSource}
36789 @tab No
36790 @tab @samp{-}
36791 @tab No
36792
36793 @item @samp{QAgent}
36794 @tab No
36795 @tab @samp{-}
36796 @tab No
36797
36798 @item @samp{QAllow}
36799 @tab No
36800 @tab @samp{-}
36801 @tab No
36802
36803 @item @samp{QDisableRandomization}
36804 @tab No
36805 @tab @samp{-}
36806 @tab No
36807
36808 @item @samp{EnableDisableTracepoints}
36809 @tab No
36810 @tab @samp{-}
36811 @tab No
36812
36813 @item @samp{QTBuffer:size}
36814 @tab No
36815 @tab @samp{-}
36816 @tab No
36817
36818 @item @samp{tracenz}
36819 @tab No
36820 @tab @samp{-}
36821 @tab No
36822
36823 @item @samp{BreakpointCommands}
36824 @tab No
36825 @tab @samp{-}
36826 @tab No
36827
36828 @item @samp{swbreak}
36829 @tab No
36830 @tab @samp{-}
36831 @tab No
36832
36833 @item @samp{hwbreak}
36834 @tab No
36835 @tab @samp{-}
36836 @tab No
36837
36838 @item @samp{fork-events}
36839 @tab No
36840 @tab @samp{-}
36841 @tab No
36842
36843 @item @samp{vfork-events}
36844 @tab No
36845 @tab @samp{-}
36846 @tab No
36847
36848 @item @samp{exec-events}
36849 @tab No
36850 @tab @samp{-}
36851 @tab No
36852
36853 @item @samp{QThreadEvents}
36854 @tab No
36855 @tab @samp{-}
36856 @tab No
36857
36858 @item @samp{no-resumed}
36859 @tab No
36860 @tab @samp{-}
36861 @tab No
36862
36863 @end multitable
36864
36865 These are the currently defined stub features, in more detail:
36866
36867 @table @samp
36868 @cindex packet size, remote protocol
36869 @item PacketSize=@var{bytes}
36870 The remote stub can accept packets up to at least @var{bytes} in
36871 length. @value{GDBN} will send packets up to this size for bulk
36872 transfers, and will never send larger packets. This is a limit on the
36873 data characters in the packet, including the frame and checksum.
36874 There is no trailing NUL byte in a remote protocol packet; if the stub
36875 stores packets in a NUL-terminated format, it should allow an extra
36876 byte in its buffer for the NUL. If this stub feature is not supported,
36877 @value{GDBN} guesses based on the size of the @samp{g} packet response.
36878
36879 @item qXfer:auxv:read
36880 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:auxv:read} packet
36881 (@pxref{qXfer auxiliary vector read}).
36882
36883 @item qXfer:btrace:read
36884 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
36885 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}).
36886
36887 @item qXfer:btrace-conf:read
36888 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:btrace-conf:read}
36889 packet (@pxref{qXfer btrace-conf read}).
36890
36891 @item qXfer:exec-file:read
36892 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:exec-file:read} packet
36893 (@pxref{qXfer executable filename read}).
36894
36895 @item qXfer:features:read
36896 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:features:read} packet
36897 (@pxref{qXfer target description read}).
36898
36899 @item qXfer:libraries:read
36900 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet
36901 (@pxref{qXfer library list read}).
36902
36903 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read
36904 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
36905 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
36906
36907 @item augmented-libraries-svr4-read
36908 The remote stub understands the augmented form of the
36909 @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet
36910 (@pxref{qXfer svr4 library list read}).
36911
36912 @item qXfer:memory-map:read
36913 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read} packet
36914 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}).
36915
36916 @item qXfer:sdata:read
36917 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:sdata:read} packet
36918 (@pxref{qXfer sdata read}).
36919
36920 @item qXfer:spu:read
36921 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:read} packet
36922 (@pxref{qXfer spu read}).
36923
36924 @item qXfer:spu:write
36925 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:spu:write} packet
36926 (@pxref{qXfer spu write}).
36927
36928 @item qXfer:siginfo:read
36929 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:read} packet
36930 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo read}).
36931
36932 @item qXfer:siginfo:write
36933 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:siginfo:write} packet
36934 (@pxref{qXfer siginfo write}).
36935
36936 @item qXfer:threads:read
36937 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
36938 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}).
36939
36940 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read
36941 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
36942 packet (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}).
36943
36944 @item qXfer:uib:read
36945 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:uib:read}
36946 packet (@pxref{qXfer unwind info block}).
36947
36948 @item qXfer:fdpic:read
36949 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:fdpic:read}
36950 packet (@pxref{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}).
36951
36952 @item QNonStop
36953 The remote stub understands the @samp{QNonStop} packet
36954 (@pxref{QNonStop}).
36955
36956 @item QCatchSyscalls
36957 The remote stub understands the @samp{QCatchSyscalls} packet
36958 (@pxref{QCatchSyscalls}).
36959
36960 @item QPassSignals
36961 The remote stub understands the @samp{QPassSignals} packet
36962 (@pxref{QPassSignals}).
36963
36964 @item QStartNoAckMode
36965 The remote stub understands the @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet and
36966 prefers to operate in no-acknowledgment mode. @xref{Packet Acknowledgment}.
36967
36968 @item multiprocess
36969 @anchor{multiprocess extensions}
36970 @cindex multiprocess extensions, in remote protocol
36971 The remote stub understands the multiprocess extensions to the remote
36972 protocol syntax. The multiprocess extensions affect the syntax of
36973 thread IDs in both packets and replies (@pxref{thread-id syntax}), and
36974 add process IDs to the @samp{D} packet and @samp{W} and @samp{X}
36975 replies. Note that reporting this feature indicates support for the
36976 syntactic extensions only, not that the stub necessarily supports
36977 debugging of more than one process at a time. The stub must not use
36978 multiprocess extensions in packet replies unless @value{GDBN} has also
36979 indicated it supports them in its @samp{qSupported} request.
36980
36981 @item qXfer:osdata:read
36982 The remote stub understands the @samp{qXfer:osdata:read} packet
36983 ((@pxref{qXfer osdata read}).
36984
36985 @item ConditionalBreakpoints
36986 The target accepts and implements evaluation of conditional expressions
36987 defined for breakpoints. The target will only report breakpoint triggers
36988 when such conditions are true (@pxref{Conditions, ,Break Conditions}).
36989
36990 @item ConditionalTracepoints
36991 The remote stub accepts and implements conditional expressions defined
36992 for tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoint Conditions}).
36993
36994 @item ReverseContinue
36995 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse continue packet
36996 (@pxref{bc}).
36997
36998 @item ReverseStep
36999 The remote stub accepts and implements the reverse step packet
37000 (@pxref{bs}).
37001
37002 @item TracepointSource
37003 The remote stub understands the @samp{QTDPsrc} packet that supplies
37004 the source form of tracepoint definitions.
37005
37006 @item QAgent
37007 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAgent} packet.
37008
37009 @item QAllow
37010 The remote stub understands the @samp{QAllow} packet.
37011
37012 @item QDisableRandomization
37013 The remote stub understands the @samp{QDisableRandomization} packet.
37014
37015 @item StaticTracepoint
37016 @cindex static tracepoints, in remote protocol
37017 The remote stub supports static tracepoints.
37018
37019 @item InstallInTrace
37020 @anchor{install tracepoint in tracing}
37021 The remote stub supports installing tracepoint in tracing.
37022
37023 @item EnableDisableTracepoints
37024 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTEnable} (@pxref{QTEnable}) and
37025 @samp{QTDisable} (@pxref{QTDisable}) packets that allow tracepoints
37026 to be enabled and disabled while a trace experiment is running.
37027
37028 @item QTBuffer:size
37029 The remote stub supports the @samp{QTBuffer:size} (@pxref{QTBuffer-size})
37030 packet that allows to change the size of the trace buffer.
37031
37032 @item tracenz
37033 @cindex string tracing, in remote protocol
37034 The remote stub supports the @samp{tracenz} bytecode for collecting strings.
37035 See @ref{Bytecode Descriptions} for details about the bytecode.
37036
37037 @item BreakpointCommands
37038 @cindex breakpoint commands, in remote protocol
37039 The remote stub supports running a breakpoint's command list itself,
37040 rather than reporting the hit to @value{GDBN}.
37041
37042 @item Qbtrace:off
37043 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:off} packet.
37044
37045 @item Qbtrace:bts
37046 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:bts} packet.
37047
37048 @item Qbtrace:pt
37049 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace:pt} packet.
37050
37051 @item Qbtrace-conf:bts:size
37052 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace-conf:bts:size} packet.
37053
37054 @item Qbtrace-conf:pt:size
37055 The remote stub understands the @samp{Qbtrace-conf:pt:size} packet.
37056
37057 @item swbreak
37058 The remote stub reports the @samp{swbreak} stop reason for memory
37059 breakpoints.
37060
37061 @item hwbreak
37062 The remote stub reports the @samp{hwbreak} stop reason for hardware
37063 breakpoints.
37064
37065 @item fork-events
37066 The remote stub reports the @samp{fork} stop reason for fork events.
37067
37068 @item vfork-events
37069 The remote stub reports the @samp{vfork} stop reason for vfork events
37070 and vforkdone events.
37071
37072 @item exec-events
37073 The remote stub reports the @samp{exec} stop reason for exec events.
37074
37075 @item vContSupported
37076 The remote stub reports the supported actions in the reply to
37077 @samp{vCont?} packet.
37078
37079 @item QThreadEvents
37080 The remote stub understands the @samp{QThreadEvents} packet.
37081
37082 @item no-resumed
37083 The remote stub reports the @samp{N} stop reply.
37084
37085 @end table
37086
37087 @item qSymbol::
37088 @cindex symbol lookup, remote request
37089 @cindex @samp{qSymbol} packet
37090 Notify the target that @value{GDBN} is prepared to serve symbol lookup
37091 requests. Accept requests from the target for the values of symbols.
37092
37093 Reply:
37094 @table @samp
37095 @item OK
37096 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
37097 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
37098 The target requests the value of symbol @var{sym_name} (hex encoded).
37099 @value{GDBN} may provide the value by using the
37100 @samp{qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}} message, described
37101 below.
37102 @end table
37103
37104 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_value}:@var{sym_name}
37105 Set the value of @var{sym_name} to @var{sym_value}.
37106
37107 @var{sym_name} (hex encoded) is the name of a symbol whose value the
37108 target has previously requested.
37109
37110 @var{sym_value} (hex) is the value for symbol @var{sym_name}. If
37111 @value{GDBN} cannot supply a value for @var{sym_name}, then this field
37112 will be empty.
37113
37114 Reply:
37115 @table @samp
37116 @item OK
37117 The target does not need to look up any (more) symbols.
37118 @item qSymbol:@var{sym_name}
37119 The target requests the value of a new symbol @var{sym_name} (hex
37120 encoded). @value{GDBN} will continue to supply the values of symbols
37121 (if available), until the target ceases to request them.
37122 @end table
37123
37124 @item qTBuffer
37125 @itemx QTBuffer
37126 @itemx QTDisconnected
37127 @itemx QTDP
37128 @itemx QTDPsrc
37129 @itemx QTDV
37130 @itemx qTfP
37131 @itemx qTfV
37132 @itemx QTFrame
37133 @itemx qTMinFTPILen
37134
37135 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
37136
37137 @item qThreadExtraInfo,@var{thread-id}
37138 @cindex thread attributes info, remote request
37139 @cindex @samp{qThreadExtraInfo} packet
37140 Obtain from the target OS a printable string description of thread
37141 attributes for the thread @var{thread-id}; see @ref{thread-id syntax},
37142 for the forms of @var{thread-id}. This
37143 string may contain anything that the target OS thinks is interesting
37144 for @value{GDBN} to tell the user about the thread. The string is
37145 displayed in @value{GDBN}'s @code{info threads} display. Some
37146 examples of possible thread extra info strings are @samp{Runnable}, or
37147 @samp{Blocked on Mutex}.
37148
37149 Reply:
37150 @table @samp
37151 @item @var{XX}@dots{}
37152 Where @samp{@var{XX}@dots{}} is a hex encoding of @sc{ascii} data,
37153 comprising the printable string containing the extra information about
37154 the thread's attributes.
37155 @end table
37156
37157 (Note that the @code{qThreadExtraInfo} packet's name is separated from
37158 the command by a @samp{,}, not a @samp{:}, contrary to the naming
37159 conventions above. Please don't use this packet as a model for new
37160 packets.)
37161
37162 @item QTNotes
37163 @itemx qTP
37164 @itemx QTSave
37165 @itemx qTsP
37166 @itemx qTsV
37167 @itemx QTStart
37168 @itemx QTStop
37169 @itemx QTEnable
37170 @itemx QTDisable
37171 @itemx QTinit
37172 @itemx QTro
37173 @itemx qTStatus
37174 @itemx qTV
37175 @itemx qTfSTM
37176 @itemx qTsSTM
37177 @itemx qTSTMat
37178 @xref{Tracepoint Packets}.
37179
37180 @item qXfer:@var{object}:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37181 @cindex read special object, remote request
37182 @cindex @samp{qXfer} packet
37183 @anchor{qXfer read}
37184 Read uninterpreted bytes from the target's special data area
37185 identified by the keyword @var{object}. Request @var{length} bytes
37186 starting at @var{offset} bytes into the data. The content and
37187 encoding of @var{annex} is specific to @var{object}; it can supply
37188 additional details about what data to access.
37189
37190 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
37191 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:read:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
37192 formats, listed below.
37193
37194 @table @samp
37195 @item qXfer:auxv:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37196 @anchor{qXfer auxiliary vector read}
37197 Access the target's @dfn{auxiliary vector}. @xref{OS Information,
37198 auxiliary vector}. Note @var{annex} must be empty.
37199
37200 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37201 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37202
37203 @item qXfer:btrace:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37204 @anchor{qXfer btrace read}
37205
37206 Return a description of the current branch trace.
37207 @xref{Branch Trace Format}. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer}
37208 packet may have one of the following values:
37209
37210 @table @code
37211 @item all
37212 Returns all available branch trace.
37213
37214 @item new
37215 Returns all available branch trace if the branch trace changed since
37216 the last read request.
37217
37218 @item delta
37219 Returns the new branch trace since the last read request. Adds a new
37220 block to the end of the trace that begins at zero and ends at the source
37221 location of the first branch in the trace buffer. This extra block is
37222 used to stitch traces together.
37223
37224 If the trace buffer overflowed, returns an error indicating the overflow.
37225 @end table
37226
37227 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
37228 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37229
37230 @item qXfer:btrace-conf:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37231 @anchor{qXfer btrace-conf read}
37232
37233 Return a description of the current branch trace configuration.
37234 @xref{Branch Trace Configuration Format}.
37235
37236 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it
37237 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37238
37239 @item qXfer:exec-file:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37240 @anchor{qXfer executable filename read}
37241 Return the full absolute name of the file that was executed to create
37242 a process running on the remote system. The annex specifies the
37243 numeric process ID of the process to query, encoded as a hexadecimal
37244 number. If the annex part is empty the remote stub should return the
37245 filename corresponding to the currently executing process.
37246
37247 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37248 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37249
37250 @item qXfer:features:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37251 @anchor{qXfer target description read}
37252 Access the @dfn{target description}. @xref{Target Descriptions}. The
37253 annex specifies which XML document to access. The main description is
37254 always loaded from the @samp{target.xml} annex.
37255
37256 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37257 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37258
37259 @item qXfer:libraries:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37260 @anchor{qXfer library list read}
37261 Access the target's list of loaded libraries. @xref{Library List Format}.
37262 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37263 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37264
37265 Targets which maintain a list of libraries in the program's memory do
37266 not need to implement this packet; it is designed for platforms where
37267 the operating system manages the list of loaded libraries.
37268
37269 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37270 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37271
37272 @item qXfer:libraries-svr4:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37273 @anchor{qXfer svr4 library list read}
37274 Access the target's list of loaded libraries when the target is an SVR4
37275 platform. @xref{Library List Format for SVR4 Targets}. The annex part
37276 of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty unless the remote
37277 stub indicated it supports the augmented form of this packet
37278 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37279 (@pxref{qXfer read}, @ref{qSupported}).
37280
37281 This packet is optional for better performance on SVR4 targets.
37282 @value{GDBN} uses memory read packets to read the SVR4 library list otherwise.
37283
37284 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37285 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37286
37287 If the remote stub indicates it supports the augmented form of this
37288 packet then the annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet may
37289 contain a semicolon-separated list of @samp{@var{name}=@var{value}}
37290 arguments. The currently supported arguments are:
37291
37292 @table @code
37293 @item start=@var{address}
37294 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
37295 link_map} to start reading the library list from. If unset or zero
37296 then the first @samp{struct link_map} in the library list will be
37297 chosen as the starting point.
37298
37299 @item prev=@var{address}
37300 A hexadecimal number specifying the address of the @samp{struct
37301 link_map} immediately preceding the @samp{struct link_map}
37302 specified by the @samp{start} argument. If unset or zero then
37303 the remote stub will expect that no @samp{struct link_map}
37304 exists prior to the starting point.
37305
37306 @end table
37307
37308 Arguments that are not understood by the remote stub will be silently
37309 ignored.
37310
37311 @item qXfer:memory-map:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37312 @anchor{qXfer memory map read}
37313 Access the target's @dfn{memory-map}. @xref{Memory Map Format}. The
37314 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37315 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37316
37317 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37318 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37319
37320 @item qXfer:sdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37321 @anchor{qXfer sdata read}
37322
37323 Read contents of the extra collected static tracepoint marker
37324 information. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must
37325 be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}). @xref{Tracepoint Actions,,Tracepoint
37326 Action Lists}.
37327
37328 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37329 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37330 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37331
37332 @item qXfer:siginfo:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37333 @anchor{qXfer siginfo read}
37334 Read contents of the extra signal information on the target
37335 system. The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
37336 empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37337
37338 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37339 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37340 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37341
37342 @item qXfer:spu:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37343 @anchor{qXfer spu read}
37344 Read contents of an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
37345 annex specifies which file to read; it must be of the form
37346 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
37347 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
37348 in that context to be accessed.
37349
37350 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37351 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37352 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37353
37354 @item qXfer:threads:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37355 @anchor{qXfer threads read}
37356 Access the list of threads on target. @xref{Thread List Format}. The
37357 annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty
37358 (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37359
37360 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37361 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37362
37363 @item qXfer:traceframe-info:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37364 @anchor{qXfer traceframe info read}
37365
37366 Return a description of the current traceframe's contents.
37367 @xref{Traceframe Info Format}. The annex part of the generic
37368 @samp{qXfer} packet must be empty (@pxref{qXfer read}).
37369
37370 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37371 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37372
37373 @item qXfer:uib:read:@var{pc}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37374 @anchor{qXfer unwind info block}
37375
37376 Return the unwind information block for @var{pc}. This packet is used
37377 on OpenVMS/ia64 to ask the kernel unwind information.
37378
37379 This packet is not probed by default.
37380
37381 @item qXfer:fdpic:read:@var{annex}:@var{offset},@var{length}
37382 @anchor{qXfer fdpic loadmap read}
37383 Read contents of @code{loadmap}s on the target system. The
37384 annex, either @samp{exec} or @samp{interp}, specifies which @code{loadmap},
37385 executable @code{loadmap} or interpreter @code{loadmap} to read.
37386
37387 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37388 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37389
37390 @item qXfer:osdata:read::@var{offset},@var{length}
37391 @anchor{qXfer osdata read}
37392 Access the target's @dfn{operating system information}.
37393 @xref{Operating System Information}.
37394
37395 @end table
37396
37397 Reply:
37398 @table @samp
37399 @item m @var{data}
37400 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the
37401 target. There may be more data at a higher address (although
37402 it is permitted to return @samp{m} even for the last valid
37403 block of data, as long as at least one byte of data was read).
37404 It is possible for @var{data} to have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the
37405 request.
37406
37407 @item l @var{data}
37408 Data @var{data} (@pxref{Binary Data}) has been read from the target.
37409 There is no more data to be read. It is possible for @var{data} to
37410 have fewer bytes than the @var{length} in the request.
37411
37412 @item l
37413 The @var{offset} in the request is at the end of the data.
37414 There is no more data to be read.
37415
37416 @item E00
37417 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
37418
37419 @item E @var{nn}
37420 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered reading the data.
37421 The @var{nn} part is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
37422
37423 @item @w{}
37424 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not recognized by
37425 the stub, or that the object does not support reading.
37426 @end table
37427
37428 @item qXfer:@var{object}:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37429 @cindex write data into object, remote request
37430 @anchor{qXfer write}
37431 Write uninterpreted bytes into the target's special data area
37432 identified by the keyword @var{object}, starting at @var{offset} bytes
37433 into the data. The binary-encoded data (@pxref{Binary Data}) to be
37434 written is given by @var{data}@dots{}. The content and encoding of @var{annex}
37435 is specific to @var{object}; it can supply additional details about what data
37436 to access.
37437
37438 Here are the specific requests of this form defined so far. All
37439 @samp{qXfer:@var{object}:write:@dots{}} requests use the same reply
37440 formats, listed below.
37441
37442 @table @samp
37443 @item qXfer:siginfo:write::@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37444 @anchor{qXfer siginfo write}
37445 Write @var{data} to the extra signal information on the target system.
37446 The annex part of the generic @samp{qXfer} packet must be
37447 empty (@pxref{qXfer write}).
37448
37449 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37450 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response
37451 (@pxref{qSupported}).
37452
37453 @item qXfer:spu:write:@var{annex}:@var{offset}:@var{data}@dots{}
37454 @anchor{qXfer spu write}
37455 Write @var{data} to an @code{spufs} file on the target system. The
37456 annex specifies which file to write; it must be of the form
37457 @file{@var{id}/@var{name}}, where @var{id} specifies an SPU context ID
37458 in the target process, and @var{name} identifes the @code{spufs} file
37459 in that context to be accessed.
37460
37461 This packet is not probed by default; the remote stub must request it,
37462 by supplying an appropriate @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
37463 @end table
37464
37465 Reply:
37466 @table @samp
37467 @item @var{nn}
37468 @var{nn} (hex encoded) is the number of bytes written.
37469 This may be fewer bytes than supplied in the request.
37470
37471 @item E00
37472 The request was malformed, or @var{annex} was invalid.
37473
37474 @item E @var{nn}
37475 The offset was invalid, or there was an error encountered writing the data.
37476 The @var{nn} part is a hex-encoded @code{errno} value.
37477
37478 @item @w{}
37479 An empty reply indicates the @var{object} string was not
37480 recognized by the stub, or that the object does not support writing.
37481 @end table
37482
37483 @item qXfer:@var{object}:@var{operation}:@dots{}
37484 Requests of this form may be added in the future. When a stub does
37485 not recognize the @var{object} keyword, or its support for
37486 @var{object} does not recognize the @var{operation} keyword, the stub
37487 must respond with an empty packet.
37488
37489 @item qAttached:@var{pid}
37490 @cindex query attached, remote request
37491 @cindex @samp{qAttached} packet
37492 Return an indication of whether the remote server attached to an
37493 existing process or created a new process. When the multiprocess
37494 protocol extensions are supported (@pxref{multiprocess extensions}),
37495 @var{pid} is an integer in hexadecimal format identifying the target
37496 process. Otherwise, @value{GDBN} will omit the @var{pid} field and
37497 the query packet will be simplified as @samp{qAttached}.
37498
37499 This query is used, for example, to know whether the remote process
37500 should be detached or killed when a @value{GDBN} session is ended with
37501 the @code{quit} command.
37502
37503 Reply:
37504 @table @samp
37505 @item 1
37506 The remote server attached to an existing process.
37507 @item 0
37508 The remote server created a new process.
37509 @item E @var{NN}
37510 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37511 @end table
37512
37513 @item Qbtrace:bts
37514 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using Branch Trace Store.
37515
37516 Reply:
37517 @table @samp
37518 @item OK
37519 Branch tracing has been enabled.
37520 @item E.errtext
37521 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37522 @end table
37523
37524 @item Qbtrace:pt
37525 Enable branch tracing for the current thread using Intel Processor Trace.
37526
37527 Reply:
37528 @table @samp
37529 @item OK
37530 Branch tracing has been enabled.
37531 @item E.errtext
37532 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37533 @end table
37534
37535 @item Qbtrace:off
37536 Disable branch tracing for the current thread.
37537
37538 Reply:
37539 @table @samp
37540 @item OK
37541 Branch tracing has been disabled.
37542 @item E.errtext
37543 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37544 @end table
37545
37546 @item Qbtrace-conf:bts:size=@var{value}
37547 Set the requested ring buffer size for new threads that use the
37548 btrace recording method in bts format.
37549
37550 Reply:
37551 @table @samp
37552 @item OK
37553 The ring buffer size has been set.
37554 @item E.errtext
37555 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37556 @end table
37557
37558 @item Qbtrace-conf:pt:size=@var{value}
37559 Set the requested ring buffer size for new threads that use the
37560 btrace recording method in pt format.
37561
37562 Reply:
37563 @table @samp
37564 @item OK
37565 The ring buffer size has been set.
37566 @item E.errtext
37567 A badly formed request or an error was encountered.
37568 @end table
37569
37570 @end table
37571
37572 @node Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
37573 @section Architecture-Specific Protocol Details
37574
37575 This section describes how the remote protocol is applied to specific
37576 target architectures. Also see @ref{Standard Target Features}, for
37577 details of XML target descriptions for each architecture.
37578
37579 @menu
37580 * ARM-Specific Protocol Details::
37581 * MIPS-Specific Protocol Details::
37582 @end menu
37583
37584 @node ARM-Specific Protocol Details
37585 @subsection @acronym{ARM}-specific Protocol Details
37586
37587 @menu
37588 * ARM Breakpoint Kinds::
37589 @end menu
37590
37591 @node ARM Breakpoint Kinds
37592 @subsubsection @acronym{ARM} Breakpoint Kinds
37593 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{ARM}
37594
37595 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
37596
37597 @table @r
37598
37599 @item 2
37600 16-bit Thumb mode breakpoint.
37601
37602 @item 3
37603 32-bit Thumb mode (Thumb-2) breakpoint.
37604
37605 @item 4
37606 32-bit @acronym{ARM} mode breakpoint.
37607
37608 @end table
37609
37610 @node MIPS-Specific Protocol Details
37611 @subsection @acronym{MIPS}-specific Protocol Details
37612
37613 @menu
37614 * MIPS Register packet Format::
37615 * MIPS Breakpoint Kinds::
37616 @end menu
37617
37618 @node MIPS Register packet Format
37619 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Register Packet Format
37620 @cindex register packet format, @acronym{MIPS}
37621
37622 The following @code{g}/@code{G} packets have previously been defined.
37623 In the below, some thirty-two bit registers are transferred as
37624 sixty-four bits. Those registers should be zero/sign extended (which?)
37625 to fill the space allocated. Register bytes are transferred in target
37626 byte order. The two nibbles within a register byte are transferred
37627 most-significant -- least-significant.
37628
37629 @table @r
37630
37631 @item MIPS32
37632 All registers are transferred as thirty-two bit quantities in the order:
37633 32 general-purpose; sr; lo; hi; bad; cause; pc; 32 floating-point
37634 registers; fsr; fir; fp.
37635
37636 @item MIPS64
37637 All registers are transferred as sixty-four bit quantities (including
37638 thirty-two bit registers such as @code{sr}). The ordering is the same
37639 as @code{MIPS32}.
37640
37641 @end table
37642
37643 @node MIPS Breakpoint Kinds
37644 @subsubsection @acronym{MIPS} Breakpoint Kinds
37645 @cindex breakpoint kinds, @acronym{MIPS}
37646
37647 These breakpoint kinds are defined for the @samp{Z0} and @samp{Z1} packets.
37648
37649 @table @r
37650
37651 @item 2
37652 16-bit @acronym{MIPS16} mode breakpoint.
37653
37654 @item 3
37655 16-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
37656
37657 @item 4
37658 32-bit standard @acronym{MIPS} mode breakpoint.
37659
37660 @item 5
37661 32-bit @acronym{microMIPS} mode breakpoint.
37662
37663 @end table
37664
37665 @node Tracepoint Packets
37666 @section Tracepoint Packets
37667 @cindex tracepoint packets
37668 @cindex packets, tracepoint
37669
37670 Here we describe the packets @value{GDBN} uses to implement
37671 tracepoints (@pxref{Tracepoints}).
37672
37673 @table @samp
37674
37675 @item QTDP:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{ena}:@var{step}:@var{pass}[:F@var{flen}][:X@var{len},@var{bytes}]@r{[}-@r{]}
37676 @cindex @samp{QTDP} packet
37677 Create a new tracepoint, number @var{n}, at @var{addr}. If @var{ena}
37678 is @samp{E}, then the tracepoint is enabled; if it is @samp{D}, then
37679 the tracepoint is disabled. The @var{step} gives the tracepoint's step
37680 count, and @var{pass} gives its pass count. If an @samp{F} is present,
37681 then the tracepoint is to be a fast tracepoint, and the @var{flen} is
37682 the number of bytes that the target should copy elsewhere to make room
37683 for the tracepoint. If an @samp{X} is present, it introduces a
37684 tracepoint condition, which consists of a hexadecimal length, followed
37685 by a comma and hex-encoded bytes, in a manner similar to action
37686 encodings as described below. If the trailing @samp{-} is present,
37687 further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow to specify this tracepoint's
37688 actions.
37689
37690 Replies:
37691 @table @samp
37692 @item OK
37693 The packet was understood and carried out.
37694 @item qRelocInsn
37695 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
37696 @item @w{}
37697 The packet was not recognized.
37698 @end table
37699
37700 @item QTDP:-@var{n}:@var{addr}:@r{[}S@r{]}@var{action}@dots{}@r{[}-@r{]}
37701 Define actions to be taken when a tracepoint is hit. The @var{n} and
37702 @var{addr} must be the same as in the initial @samp{QTDP} packet for
37703 this tracepoint. This packet may only be sent immediately after
37704 another @samp{QTDP} packet that ended with a @samp{-}. If the
37705 trailing @samp{-} is present, further @samp{QTDP} packets will follow,
37706 specifying more actions for this tracepoint.
37707
37708 In the series of action packets for a given tracepoint, at most one
37709 can have an @samp{S} before its first @var{action}. If such a packet
37710 is sent, it and the following packets define ``while-stepping''
37711 actions. Any prior packets define ordinary actions --- that is, those
37712 taken when the tracepoint is first hit. If no action packet has an
37713 @samp{S}, then all the packets in the series specify ordinary
37714 tracepoint actions.
37715
37716 The @samp{@var{action}@dots{}} portion of the packet is a series of
37717 actions, concatenated without separators. Each action has one of the
37718 following forms:
37719
37720 @table @samp
37721
37722 @item R @var{mask}
37723 Collect the registers whose bits are set in @var{mask},
37724 a hexadecimal number whose @var{i}'th bit is set if register number
37725 @var{i} should be collected. (The least significant bit is numbered
37726 zero.) Note that @var{mask} may be any number of digits long; it may
37727 not fit in a 32-bit word.
37728
37729 @item M @var{basereg},@var{offset},@var{len}
37730 Collect @var{len} bytes of memory starting at the address in register
37731 number @var{basereg}, plus @var{offset}. If @var{basereg} is
37732 @samp{-1}, then the range has a fixed address: @var{offset} is the
37733 address of the lowest byte to collect. The @var{basereg},
37734 @var{offset}, and @var{len} parameters are all unsigned hexadecimal
37735 values (the @samp{-1} value for @var{basereg} is a special case).
37736
37737 @item X @var{len},@var{expr}
37738 Evaluate @var{expr}, whose length is @var{len}, and collect memory as
37739 it directs. The agent expression @var{expr} is as described in
37740 @ref{Agent Expressions}. Each byte of the expression is encoded as a
37741 two-digit hex number in the packet; @var{len} is the number of bytes
37742 in the expression (and thus one-half the number of hex digits in the
37743 packet).
37744
37745 @end table
37746
37747 Any number of actions may be packed together in a single @samp{QTDP}
37748 packet, as long as the packet does not exceed the maximum packet
37749 length (400 bytes, for many stubs). There may be only one @samp{R}
37750 action per tracepoint, and it must precede any @samp{M} or @samp{X}
37751 actions. Any registers referred to by @samp{M} and @samp{X} actions
37752 must be collected by a preceding @samp{R} action. (The
37753 ``while-stepping'' actions are treated as if they were attached to a
37754 separate tracepoint, as far as these restrictions are concerned.)
37755
37756 Replies:
37757 @table @samp
37758 @item OK
37759 The packet was understood and carried out.
37760 @item qRelocInsn
37761 @xref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate instruction reply packet}.
37762 @item @w{}
37763 The packet was not recognized.
37764 @end table
37765
37766 @item QTDPsrc:@var{n}:@var{addr}:@var{type}:@var{start}:@var{slen}:@var{bytes}
37767 @cindex @samp{QTDPsrc} packet
37768 Specify a source string of tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr}.
37769 This is useful to get accurate reproduction of the tracepoints
37770 originally downloaded at the beginning of the trace run. The @var{type}
37771 is the name of the tracepoint part, such as @samp{cond} for the
37772 tracepoint's conditional expression (see below for a list of types), while
37773 @var{bytes} is the string, encoded in hexadecimal.
37774
37775 @var{start} is the offset of the @var{bytes} within the overall source
37776 string, while @var{slen} is the total length of the source string.
37777 This is intended for handling source strings that are longer than will
37778 fit in a single packet.
37779 @c Add detailed example when this info is moved into a dedicated
37780 @c tracepoint descriptions section.
37781
37782 The available string types are @samp{at} for the location,
37783 @samp{cond} for the conditional, and @samp{cmd} for an action command.
37784 @value{GDBN} sends a separate packet for each command in the action
37785 list, in the same order in which the commands are stored in the list.
37786
37787 The target does not need to do anything with source strings except
37788 report them back as part of the replies to the @samp{qTfP}/@samp{qTsP}
37789 query packets.
37790
37791 Although this packet is optional, and @value{GDBN} will only send it
37792 if the target replies with @samp{TracepointSource} @xref{General
37793 Query Packets}, it makes both disconnected tracing and trace files
37794 much easier to use. Otherwise the user must be careful that the
37795 tracepoints in effect while looking at trace frames are identical to
37796 the ones in effect during the trace run; even a small discrepancy
37797 could cause @samp{tdump} not to work, or a particular trace frame not
37798 be found.
37799
37800 @item QTDV:@var{n}:@var{value}:@var{builtin}:@var{name}
37801 @cindex define trace state variable, remote request
37802 @cindex @samp{QTDV} packet
37803 Create a new trace state variable, number @var{n}, with an initial
37804 value of @var{value}, which is a 64-bit signed integer. Both @var{n}
37805 and @var{value} are encoded as hexadecimal values. @value{GDBN} has
37806 the option of not using this packet for initial values of zero; the
37807 target should simply create the trace state variables as they are
37808 mentioned in expressions. The value @var{builtin} should be 1 (one)
37809 if the trace state variable is builtin and 0 (zero) if it is not builtin.
37810 @value{GDBN} only sets @var{builtin} to 1 if a previous @samp{qTfV} or
37811 @samp{qTsV} packet had it set. The contents of @var{name} is the
37812 hex-encoded name (without the leading @samp{$}) of the trace state
37813 variable.
37814
37815 @item QTFrame:@var{n}
37816 @cindex @samp{QTFrame} packet
37817 Select the @var{n}'th tracepoint frame from the buffer, and use the
37818 register and memory contents recorded there to answer subsequent
37819 request packets from @value{GDBN}.
37820
37821 A successful reply from the stub indicates that the stub has found the
37822 requested frame. The response is a series of parts, concatenated
37823 without separators, describing the frame we selected. Each part has
37824 one of the following forms:
37825
37826 @table @samp
37827 @item F @var{f}
37828 The selected frame is number @var{n} in the trace frame buffer;
37829 @var{f} is a hexadecimal number. If @var{f} is @samp{-1}, then there
37830 was no frame matching the criteria in the request packet.
37831
37832 @item T @var{t}
37833 The selected trace frame records a hit of tracepoint number @var{t};
37834 @var{t} is a hexadecimal number.
37835
37836 @end table
37837
37838 @item QTFrame:pc:@var{addr}
37839 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37840 currently selected frame whose PC is @var{addr};
37841 @var{addr} is a hexadecimal number.
37842
37843 @item QTFrame:tdp:@var{t}
37844 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37845 currently selected frame that is a hit of tracepoint @var{t}; @var{t}
37846 is a hexadecimal number.
37847
37848 @item QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}
37849 Like @samp{QTFrame:@var{n}}, but select the first tracepoint frame after the
37850 currently selected frame whose PC is between @var{start} (inclusive)
37851 and @var{end} (inclusive); @var{start} and @var{end} are hexadecimal
37852 numbers.
37853
37854 @item QTFrame:outside:@var{start}:@var{end}
37855 Like @samp{QTFrame:range:@var{start}:@var{end}}, but select the first
37856 frame @emph{outside} the given range of addresses (exclusive).
37857
37858 @item qTMinFTPILen
37859 @cindex @samp{qTMinFTPILen} packet
37860 This packet requests the minimum length of instruction at which a fast
37861 tracepoint (@pxref{Set Tracepoints}) may be placed. For instance, on
37862 the 32-bit x86 architecture, it is possible to use a 4-byte jump, but
37863 it depends on the target system being able to create trampolines in
37864 the first 64K of memory, which might or might not be possible for that
37865 system. So the reply to this packet will be 4 if it is able to
37866 arrange for that.
37867
37868 Replies:
37869
37870 @table @samp
37871 @item 0
37872 The minimum instruction length is currently unknown.
37873 @item @var{length}
37874 The minimum instruction length is @var{length}, where @var{length}
37875 is a hexadecimal number greater or equal to 1. A reply
37876 of 1 means that a fast tracepoint may be placed on any instruction
37877 regardless of size.
37878 @item E
37879 An error has occurred.
37880 @item @w{}
37881 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the stub.
37882 @end table
37883
37884 @item QTStart
37885 @cindex @samp{QTStart} packet
37886 Begin the tracepoint experiment. Begin collecting data from
37887 tracepoint hits in the trace frame buffer. This packet supports the
37888 @samp{qRelocInsn} reply (@pxref{Tracepoint Packets,,Relocate
37889 instruction reply packet}).
37890
37891 @item QTStop
37892 @cindex @samp{QTStop} packet
37893 End the tracepoint experiment. Stop collecting trace frames.
37894
37895 @item QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37896 @anchor{QTEnable}
37897 @cindex @samp{QTEnable} packet
37898 Enable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37899 experiment. If the tracepoint was previously disabled, then collection
37900 of data from it will resume.
37901
37902 @item QTDisable:@var{n}:@var{addr}
37903 @anchor{QTDisable}
37904 @cindex @samp{QTDisable} packet
37905 Disable tracepoint @var{n} at address @var{addr} in a started tracepoint
37906 experiment. No more data will be collected from the tracepoint unless
37907 @samp{QTEnable:@var{n}:@var{addr}} is subsequently issued.
37908
37909 @item QTinit
37910 @cindex @samp{QTinit} packet
37911 Clear the table of tracepoints, and empty the trace frame buffer.
37912
37913 @item QTro:@var{start1},@var{end1}:@var{start2},@var{end2}:@dots{}
37914 @cindex @samp{QTro} packet
37915 Establish the given ranges of memory as ``transparent''. The stub
37916 will answer requests for these ranges from memory's current contents,
37917 if they were not collected as part of the tracepoint hit.
37918
37919 @value{GDBN} uses this to mark read-only regions of memory, like those
37920 containing program code. Since these areas never change, they should
37921 still have the same contents they did when the tracepoint was hit, so
37922 there's no reason for the stub to refuse to provide their contents.
37923
37924 @item QTDisconnected:@var{value}
37925 @cindex @samp{QTDisconnected} packet
37926 Set the choice to what to do with the tracing run when @value{GDBN}
37927 disconnects from the target. A @var{value} of 1 directs the target to
37928 continue the tracing run, while 0 tells the target to stop tracing if
37929 @value{GDBN} is no longer in the picture.
37930
37931 @item qTStatus
37932 @cindex @samp{qTStatus} packet
37933 Ask the stub if there is a trace experiment running right now.
37934
37935 The reply has the form:
37936
37937 @table @samp
37938
37939 @item T@var{running}@r{[};@var{field}@r{]}@dots{}
37940 @var{running} is a single digit @code{1} if the trace is presently
37941 running, or @code{0} if not. It is followed by semicolon-separated
37942 optional fields that an agent may use to report additional status.
37943
37944 @end table
37945
37946 If the trace is not running, the agent may report any of several
37947 explanations as one of the optional fields:
37948
37949 @table @samp
37950
37951 @item tnotrun:0
37952 No trace has been run yet.
37953
37954 @item tstop[:@var{text}]:0
37955 The trace was stopped by a user-originated stop command. The optional
37956 @var{text} field is a user-supplied string supplied as part of the
37957 stop command (for instance, an explanation of why the trace was
37958 stopped manually). It is hex-encoded.
37959
37960 @item tfull:0
37961 The trace stopped because the trace buffer filled up.
37962
37963 @item tdisconnected:0
37964 The trace stopped because @value{GDBN} disconnected from the target.
37965
37966 @item tpasscount:@var{tpnum}
37967 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} exceeded its pass count.
37968
37969 @item terror:@var{text}:@var{tpnum}
37970 The trace stopped because tracepoint @var{tpnum} had an error. The
37971 string @var{text} is available to describe the nature of the error
37972 (for instance, a divide by zero in the condition expression); it
37973 is hex encoded.
37974
37975 @item tunknown:0
37976 The trace stopped for some other reason.
37977
37978 @end table
37979
37980 Additional optional fields supply statistical and other information.
37981 Although not required, they are extremely useful for users monitoring
37982 the progress of a trace run. If a trace has stopped, and these
37983 numbers are reported, they must reflect the state of the just-stopped
37984 trace.
37985
37986 @table @samp
37987
37988 @item tframes:@var{n}
37989 The number of trace frames in the buffer.
37990
37991 @item tcreated:@var{n}
37992 The total number of trace frames created during the run. This may
37993 be larger than the trace frame count, if the buffer is circular.
37994
37995 @item tsize:@var{n}
37996 The total size of the trace buffer, in bytes.
37997
37998 @item tfree:@var{n}
37999 The number of bytes still unused in the buffer.
38000
38001 @item circular:@var{n}
38002 The value of the circular trace buffer flag. @code{1} means that the
38003 trace buffer is circular and old trace frames will be discarded if
38004 necessary to make room, @code{0} means that the trace buffer is linear
38005 and may fill up.
38006
38007 @item disconn:@var{n}
38008 The value of the disconnected tracing flag. @code{1} means that
38009 tracing will continue after @value{GDBN} disconnects, @code{0} means
38010 that the trace run will stop.
38011
38012 @end table
38013
38014 @item qTP:@var{tp}:@var{addr}
38015 @cindex tracepoint status, remote request
38016 @cindex @samp{qTP} packet
38017 Ask the stub for the current state of tracepoint number @var{tp} at
38018 address @var{addr}.
38019
38020 Replies:
38021 @table @samp
38022 @item V@var{hits}:@var{usage}
38023 The tracepoint has been hit @var{hits} times so far during the trace
38024 run, and accounts for @var{usage} in the trace buffer. Note that
38025 @code{while-stepping} steps are not counted as separate hits, but the
38026 steps' space consumption is added into the usage number.
38027
38028 @end table
38029
38030 @item qTV:@var{var}
38031 @cindex trace state variable value, remote request
38032 @cindex @samp{qTV} packet
38033 Ask the stub for the value of the trace state variable number @var{var}.
38034
38035 Replies:
38036 @table @samp
38037 @item V@var{value}
38038 The value of the variable is @var{value}. This will be the current
38039 value of the variable if the user is examining a running target, or a
38040 saved value if the variable was collected in the trace frame that the
38041 user is looking at. Note that multiple requests may result in
38042 different reply values, such as when requesting values while the
38043 program is running.
38044
38045 @item U
38046 The value of the variable is unknown. This would occur, for example,
38047 if the user is examining a trace frame in which the requested variable
38048 was not collected.
38049 @end table
38050
38051 @item qTfP
38052 @cindex @samp{qTfP} packet
38053 @itemx qTsP
38054 @cindex @samp{qTsP} packet
38055 These packets request data about tracepoints that are being used by
38056 the target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfP} to get the first piece
38057 of data, and multiple @code{qTsP} to get additional pieces. Replies
38058 to these packets generally take the form of the @code{QTDP} packets
38059 that define tracepoints. (FIXME add detailed syntax)
38060
38061 @item qTfV
38062 @cindex @samp{qTfV} packet
38063 @itemx qTsV
38064 @cindex @samp{qTsV} packet
38065 These packets request data about trace state variables that are on the
38066 target. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfV} to get the first vari of data,
38067 and multiple @code{qTsV} to get additional variables. Replies to
38068 these packets follow the syntax of the @code{QTDV} packets that define
38069 trace state variables.
38070
38071 @item qTfSTM
38072 @itemx qTsSTM
38073 @anchor{qTfSTM}
38074 @anchor{qTsSTM}
38075 @cindex @samp{qTfSTM} packet
38076 @cindex @samp{qTsSTM} packet
38077 These packets request data about static tracepoint markers that exist
38078 in the target program. @value{GDBN} sends @code{qTfSTM} to get the
38079 first piece of data, and multiple @code{qTsSTM} to get additional
38080 pieces. Replies to these packets take the following form:
38081
38082 Reply:
38083 @table @samp
38084 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}
38085 A single marker
38086 @item m @var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra},@var{address}:@var{id}:@var{extra}@dots{}
38087 a comma-separated list of markers
38088 @item l
38089 (lower case letter @samp{L}) denotes end of list.
38090 @item E @var{nn}
38091 An error occurred. The error number @var{nn} is given as hex digits.
38092 @item @w{}
38093 An empty reply indicates that the request is not supported by the
38094 stub.
38095 @end table
38096
38097 The @var{address} is encoded in hex;
38098 @var{id} and @var{extra} are strings encoded in hex.
38099
38100 In response to each query, the target will reply with a list of one or
38101 more markers, separated by commas. @value{GDBN} will respond to each
38102 reply with a request for more markers (using the @samp{qs} form of the
38103 query), until the target responds with @samp{l} (lower-case ell, for
38104 @dfn{last}).
38105
38106 @item qTSTMat:@var{address}
38107 @anchor{qTSTMat}
38108 @cindex @samp{qTSTMat} packet
38109 This packets requests data about static tracepoint markers in the
38110 target program at @var{address}. Replies to this packet follow the
38111 syntax of the @samp{qTfSTM} and @code{qTsSTM} packets that list static
38112 tracepoint markers.
38113
38114 @item QTSave:@var{filename}
38115 @cindex @samp{QTSave} packet
38116 This packet directs the target to save trace data to the file name
38117 @var{filename} in the target's filesystem. The @var{filename} is encoded
38118 as a hex string; the interpretation of the file name (relative vs
38119 absolute, wild cards, etc) is up to the target.
38120
38121 @item qTBuffer:@var{offset},@var{len}
38122 @cindex @samp{qTBuffer} packet
38123 Return up to @var{len} bytes of the current contents of trace buffer,
38124 starting at @var{offset}. The trace buffer is treated as if it were
38125 a contiguous collection of traceframes, as per the trace file format.
38126 The reply consists as many hex-encoded bytes as the target can deliver
38127 in a packet; it is not an error to return fewer than were asked for.
38128 A reply consisting of just @code{l} indicates that no bytes are
38129 available.
38130
38131 @item QTBuffer:circular:@var{value}
38132 This packet directs the target to use a circular trace buffer if
38133 @var{value} is 1, or a linear buffer if the value is 0.
38134
38135 @item QTBuffer:size:@var{size}
38136 @anchor{QTBuffer-size}
38137 @cindex @samp{QTBuffer size} packet
38138 This packet directs the target to make the trace buffer be of size
38139 @var{size} if possible. A value of @code{-1} tells the target to
38140 use whatever size it prefers.
38141
38142 @item QTNotes:@r{[}@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@r{[};@var{type}:@var{text}@r{]}@dots{}
38143 @cindex @samp{QTNotes} packet
38144 This packet adds optional textual notes to the trace run. Allowable
38145 types include @code{user}, @code{notes}, and @code{tstop}, the
38146 @var{text} fields are arbitrary strings, hex-encoded.
38147
38148 @end table
38149
38150 @subsection Relocate instruction reply packet
38151 When installing fast tracepoints in memory, the target may need to
38152 relocate the instruction currently at the tracepoint address to a
38153 different address in memory. For most instructions, a simple copy is
38154 enough, but, for example, call instructions that implicitly push the
38155 return address on the stack, and relative branches or other
38156 PC-relative instructions require offset adjustment, so that the effect
38157 of executing the instruction at a different address is the same as if
38158 it had executed in the original location.
38159
38160 In response to several of the tracepoint packets, the target may also
38161 respond with a number of intermediate @samp{qRelocInsn} request
38162 packets before the final result packet, to have @value{GDBN} handle
38163 this relocation operation. If a packet supports this mechanism, its
38164 documentation will explicitly say so. See for example the above
38165 descriptions for the @samp{QTStart} and @samp{QTDP} packets. The
38166 format of the request is:
38167
38168 @table @samp
38169 @item qRelocInsn:@var{from};@var{to}
38170
38171 This requests @value{GDBN} to copy instruction at address @var{from}
38172 to address @var{to}, possibly adjusted so that executing the
38173 instruction at @var{to} has the same effect as executing it at
38174 @var{from}. @value{GDBN} writes the adjusted instruction to target
38175 memory starting at @var{to}.
38176 @end table
38177
38178 Replies:
38179 @table @samp
38180 @item qRelocInsn:@var{adjusted_size}
38181 Informs the stub the relocation is complete. The @var{adjusted_size} is
38182 the length in bytes of resulting relocated instruction sequence.
38183 @item E @var{NN}
38184 A badly formed request was detected, or an error was encountered while
38185 relocating the instruction.
38186 @end table
38187
38188 @node Host I/O Packets
38189 @section Host I/O Packets
38190 @cindex Host I/O, remote protocol
38191 @cindex file transfer, remote protocol
38192
38193 The @dfn{Host I/O} packets allow @value{GDBN} to perform I/O
38194 operations on the far side of a remote link. For example, Host I/O is
38195 used to upload and download files to a remote target with its own
38196 filesystem. Host I/O uses the same constant values and data structure
38197 layout as the target-initiated File-I/O protocol. However, the
38198 Host I/O packets are structured differently. The target-initiated
38199 protocol relies on target memory to store parameters and buffers.
38200 Host I/O requests are initiated by @value{GDBN}, and the
38201 target's memory is not involved. @xref{File-I/O Remote Protocol
38202 Extension}, for more details on the target-initiated protocol.
38203
38204 The Host I/O request packets all encode a single operation along with
38205 its arguments. They have this format:
38206
38207 @table @samp
38208
38209 @item vFile:@var{operation}: @var{parameter}@dots{}
38210 @var{operation} is the name of the particular request; the target
38211 should compare the entire packet name up to the second colon when checking
38212 for a supported operation. The format of @var{parameter} depends on
38213 the operation. Numbers are always passed in hexadecimal. Negative
38214 numbers have an explicit minus sign (i.e.@: two's complement is not
38215 used). Strings (e.g.@: filenames) are encoded as a series of
38216 hexadecimal bytes. The last argument to a system call may be a
38217 buffer of escaped binary data (@pxref{Binary Data}).
38218
38219 @end table
38220
38221 The valid responses to Host I/O packets are:
38222
38223 @table @samp
38224
38225 @item F @var{result} [, @var{errno}] [; @var{attachment}]
38226 @var{result} is the integer value returned by this operation, usually
38227 non-negative for success and -1 for errors. If an error has occured,
38228 @var{errno} will be included in the result specifying a
38229 value defined by the File-I/O protocol (@pxref{Errno Values}). For
38230 operations which return data, @var{attachment} supplies the data as a
38231 binary buffer. Binary buffers in response packets are escaped in the
38232 normal way (@pxref{Binary Data}). See the individual packet
38233 documentation for the interpretation of @var{result} and
38234 @var{attachment}.
38235
38236 @item @w{}
38237 An empty response indicates that this operation is not recognized.
38238
38239 @end table
38240
38241 These are the supported Host I/O operations:
38242
38243 @table @samp
38244 @item vFile:open: @var{filename}, @var{flags}, @var{mode}
38245 Open a file at @var{filename} and return a file descriptor for it, or
38246 return -1 if an error occurs. The @var{filename} is a string,
38247 @var{flags} is an integer indicating a mask of open flags
38248 (@pxref{Open Flags}), and @var{mode} is an integer indicating a mask
38249 of mode bits to use if the file is created (@pxref{mode_t Values}).
38250 @xref{open}, for details of the open flags and mode values.
38251
38252 @item vFile:close: @var{fd}
38253 Close the open file corresponding to @var{fd} and return 0, or
38254 -1 if an error occurs.
38255
38256 @item vFile:pread: @var{fd}, @var{count}, @var{offset}
38257 Read data from the open file corresponding to @var{fd}. Up to
38258 @var{count} bytes will be read from the file, starting at @var{offset}
38259 relative to the start of the file. The target may read fewer bytes;
38260 common reasons include packet size limits and an end-of-file
38261 condition. The number of bytes read is returned. Zero should only be
38262 returned for a successful read at the end of the file, or if
38263 @var{count} was zero.
38264
38265 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
38266 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
38267 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
38268 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
38269 some characters were escaped.
38270
38271 @item vFile:pwrite: @var{fd}, @var{offset}, @var{data}
38272 Write @var{data} (a binary buffer) to the open file corresponding
38273 to @var{fd}. Start the write at @var{offset} from the start of the
38274 file. Unlike many @code{write} system calls, there is no
38275 separate @var{count} argument; the length of @var{data} in the
38276 packet is used. @samp{vFile:write} returns the number of bytes written,
38277 which may be shorter than the length of @var{data}, or -1 if an
38278 error occurred.
38279
38280 @item vFile:fstat: @var{fd}
38281 Get information about the open file corresponding to @var{fd}.
38282 On success the information is returned as a binary attachment
38283 and the return value is the size of this attachment in bytes.
38284 If an error occurs the return value is -1. The format of the
38285 returned binary attachment is as described in @ref{struct stat}.
38286
38287 @item vFile:unlink: @var{filename}
38288 Delete the file at @var{filename} on the target. Return 0,
38289 or -1 if an error occurs. The @var{filename} is a string.
38290
38291 @item vFile:readlink: @var{filename}
38292 Read value of symbolic link @var{filename} on the target. Return
38293 the number of bytes read, or -1 if an error occurs.
38294
38295 The data read should be returned as a binary attachment on success.
38296 If zero bytes were read, the response should include an empty binary
38297 attachment (i.e.@: a trailing semicolon). The return value is the
38298 number of target bytes read; the binary attachment may be longer if
38299 some characters were escaped.
38300
38301 @item vFile:setfs: @var{pid}
38302 Select the filesystem on which @code{vFile} operations with
38303 @var{filename} arguments will operate. This is required for
38304 @value{GDBN} to be able to access files on remote targets where
38305 the remote stub does not share a common filesystem with the
38306 inferior(s).
38307
38308 If @var{pid} is nonzero, select the filesystem as seen by process
38309 @var{pid}. If @var{pid} is zero, select the filesystem as seen by
38310 the remote stub. Return 0 on success, or -1 if an error occurs.
38311 If @code{vFile:setfs:} indicates success, the selected filesystem
38312 remains selected until the next successful @code{vFile:setfs:}
38313 operation.
38314
38315 @end table
38316
38317 @node Interrupts
38318 @section Interrupts
38319 @cindex interrupts (remote protocol)
38320 @anchor{interrupting remote targets}
38321
38322 In all-stop mode, when a program on the remote target is running,
38323 @value{GDBN} may attempt to interrupt it by sending a @samp{Ctrl-C},
38324 @code{BREAK} or a @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g}, control of which
38325 is specified via @value{GDBN}'s @samp{interrupt-sequence}.
38326
38327 The precise meaning of @code{BREAK} is defined by the transport
38328 mechanism and may, in fact, be undefined. @value{GDBN} does not
38329 currently define a @code{BREAK} mechanism for any of the network
38330 interfaces except for TCP, in which case @value{GDBN} sends the
38331 @code{telnet} BREAK sequence.
38332
38333 @samp{Ctrl-C}, on the other hand, is defined and implemented for all
38334 transport mechanisms. It is represented by sending the single byte
38335 @code{0x03} without any of the usual packet overhead described in
38336 the Overview section (@pxref{Overview}). When a @code{0x03} byte is
38337 transmitted as part of a packet, it is considered to be packet data
38338 and does @emph{not} represent an interrupt. E.g., an @samp{X} packet
38339 (@pxref{X packet}), used for binary downloads, may include an unescaped
38340 @code{0x03} as part of its packet.
38341
38342 @code{BREAK} followed by @code{g} is also known as Magic SysRq g.
38343 When Linux kernel receives this sequence from serial port,
38344 it stops execution and connects to gdb.
38345
38346 In non-stop mode, because packet resumptions are asynchronous
38347 (@pxref{vCont packet}), @value{GDBN} is always free to send a remote
38348 command to the remote stub, even when the target is running. For that
38349 reason, @value{GDBN} instead sends a regular packet (@pxref{vCtrlC
38350 packet}) with the usual packet framing instead of the single byte
38351 @code{0x03}.
38352
38353 Stubs are not required to recognize these interrupt mechanisms and the
38354 precise meaning associated with receipt of the interrupt is
38355 implementation defined. If the target supports debugging of multiple
38356 threads and/or processes, it should attempt to interrupt all
38357 currently-executing threads and processes.
38358 If the stub is successful at interrupting the
38359 running program, it should send one of the stop
38360 reply packets (@pxref{Stop Reply Packets}) to @value{GDBN} as a result
38361 of successfully stopping the program in all-stop mode, and a stop reply
38362 for each stopped thread in non-stop mode.
38363 Interrupts received while the
38364 program is stopped are queued and the program will be interrupted when
38365 it is resumed next time.
38366
38367 @node Notification Packets
38368 @section Notification Packets
38369 @cindex notification packets
38370 @cindex packets, notification
38371
38372 The @value{GDBN} remote serial protocol includes @dfn{notifications},
38373 packets that require no acknowledgment. Both the GDB and the stub
38374 may send notifications (although the only notifications defined at
38375 present are sent by the stub). Notifications carry information
38376 without incurring the round-trip latency of an acknowledgment, and so
38377 are useful for low-impact communications where occasional packet loss
38378 is not a problem.
38379
38380 A notification packet has the form @samp{% @var{data} #
38381 @var{checksum}}, where @var{data} is the content of the notification,
38382 and @var{checksum} is a checksum of @var{data}, computed and formatted
38383 as for ordinary @value{GDBN} packets. A notification's @var{data}
38384 never contains @samp{$}, @samp{%} or @samp{#} characters. Upon
38385 receiving a notification, the recipient sends no @samp{+} or @samp{-}
38386 to acknowledge the notification's receipt or to report its corruption.
38387
38388 Every notification's @var{data} begins with a name, which contains no
38389 colon characters, followed by a colon character.
38390
38391 Recipients should silently ignore corrupted notifications and
38392 notifications they do not understand. Recipients should restart
38393 timeout periods on receipt of a well-formed notification, whether or
38394 not they understand it.
38395
38396 Senders should only send the notifications described here when this
38397 protocol description specifies that they are permitted. In the
38398 future, we may extend the protocol to permit existing notifications in
38399 new contexts; this rule helps older senders avoid confusing newer
38400 recipients.
38401
38402 (Older versions of @value{GDBN} ignore bytes received until they see
38403 the @samp{$} byte that begins an ordinary packet, so new stubs may
38404 transmit notifications without fear of confusing older clients. There
38405 are no notifications defined for @value{GDBN} to send at the moment, but we
38406 assume that most older stubs would ignore them, as well.)
38407
38408 Each notification is comprised of three parts:
38409 @table @samp
38410 @item @var{name}:@var{event}
38411 The notification packet is sent by the side that initiates the
38412 exchange (currently, only the stub does that), with @var{event}
38413 carrying the specific information about the notification, and
38414 @var{name} specifying the name of the notification.
38415 @item @var{ack}
38416 The acknowledge sent by the other side, usually @value{GDBN}, to
38417 acknowledge the exchange and request the event.
38418 @end table
38419
38420 The purpose of an asynchronous notification mechanism is to report to
38421 @value{GDBN} that something interesting happened in the remote stub.
38422
38423 The remote stub may send notification @var{name}:@var{event}
38424 at any time, but @value{GDBN} acknowledges the notification when
38425 appropriate. The notification event is pending before @value{GDBN}
38426 acknowledges. Only one notification at a time may be pending; if
38427 additional events occur before @value{GDBN} has acknowledged the
38428 previous notification, they must be queued by the stub for later
38429 synchronous transmission in response to @var{ack} packets from
38430 @value{GDBN}. Because the notification mechanism is unreliable,
38431 the stub is permitted to resend a notification if it believes
38432 @value{GDBN} may not have received it.
38433
38434 Specifically, notifications may appear when @value{GDBN} is not
38435 otherwise reading input from the stub, or when @value{GDBN} is
38436 expecting to read a normal synchronous response or a
38437 @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgment to a packet it has sent.
38438 Notification packets are distinct from any other communication from
38439 the stub so there is no ambiguity.
38440
38441 After receiving a notification, @value{GDBN} shall acknowledge it by
38442 sending a @var{ack} packet as a regular, synchronous request to the
38443 stub. Such acknowledgment is not required to happen immediately, as
38444 @value{GDBN} is permitted to send other, unrelated packets to the
38445 stub first, which the stub should process normally.
38446
38447 Upon receiving a @var{ack} packet, if the stub has other queued
38448 events to report to @value{GDBN}, it shall respond by sending a
38449 normal @var{event}. @value{GDBN} shall then send another @var{ack}
38450 packet to solicit further responses; again, it is permitted to send
38451 other, unrelated packets as well which the stub should process
38452 normally.
38453
38454 If the stub receives a @var{ack} packet and there are no additional
38455 @var{event} to report, the stub shall return an @samp{OK} response.
38456 At this point, @value{GDBN} has finished processing a notification
38457 and the stub has completed sending any queued events. @value{GDBN}
38458 won't accept any new notifications until the final @samp{OK} is
38459 received . If further notification events occur, the stub shall send
38460 a new notification, @value{GDBN} shall accept the notification, and
38461 the process shall be repeated.
38462
38463 The process of asynchronous notification can be illustrated by the
38464 following example:
38465 @smallexample
38466 <- @code{%%Stop:T0505:98e7ffbf;04:4ce6ffbf;08:b1b6e54c;thread:p7526.7526;core:0;}
38467 @code{...}
38468 -> @code{vStopped}
38469 <- @code{T0505:68f37db7;04:40f37db7;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7528;core:0;}
38470 -> @code{vStopped}
38471 <- @code{T0505:68e3fdb6;04:40e3fdb6;08:63850408;thread:p7526.7529;core:0;}
38472 -> @code{vStopped}
38473 <- @code{OK}
38474 @end smallexample
38475
38476 The following notifications are defined:
38477 @multitable @columnfractions 0.12 0.12 0.38 0.38
38478
38479 @item Notification
38480 @tab Ack
38481 @tab Event
38482 @tab Description
38483
38484 @item Stop
38485 @tab vStopped
38486 @tab @var{reply}. The @var{reply} has the form of a stop reply, as
38487 described in @ref{Stop Reply Packets}. Refer to @ref{Remote Non-Stop},
38488 for information on how these notifications are acknowledged by
38489 @value{GDBN}.
38490 @tab Report an asynchronous stop event in non-stop mode.
38491
38492 @end multitable
38493
38494 @node Remote Non-Stop
38495 @section Remote Protocol Support for Non-Stop Mode
38496
38497 @value{GDBN}'s remote protocol supports non-stop debugging of
38498 multi-threaded programs, as described in @ref{Non-Stop Mode}. If the stub
38499 supports non-stop mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN} by including
38500 @samp{QNonStop+} in its @samp{qSupported} response (@pxref{qSupported}).
38501
38502 @value{GDBN} typically sends a @samp{QNonStop} packet only when
38503 establishing a new connection with the stub. Entering non-stop mode
38504 does not alter the state of any currently-running threads, but targets
38505 must stop all threads in any already-attached processes when entering
38506 all-stop mode. @value{GDBN} uses the @samp{?} packet as necessary to
38507 probe the target state after a mode change.
38508
38509 In non-stop mode, when an attached process encounters an event that
38510 would otherwise be reported with a stop reply, it uses the
38511 asynchronous notification mechanism (@pxref{Notification Packets}) to
38512 inform @value{GDBN}. In contrast to all-stop mode, where all threads
38513 in all processes are stopped when a stop reply is sent, in non-stop
38514 mode only the thread reporting the stop event is stopped. That is,
38515 when reporting a @samp{S} or @samp{T} response to indicate completion
38516 of a step operation, hitting a breakpoint, or a fault, only the
38517 affected thread is stopped; any other still-running threads continue
38518 to run. When reporting a @samp{W} or @samp{X} response, all running
38519 threads belonging to other attached processes continue to run.
38520
38521 In non-stop mode, the target shall respond to the @samp{?} packet as
38522 follows. First, any incomplete stop reply notification/@samp{vStopped}
38523 sequence in progress is abandoned. The target must begin a new
38524 sequence reporting stop events for all stopped threads, whether or not
38525 it has previously reported those events to @value{GDBN}. The first
38526 stop reply is sent as a synchronous reply to the @samp{?} packet, and
38527 subsequent stop replies are sent as responses to @samp{vStopped} packets
38528 using the mechanism described above. The target must not send
38529 asynchronous stop reply notifications until the sequence is complete.
38530 If all threads are running when the target receives the @samp{?} packet,
38531 or if the target is not attached to any process, it shall respond
38532 @samp{OK}.
38533
38534 If the stub supports non-stop mode, it should also support the
38535 @samp{swbreak} stop reason if software breakpoints are supported, and
38536 the @samp{hwbreak} stop reason if hardware breakpoints are supported
38537 (@pxref{swbreak stop reason}). This is because given the asynchronous
38538 nature of non-stop mode, between the time a thread hits a breakpoint
38539 and the time the event is finally processed by @value{GDBN}, the
38540 breakpoint may have already been removed from the target. Due to
38541 this, @value{GDBN} needs to be able to tell whether a trap stop was
38542 caused by a delayed breakpoint event, which should be ignored, as
38543 opposed to a random trap signal, which should be reported to the user.
38544 Note the @samp{swbreak} feature implies that the target is responsible
38545 for adjusting the PC when a software breakpoint triggers, if
38546 necessary, such as on the x86 architecture.
38547
38548 @node Packet Acknowledgment
38549 @section Packet Acknowledgment
38550
38551 @cindex acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
38552 @cindex packet acknowledgment, for @value{GDBN} remote
38553 By default, when either the host or the target machine receives a packet,
38554 the first response expected is an acknowledgment: either @samp{+} (to indicate
38555 the package was received correctly) or @samp{-} (to request retransmission).
38556 This mechanism allows the @value{GDBN} remote protocol to operate over
38557 unreliable transport mechanisms, such as a serial line.
38558
38559 In cases where the transport mechanism is itself reliable (such as a pipe or
38560 TCP connection), the @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are redundant.
38561 It may be desirable to disable them in that case to reduce communication
38562 overhead, or for other reasons. This can be accomplished by means of the
38563 @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet; @pxref{QStartNoAckMode}.
38564
38565 When in no-acknowledgment mode, neither the stub nor @value{GDBN} shall send or
38566 expect @samp{+}/@samp{-} protocol acknowledgments. The packet
38567 and response format still includes the normal checksum, as described in
38568 @ref{Overview}, but the checksum may be ignored by the receiver.
38569
38570 If the stub supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and prefers to operate in
38571 no-acknowledgment mode, it should report that to @value{GDBN}
38572 by including @samp{QStartNoAckMode+} in its response to @samp{qSupported};
38573 @pxref{qSupported}.
38574 If @value{GDBN} also supports @samp{QStartNoAckMode} and it has not been
38575 disabled via the @code{set remote noack-packet off} command
38576 (@pxref{Remote Configuration}),
38577 @value{GDBN} may then send a @samp{QStartNoAckMode} packet to the stub.
38578 Only then may the stub actually turn off packet acknowledgments.
38579 @value{GDBN} sends a final @samp{+} acknowledgment of the stub's @samp{OK}
38580 response, which can be safely ignored by the stub.
38581
38582 Note that @code{set remote noack-packet} command only affects negotiation
38583 between @value{GDBN} and the stub when subsequent connections are made;
38584 it does not affect the protocol acknowledgment state for any current
38585 connection.
38586 Since @samp{+}/@samp{-} acknowledgments are enabled by default when a
38587 new connection is established,
38588 there is also no protocol request to re-enable the acknowledgments
38589 for the current connection, once disabled.
38590
38591 @node Examples
38592 @section Examples
38593
38594 Example sequence of a target being re-started. Notice how the restart
38595 does not get any direct output:
38596
38597 @smallexample
38598 -> @code{R00}
38599 <- @code{+}
38600 @emph{target restarts}
38601 -> @code{?}
38602 <- @code{+}
38603 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
38604 -> @code{+}
38605 @end smallexample
38606
38607 Example sequence of a target being stepped by a single instruction:
38608
38609 @smallexample
38610 -> @code{G1445@dots{}}
38611 <- @code{+}
38612 -> @code{s}
38613 <- @code{+}
38614 @emph{time passes}
38615 <- @code{T001:1234123412341234}
38616 -> @code{+}
38617 -> @code{g}
38618 <- @code{+}
38619 <- @code{1455@dots{}}
38620 -> @code{+}
38621 @end smallexample
38622
38623 @node File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
38624 @section File-I/O Remote Protocol Extension
38625 @cindex File-I/O remote protocol extension
38626
38627 @menu
38628 * File-I/O Overview::
38629 * Protocol Basics::
38630 * The F Request Packet::
38631 * The F Reply Packet::
38632 * The Ctrl-C Message::
38633 * Console I/O::
38634 * List of Supported Calls::
38635 * Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes::
38636 * Constants::
38637 * File-I/O Examples::
38638 @end menu
38639
38640 @node File-I/O Overview
38641 @subsection File-I/O Overview
38642 @cindex file-i/o overview
38643
38644 The @dfn{File I/O remote protocol extension} (short: File-I/O) allows the
38645 target to use the host's file system and console I/O to perform various
38646 system calls. System calls on the target system are translated into a
38647 remote protocol packet to the host system, which then performs the needed
38648 actions and returns a response packet to the target system.
38649 This simulates file system operations even on targets that lack file systems.
38650
38651 The protocol is defined to be independent of both the host and target systems.
38652 It uses its own internal representation of datatypes and values. Both
38653 @value{GDBN} and the target's @value{GDBN} stub are responsible for
38654 translating the system-dependent value representations into the internal
38655 protocol representations when data is transmitted.
38656
38657 The communication is synchronous. A system call is possible only when
38658 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S}
38659 or @samp{s} packets. While @value{GDBN} handles the request for a system call,
38660 the target is stopped to allow deterministic access to the target's
38661 memory. Therefore File-I/O is not interruptible by target signals. On
38662 the other hand, it is possible to interrupt File-I/O by a user interrupt
38663 (@samp{Ctrl-C}) within @value{GDBN}.
38664
38665 The target's request to perform a host system call does not finish
38666 the latest @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} action. That means,
38667 after finishing the system call, the target returns to continuing the
38668 previous activity (continue, step). No additional continue or step
38669 request from @value{GDBN} is required.
38670
38671 @smallexample
38672 (@value{GDBP}) continue
38673 <- target requests 'system call X'
38674 target is stopped, @value{GDBN} executes system call
38675 -> @value{GDBN} returns result
38676 ... target continues, @value{GDBN} returns to wait for the target
38677 <- target hits breakpoint and sends a Txx packet
38678 @end smallexample
38679
38680 The protocol only supports I/O on the console and to regular files on
38681 the host file system. Character or block special devices, pipes,
38682 named pipes, sockets or any other communication method on the host
38683 system are not supported by this protocol.
38684
38685 File I/O is not supported in non-stop mode.
38686
38687 @node Protocol Basics
38688 @subsection Protocol Basics
38689 @cindex protocol basics, file-i/o
38690
38691 The File-I/O protocol uses the @code{F} packet as the request as well
38692 as reply packet. Since a File-I/O system call can only occur when
38693 @value{GDBN} is waiting for a response from the continuing or stepping target,
38694 the File-I/O request is a reply that @value{GDBN} has to expect as a result
38695 of a previous @samp{C}, @samp{c}, @samp{S} or @samp{s} packet.
38696 This @code{F} packet contains all information needed to allow @value{GDBN}
38697 to call the appropriate host system call:
38698
38699 @itemize @bullet
38700 @item
38701 A unique identifier for the requested system call.
38702
38703 @item
38704 All parameters to the system call. Pointers are given as addresses
38705 in the target memory address space. Pointers to strings are given as
38706 pointer/length pair. Numerical values are given as they are.
38707 Numerical control flags are given in a protocol-specific representation.
38708
38709 @end itemize
38710
38711 At this point, @value{GDBN} has to perform the following actions.
38712
38713 @itemize @bullet
38714 @item
38715 If the parameters include pointer values to data needed as input to a
38716 system call, @value{GDBN} requests this data from the target with a
38717 standard @code{m} packet request. This additional communication has to be
38718 expected by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{m}
38719 packet.
38720
38721 @item
38722 @value{GDBN} translates all value from protocol representation to host
38723 representation as needed. Datatypes are coerced into the host types.
38724
38725 @item
38726 @value{GDBN} calls the system call.
38727
38728 @item
38729 It then coerces datatypes back to protocol representation.
38730
38731 @item
38732 If the system call is expected to return data in buffer space specified
38733 by pointer parameters to the call, the data is transmitted to the
38734 target using a @code{M} or @code{X} packet. This packet has to be expected
38735 by the target implementation and is handled as any other @code{M} or @code{X}
38736 packet.
38737
38738 @end itemize
38739
38740 Eventually @value{GDBN} replies with another @code{F} packet which contains all
38741 necessary information for the target to continue. This at least contains
38742
38743 @itemize @bullet
38744 @item
38745 Return value.
38746
38747 @item
38748 @code{errno}, if has been changed by the system call.
38749
38750 @item
38751 ``Ctrl-C'' flag.
38752
38753 @end itemize
38754
38755 After having done the needed type and value coercion, the target continues
38756 the latest continue or step action.
38757
38758 @node The F Request Packet
38759 @subsection The @code{F} Request Packet
38760 @cindex file-i/o request packet
38761 @cindex @code{F} request packet
38762
38763 The @code{F} request packet has the following format:
38764
38765 @table @samp
38766 @item F@var{call-id},@var{parameter@dots{}}
38767
38768 @var{call-id} is the identifier to indicate the host system call to be called.
38769 This is just the name of the function.
38770
38771 @var{parameter@dots{}} are the parameters to the system call.
38772 Parameters are hexadecimal integer values, either the actual values in case
38773 of scalar datatypes, pointers to target buffer space in case of compound
38774 datatypes and unspecified memory areas, or pointer/length pairs in case
38775 of string parameters. These are appended to the @var{call-id} as a
38776 comma-delimited list. All values are transmitted in ASCII
38777 string representation, pointer/length pairs separated by a slash.
38778
38779 @end table
38780
38781
38782
38783 @node The F Reply Packet
38784 @subsection The @code{F} Reply Packet
38785 @cindex file-i/o reply packet
38786 @cindex @code{F} reply packet
38787
38788 The @code{F} reply packet has the following format:
38789
38790 @table @samp
38791
38792 @item F@var{retcode},@var{errno},@var{Ctrl-C flag};@var{call-specific attachment}
38793
38794 @var{retcode} is the return code of the system call as hexadecimal value.
38795
38796 @var{errno} is the @code{errno} set by the call, in protocol-specific
38797 representation.
38798 This parameter can be omitted if the call was successful.
38799
38800 @var{Ctrl-C flag} is only sent if the user requested a break. In this
38801 case, @var{errno} must be sent as well, even if the call was successful.
38802 The @var{Ctrl-C flag} itself consists of the character @samp{C}:
38803
38804 @smallexample
38805 F0,0,C
38806 @end smallexample
38807
38808 @noindent
38809 or, if the call was interrupted before the host call has been performed:
38810
38811 @smallexample
38812 F-1,4,C
38813 @end smallexample
38814
38815 @noindent
38816 assuming 4 is the protocol-specific representation of @code{EINTR}.
38817
38818 @end table
38819
38820
38821 @node The Ctrl-C Message
38822 @subsection The @samp{Ctrl-C} Message
38823 @cindex ctrl-c message, in file-i/o protocol
38824
38825 If the @samp{Ctrl-C} flag is set in the @value{GDBN}
38826 reply packet (@pxref{The F Reply Packet}),
38827 the target should behave as if it had
38828 gotten a break message. The meaning for the target is ``system call
38829 interrupted by @code{SIGINT}''. Consequentially, the target should actually stop
38830 (as with a break message) and return to @value{GDBN} with a @code{T02}
38831 packet.
38832
38833 It's important for the target to know in which
38834 state the system call was interrupted. There are two possible cases:
38835
38836 @itemize @bullet
38837 @item
38838 The system call hasn't been performed on the host yet.
38839
38840 @item
38841 The system call on the host has been finished.
38842
38843 @end itemize
38844
38845 These two states can be distinguished by the target by the value of the
38846 returned @code{errno}. If it's the protocol representation of @code{EINTR}, the system
38847 call hasn't been performed. This is equivalent to the @code{EINTR} handling
38848 on POSIX systems. In any other case, the target may presume that the
38849 system call has been finished --- successfully or not --- and should behave
38850 as if the break message arrived right after the system call.
38851
38852 @value{GDBN} must behave reliably. If the system call has not been called
38853 yet, @value{GDBN} may send the @code{F} reply immediately, setting @code{EINTR} as
38854 @code{errno} in the packet. If the system call on the host has been finished
38855 before the user requests a break, the full action must be finished by
38856 @value{GDBN}. This requires sending @code{M} or @code{X} packets as necessary.
38857 The @code{F} packet may only be sent when either nothing has happened
38858 or the full action has been completed.
38859
38860 @node Console I/O
38861 @subsection Console I/O
38862 @cindex console i/o as part of file-i/o
38863
38864 By default and if not explicitly closed by the target system, the file
38865 descriptors 0, 1 and 2 are connected to the @value{GDBN} console. Output
38866 on the @value{GDBN} console is handled as any other file output operation
38867 (@code{write(1, @dots{})} or @code{write(2, @dots{})}). Console input is handled
38868 by @value{GDBN} so that after the target read request from file descriptor
38869 0 all following typing is buffered until either one of the following
38870 conditions is met:
38871
38872 @itemize @bullet
38873 @item
38874 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-c}. The behaviour is as explained above, and the
38875 @code{read}
38876 system call is treated as finished.
38877
38878 @item
38879 The user presses @key{RET}. This is treated as end of input with a trailing
38880 newline.
38881
38882 @item
38883 The user types @kbd{Ctrl-d}. This is treated as end of input. No trailing
38884 character (neither newline nor @samp{Ctrl-D}) is appended to the input.
38885
38886 @end itemize
38887
38888 If the user has typed more characters than fit in the buffer given to
38889 the @code{read} call, the trailing characters are buffered in @value{GDBN} until
38890 either another @code{read(0, @dots{})} is requested by the target, or debugging
38891 is stopped at the user's request.
38892
38893
38894 @node List of Supported Calls
38895 @subsection List of Supported Calls
38896 @cindex list of supported file-i/o calls
38897
38898 @menu
38899 * open::
38900 * close::
38901 * read::
38902 * write::
38903 * lseek::
38904 * rename::
38905 * unlink::
38906 * stat/fstat::
38907 * gettimeofday::
38908 * isatty::
38909 * system::
38910 @end menu
38911
38912 @node open
38913 @unnumberedsubsubsec open
38914 @cindex open, file-i/o system call
38915
38916 @table @asis
38917 @item Synopsis:
38918 @smallexample
38919 int open(const char *pathname, int flags);
38920 int open(const char *pathname, int flags, mode_t mode);
38921 @end smallexample
38922
38923 @item Request:
38924 @samp{Fopen,@var{pathptr}/@var{len},@var{flags},@var{mode}}
38925
38926 @noindent
38927 @var{flags} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
38928
38929 @table @code
38930 @item O_CREAT
38931 If the file does not exist it will be created. The host
38932 rules apply as far as file ownership and time stamps
38933 are concerned.
38934
38935 @item O_EXCL
38936 When used with @code{O_CREAT}, if the file already exists it is
38937 an error and open() fails.
38938
38939 @item O_TRUNC
38940 If the file already exists and the open mode allows
38941 writing (@code{O_RDWR} or @code{O_WRONLY} is given) it will be
38942 truncated to zero length.
38943
38944 @item O_APPEND
38945 The file is opened in append mode.
38946
38947 @item O_RDONLY
38948 The file is opened for reading only.
38949
38950 @item O_WRONLY
38951 The file is opened for writing only.
38952
38953 @item O_RDWR
38954 The file is opened for reading and writing.
38955 @end table
38956
38957 @noindent
38958 Other bits are silently ignored.
38959
38960
38961 @noindent
38962 @var{mode} is the bitwise @code{OR} of the following values:
38963
38964 @table @code
38965 @item S_IRUSR
38966 User has read permission.
38967
38968 @item S_IWUSR
38969 User has write permission.
38970
38971 @item S_IRGRP
38972 Group has read permission.
38973
38974 @item S_IWGRP
38975 Group has write permission.
38976
38977 @item S_IROTH
38978 Others have read permission.
38979
38980 @item S_IWOTH
38981 Others have write permission.
38982 @end table
38983
38984 @noindent
38985 Other bits are silently ignored.
38986
38987
38988 @item Return value:
38989 @code{open} returns the new file descriptor or -1 if an error
38990 occurred.
38991
38992 @item Errors:
38993
38994 @table @code
38995 @item EEXIST
38996 @var{pathname} already exists and @code{O_CREAT} and @code{O_EXCL} were used.
38997
38998 @item EISDIR
38999 @var{pathname} refers to a directory.
39000
39001 @item EACCES
39002 The requested access is not allowed.
39003
39004 @item ENAMETOOLONG
39005 @var{pathname} was too long.
39006
39007 @item ENOENT
39008 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
39009
39010 @item ENODEV
39011 @var{pathname} refers to a device, pipe, named pipe or socket.
39012
39013 @item EROFS
39014 @var{pathname} refers to a file on a read-only filesystem and
39015 write access was requested.
39016
39017 @item EFAULT
39018 @var{pathname} is an invalid pointer value.
39019
39020 @item ENOSPC
39021 No space on device to create the file.
39022
39023 @item EMFILE
39024 The process already has the maximum number of files open.
39025
39026 @item ENFILE
39027 The limit on the total number of files open on the system
39028 has been reached.
39029
39030 @item EINTR
39031 The call was interrupted by the user.
39032 @end table
39033
39034 @end table
39035
39036 @node close
39037 @unnumberedsubsubsec close
39038 @cindex close, file-i/o system call
39039
39040 @table @asis
39041 @item Synopsis:
39042 @smallexample
39043 int close(int fd);
39044 @end smallexample
39045
39046 @item Request:
39047 @samp{Fclose,@var{fd}}
39048
39049 @item Return value:
39050 @code{close} returns zero on success, or -1 if an error occurred.
39051
39052 @item Errors:
39053
39054 @table @code
39055 @item EBADF
39056 @var{fd} isn't a valid open file descriptor.
39057
39058 @item EINTR
39059 The call was interrupted by the user.
39060 @end table
39061
39062 @end table
39063
39064 @node read
39065 @unnumberedsubsubsec read
39066 @cindex read, file-i/o system call
39067
39068 @table @asis
39069 @item Synopsis:
39070 @smallexample
39071 int read(int fd, void *buf, unsigned int count);
39072 @end smallexample
39073
39074 @item Request:
39075 @samp{Fread,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
39076
39077 @item Return value:
39078 On success, the number of bytes read is returned.
39079 Zero indicates end of file. If count is zero, read
39080 returns zero as well. On error, -1 is returned.
39081
39082 @item Errors:
39083
39084 @table @code
39085 @item EBADF
39086 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
39087 reading.
39088
39089 @item EFAULT
39090 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39091
39092 @item EINTR
39093 The call was interrupted by the user.
39094 @end table
39095
39096 @end table
39097
39098 @node write
39099 @unnumberedsubsubsec write
39100 @cindex write, file-i/o system call
39101
39102 @table @asis
39103 @item Synopsis:
39104 @smallexample
39105 int write(int fd, const void *buf, unsigned int count);
39106 @end smallexample
39107
39108 @item Request:
39109 @samp{Fwrite,@var{fd},@var{bufptr},@var{count}}
39110
39111 @item Return value:
39112 On success, the number of bytes written are returned.
39113 Zero indicates nothing was written. On error, -1
39114 is returned.
39115
39116 @item Errors:
39117
39118 @table @code
39119 @item EBADF
39120 @var{fd} is not a valid file descriptor or is not open for
39121 writing.
39122
39123 @item EFAULT
39124 @var{bufptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39125
39126 @item EFBIG
39127 An attempt was made to write a file that exceeds the
39128 host-specific maximum file size allowed.
39129
39130 @item ENOSPC
39131 No space on device to write the data.
39132
39133 @item EINTR
39134 The call was interrupted by the user.
39135 @end table
39136
39137 @end table
39138
39139 @node lseek
39140 @unnumberedsubsubsec lseek
39141 @cindex lseek, file-i/o system call
39142
39143 @table @asis
39144 @item Synopsis:
39145 @smallexample
39146 long lseek (int fd, long offset, int flag);
39147 @end smallexample
39148
39149 @item Request:
39150 @samp{Flseek,@var{fd},@var{offset},@var{flag}}
39151
39152 @var{flag} is one of:
39153
39154 @table @code
39155 @item SEEK_SET
39156 The offset is set to @var{offset} bytes.
39157
39158 @item SEEK_CUR
39159 The offset is set to its current location plus @var{offset}
39160 bytes.
39161
39162 @item SEEK_END
39163 The offset is set to the size of the file plus @var{offset}
39164 bytes.
39165 @end table
39166
39167 @item Return value:
39168 On success, the resulting unsigned offset in bytes from
39169 the beginning of the file is returned. Otherwise, a
39170 value of -1 is returned.
39171
39172 @item Errors:
39173
39174 @table @code
39175 @item EBADF
39176 @var{fd} is not a valid open file descriptor.
39177
39178 @item ESPIPE
39179 @var{fd} is associated with the @value{GDBN} console.
39180
39181 @item EINVAL
39182 @var{flag} is not a proper value.
39183
39184 @item EINTR
39185 The call was interrupted by the user.
39186 @end table
39187
39188 @end table
39189
39190 @node rename
39191 @unnumberedsubsubsec rename
39192 @cindex rename, file-i/o system call
39193
39194 @table @asis
39195 @item Synopsis:
39196 @smallexample
39197 int rename(const char *oldpath, const char *newpath);
39198 @end smallexample
39199
39200 @item Request:
39201 @samp{Frename,@var{oldpathptr}/@var{len},@var{newpathptr}/@var{len}}
39202
39203 @item Return value:
39204 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39205
39206 @item Errors:
39207
39208 @table @code
39209 @item EISDIR
39210 @var{newpath} is an existing directory, but @var{oldpath} is not a
39211 directory.
39212
39213 @item EEXIST
39214 @var{newpath} is a non-empty directory.
39215
39216 @item EBUSY
39217 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} is a directory that is in use by some
39218 process.
39219
39220 @item EINVAL
39221 An attempt was made to make a directory a subdirectory
39222 of itself.
39223
39224 @item ENOTDIR
39225 A component used as a directory in @var{oldpath} or new
39226 path is not a directory. Or @var{oldpath} is a directory
39227 and @var{newpath} exists but is not a directory.
39228
39229 @item EFAULT
39230 @var{oldpathptr} or @var{newpathptr} are invalid pointer values.
39231
39232 @item EACCES
39233 No access to the file or the path of the file.
39234
39235 @item ENAMETOOLONG
39236
39237 @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} was too long.
39238
39239 @item ENOENT
39240 A directory component in @var{oldpath} or @var{newpath} does not exist.
39241
39242 @item EROFS
39243 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
39244
39245 @item ENOSPC
39246 The device containing the file has no room for the new
39247 directory entry.
39248
39249 @item EINTR
39250 The call was interrupted by the user.
39251 @end table
39252
39253 @end table
39254
39255 @node unlink
39256 @unnumberedsubsubsec unlink
39257 @cindex unlink, file-i/o system call
39258
39259 @table @asis
39260 @item Synopsis:
39261 @smallexample
39262 int unlink(const char *pathname);
39263 @end smallexample
39264
39265 @item Request:
39266 @samp{Funlink,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len}}
39267
39268 @item Return value:
39269 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39270
39271 @item Errors:
39272
39273 @table @code
39274 @item EACCES
39275 No access to the file or the path of the file.
39276
39277 @item EPERM
39278 The system does not allow unlinking of directories.
39279
39280 @item EBUSY
39281 The file @var{pathname} cannot be unlinked because it's
39282 being used by another process.
39283
39284 @item EFAULT
39285 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39286
39287 @item ENAMETOOLONG
39288 @var{pathname} was too long.
39289
39290 @item ENOENT
39291 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist.
39292
39293 @item ENOTDIR
39294 A component of the path is not a directory.
39295
39296 @item EROFS
39297 The file is on a read-only filesystem.
39298
39299 @item EINTR
39300 The call was interrupted by the user.
39301 @end table
39302
39303 @end table
39304
39305 @node stat/fstat
39306 @unnumberedsubsubsec stat/fstat
39307 @cindex fstat, file-i/o system call
39308 @cindex stat, file-i/o system call
39309
39310 @table @asis
39311 @item Synopsis:
39312 @smallexample
39313 int stat(const char *pathname, struct stat *buf);
39314 int fstat(int fd, struct stat *buf);
39315 @end smallexample
39316
39317 @item Request:
39318 @samp{Fstat,@var{pathnameptr}/@var{len},@var{bufptr}}@*
39319 @samp{Ffstat,@var{fd},@var{bufptr}}
39320
39321 @item Return value:
39322 On success, zero is returned. On error, -1 is returned.
39323
39324 @item Errors:
39325
39326 @table @code
39327 @item EBADF
39328 @var{fd} is not a valid open file.
39329
39330 @item ENOENT
39331 A directory component in @var{pathname} does not exist or the
39332 path is an empty string.
39333
39334 @item ENOTDIR
39335 A component of the path is not a directory.
39336
39337 @item EFAULT
39338 @var{pathnameptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39339
39340 @item EACCES
39341 No access to the file or the path of the file.
39342
39343 @item ENAMETOOLONG
39344 @var{pathname} was too long.
39345
39346 @item EINTR
39347 The call was interrupted by the user.
39348 @end table
39349
39350 @end table
39351
39352 @node gettimeofday
39353 @unnumberedsubsubsec gettimeofday
39354 @cindex gettimeofday, file-i/o system call
39355
39356 @table @asis
39357 @item Synopsis:
39358 @smallexample
39359 int gettimeofday(struct timeval *tv, void *tz);
39360 @end smallexample
39361
39362 @item Request:
39363 @samp{Fgettimeofday,@var{tvptr},@var{tzptr}}
39364
39365 @item Return value:
39366 On success, 0 is returned, -1 otherwise.
39367
39368 @item Errors:
39369
39370 @table @code
39371 @item EINVAL
39372 @var{tz} is a non-NULL pointer.
39373
39374 @item EFAULT
39375 @var{tvptr} and/or @var{tzptr} is an invalid pointer value.
39376 @end table
39377
39378 @end table
39379
39380 @node isatty
39381 @unnumberedsubsubsec isatty
39382 @cindex isatty, file-i/o system call
39383
39384 @table @asis
39385 @item Synopsis:
39386 @smallexample
39387 int isatty(int fd);
39388 @end smallexample
39389
39390 @item Request:
39391 @samp{Fisatty,@var{fd}}
39392
39393 @item Return value:
39394 Returns 1 if @var{fd} refers to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise.
39395
39396 @item Errors:
39397
39398 @table @code
39399 @item EINTR
39400 The call was interrupted by the user.
39401 @end table
39402
39403 @end table
39404
39405 Note that the @code{isatty} call is treated as a special case: it returns
39406 1 to the target if the file descriptor is attached
39407 to the @value{GDBN} console, 0 otherwise. Implementing through system calls
39408 would require implementing @code{ioctl} and would be more complex than
39409 needed.
39410
39411
39412 @node system
39413 @unnumberedsubsubsec system
39414 @cindex system, file-i/o system call
39415
39416 @table @asis
39417 @item Synopsis:
39418 @smallexample
39419 int system(const char *command);
39420 @end smallexample
39421
39422 @item Request:
39423 @samp{Fsystem,@var{commandptr}/@var{len}}
39424
39425 @item Return value:
39426 If @var{len} is zero, the return value indicates whether a shell is
39427 available. A zero return value indicates a shell is not available.
39428 For non-zero @var{len}, the value returned is -1 on error and the
39429 return status of the command otherwise. Only the exit status of the
39430 command is returned, which is extracted from the host's @code{system}
39431 return value by calling @code{WEXITSTATUS(retval)}. In case
39432 @file{/bin/sh} could not be executed, 127 is returned.
39433
39434 @item Errors:
39435
39436 @table @code
39437 @item EINTR
39438 The call was interrupted by the user.
39439 @end table
39440
39441 @end table
39442
39443 @value{GDBN} takes over the full task of calling the necessary host calls
39444 to perform the @code{system} call. The return value of @code{system} on
39445 the host is simplified before it's returned
39446 to the target. Any termination signal information from the child process
39447 is discarded, and the return value consists
39448 entirely of the exit status of the called command.
39449
39450 Due to security concerns, the @code{system} call is by default refused
39451 by @value{GDBN}. The user has to allow this call explicitly with the
39452 @code{set remote system-call-allowed 1} command.
39453
39454 @table @code
39455 @item set remote system-call-allowed
39456 @kindex set remote system-call-allowed
39457 Control whether to allow the @code{system} calls in the File I/O
39458 protocol for the remote target. The default is zero (disabled).
39459
39460 @item show remote system-call-allowed
39461 @kindex show remote system-call-allowed
39462 Show whether the @code{system} calls are allowed in the File I/O
39463 protocol.
39464 @end table
39465
39466 @node Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
39467 @subsection Protocol-specific Representation of Datatypes
39468 @cindex protocol-specific representation of datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
39469
39470 @menu
39471 * Integral Datatypes::
39472 * Pointer Values::
39473 * Memory Transfer::
39474 * struct stat::
39475 * struct timeval::
39476 @end menu
39477
39478 @node Integral Datatypes
39479 @unnumberedsubsubsec Integral Datatypes
39480 @cindex integral datatypes, in file-i/o protocol
39481
39482 The integral datatypes used in the system calls are @code{int},
39483 @code{unsigned int}, @code{long}, @code{unsigned long},
39484 @code{mode_t}, and @code{time_t}.
39485
39486 @code{int}, @code{unsigned int}, @code{mode_t} and @code{time_t} are
39487 implemented as 32 bit values in this protocol.
39488
39489 @code{long} and @code{unsigned long} are implemented as 64 bit types.
39490
39491 @xref{Limits}, for corresponding MIN and MAX values (similar to those
39492 in @file{limits.h}) to allow range checking on host and target.
39493
39494 @code{time_t} datatypes are defined as seconds since the Epoch.
39495
39496 All integral datatypes transferred as part of a memory read or write of a
39497 structured datatype e.g.@: a @code{struct stat} have to be given in big endian
39498 byte order.
39499
39500 @node Pointer Values
39501 @unnumberedsubsubsec Pointer Values
39502 @cindex pointer values, in file-i/o protocol
39503
39504 Pointers to target data are transmitted as they are. An exception
39505 is made for pointers to buffers for which the length isn't
39506 transmitted as part of the function call, namely strings. Strings
39507 are transmitted as a pointer/length pair, both as hex values, e.g.@:
39508
39509 @smallexample
39510 @code{1aaf/12}
39511 @end smallexample
39512
39513 @noindent
39514 which is a pointer to data of length 18 bytes at position 0x1aaf.
39515 The length is defined as the full string length in bytes, including
39516 the trailing null byte. For example, the string @code{"hello world"}
39517 at address 0x123456 is transmitted as
39518
39519 @smallexample
39520 @code{123456/d}
39521 @end smallexample
39522
39523 @node Memory Transfer
39524 @unnumberedsubsubsec Memory Transfer
39525 @cindex memory transfer, in file-i/o protocol
39526
39527 Structured data which is transferred using a memory read or write (for
39528 example, a @code{struct stat}) is expected to be in a protocol-specific format
39529 with all scalar multibyte datatypes being big endian. Translation to
39530 this representation needs to be done both by the target before the @code{F}
39531 packet is sent, and by @value{GDBN} before
39532 it transfers memory to the target. Transferred pointers to structured
39533 data should point to the already-coerced data at any time.
39534
39535
39536 @node struct stat
39537 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct stat
39538 @cindex struct stat, in file-i/o protocol
39539
39540 The buffer of type @code{struct stat} used by the target and @value{GDBN}
39541 is defined as follows:
39542
39543 @smallexample
39544 struct stat @{
39545 unsigned int st_dev; /* device */
39546 unsigned int st_ino; /* inode */
39547 mode_t st_mode; /* protection */
39548 unsigned int st_nlink; /* number of hard links */
39549 unsigned int st_uid; /* user ID of owner */
39550 unsigned int st_gid; /* group ID of owner */
39551 unsigned int st_rdev; /* device type (if inode device) */
39552 unsigned long st_size; /* total size, in bytes */
39553 unsigned long st_blksize; /* blocksize for filesystem I/O */
39554 unsigned long st_blocks; /* number of blocks allocated */
39555 time_t st_atime; /* time of last access */
39556 time_t st_mtime; /* time of last modification */
39557 time_t st_ctime; /* time of last change */
39558 @};
39559 @end smallexample
39560
39561 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
39562 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
39563 structure is of size 64 bytes.
39564
39565 The values of several fields have a restricted meaning and/or
39566 range of values.
39567
39568 @table @code
39569
39570 @item st_dev
39571 A value of 0 represents a file, 1 the console.
39572
39573 @item st_ino
39574 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
39575
39576 @item st_mode
39577 Valid mode bits are described in @ref{Constants}. Any other
39578 bits have currently no meaning for the target.
39579
39580 @item st_uid
39581 @itemx st_gid
39582 @itemx st_rdev
39583 No valid meaning for the target. Transmitted unchanged.
39584
39585 @item st_atime
39586 @itemx st_mtime
39587 @itemx st_ctime
39588 These values have a host and file system dependent
39589 accuracy. Especially on Windows hosts, the file system may not
39590 support exact timing values.
39591 @end table
39592
39593 The target gets a @code{struct stat} of the above representation and is
39594 responsible for coercing it to the target representation before
39595 continuing.
39596
39597 Note that due to size differences between the host, target, and protocol
39598 representations of @code{struct stat} members, these members could eventually
39599 get truncated on the target.
39600
39601 @node struct timeval
39602 @unnumberedsubsubsec struct timeval
39603 @cindex struct timeval, in file-i/o protocol
39604
39605 The buffer of type @code{struct timeval} used by the File-I/O protocol
39606 is defined as follows:
39607
39608 @smallexample
39609 struct timeval @{
39610 time_t tv_sec; /* second */
39611 long tv_usec; /* microsecond */
39612 @};
39613 @end smallexample
39614
39615 The integral datatypes conform to the definitions given in the
39616 appropriate section (see @ref{Integral Datatypes}, for details) so this
39617 structure is of size 8 bytes.
39618
39619 @node Constants
39620 @subsection Constants
39621 @cindex constants, in file-i/o protocol
39622
39623 The following values are used for the constants inside of the
39624 protocol. @value{GDBN} and target are responsible for translating these
39625 values before and after the call as needed.
39626
39627 @menu
39628 * Open Flags::
39629 * mode_t Values::
39630 * Errno Values::
39631 * Lseek Flags::
39632 * Limits::
39633 @end menu
39634
39635 @node Open Flags
39636 @unnumberedsubsubsec Open Flags
39637 @cindex open flags, in file-i/o protocol
39638
39639 All values are given in hexadecimal representation.
39640
39641 @smallexample
39642 O_RDONLY 0x0
39643 O_WRONLY 0x1
39644 O_RDWR 0x2
39645 O_APPEND 0x8
39646 O_CREAT 0x200
39647 O_TRUNC 0x400
39648 O_EXCL 0x800
39649 @end smallexample
39650
39651 @node mode_t Values
39652 @unnumberedsubsubsec mode_t Values
39653 @cindex mode_t values, in file-i/o protocol
39654
39655 All values are given in octal representation.
39656
39657 @smallexample
39658 S_IFREG 0100000
39659 S_IFDIR 040000
39660 S_IRUSR 0400
39661 S_IWUSR 0200
39662 S_IXUSR 0100
39663 S_IRGRP 040
39664 S_IWGRP 020
39665 S_IXGRP 010
39666 S_IROTH 04
39667 S_IWOTH 02
39668 S_IXOTH 01
39669 @end smallexample
39670
39671 @node Errno Values
39672 @unnumberedsubsubsec Errno Values
39673 @cindex errno values, in file-i/o protocol
39674
39675 All values are given in decimal representation.
39676
39677 @smallexample
39678 EPERM 1
39679 ENOENT 2
39680 EINTR 4
39681 EBADF 9
39682 EACCES 13
39683 EFAULT 14
39684 EBUSY 16
39685 EEXIST 17
39686 ENODEV 19
39687 ENOTDIR 20
39688 EISDIR 21
39689 EINVAL 22
39690 ENFILE 23
39691 EMFILE 24
39692 EFBIG 27
39693 ENOSPC 28
39694 ESPIPE 29
39695 EROFS 30
39696 ENAMETOOLONG 91
39697 EUNKNOWN 9999
39698 @end smallexample
39699
39700 @code{EUNKNOWN} is used as a fallback error value if a host system returns
39701 any error value not in the list of supported error numbers.
39702
39703 @node Lseek Flags
39704 @unnumberedsubsubsec Lseek Flags
39705 @cindex lseek flags, in file-i/o protocol
39706
39707 @smallexample
39708 SEEK_SET 0
39709 SEEK_CUR 1
39710 SEEK_END 2
39711 @end smallexample
39712
39713 @node Limits
39714 @unnumberedsubsubsec Limits
39715 @cindex limits, in file-i/o protocol
39716
39717 All values are given in decimal representation.
39718
39719 @smallexample
39720 INT_MIN -2147483648
39721 INT_MAX 2147483647
39722 UINT_MAX 4294967295
39723 LONG_MIN -9223372036854775808
39724 LONG_MAX 9223372036854775807
39725 ULONG_MAX 18446744073709551615
39726 @end smallexample
39727
39728 @node File-I/O Examples
39729 @subsection File-I/O Examples
39730 @cindex file-i/o examples
39731
39732 Example sequence of a write call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
39733 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be written:
39734
39735 @smallexample
39736 <- @code{Fwrite,3,1234,6}
39737 @emph{request memory read from target}
39738 -> @code{m1234,6}
39739 <- XXXXXX
39740 @emph{return "6 bytes written"}
39741 -> @code{F6}
39742 @end smallexample
39743
39744 Example sequence of a read call, file descriptor 3, buffer is at target
39745 address 0x1234, 6 bytes should be read:
39746
39747 @smallexample
39748 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39749 @emph{request memory write to target}
39750 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
39751 @emph{return "6 bytes read"}
39752 -> @code{F6}
39753 @end smallexample
39754
39755 Example sequence of a read call, call fails on the host due to invalid
39756 file descriptor (@code{EBADF}):
39757
39758 @smallexample
39759 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39760 -> @code{F-1,9}
39761 @end smallexample
39762
39763 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} before syscall on
39764 host is called:
39765
39766 @smallexample
39767 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39768 -> @code{F-1,4,C}
39769 <- @code{T02}
39770 @end smallexample
39771
39772 Example sequence of a read call, user presses @kbd{Ctrl-c} after syscall on
39773 host is called:
39774
39775 @smallexample
39776 <- @code{Fread,3,1234,6}
39777 -> @code{X1234,6:XXXXXX}
39778 <- @code{T02}
39779 @end smallexample
39780
39781 @node Library List Format
39782 @section Library List Format
39783 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
39784
39785 On some platforms, a dynamic loader (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) runs in the
39786 same process as your application to manage libraries. In this case,
39787 @value{GDBN} can use the loader's symbol table and normal memory
39788 operations to maintain a list of shared libraries. On other
39789 platforms, the operating system manages loaded libraries.
39790 @value{GDBN} can not retrieve the list of currently loaded libraries
39791 through memory operations, so it uses the @samp{qXfer:libraries:read}
39792 packet (@pxref{qXfer library list read}) instead. The remote stub
39793 queries the target's operating system and reports which libraries
39794 are loaded.
39795
39796 The @samp{qXfer:libraries:read} packet returns an XML document which
39797 lists loaded libraries and their offsets. Each library has an
39798 associated name and one or more segment or section base addresses,
39799 which report where the library was loaded in memory.
39800
39801 For the common case of libraries that are fully linked binaries, the
39802 library should have a list of segments. If the target supports
39803 dynamic linking of a relocatable object file, its library XML element
39804 should instead include a list of allocated sections. The segment or
39805 section bases are start addresses, not relocation offsets; they do not
39806 depend on the library's link-time base addresses.
39807
39808 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39809 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
39810
39811 A simple memory map, with one loaded library relocated by a single
39812 offset, looks like this:
39813
39814 @smallexample
39815 <library-list>
39816 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6">
39817 <segment address="0x10000000"/>
39818 </library>
39819 </library-list>
39820 @end smallexample
39821
39822 Another simple memory map, with one loaded library with three
39823 allocated sections (.text, .data, .bss), looks like this:
39824
39825 @smallexample
39826 <library-list>
39827 <library name="sharedlib.o">
39828 <section address="0x10000000"/>
39829 <section address="0x20000000"/>
39830 <section address="0x30000000"/>
39831 </library>
39832 </library-list>
39833 @end smallexample
39834
39835 The format of a library list is described by this DTD:
39836
39837 @smallexample
39838 <!-- library-list: Root element with versioning -->
39839 <!ELEMENT library-list (library)*>
39840 <!ATTLIST library-list version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39841 <!ELEMENT library (segment*, section*)>
39842 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39843 <!ELEMENT segment EMPTY>
39844 <!ATTLIST segment address CDATA #REQUIRED>
39845 <!ELEMENT section EMPTY>
39846 <!ATTLIST section address CDATA #REQUIRED>
39847 @end smallexample
39848
39849 In addition, segments and section descriptors cannot be mixed within a
39850 single library element, and you must supply at least one segment or
39851 section for each library.
39852
39853 @node Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
39854 @section Library List Format for SVR4 Targets
39855 @cindex library list format, remote protocol
39856
39857 On SVR4 platforms @value{GDBN} can use the symbol table of a dynamic loader
39858 (e.g.@: @file{ld.so}) and normal memory operations to maintain a list of
39859 shared libraries. Still a special library list provided by this packet is
39860 more efficient for the @value{GDBN} remote protocol.
39861
39862 The @samp{qXfer:libraries-svr4:read} packet returns an XML document which lists
39863 loaded libraries and their SVR4 linker parameters. For each library on SVR4
39864 target, the following parameters are reported:
39865
39866 @itemize @minus
39867 @item
39868 @code{name}, the absolute file name from the @code{l_name} field of
39869 @code{struct link_map}.
39870 @item
39871 @code{lm} with address of @code{struct link_map} used for TLS
39872 (Thread Local Storage) access.
39873 @item
39874 @code{l_addr}, the displacement as read from the field @code{l_addr} of
39875 @code{struct link_map}. For prelinked libraries this is not an absolute
39876 memory address. It is a displacement of absolute memory address against
39877 address the file was prelinked to during the library load.
39878 @item
39879 @code{l_ld}, which is memory address of the @code{PT_DYNAMIC} segment
39880 @end itemize
39881
39882 Additionally the single @code{main-lm} attribute specifies address of
39883 @code{struct link_map} used for the main executable. This parameter is used
39884 for TLS access and its presence is optional.
39885
39886 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39887 SVR4 library lists. @xref{Expat}.
39888
39889 A simple memory map, with two loaded libraries (which do not use prelink),
39890 looks like this:
39891
39892 @smallexample
39893 <library-list-svr4 version="1.0" main-lm="0xe4f8f8">
39894 <library name="/lib/ld-linux.so.2" lm="0xe4f51c" l_addr="0xe2d000"
39895 l_ld="0xe4eefc"/>
39896 <library name="/lib/libc.so.6" lm="0xe4fbe8" l_addr="0x154000"
39897 l_ld="0x152350"/>
39898 </library-list-svr>
39899 @end smallexample
39900
39901 The format of an SVR4 library list is described by this DTD:
39902
39903 @smallexample
39904 <!-- library-list-svr4: Root element with versioning -->
39905 <!ELEMENT library-list-svr4 (library)*>
39906 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
39907 <!ATTLIST library-list-svr4 main-lm CDATA #IMPLIED>
39908 <!ELEMENT library EMPTY>
39909 <!ATTLIST library name CDATA #REQUIRED>
39910 <!ATTLIST library lm CDATA #REQUIRED>
39911 <!ATTLIST library l_addr CDATA #REQUIRED>
39912 <!ATTLIST library l_ld CDATA #REQUIRED>
39913 @end smallexample
39914
39915 @node Memory Map Format
39916 @section Memory Map Format
39917 @cindex memory map format
39918
39919 To be able to write into flash memory, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain a
39920 memory map from the target. This section describes the format of the
39921 memory map.
39922
39923 The memory map is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:memory-map:read}
39924 (@pxref{qXfer memory map read}) packet and is an XML document that
39925 lists memory regions.
39926
39927 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
39928 memory maps. @xref{Expat}.
39929
39930 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
39931
39932 @smallexample
39933 <?xml version="1.0"?>
39934 <!DOCTYPE memory-map
39935 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
39936 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-memory-map.dtd">
39937 <memory-map>
39938 region...
39939 </memory-map>
39940 @end smallexample
39941
39942 Each region can be either:
39943
39944 @itemize
39945
39946 @item
39947 A region of RAM starting at @var{addr} and extending for @var{length}
39948 bytes from there:
39949
39950 @smallexample
39951 <memory type="ram" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39952 @end smallexample
39953
39954
39955 @item
39956 A region of read-only memory:
39957
39958 @smallexample
39959 <memory type="rom" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
39960 @end smallexample
39961
39962
39963 @item
39964 A region of flash memory, with erasure blocks @var{blocksize}
39965 bytes in length:
39966
39967 @smallexample
39968 <memory type="flash" start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}">
39969 <property name="blocksize">@var{blocksize}</property>
39970 </memory>
39971 @end smallexample
39972
39973 @end itemize
39974
39975 Regions must not overlap. @value{GDBN} assumes that areas of memory not covered
39976 by the memory map are RAM, and uses the ordinary @samp{M} and @samp{X}
39977 packets to write to addresses in such ranges.
39978
39979 The formal DTD for memory map format is given below:
39980
39981 @smallexample
39982 <!-- ................................................... -->
39983 <!-- Memory Map XML DTD ................................ -->
39984 <!-- File: memory-map.dtd .............................. -->
39985 <!-- .................................... .............. -->
39986 <!-- memory-map.dtd -->
39987 <!-- memory-map: Root element with versioning -->
39988 <!ELEMENT memory-map (memory | property)>
39989 <!ATTLIST memory-map version CDATA #FIXED "1.0.0">
39990 <!ELEMENT memory (property)>
39991 <!-- memory: Specifies a memory region,
39992 and its type, or device. -->
39993 <!ATTLIST memory type CDATA #REQUIRED
39994 start CDATA #REQUIRED
39995 length CDATA #REQUIRED
39996 device CDATA #IMPLIED>
39997 <!-- property: Generic attribute tag -->
39998 <!ELEMENT property (#PCDATA | property)*>
39999 <!ATTLIST property name CDATA #REQUIRED>
40000 @end smallexample
40001
40002 @node Thread List Format
40003 @section Thread List Format
40004 @cindex thread list format
40005
40006 To efficiently update the list of threads and their attributes,
40007 @value{GDBN} issues the @samp{qXfer:threads:read} packet
40008 (@pxref{qXfer threads read}) and obtains the XML document with
40009 the following structure:
40010
40011 @smallexample
40012 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40013 <threads>
40014 <thread id="id" core="0" name="name">
40015 ... description ...
40016 </thread>
40017 </threads>
40018 @end smallexample
40019
40020 Each @samp{thread} element must have the @samp{id} attribute that
40021 identifies the thread (@pxref{thread-id syntax}). The
40022 @samp{core} attribute, if present, specifies which processor core
40023 the thread was last executing on. The @samp{name} attribute, if
40024 present, specifies the human-readable name of the thread. The content
40025 of the of @samp{thread} element is interpreted as human-readable
40026 auxiliary information.
40027
40028 @node Traceframe Info Format
40029 @section Traceframe Info Format
40030 @cindex traceframe info format
40031
40032 To be able to know which objects in the inferior can be examined when
40033 inspecting a tracepoint hit, @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of
40034 memory ranges, registers and trace state variables that have been
40035 collected in a traceframe.
40036
40037 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:traceframe-info:read}
40038 (@pxref{qXfer traceframe info read}) packet and is an XML document.
40039
40040 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40041 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
40042
40043 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
40044
40045 @smallexample
40046 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40047 <!DOCTYPE traceframe-info
40048 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Memory Map V1.0//EN"
40049 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-traceframe-info.dtd">
40050 <traceframe-info>
40051 block...
40052 </traceframe-info>
40053 @end smallexample
40054
40055 Each traceframe block can be either:
40056
40057 @itemize
40058
40059 @item
40060 A region of collected memory starting at @var{addr} and extending for
40061 @var{length} bytes from there:
40062
40063 @smallexample
40064 <memory start="@var{addr}" length="@var{length}"/>
40065 @end smallexample
40066
40067 @item
40068 A block indicating trace state variable numbered @var{number} has been
40069 collected:
40070
40071 @smallexample
40072 <tvar id="@var{number}"/>
40073 @end smallexample
40074
40075 @end itemize
40076
40077 The formal DTD for the traceframe info format is given below:
40078
40079 @smallexample
40080 <!ELEMENT traceframe-info (memory | tvar)* >
40081 <!ATTLIST traceframe-info version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40082
40083 <!ELEMENT memory EMPTY>
40084 <!ATTLIST memory start CDATA #REQUIRED
40085 length CDATA #REQUIRED>
40086 <!ELEMENT tvar>
40087 <!ATTLIST tvar id CDATA #REQUIRED>
40088 @end smallexample
40089
40090 @node Branch Trace Format
40091 @section Branch Trace Format
40092 @cindex branch trace format
40093
40094 In order to display the branch trace of an inferior thread,
40095 @value{GDBN} needs to obtain the list of branches. This list is
40096 represented as list of sequential code blocks that are connected via
40097 branches. The code in each block has been executed sequentially.
40098
40099 This list is obtained using the @samp{qXfer:btrace:read}
40100 (@pxref{qXfer btrace read}) packet and is an XML document.
40101
40102 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40103 traceframe info discovery. @xref{Expat}.
40104
40105 The top-level structure of the document is shown below:
40106
40107 @smallexample
40108 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40109 <!DOCTYPE btrace
40110 PUBLIC "+//IDN gnu.org//DTD GDB Branch Trace V1.0//EN"
40111 "http://sourceware.org/gdb/gdb-btrace.dtd">
40112 <btrace>
40113 block...
40114 </btrace>
40115 @end smallexample
40116
40117 @itemize
40118
40119 @item
40120 A block of sequentially executed instructions starting at @var{begin}
40121 and ending at @var{end}:
40122
40123 @smallexample
40124 <block begin="@var{begin}" end="@var{end}"/>
40125 @end smallexample
40126
40127 @end itemize
40128
40129 The formal DTD for the branch trace format is given below:
40130
40131 @smallexample
40132 <!ELEMENT btrace (block* | pt) >
40133 <!ATTLIST btrace version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40134
40135 <!ELEMENT block EMPTY>
40136 <!ATTLIST block begin CDATA #REQUIRED
40137 end CDATA #REQUIRED>
40138
40139 <!ELEMENT pt (pt-config?, raw?)>
40140
40141 <!ELEMENT pt-config (cpu?)>
40142
40143 <!ELEMENT cpu EMPTY>
40144 <!ATTLIST cpu vendor CDATA #REQUIRED
40145 family CDATA #REQUIRED
40146 model CDATA #REQUIRED
40147 stepping CDATA #REQUIRED>
40148
40149 <!ELEMENT raw (#PCDATA)>
40150 @end smallexample
40151
40152 @node Branch Trace Configuration Format
40153 @section Branch Trace Configuration Format
40154 @cindex branch trace configuration format
40155
40156 For each inferior thread, @value{GDBN} can obtain the branch trace
40157 configuration using the @samp{qXfer:btrace-conf:read}
40158 (@pxref{qXfer btrace-conf read}) packet.
40159
40160 The configuration describes the branch trace format and configuration
40161 settings for that format. The following information is described:
40162
40163 @table @code
40164 @item bts
40165 This thread uses the @dfn{Branch Trace Store} (@acronym{BTS}) format.
40166 @table @code
40167 @item size
40168 The size of the @acronym{BTS} ring buffer in bytes.
40169 @end table
40170 @item pt
40171 This thread uses the @dfn{Intel Processor Trace} (@acronym{Intel
40172 PT}) format.
40173 @table @code
40174 @item size
40175 The size of the @acronym{Intel PT} ring buffer in bytes.
40176 @end table
40177 @end table
40178
40179 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40180 branch trace configuration discovery. @xref{Expat}.
40181
40182 The formal DTD for the branch trace configuration format is given below:
40183
40184 @smallexample
40185 <!ELEMENT btrace-conf (bts?, pt?)>
40186 <!ATTLIST btrace-conf version CDATA #FIXED "1.0">
40187
40188 <!ELEMENT bts EMPTY>
40189 <!ATTLIST bts size CDATA #IMPLIED>
40190
40191 <!ELEMENT pt EMPTY>
40192 <!ATTLIST pt size CDATA #IMPLIED>
40193 @end smallexample
40194
40195 @include agentexpr.texi
40196
40197 @node Target Descriptions
40198 @appendix Target Descriptions
40199 @cindex target descriptions
40200
40201 One of the challenges of using @value{GDBN} to debug embedded systems
40202 is that there are so many minor variants of each processor
40203 architecture in use. It is common practice for vendors to start with
40204 a standard processor core --- ARM, PowerPC, or @acronym{MIPS}, for example ---
40205 and then make changes to adapt it to a particular market niche. Some
40206 architectures have hundreds of variants, available from dozens of
40207 vendors. This leads to a number of problems:
40208
40209 @itemize @bullet
40210 @item
40211 With so many different customized processors, it is difficult for
40212 the @value{GDBN} maintainers to keep up with the changes.
40213 @item
40214 Since individual variants may have short lifetimes or limited
40215 audiences, it may not be worthwhile to carry information about every
40216 variant in the @value{GDBN} source tree.
40217 @item
40218 When @value{GDBN} does support the architecture of the embedded system
40219 at hand, the task of finding the correct architecture name to give the
40220 @command{set architecture} command can be error-prone.
40221 @end itemize
40222
40223 To address these problems, the @value{GDBN} remote protocol allows a
40224 target system to not only identify itself to @value{GDBN}, but to
40225 actually describe its own features. This lets @value{GDBN} support
40226 processor variants it has never seen before --- to the extent that the
40227 descriptions are accurate, and that @value{GDBN} understands them.
40228
40229 @value{GDBN} must be linked with the Expat library to support XML
40230 target descriptions. @xref{Expat}.
40231
40232 @menu
40233 * Retrieving Descriptions:: How descriptions are fetched from a target.
40234 * Target Description Format:: The contents of a target description.
40235 * Predefined Target Types:: Standard types available for target
40236 descriptions.
40237 * Standard Target Features:: Features @value{GDBN} knows about.
40238 @end menu
40239
40240 @node Retrieving Descriptions
40241 @section Retrieving Descriptions
40242
40243 Target descriptions can be read from the target automatically, or
40244 specified by the user manually. The default behavior is to read the
40245 description from the target. @value{GDBN} retrieves it via the remote
40246 protocol using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{General Query Packets,
40247 qXfer}). The @var{annex} in the @samp{qXfer} packet will be
40248 @samp{target.xml}. The contents of the @samp{target.xml} annex are an
40249 XML document, of the form described in @ref{Target Description
40250 Format}.
40251
40252 Alternatively, you can specify a file to read for the target description.
40253 If a file is set, the target will not be queried. The commands to
40254 specify a file are:
40255
40256 @table @code
40257 @cindex set tdesc filename
40258 @item set tdesc filename @var{path}
40259 Read the target description from @var{path}.
40260
40261 @cindex unset tdesc filename
40262 @item unset tdesc filename
40263 Do not read the XML target description from a file. @value{GDBN}
40264 will use the description supplied by the current target.
40265
40266 @cindex show tdesc filename
40267 @item show tdesc filename
40268 Show the filename to read for a target description, if any.
40269 @end table
40270
40271
40272 @node Target Description Format
40273 @section Target Description Format
40274 @cindex target descriptions, XML format
40275
40276 A target description annex is an @uref{http://www.w3.org/XML/, XML}
40277 document which complies with the Document Type Definition provided in
40278 the @value{GDBN} sources in @file{gdb/features/gdb-target.dtd}. This
40279 means you can use generally available tools like @command{xmllint} to
40280 check that your feature descriptions are well-formed and valid.
40281 However, to help people unfamiliar with XML write descriptions for
40282 their targets, we also describe the grammar here.
40283
40284 Target descriptions can identify the architecture of the remote target
40285 and (for some architectures) provide information about custom register
40286 sets. They can also identify the OS ABI of the remote target.
40287 @value{GDBN} can use this information to autoconfigure for your
40288 target, or to warn you if you connect to an unsupported target.
40289
40290 Here is a simple target description:
40291
40292 @smallexample
40293 <target version="1.0">
40294 <architecture>i386:x86-64</architecture>
40295 </target>
40296 @end smallexample
40297
40298 @noindent
40299 This minimal description only says that the target uses
40300 the x86-64 architecture.
40301
40302 A target description has the following overall form, with [ ] marking
40303 optional elements and @dots{} marking repeatable elements. The elements
40304 are explained further below.
40305
40306 @smallexample
40307 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40308 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "gdb-target.dtd">
40309 <target version="1.0">
40310 @r{[}@var{architecture}@r{]}
40311 @r{[}@var{osabi}@r{]}
40312 @r{[}@var{compatible}@r{]}
40313 @r{[}@var{feature}@dots{}@r{]}
40314 </target>
40315 @end smallexample
40316
40317 @noindent
40318 The description is generally insensitive to whitespace and line
40319 breaks, under the usual common-sense rules. The XML version
40320 declaration and document type declaration can generally be omitted
40321 (@value{GDBN} does not require them), but specifying them may be
40322 useful for XML validation tools. The @samp{version} attribute for
40323 @samp{<target>} may also be omitted, but we recommend
40324 including it; if future versions of @value{GDBN} use an incompatible
40325 revision of @file{gdb-target.dtd}, they will detect and report
40326 the version mismatch.
40327
40328 @subsection Inclusion
40329 @cindex target descriptions, inclusion
40330 @cindex XInclude
40331 @ifnotinfo
40332 @cindex <xi:include>
40333 @end ifnotinfo
40334
40335 It can sometimes be valuable to split a target description up into
40336 several different annexes, either for organizational purposes, or to
40337 share files between different possible target descriptions. You can
40338 divide a description into multiple files by replacing any element of
40339 the target description with an inclusion directive of the form:
40340
40341 @smallexample
40342 <xi:include href="@var{document}"/>
40343 @end smallexample
40344
40345 @noindent
40346 When @value{GDBN} encounters an element of this form, it will retrieve
40347 the named XML @var{document}, and replace the inclusion directive with
40348 the contents of that document. If the current description was read
40349 using @samp{qXfer}, then so will be the included document;
40350 @var{document} will be interpreted as the name of an annex. If the
40351 current description was read from a file, @value{GDBN} will look for
40352 @var{document} as a file in the same directory where it found the
40353 original description.
40354
40355 @subsection Architecture
40356 @cindex <architecture>
40357
40358 An @samp{<architecture>} element has this form:
40359
40360 @smallexample
40361 <architecture>@var{arch}</architecture>
40362 @end smallexample
40363
40364 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
40365 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
40366
40367 @subsection OS ABI
40368 @cindex @code{<osabi>}
40369
40370 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
40371 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
40372
40373 An @samp{<osabi>} element has this form:
40374
40375 @smallexample
40376 <osabi>@var{abi-name}</osabi>
40377 @end smallexample
40378
40379 @var{abi-name} is an OS ABI name from the same selection accepted by
40380 @w{@code{set osabi}} (@pxref{ABI, ,Configuring the Current ABI}).
40381
40382 @subsection Compatible Architecture
40383 @cindex @code{<compatible>}
40384
40385 This optional field was introduced in @value{GDBN} version 7.0.
40386 Previous versions of @value{GDBN} ignore it.
40387
40388 A @samp{<compatible>} element has this form:
40389
40390 @smallexample
40391 <compatible>@var{arch}</compatible>
40392 @end smallexample
40393
40394 @var{arch} is one of the architectures from the set accepted by
40395 @code{set architecture} (@pxref{Targets, ,Specifying a Debugging Target}).
40396
40397 A @samp{<compatible>} element is used to specify that the target
40398 is able to run binaries in some other than the main target architecture
40399 given by the @samp{<architecture>} element. For example, on the
40400 Cell Broadband Engine, the main architecture is @code{powerpc:common}
40401 or @code{powerpc:common64}, but the system is able to run binaries
40402 in the @code{spu} architecture as well. The way to describe this
40403 capability with @samp{<compatible>} is as follows:
40404
40405 @smallexample
40406 <architecture>powerpc:common</architecture>
40407 <compatible>spu</compatible>
40408 @end smallexample
40409
40410 @subsection Features
40411 @cindex <feature>
40412
40413 Each @samp{<feature>} describes some logical portion of the target
40414 system. Features are currently used to describe available CPU
40415 registers and the types of their contents. A @samp{<feature>} element
40416 has this form:
40417
40418 @smallexample
40419 <feature name="@var{name}">
40420 @r{[}@var{type}@dots{}@r{]}
40421 @var{reg}@dots{}
40422 </feature>
40423 @end smallexample
40424
40425 @noindent
40426 Each feature's name should be unique within the description. The name
40427 of a feature does not matter unless @value{GDBN} has some special
40428 knowledge of the contents of that feature; if it does, the feature
40429 should have its standard name. @xref{Standard Target Features}.
40430
40431 @subsection Types
40432
40433 Any register's value is a collection of bits which @value{GDBN} must
40434 interpret. The default interpretation is a two's complement integer,
40435 but other types can be requested by name in the register description.
40436 Some predefined types are provided by @value{GDBN} (@pxref{Predefined
40437 Target Types}), and the description can define additional composite types.
40438
40439 Each type element must have an @samp{id} attribute, which gives
40440 a unique (within the containing @samp{<feature>}) name to the type.
40441 Types must be defined before they are used.
40442
40443 @cindex <vector>
40444 Some targets offer vector registers, which can be treated as arrays
40445 of scalar elements. These types are written as @samp{<vector>} elements,
40446 specifying the array element type, @var{type}, and the number of elements,
40447 @var{count}:
40448
40449 @smallexample
40450 <vector id="@var{id}" type="@var{type}" count="@var{count}"/>
40451 @end smallexample
40452
40453 @cindex <union>
40454 If a register's value is usefully viewed in multiple ways, define it
40455 with a union type containing the useful representations. The
40456 @samp{<union>} element contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements,
40457 each of which has a @var{name} and a @var{type}:
40458
40459 @smallexample
40460 <union id="@var{id}">
40461 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
40462 @dots{}
40463 </union>
40464 @end smallexample
40465
40466 @cindex <struct>
40467 If a register's value is composed from several separate values, define
40468 it with a structure type. There are two forms of the @samp{<struct>}
40469 element; a @samp{<struct>} element must either contain only bitfields
40470 or contain no bitfields. If the structure contains only bitfields,
40471 its total size in bytes must be specified, each bitfield must have an
40472 explicit start and end, and bitfields are automatically assigned an
40473 integer type. The field's @var{start} should be less than or
40474 equal to its @var{end}, and zero represents the least significant bit.
40475
40476 @smallexample
40477 <struct id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
40478 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
40479 @dots{}
40480 </struct>
40481 @end smallexample
40482
40483 If the structure contains no bitfields, then each field has an
40484 explicit type, and no implicit padding is added.
40485
40486 @smallexample
40487 <struct id="@var{id}">
40488 <field name="@var{name}" type="@var{type}"/>
40489 @dots{}
40490 </struct>
40491 @end smallexample
40492
40493 @cindex <flags>
40494 If a register's value is a series of single-bit flags, define it with
40495 a flags type. The @samp{<flags>} element has an explicit @var{size}
40496 and contains one or more @samp{<field>} elements. Each field has a
40497 @var{name}, a @var{start}, and an @var{end}. Only single-bit flags
40498 are supported.
40499
40500 @smallexample
40501 <flags id="@var{id}" size="@var{size}">
40502 <field name="@var{name}" start="@var{start}" end="@var{end}"/>
40503 @dots{}
40504 </flags>
40505 @end smallexample
40506
40507 @subsection Registers
40508 @cindex <reg>
40509
40510 Each register is represented as an element with this form:
40511
40512 @smallexample
40513 <reg name="@var{name}"
40514 bitsize="@var{size}"
40515 @r{[}regnum="@var{num}"@r{]}
40516 @r{[}save-restore="@var{save-restore}"@r{]}
40517 @r{[}type="@var{type}"@r{]}
40518 @r{[}group="@var{group}"@r{]}/>
40519 @end smallexample
40520
40521 @noindent
40522 The components are as follows:
40523
40524 @table @var
40525
40526 @item name
40527 The register's name; it must be unique within the target description.
40528
40529 @item bitsize
40530 The register's size, in bits.
40531
40532 @item regnum
40533 The register's number. If omitted, a register's number is one greater
40534 than that of the previous register (either in the current feature or in
40535 a preceding feature); the first register in the target description
40536 defaults to zero. This register number is used to read or write
40537 the register; e.g.@: it is used in the remote @code{p} and @code{P}
40538 packets, and registers appear in the @code{g} and @code{G} packets
40539 in order of increasing register number.
40540
40541 @item save-restore
40542 Whether the register should be preserved across inferior function
40543 calls; this must be either @code{yes} or @code{no}. The default is
40544 @code{yes}, which is appropriate for most registers except for
40545 some system control registers; this is not related to the target's
40546 ABI.
40547
40548 @item type
40549 The type of the register. It may be a predefined type, a type
40550 defined in the current feature, or one of the special types @code{int}
40551 and @code{float}. @code{int} is an integer type of the correct size
40552 for @var{bitsize}, and @code{float} is a floating point type (in the
40553 architecture's normal floating point format) of the correct size for
40554 @var{bitsize}. The default is @code{int}.
40555
40556 @item group
40557 The register group to which this register belongs. It must
40558 be either @code{general}, @code{float}, or @code{vector}. If no
40559 @var{group} is specified, @value{GDBN} will not display the register
40560 in @code{info registers}.
40561
40562 @end table
40563
40564 @node Predefined Target Types
40565 @section Predefined Target Types
40566 @cindex target descriptions, predefined types
40567
40568 Type definitions in the self-description can build up composite types
40569 from basic building blocks, but can not define fundamental types. Instead,
40570 standard identifiers are provided by @value{GDBN} for the fundamental
40571 types. The currently supported types are:
40572
40573 @table @code
40574
40575 @item int8
40576 @itemx int16
40577 @itemx int32
40578 @itemx int64
40579 @itemx int128
40580 Signed integer types holding the specified number of bits.
40581
40582 @item uint8
40583 @itemx uint16
40584 @itemx uint32
40585 @itemx uint64
40586 @itemx uint128
40587 Unsigned integer types holding the specified number of bits.
40588
40589 @item code_ptr
40590 @itemx data_ptr
40591 Pointers to unspecified code and data. The program counter and
40592 any dedicated return address register may be marked as code
40593 pointers; printing a code pointer converts it into a symbolic
40594 address. The stack pointer and any dedicated address registers
40595 may be marked as data pointers.
40596
40597 @item ieee_single
40598 Single precision IEEE floating point.
40599
40600 @item ieee_double
40601 Double precision IEEE floating point.
40602
40603 @item arm_fpa_ext
40604 The 12-byte extended precision format used by ARM FPA registers.
40605
40606 @item i387_ext
40607 The 10-byte extended precision format used by x87 registers.
40608
40609 @item i386_eflags
40610 32bit @sc{eflags} register used by x86.
40611
40612 @item i386_mxcsr
40613 32bit @sc{mxcsr} register used by x86.
40614
40615 @end table
40616
40617 @node Standard Target Features
40618 @section Standard Target Features
40619 @cindex target descriptions, standard features
40620
40621 A target description must contain either no registers or all the
40622 target's registers. If the description contains no registers, then
40623 @value{GDBN} will assume a default register layout, selected based on
40624 the architecture. If the description contains any registers, the
40625 default layout will not be used; the standard registers must be
40626 described in the target description, in such a way that @value{GDBN}
40627 can recognize them.
40628
40629 This is accomplished by giving specific names to feature elements
40630 which contain standard registers. @value{GDBN} will look for features
40631 with those names and verify that they contain the expected registers;
40632 if any known feature is missing required registers, or if any required
40633 feature is missing, @value{GDBN} will reject the target
40634 description. You can add additional registers to any of the
40635 standard features --- @value{GDBN} will display them just as if
40636 they were added to an unrecognized feature.
40637
40638 This section lists the known features and their expected contents.
40639 Sample XML documents for these features are included in the
40640 @value{GDBN} source tree, in the directory @file{gdb/features}.
40641
40642 Names recognized by @value{GDBN} should include the name of the
40643 company or organization which selected the name, and the overall
40644 architecture to which the feature applies; so e.g.@: the feature
40645 containing ARM core registers is named @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}.
40646
40647 The names of registers are not case sensitive for the purpose
40648 of recognizing standard features, but @value{GDBN} will only display
40649 registers using the capitalization used in the description.
40650
40651 @menu
40652 * AArch64 Features::
40653 * ARM Features::
40654 * i386 Features::
40655 * MicroBlaze Features::
40656 * MIPS Features::
40657 * M68K Features::
40658 * Nios II Features::
40659 * PowerPC Features::
40660 * S/390 and System z Features::
40661 * TIC6x Features::
40662 @end menu
40663
40664
40665 @node AArch64 Features
40666 @subsection AArch64 Features
40667 @cindex target descriptions, AArch64 features
40668
40669 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.core} feature is required for AArch64
40670 targets. It should contain registers @samp{x0} through @samp{x30},
40671 @samp{sp}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
40672
40673 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.aarch64.fpu} feature is optional. If present,
40674 it should contain registers @samp{v0} through @samp{v31}, @samp{fpsr},
40675 and @samp{fpcr}.
40676
40677 @node ARM Features
40678 @subsection ARM Features
40679 @cindex target descriptions, ARM features
40680
40681 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core} feature is required for non-M-profile
40682 ARM targets.
40683 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp},
40684 @samp{lr}, @samp{pc}, and @samp{cpsr}.
40685
40686 For M-profile targets (e.g. Cortex-M3), the @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.core}
40687 feature is replaced by @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.m-profile}. It should contain
40688 registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r13}, @samp{sp}, @samp{lr}, @samp{pc},
40689 and @samp{xpsr}.
40690
40691 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.fpa} feature is optional. If present, it
40692 should contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f7} and @samp{fps}.
40693
40694 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.xscale.iwmmxt} feature is optional. If present,
40695 it should contain at least registers @samp{wR0} through @samp{wR15} and
40696 @samp{wCGR0} through @samp{wCGR3}. The @samp{wCID}, @samp{wCon},
40697 @samp{wCSSF}, and @samp{wCASF} registers are optional.
40698
40699 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} feature is optional. If present, it
40700 should contain at least registers @samp{d0} through @samp{d15}. If
40701 they are present, @samp{d16} through @samp{d31} should also be included.
40702 @value{GDBN} will synthesize the single-precision registers from
40703 halves of the double-precision registers.
40704
40705 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.neon} feature is optional. It does not
40706 need to contain registers; it instructs @value{GDBN} to display the
40707 VFP double-precision registers as vectors and to synthesize the
40708 quad-precision registers from pairs of double-precision registers.
40709 If this feature is present, @samp{org.gnu.gdb.arm.vfp} must also
40710 be present and include 32 double-precision registers.
40711
40712 @node i386 Features
40713 @subsection i386 Features
40714 @cindex target descriptions, i386 features
40715
40716 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.core} feature is required for i386/amd64
40717 targets. It should describe the following registers:
40718
40719 @itemize @minus
40720 @item
40721 @samp{eax} through @samp{edi} plus @samp{eip} for i386
40722 @item
40723 @samp{rax} through @samp{r15} plus @samp{rip} for amd64
40724 @item
40725 @samp{eflags}, @samp{cs}, @samp{ss}, @samp{ds}, @samp{es},
40726 @samp{fs}, @samp{gs}
40727 @item
40728 @samp{st0} through @samp{st7}
40729 @item
40730 @samp{fctrl}, @samp{fstat}, @samp{ftag}, @samp{fiseg}, @samp{fioff},
40731 @samp{foseg}, @samp{fooff} and @samp{fop}
40732 @end itemize
40733
40734 The register sets may be different, depending on the target.
40735
40736 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature is optional. It should
40737 describe registers:
40738
40739 @itemize @minus
40740 @item
40741 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm7} for i386
40742 @item
40743 @samp{xmm0} through @samp{xmm15} for amd64
40744 @item
40745 @samp{mxcsr}
40746 @end itemize
40747
40748 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature is optional and requires the
40749 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.sse} feature. It should
40750 describe the upper 128 bits of @sc{ymm} registers:
40751
40752 @itemize @minus
40753 @item
40754 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm7h} for i386
40755 @item
40756 @samp{ymm0h} through @samp{ymm15h} for amd64
40757 @end itemize
40758
40759 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.mpx} is an optional feature representing Intel
40760 Memory Protection Extension (MPX). It should describe the following registers:
40761
40762 @itemize @minus
40763 @item
40764 @samp{bnd0raw} through @samp{bnd3raw} for i386 and amd64.
40765 @item
40766 @samp{bndcfgu} and @samp{bndstatus} for i386 and amd64.
40767 @end itemize
40768
40769 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.linux} feature is optional. It should
40770 describe a single register, @samp{orig_eax}.
40771
40772 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx512} feature is optional and requires the
40773 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.i386.avx} feature. It should
40774 describe additional @sc{xmm} registers:
40775
40776 @itemize @minus
40777 @item
40778 @samp{xmm16h} through @samp{xmm31h}, only valid for amd64.
40779 @end itemize
40780
40781 It should describe the upper 128 bits of additional @sc{ymm} registers:
40782
40783 @itemize @minus
40784 @item
40785 @samp{ymm16h} through @samp{ymm31h}, only valid for amd64.
40786 @end itemize
40787
40788 It should
40789 describe the upper 256 bits of @sc{zmm} registers:
40790
40791 @itemize @minus
40792 @item
40793 @samp{zmm0h} through @samp{zmm7h} for i386.
40794 @item
40795 @samp{zmm0h} through @samp{zmm15h} for amd64.
40796 @end itemize
40797
40798 It should
40799 describe the additional @sc{zmm} registers:
40800
40801 @itemize @minus
40802 @item
40803 @samp{zmm16h} through @samp{zmm31h}, only valid for amd64.
40804 @end itemize
40805
40806 @node MicroBlaze Features
40807 @subsection MicroBlaze Features
40808 @cindex target descriptions, MicroBlaze features
40809
40810 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.microblaze.core} feature is required for MicroBlaze
40811 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
40812 @samp{rpc}, @samp{rmsr}, @samp{rear}, @samp{resr}, @samp{rfsr}, @samp{rbtr},
40813 @samp{rpvr}, @samp{rpvr1} through @samp{rpvr11}, @samp{redr}, @samp{rpid},
40814 @samp{rzpr}, @samp{rtlbx}, @samp{rtlbsx}, @samp{rtlblo}, and @samp{rtlbhi}.
40815
40816 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.microblaze.stack-protect} feature is optional.
40817 If present, it should contain registers @samp{rshr} and @samp{rslr}
40818
40819 @node MIPS Features
40820 @subsection @acronym{MIPS} Features
40821 @cindex target descriptions, @acronym{MIPS} features
40822
40823 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cpu} feature is required for @acronym{MIPS} targets.
40824 It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31}, @samp{lo},
40825 @samp{hi}, and @samp{pc}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending
40826 on the target.
40827
40828 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.cp0} feature is also required. It should
40829 contain at least the @samp{status}, @samp{badvaddr}, and @samp{cause}
40830 registers. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40831
40832 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.fpu} feature is currently required, though
40833 it may be optional in a future version of @value{GDBN}. It should
40834 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31}, @samp{fcsr}, and
40835 @samp{fir}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40836
40837 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.dsp} feature is optional. It should
40838 contain registers @samp{hi1} through @samp{hi3}, @samp{lo1} through
40839 @samp{lo3}, and @samp{dspctl}. The @samp{dspctl} register should
40840 be 32-bit and the rest may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40841
40842 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.mips.linux} feature is optional. It should
40843 contain a single register, @samp{restart}, which is used by the
40844 Linux kernel to control restartable syscalls.
40845
40846 @node M68K Features
40847 @subsection M68K Features
40848 @cindex target descriptions, M68K features
40849
40850 @table @code
40851 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.m68k.core}
40852 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.core}
40853 @itemx @samp{org.gnu.gdb.fido.core}
40854 One of those features must be always present.
40855 The feature that is present determines which flavor of m68k is
40856 used. The feature that is present should contain registers
40857 @samp{d0} through @samp{d7}, @samp{a0} through @samp{a5}, @samp{fp},
40858 @samp{sp}, @samp{ps} and @samp{pc}.
40859
40860 @item @samp{org.gnu.gdb.coldfire.fp}
40861 This feature is optional. If present, it should contain registers
40862 @samp{fp0} through @samp{fp7}, @samp{fpcontrol}, @samp{fpstatus} and
40863 @samp{fpiaddr}.
40864 @end table
40865
40866 @node Nios II Features
40867 @subsection Nios II Features
40868 @cindex target descriptions, Nios II features
40869
40870 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.nios2.cpu} feature is required for Nios II
40871 targets. It should contain the 32 core registers (@samp{zero},
40872 @samp{at}, @samp{r2} through @samp{r23}, @samp{et} through @samp{ra}),
40873 @samp{pc}, and the 16 control registers (@samp{status} through
40874 @samp{mpuacc}).
40875
40876 @node PowerPC Features
40877 @subsection PowerPC Features
40878 @cindex target descriptions, PowerPC features
40879
40880 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} feature is required for PowerPC
40881 targets. It should contain registers @samp{r0} through @samp{r31},
40882 @samp{pc}, @samp{msr}, @samp{cr}, @samp{lr}, @samp{ctr}, and
40883 @samp{xer}. They may be 32-bit or 64-bit depending on the target.
40884
40885 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.fpu} feature is optional. It should
40886 contain registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f31} and @samp{fpscr}.
40887
40888 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.altivec} feature is optional. It should
40889 contain registers @samp{vr0} through @samp{vr31}, @samp{vscr},
40890 and @samp{vrsave}.
40891
40892 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.vsx} feature is optional. It should
40893 contain registers @samp{vs0h} through @samp{vs31h}. @value{GDBN}
40894 will combine these registers with the floating point registers
40895 (@samp{f0} through @samp{f31}) and the altivec registers (@samp{vr0}
40896 through @samp{vr31}) to present the 128-bit wide registers @samp{vs0}
40897 through @samp{vs63}, the set of vector registers for POWER7.
40898
40899 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.spe} feature is optional. It should
40900 contain registers @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}, @samp{acc}, and
40901 @samp{spefscr}. SPE targets should provide 32-bit registers in
40902 @samp{org.gnu.gdb.power.core} and provide the upper halves in
40903 @samp{ev0h} through @samp{ev31h}. @value{GDBN} will combine
40904 these to present registers @samp{ev0} through @samp{ev31} to the
40905 user.
40906
40907 @node S/390 and System z Features
40908 @subsection S/390 and System z Features
40909 @cindex target descriptions, S/390 features
40910 @cindex target descriptions, System z features
40911
40912 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.core} feature is required for S/390 and
40913 System z targets. It should contain the PSW and the 16 general
40914 registers. In particular, System z targets should provide the 64-bit
40915 registers @samp{pswm}, @samp{pswa}, and @samp{r0} through @samp{r15}.
40916 S/390 targets should provide the 32-bit versions of these registers.
40917 A System z target that runs in 31-bit addressing mode should provide
40918 32-bit versions of @samp{pswm} and @samp{pswa}, as well as the general
40919 register's upper halves @samp{r0h} through @samp{r15h}, and their
40920 lower halves @samp{r0l} through @samp{r15l}.
40921
40922 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.fpr} feature is required. It should
40923 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{f0} through @samp{f15}, and
40924 @samp{fpc}.
40925
40926 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.acr} feature is required. It should
40927 contain the 32-bit registers @samp{acr0} through @samp{acr15}.
40928
40929 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.linux} feature is optional. It should
40930 contain the register @samp{orig_r2}, which is 64-bit wide on System z
40931 targets and 32-bit otherwise. In addition, the feature may contain
40932 the @samp{last_break} register, whose width depends on the addressing
40933 mode, as well as the @samp{system_call} register, which is always
40934 32-bit wide.
40935
40936 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.tdb} feature is optional. It should
40937 contain the 64-bit registers @samp{tdb0}, @samp{tac}, @samp{tct},
40938 @samp{atia}, and @samp{tr0} through @samp{tr15}.
40939
40940 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.s390.vx} feature is optional. It should contain
40941 64-bit wide registers @samp{v0l} through @samp{v15l}, which will be
40942 combined by @value{GDBN} with the floating point registers @samp{f0}
40943 through @samp{f15} to present the 128-bit wide vector registers
40944 @samp{v0} through @samp{v15}. In addition, this feature should
40945 contain the 128-bit wide vector registers @samp{v16} through
40946 @samp{v31}.
40947
40948 @node TIC6x Features
40949 @subsection TMS320C6x Features
40950 @cindex target descriptions, TIC6x features
40951 @cindex target descriptions, TMS320C6x features
40952 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.core} feature is required for TMS320C6x
40953 targets. It should contain registers @samp{A0} through @samp{A15},
40954 registers @samp{B0} through @samp{B15}, @samp{CSR} and @samp{PC}.
40955
40956 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.gp} feature is optional. It should
40957 contain registers @samp{A16} through @samp{A31} and @samp{B16}
40958 through @samp{B31}.
40959
40960 The @samp{org.gnu.gdb.tic6x.c6xp} feature is optional. It should
40961 contain registers @samp{TSR}, @samp{ILC} and @samp{RILC}.
40962
40963 @node Operating System Information
40964 @appendix Operating System Information
40965 @cindex operating system information
40966
40967 @menu
40968 * Process list::
40969 @end menu
40970
40971 Users of @value{GDBN} often wish to obtain information about the state of
40972 the operating system running on the target---for example the list of
40973 processes, or the list of open files. This section describes the
40974 mechanism that makes it possible. This mechanism is similar to the
40975 target features mechanism (@pxref{Target Descriptions}), but focuses
40976 on a different aspect of target.
40977
40978 Operating system information is retrived from the target via the
40979 remote protocol, using @samp{qXfer} requests (@pxref{qXfer osdata
40980 read}). The object name in the request should be @samp{osdata}, and
40981 the @var{annex} identifies the data to be fetched.
40982
40983 @node Process list
40984 @appendixsection Process list
40985 @cindex operating system information, process list
40986
40987 When requesting the process list, the @var{annex} field in the
40988 @samp{qXfer} request should be @samp{processes}. The returned data is
40989 an XML document. The formal syntax of this document is defined in
40990 @file{gdb/features/osdata.dtd}.
40991
40992 An example document is:
40993
40994 @smallexample
40995 <?xml version="1.0"?>
40996 <!DOCTYPE target SYSTEM "osdata.dtd">
40997 <osdata type="processes">
40998 <item>
40999 <column name="pid">1</column>
41000 <column name="user">root</column>
41001 <column name="command">/sbin/init</column>
41002 <column name="cores">1,2,3</column>
41003 </item>
41004 </osdata>
41005 @end smallexample
41006
41007 Each item should include a column whose name is @samp{pid}. The value
41008 of that column should identify the process on the target. The
41009 @samp{user} and @samp{command} columns are optional, and will be
41010 displayed by @value{GDBN}. The @samp{cores} column, if present,
41011 should contain a comma-separated list of cores that this process
41012 is running on. Target may provide additional columns,
41013 which @value{GDBN} currently ignores.
41014
41015 @node Trace File Format
41016 @appendix Trace File Format
41017 @cindex trace file format
41018
41019 The trace file comes in three parts: a header, a textual description
41020 section, and a trace frame section with binary data.
41021
41022 The header has the form @code{\x7fTRACE0\n}. The first byte is
41023 @code{0x7f} so as to indicate that the file contains binary data,
41024 while the @code{0} is a version number that may have different values
41025 in the future.
41026
41027 The description section consists of multiple lines of @sc{ascii} text
41028 separated by newline characters (@code{0xa}). The lines may include a
41029 variety of optional descriptive or context-setting information, such
41030 as tracepoint definitions or register set size. @value{GDBN} will
41031 ignore any line that it does not recognize. An empty line marks the end
41032 of this section.
41033
41034 @c FIXME add some specific types of data
41035
41036 The trace frame section consists of a number of consecutive frames.
41037 Each frame begins with a two-byte tracepoint number, followed by a
41038 four-byte size giving the amount of data in the frame. The data in
41039 the frame consists of a number of blocks, each introduced by a
41040 character indicating its type (at least register, memory, and trace
41041 state variable). The data in this section is raw binary, not a
41042 hexadecimal or other encoding; its endianness matches the target's
41043 endianness.
41044
41045 @c FIXME bi-arch may require endianness/arch info in description section
41046
41047 @table @code
41048 @item R @var{bytes}
41049 Register block. The number and ordering of bytes matches that of a
41050 @code{g} packet in the remote protocol. Note that these are the
41051 actual bytes, in target order and @value{GDBN} register order, not a
41052 hexadecimal encoding.
41053
41054 @item M @var{address} @var{length} @var{bytes}...
41055 Memory block. This is a contiguous block of memory, at the 8-byte
41056 address @var{address}, with a 2-byte length @var{length}, followed by
41057 @var{length} bytes.
41058
41059 @item V @var{number} @var{value}
41060 Trace state variable block. This records the 8-byte signed value
41061 @var{value} of trace state variable numbered @var{number}.
41062
41063 @end table
41064
41065 Future enhancements of the trace file format may include additional types
41066 of blocks.
41067
41068 @node Index Section Format
41069 @appendix @code{.gdb_index} section format
41070 @cindex .gdb_index section format
41071 @cindex index section format
41072
41073 This section documents the index section that is created by @code{save
41074 gdb-index} (@pxref{Index Files}). The index section is
41075 DWARF-specific; some knowledge of DWARF is assumed in this
41076 description.
41077
41078 The mapped index file format is designed to be directly
41079 @code{mmap}able on any architecture. In most cases, a datum is
41080 represented using a little-endian 32-bit integer value, called an
41081 @code{offset_type}. Big endian machines must byte-swap the values
41082 before using them. Exceptions to this rule are noted. The data is
41083 laid out such that alignment is always respected.
41084
41085 A mapped index consists of several areas, laid out in order.
41086
41087 @enumerate
41088 @item
41089 The file header. This is a sequence of values, of @code{offset_type}
41090 unless otherwise noted:
41091
41092 @enumerate
41093 @item
41094 The version number, currently 8. Versions 1, 2 and 3 are obsolete.
41095 Version 4 uses a different hashing function from versions 5 and 6.
41096 Version 6 includes symbols for inlined functions, whereas versions 4
41097 and 5 do not. Version 7 adds attributes to the CU indices in the
41098 symbol table. Version 8 specifies that symbols from DWARF type units
41099 (@samp{DW_TAG_type_unit}) refer to the type unit's symbol table and not the
41100 compilation unit (@samp{DW_TAG_comp_unit}) using the type.
41101
41102 @value{GDBN} will only read version 4, 5, or 6 indices
41103 by specifying @code{set use-deprecated-index-sections on}.
41104 GDB has a workaround for potentially broken version 7 indices so it is
41105 currently not flagged as deprecated.
41106
41107 @item
41108 The offset, from the start of the file, of the CU list.
41109
41110 @item
41111 The offset, from the start of the file, of the types CU list. Note
41112 that this area can be empty, in which case this offset will be equal
41113 to the next offset.
41114
41115 @item
41116 The offset, from the start of the file, of the address area.
41117
41118 @item
41119 The offset, from the start of the file, of the symbol table.
41120
41121 @item
41122 The offset, from the start of the file, of the constant pool.
41123 @end enumerate
41124
41125 @item
41126 The CU list. This is a sequence of pairs of 64-bit little-endian
41127 values, sorted by the CU offset. The first element in each pair is
41128 the offset of a CU in the @code{.debug_info} section. The second
41129 element in each pair is the length of that CU. References to a CU
41130 elsewhere in the map are done using a CU index, which is just the
41131 0-based index into this table. Note that if there are type CUs, then
41132 conceptually CUs and type CUs form a single list for the purposes of
41133 CU indices.
41134
41135 @item
41136 The types CU list. This is a sequence of triplets of 64-bit
41137 little-endian values. In a triplet, the first value is the CU offset,
41138 the second value is the type offset in the CU, and the third value is
41139 the type signature. The types CU list is not sorted.
41140
41141 @item
41142 The address area. The address area consists of a sequence of address
41143 entries. Each address entry has three elements:
41144
41145 @enumerate
41146 @item
41147 The low address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value.
41148
41149 @item
41150 The high address. This is a 64-bit little-endian value. Like
41151 @code{DW_AT_high_pc}, the value is one byte beyond the end.
41152
41153 @item
41154 The CU index. This is an @code{offset_type} value.
41155 @end enumerate
41156
41157 @item
41158 The symbol table. This is an open-addressed hash table. The size of
41159 the hash table is always a power of 2.
41160
41161 Each slot in the hash table consists of a pair of @code{offset_type}
41162 values. The first value is the offset of the symbol's name in the
41163 constant pool. The second value is the offset of the CU vector in the
41164 constant pool.
41165
41166 If both values are 0, then this slot in the hash table is empty. This
41167 is ok because while 0 is a valid constant pool index, it cannot be a
41168 valid index for both a string and a CU vector.
41169
41170 The hash value for a table entry is computed by applying an
41171 iterative hash function to the symbol's name. Starting with an
41172 initial value of @code{r = 0}, each (unsigned) character @samp{c} in
41173 the string is incorporated into the hash using the formula depending on the
41174 index version:
41175
41176 @table @asis
41177 @item Version 4
41178 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + c - 113}.
41179
41180 @item Versions 5 to 7
41181 The formula is @code{r = r * 67 + tolower (c) - 113}.
41182 @end table
41183
41184 The terminating @samp{\0} is not incorporated into the hash.
41185
41186 The step size used in the hash table is computed via
41187 @code{((hash * 17) & (size - 1)) | 1}, where @samp{hash} is the hash
41188 value, and @samp{size} is the size of the hash table. The step size
41189 is used to find the next candidate slot when handling a hash
41190 collision.
41191
41192 The names of C@t{++} symbols in the hash table are canonicalized. We
41193 don't currently have a simple description of the canonicalization
41194 algorithm; if you intend to create new index sections, you must read
41195 the code.
41196
41197 @item
41198 The constant pool. This is simply a bunch of bytes. It is organized
41199 so that alignment is correct: CU vectors are stored first, followed by
41200 strings.
41201
41202 A CU vector in the constant pool is a sequence of @code{offset_type}
41203 values. The first value is the number of CU indices in the vector.
41204 Each subsequent value is the index and symbol attributes of a CU in
41205 the CU list. This element in the hash table is used to indicate which
41206 CUs define the symbol and how the symbol is used.
41207 See below for the format of each CU index+attributes entry.
41208
41209 A string in the constant pool is zero-terminated.
41210 @end enumerate
41211
41212 Attributes were added to CU index values in @code{.gdb_index} version 7.
41213 If a symbol has multiple uses within a CU then there is one
41214 CU index+attributes value for each use.
41215
41216 The format of each CU index+attributes entry is as follows
41217 (bit 0 = LSB):
41218
41219 @table @asis
41220
41221 @item Bits 0-23
41222 This is the index of the CU in the CU list.
41223 @item Bits 24-27
41224 These bits are reserved for future purposes and must be zero.
41225 @item Bits 28-30
41226 The kind of the symbol in the CU.
41227
41228 @table @asis
41229 @item 0
41230 This value is reserved and should not be used.
41231 By reserving zero the full @code{offset_type} value is backwards compatible
41232 with previous versions of the index.
41233 @item 1
41234 The symbol is a type.
41235 @item 2
41236 The symbol is a variable or an enum value.
41237 @item 3
41238 The symbol is a function.
41239 @item 4
41240 Any other kind of symbol.
41241 @item 5,6,7
41242 These values are reserved.
41243 @end table
41244
41245 @item Bit 31
41246 This bit is zero if the value is global and one if it is static.
41247
41248 The determination of whether a symbol is global or static is complicated.
41249 The authorative reference is the file @file{dwarf2read.c} in
41250 @value{GDBN} sources.
41251
41252 @end table
41253
41254 This pseudo-code describes the computation of a symbol's kind and
41255 global/static attributes in the index.
41256
41257 @smallexample
41258 is_external = get_attribute (die, DW_AT_external);
41259 language = get_attribute (cu_die, DW_AT_language);
41260 switch (die->tag)
41261 @{
41262 case DW_TAG_typedef:
41263 case DW_TAG_base_type:
41264 case DW_TAG_subrange_type:
41265 kind = TYPE;
41266 is_static = 1;
41267 break;
41268 case DW_TAG_enumerator:
41269 kind = VARIABLE;
41270 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
41271 break;
41272 case DW_TAG_subprogram:
41273 kind = FUNCTION;
41274 is_static = ! (is_external || language == ADA);
41275 break;
41276 case DW_TAG_constant:
41277 kind = VARIABLE;
41278 is_static = ! is_external;
41279 break;
41280 case DW_TAG_variable:
41281 kind = VARIABLE;
41282 is_static = ! is_external;
41283 break;
41284 case DW_TAG_namespace:
41285 kind = TYPE;
41286 is_static = 0;
41287 break;
41288 case DW_TAG_class_type:
41289 case DW_TAG_interface_type:
41290 case DW_TAG_structure_type:
41291 case DW_TAG_union_type:
41292 case DW_TAG_enumeration_type:
41293 kind = TYPE;
41294 is_static = (language != CPLUS && language != JAVA);
41295 break;
41296 default:
41297 assert (0);
41298 @}
41299 @end smallexample
41300
41301 @node Man Pages
41302 @appendix Manual pages
41303 @cindex Man pages
41304
41305 @menu
41306 * gdb man:: The GNU Debugger man page
41307 * gdbserver man:: Remote Server for the GNU Debugger man page
41308 * gcore man:: Generate a core file of a running program
41309 * gdbinit man:: gdbinit scripts
41310 @end menu
41311
41312 @node gdb man
41313 @heading gdb man
41314
41315 @c man title gdb The GNU Debugger
41316
41317 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdb
41318 gdb [@option{-help}] [@option{-nh}] [@option{-nx}] [@option{-q}]
41319 [@option{-batch}] [@option{-cd=}@var{dir}] [@option{-f}]
41320 [@option{-b}@w{ }@var{bps}]
41321 [@option{-tty=}@var{dev}] [@option{-s} @var{symfile}]
41322 [@option{-e}@w{ }@var{prog}] [@option{-se}@w{ }@var{prog}]
41323 [@option{-c}@w{ }@var{core}] [@option{-p}@w{ }@var{procID}]
41324 [@option{-x}@w{ }@var{cmds}] [@option{-d}@w{ }@var{dir}]
41325 [@var{prog}|@var{prog} @var{procID}|@var{prog} @var{core}]
41326 @c man end
41327
41328 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdb
41329 The purpose of a debugger such as @value{GDBN} is to allow you to see what is
41330 going on ``inside'' another program while it executes -- or what another
41331 program was doing at the moment it crashed.
41332
41333 @value{GDBN} can do four main kinds of things (plus other things in support of
41334 these) to help you catch bugs in the act:
41335
41336 @itemize @bullet
41337 @item
41338 Start your program, specifying anything that might affect its behavior.
41339
41340 @item
41341 Make your program stop on specified conditions.
41342
41343 @item
41344 Examine what has happened, when your program has stopped.
41345
41346 @item
41347 Change things in your program, so you can experiment with correcting the
41348 effects of one bug and go on to learn about another.
41349 @end itemize
41350
41351 You can use @value{GDBN} to debug programs written in C, C@t{++}, Fortran and
41352 Modula-2.
41353
41354 @value{GDBN} is invoked with the shell command @code{gdb}. Once started, it reads
41355 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit with the @value{GDBN}
41356 command @code{quit}. You can get online help from @value{GDBN} itself
41357 by using the command @code{help}.
41358
41359 You can run @code{gdb} with no arguments or options; but the most
41360 usual way to start @value{GDBN} is with one argument or two, specifying an
41361 executable program as the argument:
41362
41363 @smallexample
41364 gdb program
41365 @end smallexample
41366
41367 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file specified:
41368
41369 @smallexample
41370 gdb program core
41371 @end smallexample
41372
41373 You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you want
41374 to debug a running process:
41375
41376 @smallexample
41377 gdb program 1234
41378 gdb -p 1234
41379 @end smallexample
41380
41381 @noindent
41382 would attach @value{GDBN} to process @code{1234} (unless you also have a file
41383 named @file{1234}; @value{GDBN} does check for a core file first).
41384 With option @option{-p} you can omit the @var{program} filename.
41385
41386 Here are some of the most frequently needed @value{GDBN} commands:
41387
41388 @c pod2man highlights the right hand side of the @item lines.
41389 @table @env
41390 @item break [@var{file}:]@var{functiop}
41391 Set a breakpoint at @var{function} (in @var{file}).
41392
41393 @item run [@var{arglist}]
41394 Start your program (with @var{arglist}, if specified).
41395
41396 @item bt
41397 Backtrace: display the program stack.
41398
41399 @item print @var{expr}
41400 Display the value of an expression.
41401
41402 @item c
41403 Continue running your program (after stopping, e.g. at a breakpoint).
41404
41405 @item next
41406 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{over} any
41407 function calls in the line.
41408
41409 @item edit [@var{file}:]@var{function}
41410 look at the program line where it is presently stopped.
41411
41412 @item list [@var{file}:]@var{function}
41413 type the text of the program in the vicinity of where it is presently stopped.
41414
41415 @item step
41416 Execute next program line (after stopping); step @emph{into} any
41417 function calls in the line.
41418
41419 @item help [@var{name}]
41420 Show information about @value{GDBN} command @var{name}, or general information
41421 about using @value{GDBN}.
41422
41423 @item quit
41424 Exit from @value{GDBN}.
41425 @end table
41426
41427 @ifset man
41428 For full details on @value{GDBN},
41429 see @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41430 by Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch. The same text is available online
41431 as the @code{gdb} entry in the @code{info} program.
41432 @end ifset
41433 @c man end
41434
41435 @c man begin OPTIONS gdb
41436 Any arguments other than options specify an executable
41437 file and core file (or process ID); that is, the first argument
41438 encountered with no
41439 associated option flag is equivalent to a @option{-se} option, and the second,
41440 if any, is equivalent to a @option{-c} option if it's the name of a file.
41441 Many options have
41442 both long and short forms; both are shown here. The long forms are also
41443 recognized if you truncate them, so long as enough of the option is
41444 present to be unambiguous. (If you prefer, you can flag option
41445 arguments with @option{+} rather than @option{-}, though we illustrate the
41446 more usual convention.)
41447
41448 All the options and command line arguments you give are processed
41449 in sequential order. The order makes a difference when the @option{-x}
41450 option is used.
41451
41452 @table @env
41453 @item -help
41454 @itemx -h
41455 List all options, with brief explanations.
41456
41457 @item -symbols=@var{file}
41458 @itemx -s @var{file}
41459 Read symbol table from file @var{file}.
41460
41461 @item -write
41462 Enable writing into executable and core files.
41463
41464 @item -exec=@var{file}
41465 @itemx -e @var{file}
41466 Use file @var{file} as the executable file to execute when
41467 appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core
41468 dump.
41469
41470 @item -se=@var{file}
41471 Read symbol table from file @var{file} and use it as the executable
41472 file.
41473
41474 @item -core=@var{file}
41475 @itemx -c @var{file}
41476 Use file @var{file} as a core dump to examine.
41477
41478 @item -command=@var{file}
41479 @itemx -x @var{file}
41480 Execute @value{GDBN} commands from file @var{file}.
41481
41482 @item -ex @var{command}
41483 Execute given @value{GDBN} @var{command}.
41484
41485 @item -directory=@var{directory}
41486 @itemx -d @var{directory}
41487 Add @var{directory} to the path to search for source files.
41488
41489 @item -nh
41490 Do not execute commands from @file{~/.gdbinit}.
41491
41492 @item -nx
41493 @itemx -n
41494 Do not execute commands from any @file{.gdbinit} initialization files.
41495
41496 @item -quiet
41497 @itemx -q
41498 ``Quiet''. Do not print the introductory and copyright messages. These
41499 messages are also suppressed in batch mode.
41500
41501 @item -batch
41502 Run in batch mode. Exit with status @code{0} after processing all the command
41503 files specified with @option{-x} (and @file{.gdbinit}, if not inhibited).
41504 Exit with nonzero status if an error occurs in executing the @value{GDBN}
41505 commands in the command files.
41506
41507 Batch mode may be useful for running @value{GDBN} as a filter, for example to
41508 download and run a program on another computer; in order to make this
41509 more useful, the message
41510
41511 @smallexample
41512 Program exited normally.
41513 @end smallexample
41514
41515 @noindent
41516 (which is ordinarily issued whenever a program running under @value{GDBN} control
41517 terminates) is not issued when running in batch mode.
41518
41519 @item -cd=@var{directory}
41520 Run @value{GDBN} using @var{directory} as its working directory,
41521 instead of the current directory.
41522
41523 @item -fullname
41524 @itemx -f
41525 Emacs sets this option when it runs @value{GDBN} as a subprocess. It tells
41526 @value{GDBN} to output the full file name and line number in a standard,
41527 recognizable fashion each time a stack frame is displayed (which
41528 includes each time the program stops). This recognizable format looks
41529 like two @samp{\032} characters, followed by the file name, line number
41530 and character position separated by colons, and a newline. The
41531 Emacs-to-@value{GDBN} interface program uses the two @samp{\032}
41532 characters as a signal to display the source code for the frame.
41533
41534 @item -b @var{bps}
41535 Set the line speed (baud rate or bits per second) of any serial
41536 interface used by @value{GDBN} for remote debugging.
41537
41538 @item -tty=@var{device}
41539 Run using @var{device} for your program's standard input and output.
41540 @end table
41541 @c man end
41542
41543 @c man begin SEEALSO gdb
41544 @ifset man
41545 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
41546 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
41547 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
41548
41549 @smallexample
41550 info gdb
41551 @end smallexample
41552
41553 @noindent
41554 should give you access to the complete manual.
41555
41556 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41557 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
41558 @end ifset
41559 @c man end
41560
41561 @node gdbserver man
41562 @heading gdbserver man
41563
41564 @c man title gdbserver Remote Server for the GNU Debugger
41565 @format
41566 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbserver
41567 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
41568
41569 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
41570
41571 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
41572 @c man end
41573 @end format
41574
41575 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbserver
41576 @command{gdbserver} is a program that allows you to run @value{GDBN} on a different machine
41577 than the one which is running the program being debugged.
41578
41579 @ifclear man
41580 @subheading Usage (server (target) side)
41581 @end ifclear
41582 @ifset man
41583 Usage (server (target) side):
41584 @end ifset
41585
41586 First, you need to have a copy of the program you want to debug put onto
41587 the target system. The program can be stripped to save space if needed, as
41588 @command{gdbserver} doesn't care about symbols. All symbol handling is taken care of by
41589 the @value{GDBN} running on the host system.
41590
41591 To use the server, you log on to the target system, and run the @command{gdbserver}
41592 program. You must tell it (a) how to communicate with @value{GDBN}, (b) the name of
41593 your program, and (c) its arguments. The general syntax is:
41594
41595 @smallexample
41596 target> gdbserver @var{comm} @var{program} [@var{args} ...]
41597 @end smallexample
41598
41599 For example, using a serial port, you might say:
41600
41601 @smallexample
41602 @ifset man
41603 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/com1>.
41604 target> gdbserver /dev/com1 emacs foo.txt
41605 @end ifset
41606 @ifclear man
41607 target> gdbserver @file{/dev/com1} emacs foo.txt
41608 @end ifclear
41609 @end smallexample
41610
41611 This tells @command{gdbserver} to debug emacs with an argument of foo.txt, and
41612 to communicate with @value{GDBN} via @file{/dev/com1}. @command{gdbserver} now
41613 waits patiently for the host @value{GDBN} to communicate with it.
41614
41615 To use a TCP connection, you could say:
41616
41617 @smallexample
41618 target> gdbserver host:2345 emacs foo.txt
41619 @end smallexample
41620
41621 This says pretty much the same thing as the last example, except that we are
41622 going to communicate with the @code{host} @value{GDBN} via TCP. The @code{host:2345} argument means
41623 that we are expecting to see a TCP connection from @code{host} to local TCP port
41624 2345. (Currently, the @code{host} part is ignored.) You can choose any number you
41625 want for the port number as long as it does not conflict with any existing TCP
41626 ports on the target system. This same port number must be used in the host
41627 @value{GDBN}s @code{target remote} command, which will be described shortly. Note that if
41628 you chose a port number that conflicts with another service, @command{gdbserver} will
41629 print an error message and exit.
41630
41631 @command{gdbserver} can also attach to running programs.
41632 This is accomplished via the @option{--attach} argument. The syntax is:
41633
41634 @smallexample
41635 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
41636 @end smallexample
41637
41638 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
41639 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
41640
41641 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
41642 or process ID to attach, use the @option{--multi} command line option.
41643 In such case you should connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} to start
41644 the program you want to debug.
41645
41646 @smallexample
41647 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
41648 @end smallexample
41649
41650 @ifclear man
41651 @subheading Usage (host side)
41652 @end ifclear
41653 @ifset man
41654 Usage (host side):
41655 @end ifset
41656
41657 You need an unstripped copy of the target program on your host system, since
41658 @value{GDBN} needs to examine it's symbol tables and such. Start up @value{GDBN} as you normally
41659 would, with the target program as the first argument. (You may need to use the
41660 @option{--baud} option if the serial line is running at anything except 9600 baud.)
41661 That is @code{gdb TARGET-PROG}, or @code{gdb --baud BAUD TARGET-PROG}. After that, the only
41662 new command you need to know about is @code{target remote}
41663 (or @code{target extended-remote}). Its argument is either
41664 a device name (usually a serial device, like @file{/dev/ttyb}), or a @code{HOST:PORT}
41665 descriptor. For example:
41666
41667 @smallexample
41668 @ifset man
41669 @c @file would wrap it as F</dev/ttyb>.
41670 (gdb) target remote /dev/ttyb
41671 @end ifset
41672 @ifclear man
41673 (gdb) target remote @file{/dev/ttyb}
41674 @end ifclear
41675 @end smallexample
41676
41677 @noindent
41678 communicates with the server via serial line @file{/dev/ttyb}, and:
41679
41680 @smallexample
41681 (gdb) target remote the-target:2345
41682 @end smallexample
41683
41684 @noindent
41685 communicates via a TCP connection to port 2345 on host `the-target', where
41686 you previously started up @command{gdbserver} with the same port number. Note that for
41687 TCP connections, you must start up @command{gdbserver} prior to using the `target remote'
41688 command, otherwise you may get an error that looks something like
41689 `Connection refused'.
41690
41691 @command{gdbserver} can also debug multiple inferiors at once,
41692 described in
41693 @ifset man
41694 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Inferiors and Programs}
41695 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Inferiors and Programs'}.
41696 @end ifset
41697 @ifclear man
41698 @ref{Inferiors and Programs}.
41699 @end ifclear
41700 In such case use the @code{extended-remote} @value{GDBN} command variant:
41701
41702 @smallexample
41703 (gdb) target extended-remote the-target:2345
41704 @end smallexample
41705
41706 The @command{gdbserver} option @option{--multi} may or may not be used in such
41707 case.
41708 @c man end
41709
41710 @c man begin OPTIONS gdbserver
41711 There are three different modes for invoking @command{gdbserver}:
41712
41713 @itemize @bullet
41714
41715 @item
41716 Debug a specific program specified by its program name:
41717
41718 @smallexample
41719 gdbserver @var{comm} @var{prog} [@var{args}@dots{}]
41720 @end smallexample
41721
41722 The @var{comm} parameter specifies how should the server communicate
41723 with @value{GDBN}; it is either a device name (to use a serial line),
41724 a TCP port number (@code{:1234}), or @code{-} or @code{stdio} to use
41725 stdin/stdout of @code{gdbserver}. Specify the name of the program to
41726 debug in @var{prog}. Any remaining arguments will be passed to the
41727 program verbatim. When the program exits, @value{GDBN} will close the
41728 connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
41729
41730 @item
41731 Debug a specific program by specifying the process ID of a running
41732 program:
41733
41734 @smallexample
41735 gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
41736 @end smallexample
41737
41738 The @var{comm} parameter is as described above. Supply the process ID
41739 of a running program in @var{pid}; @value{GDBN} will do everything
41740 else. Like with the previous mode, when the process @var{pid} exits,
41741 @value{GDBN} will close the connection, and @code{gdbserver} will exit.
41742
41743 @item
41744 Multi-process mode -- debug more than one program/process:
41745
41746 @smallexample
41747 gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
41748 @end smallexample
41749
41750 In this mode, @value{GDBN} can instruct @command{gdbserver} which
41751 command(s) to run. Unlike the other 2 modes, @value{GDBN} will not
41752 close the connection when a process being debugged exits, so you can
41753 debug several processes in the same session.
41754 @end itemize
41755
41756 In each of the modes you may specify these options:
41757
41758 @table @env
41759
41760 @item --help
41761 List all options, with brief explanations.
41762
41763 @item --version
41764 This option causes @command{gdbserver} to print its version number and exit.
41765
41766 @item --attach
41767 @command{gdbserver} will attach to a running program. The syntax is:
41768
41769 @smallexample
41770 target> gdbserver --attach @var{comm} @var{pid}
41771 @end smallexample
41772
41773 @var{pid} is the process ID of a currently running process. It isn't
41774 necessary to point @command{gdbserver} at a binary for the running process.
41775
41776 @item --multi
41777 To start @code{gdbserver} without supplying an initial command to run
41778 or process ID to attach, use this command line option.
41779 Then you can connect using @kbd{target extended-remote} and start
41780 the program you want to debug. The syntax is:
41781
41782 @smallexample
41783 target> gdbserver --multi @var{comm}
41784 @end smallexample
41785
41786 @item --debug
41787 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display extra status information about the debugging
41788 process.
41789 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
41790 the developers.
41791
41792 @item --remote-debug
41793 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to display remote protocol debug output.
41794 This option is intended for @code{gdbserver} development and for bug reports to
41795 the developers.
41796
41797 @item --debug-format=option1@r{[},option2,...@r{]}
41798 Instruct @code{gdbserver} to include extra information in each line
41799 of debugging output.
41800 @xref{Other Command-Line Arguments for gdbserver}.
41801
41802 @item --wrapper
41803 Specify a wrapper to launch programs
41804 for debugging. The option should be followed by the name of the
41805 wrapper, then any command-line arguments to pass to the wrapper, then
41806 @kbd{--} indicating the end of the wrapper arguments.
41807
41808 @item --once
41809 By default, @command{gdbserver} keeps the listening TCP port open, so that
41810 additional connections are possible. However, if you start @code{gdbserver}
41811 with the @option{--once} option, it will stop listening for any further
41812 connection attempts after connecting to the first @value{GDBN} session.
41813
41814 @c --disable-packet is not documented for users.
41815
41816 @c --disable-randomization and --no-disable-randomization are superseded by
41817 @c QDisableRandomization.
41818
41819 @end table
41820 @c man end
41821
41822 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbserver
41823 @ifset man
41824 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
41825 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
41826 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
41827
41828 @smallexample
41829 info gdb
41830 @end smallexample
41831
41832 should give you access to the complete manual.
41833
41834 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41835 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
41836 @end ifset
41837 @c man end
41838
41839 @node gcore man
41840 @heading gcore
41841
41842 @c man title gcore Generate a core file of a running program
41843
41844 @format
41845 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gcore
41846 gcore [-o @var{filename}] @var{pid}
41847 @c man end
41848 @end format
41849
41850 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gcore
41851 Generate a core dump of a running program with process ID @var{pid}.
41852 Produced file is equivalent to a kernel produced core file as if the process
41853 crashed (and if @kbd{ulimit -c} were used to set up an appropriate core dump
41854 limit). Unlike after a crash, after @command{gcore} the program remains
41855 running without any change.
41856 @c man end
41857
41858 @c man begin OPTIONS gcore
41859 @table @env
41860 @item -o @var{filename}
41861 The optional argument
41862 @var{filename} specifies the file name where to put the core dump.
41863 If not specified, the file name defaults to @file{core.@var{pid}},
41864 where @var{pid} is the running program process ID.
41865 @end table
41866 @c man end
41867
41868 @c man begin SEEALSO gcore
41869 @ifset man
41870 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
41871 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
41872 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
41873
41874 @smallexample
41875 info gdb
41876 @end smallexample
41877
41878 @noindent
41879 should give you access to the complete manual.
41880
41881 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41882 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
41883 @end ifset
41884 @c man end
41885
41886 @node gdbinit man
41887 @heading gdbinit
41888
41889 @c man title gdbinit GDB initialization scripts
41890
41891 @format
41892 @c man begin SYNOPSIS gdbinit
41893 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
41894 @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
41895 @end ifset
41896
41897 ~/.gdbinit
41898
41899 ./.gdbinit
41900 @c man end
41901 @end format
41902
41903 @c man begin DESCRIPTION gdbinit
41904 These files contain @value{GDBN} commands to automatically execute during
41905 @value{GDBN} startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands,
41906 described in
41907 @ifset man
41908 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Sequences}
41909 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Sequences}.
41910 @end ifset
41911 @ifclear man
41912 @ref{Sequences}.
41913 @end ifclear
41914
41915 Please read more in
41916 @ifset man
41917 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Startup}
41918 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}.
41919 @end ifset
41920 @ifclear man
41921 @ref{Startup}.
41922 @end ifclear
41923
41924 @table @env
41925 @ifset SYSTEM_GDBINIT
41926 @item @value{SYSTEM_GDBINIT}
41927 @end ifset
41928 @ifclear SYSTEM_GDBINIT
41929 @item (not enabled with @code{--with-system-gdbinit} during compilation)
41930 @end ifclear
41931 System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
41932 @value{GDBN} option @code{-nx} or @code{-n}.
41933 See more in
41934 @ifset man
41935 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{System-wide configuration}
41936 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'}.
41937 @end ifset
41938 @ifclear man
41939 @ref{System-wide configuration}.
41940 @end ifclear
41941
41942 @item ~/.gdbinit
41943 User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified
41944 @value{GDBN} options @code{-nx}, @code{-n} or @code{-nh}.
41945
41946 @item ./.gdbinit
41947 Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with
41948 @value{GDBN} security command @code{set auto-load local-gdbinit}.
41949 See more in
41950 @ifset man
41951 the @value{GDBN} manual in node @code{Init File in the Current Directory}
41952 -- shell command @code{info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'}.
41953 @end ifset
41954 @ifclear man
41955 @ref{Init File in the Current Directory}.
41956 @end ifclear
41957 @end table
41958 @c man end
41959
41960 @c man begin SEEALSO gdbinit
41961 @ifset man
41962 gdb(1), @code{info -f gdb -n Startup}
41963
41964 The full documentation for @value{GDBN} is maintained as a Texinfo manual.
41965 If the @code{info} and @code{gdb} programs and @value{GDBN}'s Texinfo
41966 documentation are properly installed at your site, the command
41967
41968 @smallexample
41969 info gdb
41970 @end smallexample
41971
41972 should give you access to the complete manual.
41973
41974 @cite{Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger},
41975 Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.
41976 @end ifset
41977 @c man end
41978
41979 @include gpl.texi
41980
41981 @node GNU Free Documentation License
41982 @appendix GNU Free Documentation License
41983 @include fdl.texi
41984
41985 @node Concept Index
41986 @unnumbered Concept Index
41987
41988 @printindex cp
41989
41990 @node Command and Variable Index
41991 @unnumbered Command, Variable, and Function Index
41992
41993 @printindex fn
41994
41995 @tex
41996 % I think something like @@colophon should be in texinfo. In the
41997 % meantime:
41998 \long\def\colophon{\hbox to0pt{}\vfill
41999 \centerline{The body of this manual is set in}
42000 \centerline{\fontname\tenrm,}
42001 \centerline{with headings in {\bf\fontname\tenbf}}
42002 \centerline{and examples in {\tt\fontname\tentt}.}
42003 \centerline{{\it\fontname\tenit\/},}
42004 \centerline{{\bf\fontname\tenbf}, and}
42005 \centerline{{\sl\fontname\tensl\/}}
42006 \centerline{are used for emphasis.}\vfill}
42007 \page\colophon
42008 % Blame: doc@@cygnus.com, 1991.
42009 @end tex
42010
42011 @bye