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This is gdb.info, produced by makeinfo version 4.8 from ./gdb.texinfo.
INFO-DIR-SECTION Software development
START-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
* Gdb: (gdb). The GNU debugger.
END-INFO-DIR-ENTRY
Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
Invariant Sections being "Free Software" and "Free Software Needs Free
Documentation", with the Front-Cover Texts being "A GNU Manual," and
with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: "You are free to copy and modify
this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
developing GNU and promoting software freedom."
This file documents the GNU debugger GDB.
This is the Ninth Edition, of `Debugging with GDB: the GNU
Source-Level Debugger' for GDB (GDB) Version 7.1.
Copyright (C) 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996,
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,
2010 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.1 or
any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the
Invariant Sections being "Free Software" and "Free Software Needs Free
Documentation", with the Front-Cover Texts being "A GNU Manual," and
with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.
(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: "You are free to copy and modify
this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in
developing GNU and promoting software freedom."
File: gdb.info, Node: MicroBlaze, Next: MIPS Embedded, Prev: M68K, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.4 MicroBlaze
-----------------
The MicroBlaze is a soft-core processor supported on various Xilinx
FPGAs, such as Spartan or Virtex series. Boards with these processors
usually have JTAG ports which connect to a host system running the
Xilinx Embedded Development Kit (EDK) or Software Development Kit (SDK).
This host system is used to download the configuration bitstream to the
target FPGA. The Xilinx Microprocessor Debugger (XMD) program
communicates with the target board using the JTAG interface and
presents a `gdbserver' interface to the board. By default `xmd' uses
port `1234'. (While it is possible to change this default port, it
requires the use of undocumented `xmd' commands. Contact Xilinx
support if you need to do this.)
Use these GDB commands to connect to the MicroBlaze target processor.
`target remote :1234'
Use this command to connect to the target if you are running GDB
on the same system as `xmd'.
`target remote XMD-HOST:1234'
Use this command to connect to the target if it is connected to
`xmd' running on a different system named XMD-HOST.
`load'
Use this command to download a program to the MicroBlaze target.
`set debug microblaze N'
Enable MicroBlaze-specific debugging messages if non-zero.
`show debug microblaze N'
Show MicroBlaze-specific debugging level.
File: gdb.info, Node: MIPS Embedded, Next: OpenRISC 1000, Prev: MicroBlaze, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.5 MIPS Embedded
--------------------
GDB can use the MIPS remote debugging protocol to talk to a MIPS board
attached to a serial line. This is available when you configure GDB
with `--target=mips-idt-ecoff'.
Use these GDB commands to specify the connection to your target
board:
`target mips PORT'
To run a program on the board, start up `gdb' with the name of
your program as the argument. To connect to the board, use the
command `target mips PORT', where PORT is the name of the serial
port connected to the board. If the program has not already been
downloaded to the board, you may use the `load' command to
download it. You can then use all the usual GDB commands.
For example, this sequence connects to the target board through a
serial port, and loads and runs a program called PROG through the
debugger:
host$ gdb PROG
GDB is free software and ...
(gdb) target mips /dev/ttyb
(gdb) load PROG
(gdb) run
`target mips HOSTNAME:PORTNUMBER'
On some GDB host configurations, you can specify a TCP connection
(for instance, to a serial line managed by a terminal
concentrator) instead of a serial port, using the syntax
`HOSTNAME:PORTNUMBER'.
`target pmon PORT'
PMON ROM monitor.
`target ddb PORT'
NEC's DDB variant of PMON for Vr4300.
`target lsi PORT'
LSI variant of PMON.
`target r3900 DEV'
Densan DVE-R3900 ROM monitor for Toshiba R3900 Mips.
`target array DEV'
Array Tech LSI33K RAID controller board.
GDB also supports these special commands for MIPS targets:
`set mipsfpu double'
`set mipsfpu single'
`set mipsfpu none'
`set mipsfpu auto'
`show mipsfpu'
If your target board does not support the MIPS floating point
coprocessor, you should use the command `set mipsfpu none' (if you
need this, you may wish to put the command in your GDB init file).
This tells GDB how to find the return value of functions which
return floating point values. It also allows GDB to avoid saving
the floating point registers when calling functions on the board.
If you are using a floating point coprocessor with only single
precision floating point support, as on the R4650 processor, use
the command `set mipsfpu single'. The default double precision
floating point coprocessor may be selected using `set mipsfpu
double'.
In previous versions the only choices were double precision or no
floating point, so `set mipsfpu on' will select double precision
and `set mipsfpu off' will select no floating point.
As usual, you can inquire about the `mipsfpu' variable with `show
mipsfpu'.
`set timeout SECONDS'
`set retransmit-timeout SECONDS'
`show timeout'
`show retransmit-timeout'
You can control the timeout used while waiting for a packet, in
the MIPS remote protocol, with the `set timeout SECONDS' command.
The default is 5 seconds. Similarly, you can control the timeout
used while waiting for an acknowledgment of a packet with the `set
retransmit-timeout SECONDS' command. The default is 3 seconds.
You can inspect both values with `show timeout' and `show
retransmit-timeout'. (These commands are _only_ available when
GDB is configured for `--target=mips-idt-ecoff'.)
The timeout set by `set timeout' does not apply when GDB is
waiting for your program to stop. In that case, GDB waits forever
because it has no way of knowing how long the program is going to
run before stopping.
`set syn-garbage-limit NUM'
Limit the maximum number of characters GDB should ignore when it
tries to synchronize with the remote target. The default is 10
characters. Setting the limit to -1 means there's no limit.
`show syn-garbage-limit'
Show the current limit on the number of characters to ignore when
trying to synchronize with the remote system.
`set monitor-prompt PROMPT'
Tell GDB to expect the specified PROMPT string from the remote
monitor. The default depends on the target:
pmon target
`PMON'
ddb target
`NEC010'
lsi target
`PMON>'
`show monitor-prompt'
Show the current strings GDB expects as the prompt from the remote
monitor.
`set monitor-warnings'
Enable or disable monitor warnings about hardware breakpoints.
This has effect only for the `lsi' target. When on, GDB will
display warning messages whose codes are returned by the `lsi'
PMON monitor for breakpoint commands.
`show monitor-warnings'
Show the current setting of printing monitor warnings.
`pmon COMMAND'
This command allows sending an arbitrary COMMAND string to the
monitor. The monitor must be in debug mode for this to work.
File: gdb.info, Node: OpenRISC 1000, Next: PA, Prev: MIPS Embedded, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.6 OpenRISC 1000
--------------------
See OR1k Architecture document (`www.opencores.org') for more
information about platform and commands.
`target jtag jtag://HOST:PORT'
Connects to remote JTAG server. JTAG remote server can be either
an or1ksim or JTAG server, connected via parallel port to the
board.
Example: `target jtag jtag://localhost:9999'
`or1ksim COMMAND'
If connected to `or1ksim' OpenRISC 1000 Architectural Simulator,
proprietary commands can be executed.
`info or1k spr'
Displays spr groups.
`info or1k spr GROUP'
`info or1k spr GROUPNO'
Displays register names in selected group.
`info or1k spr GROUP REGISTER'
`info or1k spr REGISTER'
`info or1k spr GROUPNO REGISTERNO'
`info or1k spr REGISTERNO'
Shows information about specified spr register.
`spr GROUP REGISTER VALUE'
`spr REGISTER VALUE'
`spr GROUPNO REGISTERNO VALUE'
`spr REGISTERNO VALUE'
Writes VALUE to specified spr register.
Some implementations of OpenRISC 1000 Architecture also have
hardware trace. It is very similar to GDB trace, except it does not
interfere with normal program execution and is thus much faster.
Hardware breakpoints/watchpoint triggers can be set using:
`$LEA/$LDATA'
Load effective address/data
`$SEA/$SDATA'
Store effective address/data
`$AEA/$ADATA'
Access effective address ($SEA or $LEA) or data ($SDATA/$LDATA)
`$FETCH'
Fetch data
When triggered, it can capture low level data, like: `PC', `LSEA',
`LDATA', `SDATA', `READSPR', `WRITESPR', `INSTR'.
`htrace' commands:
`hwatch CONDITIONAL'
Set hardware watchpoint on combination of Load/Store Effective
Address(es) or Data. For example:
`hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) &&
($SDATA >= 50)'
`hwatch ($LEA == my_var) && ($LDATA < 50) || ($SEA == my_var) &&
($SDATA >= 50)'
`htrace info'
Display information about current HW trace configuration.
`htrace trigger CONDITIONAL'
Set starting criteria for HW trace.
`htrace qualifier CONDITIONAL'
Set acquisition qualifier for HW trace.
`htrace stop CONDITIONAL'
Set HW trace stopping criteria.
`htrace record [DATA]*'
Selects the data to be recorded, when qualifier is met and HW
trace was triggered.
`htrace enable'
`htrace disable'
Enables/disables the HW trace.
`htrace rewind [FILENAME]'
Clears currently recorded trace data.
If filename is specified, new trace file is made and any newly
collected data will be written there.
`htrace print [START [LEN]]'
Prints trace buffer, using current record configuration.
`htrace mode continuous'
Set continuous trace mode.
`htrace mode suspend'
Set suspend trace mode.
File: gdb.info, Node: PowerPC Embedded, Next: Sparclet, Prev: PA, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.7 PowerPC Embedded
-----------------------
GDB provides the following PowerPC-specific commands:
`set powerpc soft-float'
`show powerpc soft-float'
Force GDB to use (or not use) a software floating point calling
convention. By default, GDB selects the calling convention based
on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
`set powerpc vector-abi'
`show powerpc vector-abi'
Force GDB to use the specified calling convention for vector
arguments and return values. The valid options are `auto';
`generic', to avoid vector registers even if they are present;
`altivec', to use AltiVec registers; and `spe' to use SPE
registers. By default, GDB selects the calling convention based
on the selected architecture and the provided executable file.
`target dink32 DEV'
DINK32 ROM monitor.
`target ppcbug DEV'
`target ppcbug1 DEV'
PPCBUG ROM monitor for PowerPC.
`target sds DEV'
SDS monitor, running on a PowerPC board (such as Motorola's ADS).
The following commands specific to the SDS protocol are supported by
GDB:
`set sdstimeout NSEC'
Set the timeout for SDS protocol reads to be NSEC seconds. The
default is 2 seconds.
`show sdstimeout'
Show the current value of the SDS timeout.
`sds COMMAND'
Send the specified COMMAND string to the SDS monitor.
File: gdb.info, Node: PA, Next: PowerPC Embedded, Prev: OpenRISC 1000, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.8 HP PA Embedded
---------------------
`target op50n DEV'
OP50N monitor, running on an OKI HPPA board.
`target w89k DEV'
W89K monitor, running on a Winbond HPPA board.
File: gdb.info, Node: Sparclet, Next: Sparclite, Prev: PowerPC Embedded, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.9 Tsqware Sparclet
-----------------------
GDB enables developers to debug tasks running on Sparclet targets from
a Unix host. GDB uses code that runs on both the Unix host and on the
Sparclet target. The program `gdb' is installed and executed on the
Unix host.
`remotetimeout ARGS'
GDB supports the option `remotetimeout'. This option is set by
the user, and ARGS represents the number of seconds GDB waits for
responses.
When compiling for debugging, include the options `-g' to get debug
information and `-Ttext' to relocate the program to where you wish to
load it on the target. You may also want to add the options `-n' or
`-N' in order to reduce the size of the sections. Example:
sparclet-aout-gcc prog.c -Ttext 0x12010000 -g -o prog -N
You can use `objdump' to verify that the addresses are what you
intended:
sparclet-aout-objdump --headers --syms prog
Once you have set your Unix execution search path to find GDB, you
are ready to run GDB. From your Unix host, run `gdb' (or
`sparclet-aout-gdb', depending on your installation).
GDB comes up showing the prompt:
(gdbslet)
* Menu:
* Sparclet File:: Setting the file to debug
* Sparclet Connection:: Connecting to Sparclet
* Sparclet Download:: Sparclet download
* Sparclet Execution:: Running and debugging
File: gdb.info, Node: Sparclet File, Next: Sparclet Connection, Up: Sparclet
21.3.9.1 Setting File to Debug
..............................
The GDB command `file' lets you choose with program to debug.
(gdbslet) file prog
GDB then attempts to read the symbol table of `prog'. GDB locates
the file by searching the directories listed in the command search path.
If the file was compiled with debug information (option `-g'), source
files will be searched as well. GDB locates the source files by
searching the directories listed in the directory search path (*note
Your Program's Environment: Environment.). If it fails to find a file,
it displays a message such as:
prog: No such file or directory.
When this happens, add the appropriate directories to the search
paths with the GDB commands `path' and `dir', and execute the `target'
command again.
File: gdb.info, Node: Sparclet Connection, Next: Sparclet Download, Prev: Sparclet File, Up: Sparclet
21.3.9.2 Connecting to Sparclet
...............................
The GDB command `target' lets you connect to a Sparclet target. To
connect to a target on serial port "`ttya'", type:
(gdbslet) target sparclet /dev/ttya
Remote target sparclet connected to /dev/ttya
main () at ../prog.c:3
GDB displays messages like these:
Connected to ttya.
File: gdb.info, Node: Sparclet Download, Next: Sparclet Execution, Prev: Sparclet Connection, Up: Sparclet
21.3.9.3 Sparclet Download
..........................
Once connected to the Sparclet target, you can use the GDB `load'
command to download the file from the host to the target. The file
name and load offset should be given as arguments to the `load' command.
Since the file format is aout, the program must be loaded to the
starting address. You can use `objdump' to find out what this value
is. The load offset is an offset which is added to the VMA (virtual
memory address) of each of the file's sections. For instance, if the
program `prog' was linked to text address 0x1201000, with data at
0x12010160 and bss at 0x12010170, in GDB, type:
(gdbslet) load prog 0x12010000
Loading section .text, size 0xdb0 vma 0x12010000
If the code is loaded at a different address then what the program
was linked to, you may need to use the `section' and `add-symbol-file'
commands to tell GDB where to map the symbol table.
File: gdb.info, Node: Sparclet Execution, Prev: Sparclet Download, Up: Sparclet
21.3.9.4 Running and Debugging
..............................
You can now begin debugging the task using GDB's execution control
commands, `b', `step', `run', etc. See the GDB manual for the list of
commands.
(gdbslet) b main
Breakpoint 1 at 0x12010000: file prog.c, line 3.
(gdbslet) run
Starting program: prog
Breakpoint 1, main (argc=1, argv=0xeffff21c) at prog.c:3
3 char *symarg = 0;
(gdbslet) step
4 char *execarg = "hello!";
(gdbslet)
File: gdb.info, Node: Sparclite, Next: Z8000, Prev: Sparclet, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.10 Fujitsu Sparclite
-------------------------
`target sparclite DEV'
Fujitsu sparclite boards, used only for the purpose of loading.
You must use an additional command to debug the program. For
example: target remote DEV using GDB standard remote protocol.
File: gdb.info, Node: Z8000, Next: AVR, Prev: Sparclite, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.11 Zilog Z8000
-------------------
When configured for debugging Zilog Z8000 targets, GDB includes a Z8000
simulator.
For the Z8000 family, `target sim' simulates either the Z8002 (the
unsegmented variant of the Z8000 architecture) or the Z8001 (the
segmented variant). The simulator recognizes which architecture is
appropriate by inspecting the object code.
`target sim ARGS'
Debug programs on a simulated CPU. If the simulator supports setup
options, specify them via ARGS.
After specifying this target, you can debug programs for the simulated
CPU in the same style as programs for your host computer; use the
`file' command to load a new program image, the `run' command to run
your program, and so on.
As well as making available all the usual machine registers (*note
Registers: Registers.), the Z8000 simulator provides three additional
items of information as specially named registers:
`cycles'
Counts clock-ticks in the simulator.
`insts'
Counts instructions run in the simulator.
`time'
Execution time in 60ths of a second.
You can refer to these values in GDB expressions with the usual
conventions; for example, `b fputc if $cycles>5000' sets a conditional
breakpoint that suspends only after at least 5000 simulated clock ticks.
File: gdb.info, Node: AVR, Next: CRIS, Prev: Z8000, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.12 Atmel AVR
-----------------
When configured for debugging the Atmel AVR, GDB supports the following
AVR-specific commands:
`info io_registers'
This command displays information about the AVR I/O registers. For
each register, GDB prints its number and value.
File: gdb.info, Node: CRIS, Next: Super-H, Prev: AVR, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.13 CRIS
------------
When configured for debugging CRIS, GDB provides the following
CRIS-specific commands:
`set cris-version VER'
Set the current CRIS version to VER, either `10' or `32'. The
CRIS version affects register names and sizes. This command is
useful in case autodetection of the CRIS version fails.
`show cris-version'
Show the current CRIS version.
`set cris-dwarf2-cfi'
Set the usage of DWARF-2 CFI for CRIS debugging. The default is
`on'. Change to `off' when using `gcc-cris' whose version is below
`R59'.
`show cris-dwarf2-cfi'
Show the current state of using DWARF-2 CFI.
`set cris-mode MODE'
Set the current CRIS mode to MODE. It should only be changed when
debugging in guru mode, in which case it should be set to `guru'
(the default is `normal').
`show cris-mode'
Show the current CRIS mode.
File: gdb.info, Node: Super-H, Prev: CRIS, Up: Embedded Processors
21.3.14 Renesas Super-H
-----------------------
For the Renesas Super-H processor, GDB provides these commands:
`regs'
Show the values of all Super-H registers.
`set sh calling-convention CONVENTION'
Set the calling-convention used when calling functions from GDB.
Allowed values are `gcc', which is the default setting, and
`renesas'. With the `gcc' setting, functions are called using the
GCC calling convention. If the DWARF-2 information of the called
function specifies that the function follows the Renesas calling
convention, the function is called using the Renesas calling
convention. If the calling convention is set to `renesas', the
Renesas calling convention is always used, regardless of the
DWARF-2 information. This can be used to override the default of
`gcc' if debug information is missing, or the compiler does not
emit the DWARF-2 calling convention entry for a function.
`show sh calling-convention'
Show the current calling convention setting.
File: gdb.info, Node: Architectures, Prev: Embedded Processors, Up: Configurations
21.4 Architectures
==================
This section describes characteristics of architectures that affect all
uses of GDB with the architecture, both native and cross.
* Menu:
* i386::
* A29K::
* Alpha::
* MIPS::
* HPPA:: HP PA architecture
* SPU:: Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
* PowerPC::
File: gdb.info, Node: i386, Next: A29K, Up: Architectures
21.4.1 x86 Architecture-specific Issues
---------------------------------------
`set struct-convention MODE'
Set the convention used by the inferior to return `struct's and
`union's from functions to MODE. Possible values of MODE are
`"pcc"', `"reg"', and `"default"' (the default). `"default"' or
`"pcc"' means that `struct's are returned on the stack, while
`"reg"' means that a `struct' or a `union' whose size is 1, 2, 4,
or 8 bytes will be returned in a register.
`show struct-convention'
Show the current setting of the convention to return `struct's
from functions.
File: gdb.info, Node: A29K, Next: Alpha, Prev: i386, Up: Architectures
21.4.2 A29K
-----------
`set rstack_high_address ADDRESS'
On AMD 29000 family processors, registers are saved in a separate
"register stack". There is no way for GDB to determine the extent
of this stack. Normally, GDB just assumes that the stack is
"large enough". This may result in GDB referencing memory
locations that do not exist. If necessary, you can get around
this problem by specifying the ending address of the register
stack with the `set rstack_high_address' command. The argument
should be an address, which you probably want to precede with `0x'
to specify in hexadecimal.
`show rstack_high_address'
Display the current limit of the register stack, on AMD 29000
family processors.
File: gdb.info, Node: Alpha, Next: MIPS, Prev: A29K, Up: Architectures
21.4.3 Alpha
------------
See the following section.
File: gdb.info, Node: MIPS, Next: HPPA, Prev: Alpha, Up: Architectures
21.4.4 MIPS
-----------
Alpha- and MIPS-based computers use an unusual stack frame, which
sometimes requires GDB to search backward in the object code to find
the beginning of a function.
To improve response time (especially for embedded applications, where
GDB may be restricted to a slow serial line for this search) you may
want to limit the size of this search, using one of these commands:
`set heuristic-fence-post LIMIT'
Restrict GDB to examining at most LIMIT bytes in its search for
the beginning of a function. A value of 0 (the default) means
there is no limit. However, except for 0, the larger the limit
the more bytes `heuristic-fence-post' must search and therefore
the longer it takes to run. You should only need to use this
command when debugging a stripped executable.
`show heuristic-fence-post'
Display the current limit.
These commands are available _only_ when GDB is configured for
debugging programs on Alpha or MIPS processors.
Several MIPS-specific commands are available when debugging MIPS
programs:
`set mips abi ARG'
Tell GDB which MIPS ABI is used by the inferior. Possible values
of ARG are:
`auto'
The default ABI associated with the current binary (this is
the default).
`o32'
`o64'
`n32'
`n64'
`eabi32'
`eabi64'
`auto'
`show mips abi'
Show the MIPS ABI used by GDB to debug the inferior.
`set mipsfpu'
`show mipsfpu'
*Note set mipsfpu: MIPS Embedded.
`set mips mask-address ARG'
This command determines whether the most-significant 32 bits of
64-bit MIPS addresses are masked off. The argument ARG can be
`on', `off', or `auto'. The latter is the default setting, which
lets GDB determine the correct value.
`show mips mask-address'
Show whether the upper 32 bits of MIPS addresses are masked off or
not.
`set remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs'
This command controls compatibility with 64-bit MIPS targets that
transfer data in 32-bit quantities. If you have an old MIPS 64
target that transfers 32 bits for some registers, like SR and FSR,
and 64 bits for other registers, set this option to `on'.
`show remote-mips64-transfers-32bit-regs'
Show the current setting of compatibility with older MIPS 64
targets.
`set debug mips'
This command turns on and off debugging messages for the
MIPS-specific target code in GDB.
`show debug mips'
Show the current setting of MIPS debugging messages.
File: gdb.info, Node: HPPA, Next: SPU, Prev: MIPS, Up: Architectures
21.4.5 HPPA
-----------
When GDB is debugging the HP PA architecture, it provides the following
special commands:
`set debug hppa'
This command determines whether HPPA architecture-specific
debugging messages are to be displayed.
`show debug hppa'
Show whether HPPA debugging messages are displayed.
`maint print unwind ADDRESS'
This command displays the contents of the unwind table entry at the
given ADDRESS.
File: gdb.info, Node: SPU, Next: PowerPC, Prev: HPPA, Up: Architectures
21.4.6 Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture
---------------------------------------------
When GDB is debugging the Cell Broadband Engine SPU architecture, it
provides the following special commands:
`info spu event'
Display SPU event facility status. Shows current event mask and
pending event status.
`info spu signal'
Display SPU signal notification facility status. Shows pending
signal-control word and signal notification mode of both signal
notification channels.
`info spu mailbox'
Display SPU mailbox facility status. Shows all pending entries,
in order of processing, in each of the SPU Write Outbound, SPU
Write Outbound Interrupt, and SPU Read Inbound mailboxes.
`info spu dma'
Display MFC DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the MFC DMA
queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs, effective and
local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
`info spu proxydma'
Display MFC Proxy-DMA status. Shows all pending commands in the
MFC Proxy-DMA queue. For each entry, opcode, tag, class IDs,
effective and local store addresses and transfer size are shown.
When GDB is debugging a combined PowerPC/SPU application on the Cell
Broadband Engine, it provides in addition the following special
commands:
`set spu stop-on-load ARG'
Set whether to stop for new SPE threads. When set to `on', GDB
will give control to the user when a new SPE thread enters its
`main' function. The default is `off'.
`show spu stop-on-load'
Show whether to stop for new SPE threads.
`set spu auto-flush-cache ARG'
Set whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
When set to `on', GDB will automatically cause the SPE
software-managed cache to be flushed whenever SPE execution stops.
This provides a consistent view of PowerPC memory that is
accessed via the cache. If an application does not use the
software-managed cache, this option has no effect.
`show spu auto-flush-cache'
Show whether to automatically flush the software-managed cache.
File: gdb.info, Node: PowerPC, Prev: SPU, Up: Architectures
21.4.7 PowerPC
--------------
When GDB is debugging the PowerPC architecture, it provides a set of
pseudo-registers to enable inspection of 128-bit wide Decimal Floating
Point numbers stored in the floating point registers. These values must
be stored in two consecutive registers, always starting at an even
register like `f0' or `f2'.
The pseudo-registers go from `$dl0' through `$dl15', and are formed
by joining the even/odd register pairs `f0' and `f1' for `$dl0', `f2'
and `f3' for `$dl1' and so on.
For POWER7 processors, GDB provides a set of pseudo-registers, the
64-bit wide Extended Floating Point Registers (`f32' through `f63').
File: gdb.info, Node: Controlling GDB, Next: Extending GDB, Prev: Configurations, Up: Top
22 Controlling GDB
******************
You can alter the way GDB interacts with you by using the `set'
command. For commands controlling how GDB displays data, see *Note
Print Settings: Print Settings. Other settings are described here.
* Menu:
* Prompt:: Prompt
* Editing:: Command editing
* Command History:: Command history
* Screen Size:: Screen size
* Numbers:: Numbers
* ABI:: Configuring the current ABI
* Messages/Warnings:: Optional warnings and messages
* Debugging Output:: Optional messages about internal happenings
* Other Misc Settings:: Other Miscellaneous Settings
File: gdb.info, Node: Prompt, Next: Editing, Up: Controlling GDB
22.1 Prompt
===========
GDB indicates its readiness to read a command by printing a string
called the "prompt". This string is normally `(gdb)'. You can change
the prompt string with the `set prompt' command. For instance, when
debugging GDB with GDB, it is useful to change the prompt in one of the
GDB sessions so that you can always tell which one you are talking to.
_Note:_ `set prompt' does not add a space for you after the prompt
you set. This allows you to set a prompt which ends in a space or a
prompt that does not.
`set prompt NEWPROMPT'
Directs GDB to use NEWPROMPT as its prompt string henceforth.
`show prompt'
Prints a line of the form: `Gdb's prompt is: YOUR-PROMPT'
File: gdb.info, Node: Editing, Next: Command History, Prev: Prompt, Up: Controlling GDB
22.2 Command Editing
====================
GDB reads its input commands via the "Readline" interface. This GNU
library provides consistent behavior for programs which provide a
command line interface to the user. Advantages are GNU Emacs-style or
"vi"-style inline editing of commands, `csh'-like history substitution,
and a storage and recall of command history across debugging sessions.
You may control the behavior of command line editing in GDB with the
command `set'.
`set editing'
`set editing on'
Enable command line editing (enabled by default).
`set editing off'
Disable command line editing.
`show editing'
Show whether command line editing is enabled.
*Note Command Line Editing::, for more details about the Readline
interface. Users unfamiliar with GNU Emacs or `vi' are encouraged to
read that chapter.
File: gdb.info, Node: Command History, Next: Screen Size, Prev: Editing, Up: Controlling GDB
22.3 Command History
====================
GDB can keep track of the commands you type during your debugging
sessions, so that you can be certain of precisely what happened. Use
these commands to manage the GDB command history facility.
GDB uses the GNU History library, a part of the Readline package, to
provide the history facility. *Note Using History Interactively::, for
the detailed description of the History library.
To issue a command to GDB without affecting certain aspects of the
state which is seen by users, prefix it with `server ' (*note Server
Prefix::). This means that this command will not affect the command
history, nor will it affect GDB's notion of which command to repeat if
<RET> is pressed on a line by itself.
The server prefix does not affect the recording of values into the
value history; to print a value without recording it into the value
history, use the `output' command instead of the `print' command.
Here is the description of GDB commands related to command history.
`set history filename FNAME'
Set the name of the GDB command history file to FNAME. This is
the file where GDB reads an initial command history list, and
where it writes the command history from this session when it
exits. You can access this list through history expansion or
through the history command editing characters listed below. This
file defaults to the value of the environment variable
`GDBHISTFILE', or to `./.gdb_history' (`./_gdb_history' on MS-DOS)
if this variable is not set.
`set history save'
`set history save on'
Record command history in a file, whose name may be specified with
the `set history filename' command. By default, this option is
disabled.
`set history save off'
Stop recording command history in a file.
`set history size SIZE'
Set the number of commands which GDB keeps in its history list.
This defaults to the value of the environment variable `HISTSIZE',
or to 256 if this variable is not set.
History expansion assigns special meaning to the character `!'.
*Note Event Designators::, for more details.
Since `!' is also the logical not operator in C, history expansion
is off by default. If you decide to enable history expansion with the
`set history expansion on' command, you may sometimes need to follow
`!' (when it is used as logical not, in an expression) with a space or
a tab to prevent it from being expanded. The readline history
facilities do not attempt substitution on the strings `!=' and `!(',
even when history expansion is enabled.
The commands to control history expansion are:
`set history expansion on'
`set history expansion'
Enable history expansion. History expansion is off by default.
`set history expansion off'
Disable history expansion.
`show history'
`show history filename'
`show history save'
`show history size'
`show history expansion'
These commands display the state of the GDB history parameters.
`show history' by itself displays all four states.
`show commands'
Display the last ten commands in the command history.
`show commands N'
Print ten commands centered on command number N.
`show commands +'
Print ten commands just after the commands last printed.
File: gdb.info, Node: Screen Size, Next: Numbers, Prev: Command History, Up: Controlling GDB
22.4 Screen Size
================
Certain commands to GDB may produce large amounts of information output
to the screen. To help you read all of it, GDB pauses and asks you for
input at the end of each page of output. Type <RET> when you want to
continue the output, or `q' to discard the remaining output. Also, the
screen width setting determines when to wrap lines of output.
Depending on what is being printed, GDB tries to break the line at a
readable place, rather than simply letting it overflow onto the
following line.
Normally GDB knows the size of the screen from the terminal driver
software. For example, on Unix GDB uses the termcap data base together
with the value of the `TERM' environment variable and the `stty rows'
and `stty cols' settings. If this is not correct, you can override it
with the `set height' and `set width' commands:
`set height LPP'
`show height'
`set width CPL'
`show width'
These `set' commands specify a screen height of LPP lines and a
screen width of CPL characters. The associated `show' commands
display the current settings.
If you specify a height of zero lines, GDB does not pause during
output no matter how long the output is. This is useful if output
is to a file or to an editor buffer.
Likewise, you can specify `set width 0' to prevent GDB from
wrapping its output.
`set pagination on'
`set pagination off'
Turn the output pagination on or off; the default is on. Turning
pagination off is the alternative to `set height 0'.
`show pagination'
Show the current pagination mode.
File: gdb.info, Node: Numbers, Next: ABI, Prev: Screen Size, Up: Controlling GDB
22.5 Numbers
============
You can always enter numbers in octal, decimal, or hexadecimal in GDB
by the usual conventions: octal numbers begin with `0', decimal numbers
end with `.', and hexadecimal numbers begin with `0x'. Numbers that
neither begin with `0' or `0x', nor end with a `.' are, by default,
entered in base 10; likewise, the default display for numbers--when no
particular format is specified--is base 10. You can change the default
base for both input and output with the commands described below.
`set input-radix BASE'
Set the default base for numeric input. Supported choices for
BASE are decimal 8, 10, or 16. BASE must itself be specified
either unambiguously or using the current input radix; for
example, any of
set input-radix 012
set input-radix 10.
set input-radix 0xa
sets the input base to decimal. On the other hand, `set
input-radix 10' leaves the input radix unchanged, no matter what
it was, since `10', being without any leading or trailing signs of
its base, is interpreted in the current radix. Thus, if the
current radix is 16, `10' is interpreted in hex, i.e. as 16
decimal, which doesn't change the radix.
`set output-radix BASE'
Set the default base for numeric display. Supported choices for
BASE are decimal 8, 10, or 16. BASE must itself be specified
either unambiguously or using the current input radix.
`show input-radix'
Display the current default base for numeric input.
`show output-radix'
Display the current default base for numeric display.
`set radix [BASE]'
`show radix'
These commands set and show the default base for both input and
output of numbers. `set radix' sets the radix of input and output
to the same base; without an argument, it resets the radix back to
its default value of 10.
File: gdb.info, Node: ABI, Next: Messages/Warnings, Prev: Numbers, Up: Controlling GDB
22.6 Configuring the Current ABI
================================
GDB can determine the "ABI" (Application Binary Interface) of your
application automatically. However, sometimes you need to override its
conclusions. Use these commands to manage GDB's view of the current
ABI.
One GDB configuration can debug binaries for multiple operating
system targets, either via remote debugging or native emulation. GDB
will autodetect the "OS ABI" (Operating System ABI) in use, but you can
override its conclusion using the `set osabi' command. One example
where this is useful is in debugging of binaries which use an alternate
C library (e.g. UCLIBC for GNU/Linux) which does not have the same
identifying marks that the standard C library for your platform
provides.
`show osabi'
Show the OS ABI currently in use.
`set osabi'
With no argument, show the list of registered available OS ABI's.
`set osabi ABI'
Set the current OS ABI to ABI.
Generally, the way that an argument of type `float' is passed to a
function depends on whether the function is prototyped. For a
prototyped (i.e. ANSI/ISO style) function, `float' arguments are passed
unchanged, according to the architecture's convention for `float'. For
unprototyped (i.e. K&R style) functions, `float' arguments are first
promoted to type `double' and then passed.
Unfortunately, some forms of debug information do not reliably
indicate whether a function is prototyped. If GDB calls a function
that is not marked as prototyped, it consults `set
coerce-float-to-double'.
`set coerce-float-to-double'
`set coerce-float-to-double on'
Arguments of type `float' will be promoted to `double' when passed
to an unprototyped function. This is the default setting.
`set coerce-float-to-double off'
Arguments of type `float' will be passed directly to unprototyped
functions.
`show coerce-float-to-double'
Show the current setting of promoting `float' to `double'.
GDB needs to know the ABI used for your program's C++ objects. The
correct C++ ABI depends on which C++ compiler was used to build your
application. GDB only fully supports programs with a single C++ ABI;
if your program contains code using multiple C++ ABI's or if GDB can
not identify your program's ABI correctly, you can tell GDB which ABI
to use. Currently supported ABI's include "gnu-v2", for `g++' versions
before 3.0, "gnu-v3", for `g++' versions 3.0 and later, and "hpaCC" for
the HP ANSI C++ compiler. Other C++ compilers may use the "gnu-v2" or
"gnu-v3" ABI's as well. The default setting is "auto".
`show cp-abi'
Show the C++ ABI currently in use.
`set cp-abi'
With no argument, show the list of supported C++ ABI's.
`set cp-abi ABI'
`set cp-abi auto'
Set the current C++ ABI to ABI, or return to automatic detection.
File: gdb.info, Node: Messages/Warnings, Next: Debugging Output, Prev: ABI, Up: Controlling GDB
22.7 Optional Warnings and Messages
===================================
By default, GDB is silent about its inner workings. If you are running
on a slow machine, you may want to use the `set verbose' command. This
makes GDB tell you when it does a lengthy internal operation, so you
will not think it has crashed.
Currently, the messages controlled by `set verbose' are those which
announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read; see
`symbol-file' in *Note Commands to Specify Files: Files.
`set verbose on'
Enables GDB output of certain informational messages.
`set verbose off'
Disables GDB output of certain informational messages.
`show verbose'
Displays whether `set verbose' is on or off.
By default, if GDB encounters bugs in the symbol table of an object
file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may find
this information useful (*note Errors Reading Symbol Files: Symbol
Errors.).
`set complaints LIMIT'
Permits GDB to output LIMIT complaints about each type of unusual
symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set LIMIT to
zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number to
prevent complaints from being suppressed.
`show complaints'
Displays how many symbol complaints GDB is permitted to produce.
By default, GDB is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a
lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if
you try to run a program which is already running:
(gdb) run
The program being debugged has been started already.
Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own
commands, you can disable this "feature":
`set confirm off'
Disables confirmation requests.
`set confirm on'
Enables confirmation requests (the default).
`show confirm'
Displays state of confirmation requests.
If you need to debug user-defined commands or sourced files you may
find it useful to enable "command tracing". In this mode each command
will be printed as it is executed, prefixed with one or more `+'
symbols, the quantity denoting the call depth of each command.
`set trace-commands on'
Enable command tracing.
`set trace-commands off'
Disable command tracing.
`show trace-commands'
Display the current state of command tracing.
File: gdb.info, Node: Debugging Output, Next: Other Misc Settings, Prev: Messages/Warnings, Up: Controlling GDB
22.8 Optional Messages about Internal Happenings
================================================
GDB has commands that enable optional debugging messages from various
GDB subsystems; normally these commands are of interest to GDB
maintainers, or when reporting a bug. This section documents those
commands.
`set exec-done-display'
Turns on or off the notification of asynchronous commands'
completion. When on, GDB will print a message when an
asynchronous command finishes its execution. The default is off.
`show exec-done-display'
Displays the current setting of asynchronous command completion
notification.
`set debug arch'
Turns on or off display of gdbarch debugging info. The default is
off
`show debug arch'
Displays the current state of displaying gdbarch debugging info.
`set debug aix-thread'
Display debugging messages about inner workings of the AIX thread
module.
`show debug aix-thread'
Show the current state of AIX thread debugging info display.
`set debug dwarf2-die'
Dump DWARF2 DIEs after they are read in. The value is the number
of nesting levels to print. A value of zero turns off the display.
`show debug dwarf2-die'
Show the current state of DWARF2 DIE debugging.
`set debug displaced'
Turns on or off display of GDB debugging info for the displaced
stepping support. The default is off.
`show debug displaced'
Displays the current state of displaying GDB debugging info
related to displaced stepping.
`set debug event'
Turns on or off display of GDB event debugging info. The default
is off.
`show debug event'
Displays the current state of displaying GDB event debugging info.
`set debug expression'
Turns on or off display of debugging info about GDB expression
parsing. The default is off.
`show debug expression'
Displays the current state of displaying debugging info about GDB
expression parsing.
`set debug frame'
Turns on or off display of GDB frame debugging info. The default
is off.
`show debug frame'
Displays the current state of displaying GDB frame debugging info.
`set debug gnu-nat'
Turns on or off debugging messages from the GNU/Hurd debug support.
`show debug gnu-nat'
Show the current state of GNU/Hurd debugging messages.
`set debug infrun'
Turns on or off display of GDB debugging info for running the
inferior. The default is off. `infrun.c' contains GDB's runtime
state machine used for implementing operations such as
single-stepping the inferior.
`show debug infrun'
Displays the current state of GDB inferior debugging.
`set debug lin-lwp'
Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP debug
support.
`show debug lin-lwp'
Show the current state of Linux LWP debugging messages.
`set debug lin-lwp-async'
Turns on or off debugging messages from the Linux LWP async debug
support.
`show debug lin-lwp-async'
Show the current state of Linux LWP async debugging messages.
`set debug observer'
Turns on or off display of GDB observer debugging. This includes
info such as the notification of observable events.
`show debug observer'
Displays the current state of observer debugging.
`set debug overload'
Turns on or off display of GDB C++ overload debugging info. This
includes info such as ranking of functions, etc. The default is
off.
`show debug overload'
Displays the current state of displaying GDB C++ overload
debugging info.
`set debug parser'
Turns on or off the display of expression parser debugging output.
Internally, this sets the `yydebug' variable in the expression
parser. *Note Tracing Your Parser: (bison)Tracing, for details.
The default is off.
`show debug parser'
Show the current state of expression parser debugging.
`set debug remote'
Turns on or off display of reports on all packets sent back and
forth across the serial line to the remote machine. The info is
printed on the GDB standard output stream. The default is off.
`show debug remote'
Displays the state of display of remote packets.
`set debug serial'
Turns on or off display of GDB serial debugging info. The default
is off.
`show debug serial'
Displays the current state of displaying GDB serial debugging info.
`set debug solib-frv'
Turns on or off debugging messages for FR-V shared-library code.
`show debug solib-frv'
Display the current state of FR-V shared-library code debugging
messages.
`set debug target'
Turns on or off display of GDB target debugging info. This info
includes what is going on at the target level of GDB, as it
happens. The default is 0. Set it to 1 to track events, and to 2
to also track the value of large memory transfers. Changes to
this flag do not take effect until the next time you connect to a
target or use the `run' command.
`show debug target'
Displays the current state of displaying GDB target debugging info.
`set debug timestamp'
Turns on or off display of timestamps with GDB debugging info.
When enabled, seconds and microseconds are displayed before each
debugging message.
`show debug timestamp'
Displays the current state of displaying timestamps with GDB
debugging info.
`set debugvarobj'
Turns on or off display of GDB variable object debugging info. The
default is off.
`show debugvarobj'
Displays the current state of displaying GDB variable object
debugging info.
`set debug xml'
Turns on or off debugging messages for built-in XML parsers.
`show debug xml'
Displays the current state of XML debugging messages.
File: gdb.info, Node: Other Misc Settings, Prev: Debugging Output, Up: Controlling GDB
22.9 Other Miscellaneous Settings
=================================
`set interactive-mode'
If `on', forces GDB to operate interactively. If `off', forces
GDB to operate non-interactively, If `auto' (the default), GDB
guesses which mode to use, based on whether the debugger was
started in a terminal or not.
In the vast majority of cases, the debugger should be able to guess
correctly which mode should be used. But this setting can be
useful in certain specific cases, such as running a MinGW GDB
inside a cygwin window.
`show interactive-mode'
Displays whether the debugger is operating in interactive mode or
not.
File: gdb.info, Node: Extending GDB, Next: Interpreters, Prev: Controlling GDB, Up: Top
23 Extending GDB
****************
GDB provides two mechanisms for extension. The first is based on
composition of GDB commands, and the second is based on the Python
scripting language.
To facilitate the use of these extensions, GDB is capable of
evaluating the contents of a file. When doing so, GDB can recognize
which scripting language is being used by looking at the filename
extension. Files with an unrecognized filename extension are always
treated as a GDB Command Files. *Note Command files: Command Files.
You can control how GDB evaluates these files with the following
setting:
`set script-extension off'
All scripts are always evaluated as GDB Command Files.
`set script-extension soft'
The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
extension. If this scripting language is supported, GDB evaluates
the script using that language. Otherwise, it evaluates the file
as a GDB Command File.
`set script-extension strict'
The debugger determines the scripting language based on filename
extension, and evaluates the script using that language. If the
language is not supported, then the evaluation fails.
`show script-extension'
Display the current value of the `script-extension' option.
* Menu:
* Sequences:: Canned Sequences of Commands
* Python:: Scripting GDB using Python
File: gdb.info, Node: Sequences, Next: Python, Up: Extending GDB
23.1 Canned Sequences of Commands
=================================
Aside from breakpoint commands (*note Breakpoint Command Lists: Break
Commands.), GDB provides two ways to store sequences of commands for
execution as a unit: user-defined commands and command files.
* Menu:
* Define:: How to define your own commands
* Hooks:: Hooks for user-defined commands
* Command Files:: How to write scripts of commands to be stored in a file
* Output:: Commands for controlled output
File: gdb.info, Node: Define, Next: Hooks, Up: Sequences
23.1.1 User-defined Commands
----------------------------
A "user-defined command" is a sequence of GDB commands to which you
assign a new name as a command. This is done with the `define'
command. User commands may accept up to 10 arguments separated by
whitespace. Arguments are accessed within the user command via
`$arg0...$arg9'. A trivial example:
define adder
print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
end
To execute the command use:
adder 1 2 3
This defines the command `adder', which prints the sum of its three
arguments. Note the arguments are text substitutions, so they may
reference variables, use complex expressions, or even perform inferior
functions calls.
In addition, `$argc' may be used to find out how many arguments have
been passed. This expands to a number in the range 0...10.
define adder
if $argc == 2
print $arg0 + $arg1
end
if $argc == 3
print $arg0 + $arg1 + $arg2
end
end
`define COMMANDNAME'
Define a command named COMMANDNAME. If there is already a command
by that name, you are asked to confirm that you want to redefine
it. COMMANDNAME may be a bare command name consisting of letters,
numbers, dashes, and underscores. It may also start with any
predefined prefix command. For example, `define target my-target'
creates a user-defined `target my-target' command.
The definition of the command is made up of other GDB command
lines, which are given following the `define' command. The end of
these commands is marked by a line containing `end'.
`document COMMANDNAME'
Document the user-defined command COMMANDNAME, so that it can be
accessed by `help'. The command COMMANDNAME must already be
defined. This command reads lines of documentation just as
`define' reads the lines of the command definition, ending with
`end'. After the `document' command is finished, `help' on command
COMMANDNAME displays the documentation you have written.
You may use the `document' command again to change the
documentation of a command. Redefining the command with `define'
does not change the documentation.
`dont-repeat'
Used inside a user-defined command, this tells GDB that this
command should not be repeated when the user hits <RET> (*note
repeat last command: Command Syntax.).
`help user-defined'
List all user-defined commands, with the first line of the
documentation (if any) for each.
`show user'
`show user COMMANDNAME'
Display the GDB commands used to define COMMANDNAME (but not its
documentation). If no COMMANDNAME is given, display the
definitions for all user-defined commands.
`show max-user-call-depth'
`set max-user-call-depth'
The value of `max-user-call-depth' controls how many recursion
levels are allowed in user-defined commands before GDB suspects an
infinite recursion and aborts the command.
In addition to the above commands, user-defined commands frequently
use control flow commands, described in *Note Command Files::.
When user-defined commands are executed, the commands of the
definition are not printed. An error in any command stops execution of
the user-defined command.
If used interactively, commands that would ask for confirmation
proceed without asking when used inside a user-defined command. Many
GDB commands that normally print messages to say what they are doing
omit the messages when used in a user-defined command.
File: gdb.info, Node: Hooks, Next: Command Files, Prev: Define, Up: Sequences
23.1.2 User-defined Command Hooks
---------------------------------
You may define "hooks", which are a special kind of user-defined
command. Whenever you run the command `foo', if the user-defined
command `hook-foo' exists, it is executed (with no arguments) before
that command.
A hook may also be defined which is run after the command you
executed. Whenever you run the command `foo', if the user-defined
command `hookpost-foo' exists, it is executed (with no arguments) after
that command. Post-execution hooks may exist simultaneously with
pre-execution hooks, for the same command.
It is valid for a hook to call the command which it hooks. If this
occurs, the hook is not re-executed, thereby avoiding infinite
recursion.
In addition, a pseudo-command, `stop' exists. Defining
(`hook-stop') makes the associated commands execute every time
execution stops in your program: before breakpoint commands are run,
displays are printed, or the stack frame is printed.
For example, to ignore `SIGALRM' signals while single-stepping, but
treat them normally during normal execution, you could define:
define hook-stop
handle SIGALRM nopass
end
define hook-run
handle SIGALRM pass
end
define hook-continue
handle SIGALRM pass
end
As a further example, to hook at the beginning and end of the `echo'
command, and to add extra text to the beginning and end of the message,
you could define:
define hook-echo
echo <<<---
end
define hookpost-echo
echo --->>>\n
end
(gdb) echo Hello World
<<<---Hello World--->>>
(gdb)
You can define a hook for any single-word command in GDB, but not
for command aliases; you should define a hook for the basic command
name, e.g. `backtrace' rather than `bt'. You can hook a multi-word
command by adding `hook-' or `hookpost-' to the last word of the
command, e.g. `define target hook-remote' to add a hook to `target
remote'.
If an error occurs during the execution of your hook, execution of
GDB commands stops and GDB issues a prompt (before the command that you
actually typed had a chance to run).
If you try to define a hook which does not match any known command,
you get a warning from the `define' command.
File: gdb.info, Node: Command Files, Next: Output, Prev: Hooks, Up: Sequences
23.1.3 Command Files
--------------------
A command file for GDB is a text file made of lines that are GDB
commands. Comments (lines starting with `#') may also be included. An
empty line in a command file does nothing; it does not mean to repeat
the last command, as it would from the terminal.
You can request the execution of a command file with the `source'
command. Note that the `source' command is also used to evaluate
scripts that are not Command Files. The exact behavior can be
configured using the `script-extension' setting. *Note Extending GDB:
Extending GDB.
`source [`-v'] FILENAME'
Execute the command file FILENAME.
The lines in a command file are generally executed sequentially,
unless the order of execution is changed by one of the _flow-control
commands_ described below. The commands are not printed as they are
executed. An error in any command terminates execution of the command
file and control is returned to the console.
GDB searches for FILENAME in the current directory and then on the
search path (specified with the `directory' command).
If `-v', for verbose mode, is given then GDB displays each command
as it is executed. The option must be given before FILENAME, and is
interpreted as part of the filename anywhere else.
Commands that would ask for confirmation if used interactively
proceed without asking when used in a command file. Many GDB commands
that normally print messages to say what they are doing omit the
messages when called from command files.
GDB also accepts command input from standard input. In this mode,
normal output goes to standard output and error output goes to standard
error. Errors in a command file supplied on standard input do not
terminate execution of the command file--execution continues with the
next command.
gdb < cmds > log 2>&1
(The syntax above will vary depending on the shell used.) This
example will execute commands from the file `cmds'. All output and
errors would be directed to `log'.
Since commands stored on command files tend to be more general than
commands typed interactively, they frequently need to deal with
complicated situations, such as different or unexpected values of
variables and symbols, changes in how the program being debugged is
built, etc. GDB provides a set of flow-control commands to deal with
these complexities. Using these commands, you can write complex
scripts that loop over data structures, execute commands conditionally,
etc.
`if'
`else'
This command allows to include in your script conditionally
executed commands. The `if' command takes a single argument, which
is an expression to evaluate. It is followed by a series of
commands that are executed only if the expression is true (its
value is nonzero). There can then optionally be an `else' line,
followed by a series of commands that are only executed if the
expression was false. The end of the list is marked by a line
containing `end'.
`while'
This command allows to write loops. Its syntax is similar to
`if': the command takes a single argument, which is an expression
to evaluate, and must be followed by the commands to execute, one
per line, terminated by an `end'. These commands are called the
"body" of the loop. The commands in the body of `while' are
executed repeatedly as long as the expression evaluates to true.
`loop_break'
This command exits the `while' loop in whose body it is included.
Execution of the script continues after that `while's `end' line.
`loop_continue'
This command skips the execution of the rest of the body of
commands in the `while' loop in whose body it is included.
Execution branches to the beginning of the `while' loop, where it
evaluates the controlling expression.
`end'
Terminate the block of commands that are the body of `if', `else',
or `while' flow-control commands.
File: gdb.info, Node: Output, Prev: Command Files, Up: Sequences
23.1.4 Commands for Controlled Output
-------------------------------------
During the execution of a command file or a user-defined command, normal
GDB output is suppressed; the only output that appears is what is
explicitly printed by the commands in the definition. This section
describes three commands useful for generating exactly the output you
want.
`echo TEXT'
Print TEXT. Nonprinting characters can be included in TEXT using
C escape sequences, such as `\n' to print a newline. *No newline
is printed unless you specify one.* In addition to the standard C
escape sequences, a backslash followed by a space stands for a
space. This is useful for displaying a string with spaces at the
beginning or the end, since leading and trailing spaces are
otherwise trimmed from all arguments. To print ` and foo = ', use
the command `echo \ and foo = \ '.
A backslash at the end of TEXT can be used, as in C, to continue
the command onto subsequent lines. For example,
echo This is some text\n\
which is continued\n\
onto several lines.\n
produces the same output as
echo This is some text\n
echo which is continued\n
echo onto several lines.\n
`output EXPRESSION'
Print the value of EXPRESSION and nothing but that value: no
newlines, no `$NN = '. The value is not entered in the value
history either. *Note Expressions: Expressions, for more
information on expressions.
`output/FMT EXPRESSION'
Print the value of EXPRESSION in format FMT. You can use the same
formats as for `print'. *Note Output Formats: Output Formats, for
more information.
`printf TEMPLATE, EXPRESSIONS...'
Print the values of one or more EXPRESSIONS under the control of
the string TEMPLATE. To print several values, make EXPRESSIONS be
a comma-separated list of individual expressions, which may be
either numbers or pointers. Their values are printed as specified
by TEMPLATE, exactly as a C program would do by executing the code
below:
printf (TEMPLATE, EXPRESSIONS...);
As in `C' `printf', ordinary characters in TEMPLATE are printed
verbatim, while "conversion specification" introduced by the `%'
character cause subsequent EXPRESSIONS to be evaluated, their
values converted and formatted according to type and style
information encoded in the conversion specifications, and then
printed.
For example, you can print two values in hex like this:
printf "foo, bar-foo = 0x%x, 0x%x\n", foo, bar-foo
`printf' supports all the standard `C' conversion specifications,
including the flags and modifiers between the `%' character and
the conversion letter, with the following exceptions:
* The argument-ordering modifiers, such as `2$', are not
supported.
* The modifier `*' is not supported for specifying precision or
width.
* The `'' flag (for separation of digits into groups according
to `LC_NUMERIC'') is not supported.
* The type modifiers `hh', `j', `t', and `z' are not supported.
* The conversion letter `n' (as in `%n') is not supported.
* The conversion letters `a' and `A' are not supported.
Note that the `ll' type modifier is supported only if the
underlying `C' implementation used to build GDB supports the `long
long int' type, and the `L' type modifier is supported only if
`long double' type is available.
As in `C', `printf' supports simple backslash-escape sequences,
such as `\n', `\t', `\\', `\"', `\a', and `\f', that consist of
backslash followed by a single character. Octal and hexadecimal
escape sequences are not supported.
Additionally, `printf' supports conversion specifications for DFP
("Decimal Floating Point") types using the following length
modifiers together with a floating point specifier. letters:
* `H' for printing `Decimal32' types.
* `D' for printing `Decimal64' types.
* `DD' for printing `Decimal128' types.
If the underlying `C' implementation used to build GDB has support
for the three length modifiers for DFP types, other modifiers such
as width and precision will also be available for GDB to use.
In case there is no such `C' support, no additional modifiers will
be available and the value will be printed in the standard way.
Here's an example of printing DFP types using the above conversion
letters:
printf "D32: %Hf - D64: %Df - D128: %DDf\n",1.2345df,1.2E10dd,1.2E1dl
File: gdb.info, Node: Python, Prev: Sequences, Up: Extending GDB
23.2 Scripting GDB using Python
===============================
You can script GDB using the Python programming language
(http://www.python.org/). This feature is available only if GDB was
configured using `--with-python'.
* Menu:
* Python Commands:: Accessing Python from GDB.
* Python API:: Accessing GDB from Python.
File: gdb.info, Node: Python Commands, Next: Python API, Up: Python
23.2.1 Python Commands
----------------------
GDB provides one command for accessing the Python interpreter, and one
related setting:
`python [CODE]'
The `python' command can be used to evaluate Python code.
If given an argument, the `python' command will evaluate the
argument as a Python command. For example:
(gdb) python print 23
23
If you do not provide an argument to `python', it will act as a
multi-line command, like `define'. In this case, the Python
script is made up of subsequent command lines, given after the
`python' command. This command list is terminated using a line
containing `end'. For example:
(gdb) python
Type python script
End with a line saying just "end".
>print 23
>end
23
`maint set python print-stack'
By default, GDB will print a stack trace when an error occurs in a
Python script. This can be controlled using `maint set python
print-stack': if `on', the default, then Python stack printing is
enabled; if `off', then Python stack printing is disabled.
It is also possible to execute a Python script from the GDB
interpreter:
`source `script-name''
The script name must end with `.py' and GDB must be configured to
recognize the script language based on filename extension using
the `script-extension' setting. *Note Extending GDB: Extending
GDB.
`python execfile ("script-name")'
This method is based on the `execfile' Python built-in function,
and thus is always available.
File: gdb.info, Node: Python API, Prev: Python Commands, Up: Python
23.2.2 Python API
-----------------
At startup, GDB overrides Python's `sys.stdout' and `sys.stderr' to
print using GDB's output-paging streams. A Python program which
outputs to one of these streams may have its output interrupted by the
user (*note Screen Size::). In this situation, a Python
`KeyboardInterrupt' exception is thrown.
* Menu:
* Basic Python:: Basic Python Functions.
* Exception Handling::
* Auto-loading:: Automatically loading Python code.
* Values From Inferior::
* Types In Python:: Python representation of types.
* Pretty Printing:: Pretty-printing values.
* Selecting Pretty-Printers:: How GDB chooses a pretty-printer.
* Commands In Python:: Implementing new commands in Python.
* Functions In Python:: Writing new convenience functions.
* Objfiles In Python:: Object files.
* Frames In Python:: Acessing inferior stack frames from Python.
* Lazy Strings In Python:: Python representation of lazy strings.
File: gdb.info, Node: Basic Python, Next: Exception Handling, Up: Python API
23.2.2.1 Basic Python
.....................
GDB introduces a new Python module, named `gdb'. All methods and
classes added by GDB are placed in this module. GDB automatically
`import's the `gdb' module for use in all scripts evaluated by the
`python' command.
-- Function: execute command [from_tty]
Evaluate COMMAND, a string, as a GDB CLI command. If a GDB
exception happens while COMMAND runs, it is translated as
described in *Note Exception Handling: Exception Handling. If no
exceptions occur, this function returns `None'.
FROM_TTY specifies whether GDB ought to consider this command as
having originated from the user invoking it interactively. It
must be a boolean value. If omitted, it defaults to `False'.
-- Function: parameter parameter
Return the value of a GDB parameter. PARAMETER is a string naming
the parameter to look up; PARAMETER may contain spaces if the
parameter has a multi-part name. For example, `print object' is a
valid parameter name.
If the named parameter does not exist, this function throws a
`RuntimeError'. Otherwise, the parameter's value is converted to
a Python value of the appropriate type, and returned.
-- Function: history number
Return a value from GDB's value history (*note Value History::).
NUMBER indicates which history element to return. If NUMBER is
negative, then GDB will take its absolute value and count backward
from the last element (i.e., the most recent element) to find the
value to return. If NUMBER is zero, then GDB will return the most
recent element. If the element specified by NUMBER doesn't exist
in the value history, a `RuntimeError' exception will be raised.
If no exception is raised, the return value is always an instance
of `gdb.Value' (*note Values From Inferior::).
-- Function: parse_and_eval expression
Parse EXPRESSION as an expression in the current language,
evaluate it, and return the result as a `gdb.Value'. EXPRESSION
must be a string.
This function can be useful when implementing a new command (*note
Commands In Python::), as it provides a way to parse the command's
argument as an expression. It is also useful simply to compute
values, for example, it is the only way to get the value of a
convenience variable (*note Convenience Vars::) as a `gdb.Value'.
-- Function: write string
Print a string to GDB's paginated standard output stream. Writing
to `sys.stdout' or `sys.stderr' will automatically call this
function.
-- Function: flush
Flush GDB's paginated standard output stream. Flushing
`sys.stdout' or `sys.stderr' will automatically call this function.
File: gdb.info, Node: Exception Handling, Next: Auto-loading, Prev: Basic Python, Up: Python API
23.2.2.2 Exception Handling
...........................
When executing the `python' command, Python exceptions uncaught within
the Python code are translated to calls to GDB error-reporting
mechanism. If the command that called `python' does not handle the
error, GDB will terminate it and print an error message containing the
Python exception name, the associated value, and the Python call stack
backtrace at the point where the exception was raised. Example:
(gdb) python print foo
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<string>", line 1, in <module>
NameError: name 'foo' is not defined
GDB errors that happen in GDB commands invoked by Python code are
converted to Python `RuntimeError' exceptions. User interrupt (via
`C-c' or by typing `q' at a pagination prompt) is translated to a
Python `KeyboardInterrupt' exception. If you catch these exceptions in
your Python code, your exception handler will see `RuntimeError' or
`KeyboardInterrupt' as the exception type, the GDB error message as its
value, and the Python call stack backtrace at the Python statement
closest to where the GDB error occured as the traceback.
File: gdb.info, Node: Auto-loading, Next: Values From Inferior, Prev: Exception Handling, Up: Python API
23.2.2.3 Auto-loading
.....................
When a new object file is read (for example, due to the `file' command,
or because the inferior has loaded a shared library), GDB will look for
a file named `OBJFILE-gdb.py', where OBJFILE is the object file's real
name, formed by ensuring that the file name is absolute, following all
symlinks, and resolving `.' and `..' components. If this file exists
and is readable, GDB will evaluate it as a Python script.
If this file does not exist, and if the parameter
`debug-file-directory' is set (*note Separate Debug Files::), then GDB
will use for its each separated directory component `component' the
file named ``component'/REAL-NAME', where REAL-NAME is the object
file's real name, as described above.
Finally, if this file does not exist, then GDB will look for a file
named `DATA-DIRECTORY/python/auto-load/REAL-NAME', where DATA-DIRECTORY
is GDB's data directory (available via `show data-directory', *note
Data Files::), and REAL-NAME is the object file's real name, as
described above.
When reading an auto-loaded file, GDB sets the "current objfile".
This is available via the `gdb.current_objfile' function (*note
Objfiles In Python::). This can be useful for registering
objfile-specific pretty-printers.
The auto-loading feature is useful for supplying application-specific
debugging commands and scripts. You can enable or disable this
feature, and view its current state.
`maint set python auto-load [yes|no]'
Enable or disable the Python auto-loading feature.
`show python auto-load'
Show whether Python auto-loading is enabled or disabled.
GDB does not track which files it has already auto-loaded. So, your
`-gdb.py' file should take care to ensure that it may be evaluated
multiple times without error.
File: gdb.info, Node: Values From Inferior, Next: Types In Python, Prev: Auto-loading, Up: Python API
23.2.2.4 Values From Inferior
.............................
GDB provides values it obtains from the inferior program in an object
of type `gdb.Value'. GDB uses this object for its internal bookkeeping
of the inferior's values, and for fetching values when necessary.
Inferior values that are simple scalars can be used directly in
Python expressions that are valid for the value's data type. Here's an
example for an integer or floating-point value `some_val':
bar = some_val + 2
As result of this, `bar' will also be a `gdb.Value' object whose values
are of the same type as those of `some_val'.
Inferior values that are structures or instances of some class can
be accessed using the Python "dictionary syntax". For example, if
`some_val' is a `gdb.Value' instance holding a structure, you can
access its `foo' element with:
bar = some_val['foo']
Again, `bar' will also be a `gdb.Value' object.
The following attributes are provided:
-- Instance Variable of Value: address
If this object is addressable, this read-only attribute holds
a `gdb.Value' object representing the address. Otherwise,
this attribute holds `None'.
-- Instance Variable of Value: is_optimized_out
This read-only boolean attribute is true if the compiler
optimized out this value, thus it is not available for
fetching from the inferior.
-- Instance Variable of Value: type
The type of this `gdb.Value'. The value of this attribute is
a `gdb.Type' object.
The following methods are provided:
-- Method on Value: cast type
Return a new instance of `gdb.Value' that is the result of
casting this instance to the type described by TYPE, which
must be a `gdb.Type' object. If the cast cannot be performed
for some reason, this method throws an exception.
-- Method on Value: dereference
For pointer data types, this method returns a new `gdb.Value'
object whose contents is the object pointed to by the
pointer. For example, if `foo' is a C pointer to an `int',
declared in your C program as
int *foo;
then you can use the corresponding `gdb.Value' to access what
`foo' points to like this:
bar = foo.dereference ()
The result `bar' will be a `gdb.Value' object holding the
value pointed to by `foo'.
-- Method on Value: string [encoding] [errors] [length]
If this `gdb.Value' represents a string, then this method
converts the contents to a Python string. Otherwise, this
method will throw an exception.
Strings are recognized in a language-specific way; whether a
given `gdb.Value' represents a string is determined by the
current language.
For C-like languages, a value is a string if it is a pointer
to or an array of characters or ints. The string is assumed
to be terminated by a zero of the appropriate width. However
if the optional length argument is given, the string will be
converted to that given length, ignoring any embedded zeros
that the string may contain.
If the optional ENCODING argument is given, it must be a
string naming the encoding of the string in the `gdb.Value',
such as `"ascii"', `"iso-8859-6"' or `"utf-8"'. It accepts
the same encodings as the corresponding argument to Python's
`string.decode' method, and the Python codec machinery will
be used to convert the string. If ENCODING is not given, or
if ENCODING is the empty string, then either the
`target-charset' (*note Character Sets::) will be used, or a
language-specific encoding will be used, if the current
language is able to supply one.
The optional ERRORS argument is the same as the corresponding
argument to Python's `string.decode' method.
If the optional LENGTH argument is given, the string will be
fetched and converted to the given length.
-- Method on Value: lazy_string [encoding] [length]
If this `gdb.Value' represents a string, then this method
converts the contents to a `gdb.LazyString' (*note Lazy
Strings In Python::). Otherwise, this method will throw an
exception.
If the optional ENCODING argument is given, it must be a
string naming the encoding of the `gdb.LazyString'. Some
examples are: `ascii', `iso-8859-6' or `utf-8'. If the
ENCODING argument is an encoding that GDB does recognize, GDB
will raise an error.
When a lazy string is printed, the GDB encoding machinery is
used to convert the string during printing. If the optional
ENCODING argument is not provided, or is an empty string, GDB
will automatically select the encoding most suitable for the
string type. For further information on encoding in GDB
please see *Note Character Sets::.
If the optional LENGTH argument is given, the string will be
fetched and encoded to the length of characters specified. If
the LENGTH argument is not provided, the string will be
fetched and encoded until a null of appropriate width is
found.
File: gdb.info, Node: Types In Python, Next: Pretty Printing, Prev: Values From Inferior, Up: Python API
23.2.2.5 Types In Python
........................
GDB represents types from the inferior using the class `gdb.Type'.
The following type-related functions are available in the `gdb'
module:
-- Function: lookup_type name [block]
This function looks up a type by name. NAME is the name of the
type to look up. It must be a string.
Ordinarily, this function will return an instance of `gdb.Type'.
If the named type cannot be found, it will throw an exception.
An instance of `Type' has the following attributes:
-- Instance Variable of Type: code
The type code for this type. The type code will be one of the
`TYPE_CODE_' constants defined below.
-- Instance Variable of Type: sizeof
The size of this type, in target `char' units. Usually, a
target's `char' type will be an 8-bit byte. However, on some
unusual platforms, this type may have a different size.
-- Instance Variable of Type: tag
The tag name for this type. The tag name is the name after
`struct', `union', or `enum' in C and C++; not all languages
have this concept. If this type has no tag name, then `None'
is returned.
The following methods are provided:
-- Method on Type: fields
For structure and union types, this method returns the
fields. Range types have two fields, the minimum and maximum
values. Enum types have one field per enum constant.
Function and method types have one field per parameter. The
base types of C++ classes are also represented as fields. If
the type has no fields, or does not fit into one of these
categories, an empty sequence will be returned.
Each field is an object, with some pre-defined attributes:
`bitpos'
This attribute is not available for `static' fields (as
in C++ or Java). For non-`static' fields, the value is
the bit position of the field.
`name'
The name of the field, or `None' for anonymous fields.
`artificial'
This is `True' if the field is artificial, usually
meaning that it was provided by the compiler and not the
user. This attribute is always provided, and is `False'
if the field is not artificial.
`is_base_class'
This is `True' if the field represents a base class of a
C++ structure. This attribute is always provided, and
is `False' if the field is not a base class of the type
that is the argument of `fields', or if that type was
not a C++ class.
`bitsize'
If the field is packed, or is a bitfield, then this will
have a non-zero value, which is the size of the field in
bits. Otherwise, this will be zero; in this case the
field's size is given by its type.
`type'
The type of the field. This is usually an instance of
`Type', but it can be `None' in some situations.
-- Method on Type: const
Return a new `gdb.Type' object which represents a
`const'-qualified variant of this type.
-- Method on Type: volatile
Return a new `gdb.Type' object which represents a
`volatile'-qualified variant of this type.
-- Method on Type: unqualified
Return a new `gdb.Type' object which represents an unqualified
variant of this type. That is, the result is neither `const'
nor `volatile'.
-- Method on Type: range
Return a Python `Tuple' object that contains two elements: the
low bound of the argument type and the high bound of that
type. If the type does not have a range, GDB will raise a
`RuntimeError' exception.
-- Method on Type: reference
Return a new `gdb.Type' object which represents a reference
to this type.
-- Method on Type: pointer
Return a new `gdb.Type' object which represents a pointer to
this type.
-- Method on Type: strip_typedefs
Return a new `gdb.Type' that represents the real type, after
removing all layers of typedefs.
-- Method on Type: target
Return a new `gdb.Type' object which represents the target
type of this type.
For a pointer type, the target type is the type of the
pointed-to object. For an array type (meaning C-like
arrays), the target type is the type of the elements of the
array. For a function or method type, the target type is the
type of the return value. For a complex type, the target
type is the type of the elements. For a typedef, the target
type is the aliased type.
If the type does not have a target, this method will throw an
exception.
-- Method on Type: template_argument n
If this `gdb.Type' is an instantiation of a template, this
will return a new `gdb.Type' which represents the type of the
Nth template argument.
If this `gdb.Type' is not a template type, this will throw an
exception. Ordinarily, only C++ code will have template
types.
NAME is searched for globally.
Each type has a code, which indicates what category this type falls
into. The available type categories are represented by constants
defined in the `gdb' module:
`TYPE_CODE_PTR'
The type is a pointer.
`TYPE_CODE_ARRAY'
The type is an array.
`TYPE_CODE_STRUCT'
The type is a structure.
`TYPE_CODE_UNION'
The type is a union.
`TYPE_CODE_ENUM'
The type is an enum.
`TYPE_CODE_FLAGS'
A bit flags type, used for things such as status registers.
`TYPE_CODE_FUNC'
The type is a function.
`TYPE_CODE_INT'
The type is an integer type.
`TYPE_CODE_FLT'
A floating point type.
`TYPE_CODE_VOID'
The special type `void'.
`TYPE_CODE_SET'
A Pascal set type.
`TYPE_CODE_RANGE'
A range type, that is, an integer type with bounds.
`TYPE_CODE_STRING'
A string type. Note that this is only used for certain languages
with language-defined string types; C strings are not represented
this way.
`TYPE_CODE_BITSTRING'
A string of bits.
`TYPE_CODE_ERROR'
An unknown or erroneous type.
`TYPE_CODE_METHOD'
A method type, as found in C++ or Java.
`TYPE_CODE_METHODPTR'
A pointer-to-member-function.
`TYPE_CODE_MEMBERPTR'
A pointer-to-member.
`TYPE_CODE_REF'
A reference type.
`TYPE_CODE_CHAR'
A character type.
`TYPE_CODE_BOOL'
A boolean type.
`TYPE_CODE_COMPLEX'
A complex float type.
`TYPE_CODE_TYPEDEF'
A typedef to some other type.
`TYPE_CODE_NAMESPACE'
A C++ namespace.
`TYPE_CODE_DECFLOAT'
A decimal floating point type.
`TYPE_CODE_INTERNAL_FUNCTION'
A function internal to GDB. This is the type used to represent
convenience functions.
File: gdb.info, Node: Pretty Printing, Next: Selecting Pretty-Printers, Prev: Types In Python, Up: Python API
23.2.2.6 Pretty Printing
........................
GDB provides a mechanism to allow pretty-printing of values using
Python code. The pretty-printer API allows application-specific code
to greatly simplify the display of complex objects. This mechanism
works for both MI and the CLI.
For example, here is how a C++ `std::string' looks without a
pretty-printer:
(gdb) print s
$1 = {
static npos = 4294967295,
_M_dataplus = {
<std::allocator<char>> = {
<__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = {<No data fields>}, <No data fields>},
members of std::basic_string<char, std::char_traits<char>, std::allocator<char> >::_Alloc_hider:
_M_p = 0x804a014 "abcd"
}
}
After a pretty-printer for `std::string' has been installed, only
the contents are printed:
(gdb) print s
$2 = "abcd"
A pretty-printer is just an object that holds a value and implements
a specific interface, defined here.
-- Operation on pretty printer: children (self)
GDB will call this method on a pretty-printer to compute the
children of the pretty-printer's value.
This method must return an object conforming to the Python iterator
protocol. Each item returned by the iterator must be a tuple
holding two elements. The first element is the "name" of the
child; the second element is the child's value. The value can be
any Python object which is convertible to a GDB value.
This method is optional. If it does not exist, GDB will act as
though the value has no children.
-- Operation on pretty printer: display_hint (self)
The CLI may call this method and use its result to change the
formatting of a value. The result will also be supplied to an MI
consumer as a `displayhint' attribute of the variable being
printed.
This method is optional. If it does exist, this method must
return a string.
Some display hints are predefined by GDB:
`array'
Indicate that the object being printed is "array-like". The
CLI uses this to respect parameters such as `set print
elements' and `set print array'.
`map'
Indicate that the object being printed is "map-like", and
that the children of this value can be assumed to alternate
between keys and values.
`string'
Indicate that the object being printed is "string-like". If
the printer's `to_string' method returns a Python string of
some kind, then GDB will call its internal language-specific
string-printing function to format the string. For the CLI
this means adding quotation marks, possibly escaping some
characters, respecting `set print elements', and the like.
-- Operation on pretty printer: to_string (self)
GDB will call this method to display the string representation of
the value passed to the object's constructor.
When printing from the CLI, if the `to_string' method exists, then
GDB will prepend its result to the values returned by `children'.
Exactly how this formatting is done is dependent on the display
hint, and may change as more hints are added. Also, depending on
the print settings (*note Print Settings::), the CLI may print
just the result of `to_string' in a stack trace, omitting the
result of `children'.
If this method returns a string, it is printed verbatim.
Otherwise, if this method returns an instance of `gdb.Value', then
GDB prints this value. This may result in a call to another
pretty-printer.
If instead the method returns a Python value which is convertible
to a `gdb.Value', then GDB performs the conversion and prints the
resulting value. Again, this may result in a call to another
pretty-printer. Python scalars (integers, floats, and booleans)
and strings are convertible to `gdb.Value'; other types are not.
If the result is not one of these types, an exception is raised.
File: gdb.info, Node: Selecting Pretty-Printers, Next: Commands In Python, Prev: Pretty Printing, Up: Python API
23.2.2.7 Selecting Pretty-Printers
..................................
The Python list `gdb.pretty_printers' contains an array of functions
that have been registered via addition as a pretty-printer. Each
`gdb.Objfile' also contains a `pretty_printers' attribute.
A function on one of these lists is passed a single `gdb.Value'
argument and should return a pretty-printer object conforming to the
interface definition above (*note Pretty Printing::). If a function
cannot create a pretty-printer for the value, it should return `None'.
GDB first checks the `pretty_printers' attribute of each
`gdb.Objfile' and iteratively calls each function in the list for that
`gdb.Objfile' until it receives a pretty-printer object. After these
lists have been exhausted, it tries the global `gdb.pretty-printers'
list, again calling each function until an object is returned.
The order in which the objfiles are searched is not specified. For a
given list, functions are always invoked from the head of the list, and
iterated over sequentially until the end of the list, or a printer
object is returned.
Here is an example showing how a `std::string' printer might be
written:
class StdStringPrinter:
"Print a std::string"
def __init__ (self, val):
self.val = val
def to_string (self):
return self.val['_M_dataplus']['_M_p']
def display_hint (self):
return 'string'
And here is an example showing how a lookup function for the printer
example above might be written.
def str_lookup_function (val):
lookup_tag = val.type.tag
regex = re.compile ("^std::basic_string<char,.*>$")
if lookup_tag == None:
return None
if regex.match (lookup_tag):
return StdStringPrinter (val)
return None
The example lookup function extracts the value's type, and attempts
to match it to a type that it can pretty-print. If it is a type the
printer can pretty-print, it will return a printer object. If not, it
returns `None'.
We recommend that you put your core pretty-printers into a Python
package. If your pretty-printers are for use with a library, we
further recommend embedding a version number into the package name.
This practice will enable GDB to load multiple versions of your
pretty-printers at the same time, because they will have different
names.
You should write auto-loaded code (*note Auto-loading::) such that it
can be evaluated multiple times without changing its meaning. An ideal
auto-load file will consist solely of `import's of your printer
modules, followed by a call to a register pretty-printers with the
current objfile.
Taken as a whole, this approach will scale nicely to multiple
inferiors, each potentially using a different library version.
Embedding a version number in the Python package name will ensure that
GDB is able to load both sets of printers simultaneously. Then,
because the search for pretty-printers is done by objfile, and because
your auto-loaded code took care to register your library's printers
with a specific objfile, GDB will find the correct printers for the
specific version of the library used by each inferior.
To continue the `std::string' example (*note Pretty Printing::),
this code might appear in `gdb.libstdcxx.v6':
def register_printers (objfile):
objfile.pretty_printers.add (str_lookup_function)
And then the corresponding contents of the auto-load file would be:
import gdb.libstdcxx.v6
gdb.libstdcxx.v6.register_printers (gdb.current_objfile ())
File: gdb.info, Node: Commands In Python, Next: Functions In Python, Prev: Selecting Pretty-Printers, Up: Python API
23.2.2.8 Commands In Python
...........................
You can implement new GDB CLI commands in Python. A CLI command is
implemented using an instance of the `gdb.Command' class, most commonly
using a subclass.
-- Method on Command: __init__ name COMMAND_CLASS [COMPLETER_CLASS]
[PREFIX]
The object initializer for `Command' registers the new command
with GDB. This initializer is normally invoked from the subclass'
own `__init__' method.
NAME is the name of the command. If NAME consists of multiple
words, then the initial words are looked for as prefix commands.
In this case, if one of the prefix commands does not exist, an
exception is raised.
There is no support for multi-line commands.
COMMAND_CLASS should be one of the `COMMAND_' constants defined
below. This argument tells GDB how to categorize the new command
in the help system.
COMPLETER_CLASS is an optional argument. If given, it should be
one of the `COMPLETE_' constants defined below. This argument
tells GDB how to perform completion for this command. If not
given, GDB will attempt to complete using the object's `complete'
method (see below); if no such method is found, an error will
occur when completion is attempted.
PREFIX is an optional argument. If `True', then the new command
is a prefix command; sub-commands of this command may be
registered.
The help text for the new command is taken from the Python
documentation string for the command's class, if there is one. If
no documentation string is provided, the default value "This
command is not documented." is used.
-- Method on Command: dont_repeat
By default, a GDB command is repeated when the user enters a blank
line at the command prompt. A command can suppress this behavior
by invoking the `dont_repeat' method. This is similar to the user
command `dont-repeat', see *Note dont-repeat: Define.
-- Method on Command: invoke argument from_tty
This method is called by GDB when this command is invoked.
ARGUMENT is a string. It is the argument to the command, after
leading and trailing whitespace has been stripped.
FROM_TTY is a boolean argument. When true, this means that the
command was entered by the user at the terminal; when false it
means that the command came from elsewhere.
If this method throws an exception, it is turned into a GDB
`error' call. Otherwise, the return value is ignored.
-- Method on Command: complete text word
This method is called by GDB when the user attempts completion on
this command. All forms of completion are handled by this method,
that is, the <TAB> and <M-?> key bindings (*note Completion::),
and the `complete' command (*note complete: Help.).
The arguments TEXT and WORD are both strings. TEXT holds the
complete command line up to the cursor's location. WORD holds the
last word of the command line; this is computed using a
word-breaking heuristic.
The `complete' method can return several values:
* If the return value is a sequence, the contents of the
sequence are used as the completions. It is up to `complete'
to ensure that the contents actually do complete the word. A
zero-length sequence is allowed, it means that there were no
completions available. Only string elements of the sequence
are used; other elements in the sequence are ignored.
* If the return value is one of the `COMPLETE_' constants
defined below, then the corresponding GDB-internal completion
function is invoked, and its result is used.
* All other results are treated as though there were no
available completions.
When a new command is registered, it must be declared as a member of
some general class of commands. This is used to classify top-level
commands in the on-line help system; note that prefix commands are not
listed under their own category but rather that of their top-level
command. The available classifications are represented by constants
defined in the `gdb' module:
`COMMAND_NONE'
The command does not belong to any particular class. A command in
this category will not be displayed in any of the help categories.
`COMMAND_RUNNING'
The command is related to running the inferior. For example,
`start', `step', and `continue' are in this category. Type `help
running' at the GDB prompt to see a list of commands in this
category.
`COMMAND_DATA'
The command is related to data or variables. For example, `call',
`find', and `print' are in this category. Type `help data' at the
GDB prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
`COMMAND_STACK'
The command has to do with manipulation of the stack. For example,
`backtrace', `frame', and `return' are in this category. Type
`help stack' at the GDB prompt to see a list of commands in this
category.
`COMMAND_FILES'
This class is used for file-related commands. For example,
`file', `list' and `section' are in this category. Type `help
files' at the GDB prompt to see a list of commands in this
category.
`COMMAND_SUPPORT'
This should be used for "support facilities", generally meaning
things that are useful to the user when interacting with GDB, but
not related to the state of the inferior. For example, `help',
`make', and `shell' are in this category. Type `help support' at
the GDB prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
`COMMAND_STATUS'
The command is an `info'-related command, that is, related to the
state of GDB itself. For example, `info', `macro', and `show' are
in this category. Type `help status' at the GDB prompt to see a
list of commands in this category.
`COMMAND_BREAKPOINTS'
The command has to do with breakpoints. For example, `break',
`clear', and `delete' are in this category. Type `help
breakpoints' at the GDB prompt to see a list of commands in this
category.
`COMMAND_TRACEPOINTS'
The command has to do with tracepoints. For example, `trace',
`actions', and `tfind' are in this category. Type `help
tracepoints' at the GDB prompt to see a list of commands in this
category.
`COMMAND_OBSCURE'
The command is only used in unusual circumstances, or is not of
general interest to users. For example, `checkpoint', `fork', and
`stop' are in this category. Type `help obscure' at the GDB
prompt to see a list of commands in this category.
`COMMAND_MAINTENANCE'
The command is only useful to GDB maintainers. The `maintenance'
and `flushregs' commands are in this category. Type `help
internals' at the GDB prompt to see a list of commands in this
category.
A new command can use a predefined completion function, either by
specifying it via an argument at initialization, or by returning it
from the `complete' method. These predefined completion constants are
all defined in the `gdb' module:
`COMPLETE_NONE'
This constant means that no completion should be done.
`COMPLETE_FILENAME'
This constant means that filename completion should be performed.
`COMPLETE_LOCATION'
This constant means that location completion should be done.
*Note Specify Location::.
`COMPLETE_COMMAND'
This constant means that completion should examine GDB command
names.
`COMPLETE_SYMBOL'
This constant means that completion should be done using symbol
names as the source.
The following code snippet shows how a trivial CLI command can be
implemented in Python:
class HelloWorld (gdb.Command):
"""Greet the whole world."""
def __init__ (self):
super (HelloWorld, self).__init__ ("hello-world", gdb.COMMAND_OBSCURE)
def invoke (self, arg, from_tty):
print "Hello, World!"
HelloWorld ()
The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
registration of the command with GDB. Depending on how the Python code
is read into GDB, you may need to import the `gdb' module explicitly.
File: gdb.info, Node: Functions In Python, Next: Objfiles In Python, Prev: Commands In Python, Up: Python API
23.2.2.9 Writing new convenience functions
..........................................
You can implement new convenience functions (*note Convenience Vars::)
in Python. A convenience function is an instance of a subclass of the
class `gdb.Function'.
-- Method on Function: __init__ name
The initializer for `Function' registers the new function with
GDB. The argument NAME is the name of the function, a string.
The function will be visible to the user as a convenience variable
of type `internal function', whose name is the same as the given
NAME.
The documentation for the new function is taken from the
documentation string for the new class.
-- Method on Function: invoke *ARGS
When a convenience function is evaluated, its arguments are
converted to instances of `gdb.Value', and then the function's
`invoke' method is called. Note that GDB does not predetermine
the arity of convenience functions. Instead, all available
arguments are passed to `invoke', following the standard Python
calling convention. In particular, a convenience function can
have default values for parameters without ill effect.
The return value of this method is used as its value in the
enclosing expression. If an ordinary Python value is returned, it
is converted to a `gdb.Value' following the usual rules.
The following code snippet shows how a trivial convenience function
can be implemented in Python:
class Greet (gdb.Function):
"""Return string to greet someone.
Takes a name as argument."""
def __init__ (self):
super (Greet, self).__init__ ("greet")
def invoke (self, name):
return "Hello, %s!" % name.string ()
Greet ()
The last line instantiates the class, and is necessary to trigger the
registration of the function with GDB. Depending on how the Python
code is read into GDB, you may need to import the `gdb' module
explicitly.
File: gdb.info, Node: Objfiles In Python, Next: Frames In Python, Prev: Functions In Python, Up: Python API
23.2.2.10 Objfiles In Python
............................
GDB loads symbols for an inferior from various symbol-containing files
(*note Files::). These include the primary executable file, any shared
libraries used by the inferior, and any separate debug info files
(*note Separate Debug Files::). GDB calls these symbol-containing
files "objfiles".
The following objfile-related functions are available in the `gdb'
module:
-- Function: current_objfile
When auto-loading a Python script (*note Auto-loading::), GDB sets
the "current objfile" to the corresponding objfile. This function
returns the current objfile. If there is no current objfile, this
function returns `None'.
-- Function: objfiles
Return a sequence of all the objfiles current known to GDB. *Note
Objfiles In Python::.
Each objfile is represented by an instance of the `gdb.Objfile'
class.
-- Instance Variable of Objfile: filename
The file name of the objfile as a string.
-- Instance Variable of Objfile: pretty_printers
The `pretty_printers' attribute is a list of functions. It is
used to look up pretty-printers. A `Value' is passed to each
function in order; if the function returns `None', then the search
continues. Otherwise, the return value should be an object which
is used to format the value. *Note Pretty Printing::, for more
information.
File: gdb.info, Node: Frames In Python, Next: Lazy Strings In Python, Prev: Objfiles In Python, Up: Python API
23.2.2.11 Acessing inferior stack frames from Python.
.....................................................
When the debugged program stops, GDB is able to analyze its call stack
(*note Stack frames: Frames.). The `gdb.Frame' class represents a
frame in the stack. A `gdb.Frame' object is only valid while its
corresponding frame exists in the inferior's stack. If you try to use
an invalid frame object, GDB will throw a `RuntimeError' exception.
Two `gdb.Frame' objects can be compared for equality with the `=='
operator, like:
(gdb) python print gdb.newest_frame() == gdb.selected_frame ()
True
The following frame-related functions are available in the `gdb'
module:
-- Function: selected_frame
Return the selected frame object. (*note Selecting a Frame:
Selection.).
-- Function: frame_stop_reason_string reason
Return a string explaining the reason why GDB stopped unwinding
frames, as expressed by the given REASON code (an integer, see the
`unwind_stop_reason' method further down in this section).
A `gdb.Frame' object has the following methods:
-- Method on Frame: is_valid
Returns true if the `gdb.Frame' object is valid, false if not.
A frame object can become invalid if the frame it refers to
doesn't exist anymore in the inferior. All `gdb.Frame'
methods will throw an exception if it is invalid at the time
the method is called.
-- Method on Frame: name
Returns the function name of the frame, or `None' if it can't
be obtained.
-- Method on Frame: type
Returns the type of the frame. The value can be one of
`gdb.NORMAL_FRAME', `gdb.DUMMY_FRAME', `gdb.SIGTRAMP_FRAME'
or `gdb.SENTINEL_FRAME'.
-- Method on Frame: unwind_stop_reason
Return an integer representing the reason why it's not
possible to find more frames toward the outermost frame. Use
`gdb.frame_stop_reason_string' to convert the value returned
by this function to a string.
-- Method on Frame: pc
Returns the frame's resume address.
-- Method on Frame: older
Return the frame that called this frame.
-- Method on Frame: newer
Return the frame called by this frame.
-- Method on Frame: read_var variable
Return the value of the given variable in this frame.
VARIABLE must be a string.
File: gdb.info, Node: Lazy Strings In Python, Prev: Frames In Python, Up: Python API
23.2.2.12 Python representation of lazy strings.
................................................
A "lazy string" is a string whose contents is not retrieved or encoded
until it is needed.
A `gdb.LazyString' is represented in GDB as an `address' that points
to a region of memory, an `encoding' that will be used to encode that
region of memory, and a `length' to delimit the region of memory that
represents the string. The difference between a `gdb.LazyString' and a
string wrapped within a `gdb.Value' is that a `gdb.LazyString' will be
treated differently by GDB when printing. A `gdb.LazyString' is
retrieved and encoded during printing, while a `gdb.Value' wrapping a
string is immediately retrieved and encoded on creation.
A `gdb.LazyString' object has the following functions:
-- Method on LazyString: value
Convert the `gdb.LazyString' to a `gdb.Value'. This value will
point to the string in memory, but will lose all the delayed
retrieval, encoding and handling that GDB applies to a
`gdb.LazyString'.
-- Instance Variable of LazyString: address
This attribute holds the address of the string. This attribute is
not writable.
-- Instance Variable of LazyString: length
This attribute holds the length of the string in characters. If
the length is -1, then the string will be fetched and encoded up
to the first null of appropriate width. This attribute is not
writable.
-- Instance Variable of LazyString: encoding
This attribute holds the encoding that will be applied to the
string when the string is printed by GDB. If the encoding is not
set, or contains an empty string, then GDB will select the most
appropriate encoding when the string is printed. This attribute
is not writable.
-- Instance Variable of LazyString: type
This attribute holds the type that is represented by the lazy
string's type. For a lazy string this will always be a pointer
type. To resolve this to the lazy string's character type, use
the type's `target' method. *Note Types In Python::. This
attribute is not writable.
File: gdb.info, Node: Interpreters, Next: TUI, Prev: Extending GDB, Up: Top
24 Command Interpreters
***********************
GDB supports multiple command interpreters, and some command
infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch
between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters.
GDB currently supports two command interpreters, the console
interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or CLI) and
the machine interface interpreter (or GDB/MI). This manual describes
both of these interfaces in great detail.
By default, GDB will start with the console interpreter. However,
the user may choose to start GDB with another interpreter by specifying
the `-i' or `--interpreter' startup options. Defined interpreters
include:
`console'
The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the
most often used interpreter with GDB. With no interpreter
specified at runtime, GDB will use this interpreter.
`mi'
The newest GDB/MI interface (currently `mi2'). Used primarily by
programs wishing to use GDB as a backend for a debugger GUI or an
IDE. For more information, see *Note The GDB/MI Interface: GDB/MI.
`mi2'
The current GDB/MI interface.
`mi1'
The GDB/MI interface included in GDB 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3.
The interpreter being used by GDB may not be dynamically switched at
runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very precarious
situation. Consider an IDE using GDB/MI. If a user enters the command
"interpreter-set console" in a console view, GDB would switch to using
the console interpreter, rendering the IDE inoperable!
Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you
may execute commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter
using the appropriate command. If you are running the console
interpreter, simply use the `interpreter-exec' command:
interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names"
GDB/MI has a similar command, although it is only available in
versions of GDB which support GDB/MI version 2 (or greater).
File: gdb.info, Node: TUI, Next: Emacs, Prev: Interpreters, Up: Top
25 GDB Text User Interface
**************************
* Menu:
* TUI Overview:: TUI overview
* TUI Keys:: TUI key bindings
* TUI Single Key Mode:: TUI single key mode
* TUI Commands:: TUI-specific commands
* TUI Configuration:: TUI configuration variables
The GDB Text User Interface (TUI) is a terminal interface which uses
the `curses' library to show the source file, the assembly output, the
program registers and GDB commands in separate text windows. The TUI
mode is supported only on platforms where a suitable version of the
`curses' library is available.
The TUI mode is enabled by default when you invoke GDB as either
`gdbtui' or `gdb -tui'. You can also switch in and out of TUI mode
while GDB runs by using various TUI commands and key bindings, such as
`C-x C-a'. *Note TUI Key Bindings: TUI Keys.
File: gdb.info, Node: TUI Overview, Next: TUI Keys, Up: TUI
25.1 TUI Overview
=================
In TUI mode, GDB can display several text windows:
_command_
This window is the GDB command window with the GDB prompt and the
GDB output. The GDB input is still managed using readline.
_source_
The source window shows the source file of the program. The
current line and active breakpoints are displayed in this window.
_assembly_
The assembly window shows the disassembly output of the program.
_register_
This window shows the processor registers. Registers are
highlighted when their values change.
The source and assembly windows show the current program position by
highlighting the current line and marking it with a `>' marker.
Breakpoints are indicated with two markers. The first marker indicates
the breakpoint type:
`B'
Breakpoint which was hit at least once.
`b'
Breakpoint which was never hit.
`H'
Hardware breakpoint which was hit at least once.
`h'
Hardware breakpoint which was never hit.
The second marker indicates whether the breakpoint is enabled or not:
`+'
Breakpoint is enabled.
`-'
Breakpoint is disabled.
The source, assembly and register windows are updated when the
current thread changes, when the frame changes, or when the program
counter changes.
These windows are not all visible at the same time. The command
window is always visible. The others can be arranged in several
layouts:
* source only,
* assembly only,
* source and assembly,
* source and registers, or
* assembly and registers.
A status line above the command window shows the following
information:
_target_
Indicates the current GDB target. (*note Specifying a Debugging
Target: Targets.).
_process_
Gives the current process or thread number. When no process is
being debugged, this field is set to `No process'.
_function_
Gives the current function name for the selected frame. The name
is demangled if demangling is turned on (*note Print Settings::).
When there is no symbol corresponding to the current program
counter, the string `??' is displayed.
_line_
Indicates the current line number for the selected frame. When
the current line number is not known, the string `??' is displayed.
_pc_
Indicates the current program counter address.
File: gdb.info, Node: TUI Keys, Next: TUI Single Key Mode, Prev: TUI Overview, Up: TUI
25.2 TUI Key Bindings
=====================
The TUI installs several key bindings in the readline keymaps (*note
Command Line Editing::). The following key bindings are installed for
both TUI mode and the GDB standard mode.
`C-x C-a'
`C-x a'
`C-x A'
Enter or leave the TUI mode. When leaving the TUI mode, the
curses window management stops and GDB operates using its standard
mode, writing on the terminal directly. When reentering the TUI
mode, control is given back to the curses windows. The screen is
then refreshed.
`C-x 1'
Use a TUI layout with only one window. The layout will either be
`source' or `assembly'. When the TUI mode is not active, it will
switch to the TUI mode.
Think of this key binding as the Emacs `C-x 1' binding.
`C-x 2'
Use a TUI layout with at least two windows. When the current
layout already has two windows, the next layout with two windows
is used. When a new layout is chosen, one window will always be
common to the previous layout and the new one.
Think of it as the Emacs `C-x 2' binding.
`C-x o'
Change the active window. The TUI associates several key bindings
(like scrolling and arrow keys) with the active window. This
command gives the focus to the next TUI window.
Think of it as the Emacs `C-x o' binding.
`C-x s'
Switch in and out of the TUI SingleKey mode that binds single keys
to GDB commands (*note TUI Single Key Mode::).
The following key bindings only work in the TUI mode:
<PgUp>
Scroll the active window one page up.
<PgDn>
Scroll the active window one page down.
<Up>
Scroll the active window one line up.
<Down>
Scroll the active window one line down.
<Left>
Scroll the active window one column left.
<Right>
Scroll the active window one column right.
`C-L'
Refresh the screen.
Because the arrow keys scroll the active window in the TUI mode, they
are not available for their normal use by readline unless the command
window has the focus. When another window is active, you must use
other readline key bindings such as `C-p', `C-n', `C-b' and `C-f' to
control the command window.
File: gdb.info, Node: TUI Single Key Mode, Next: TUI Commands, Prev: TUI Keys, Up: TUI
25.3 TUI Single Key Mode
========================
The TUI also provides a "SingleKey" mode, which binds several
frequently used GDB commands to single keys. Type `C-x s' to switch
into this mode, where the following key bindings are used:
`c'
continue
`d'
down
`f'
finish
`n'
next
`q'
exit the SingleKey mode.
`r'
run
`s'
step
`u'
up
`v'
info locals
`w'
where
Other keys temporarily switch to the GDB command prompt. The key
that was pressed is inserted in the editing buffer so that it is
possible to type most GDB commands without interaction with the TUI
SingleKey mode. Once the command is entered the TUI SingleKey mode is
restored. The only way to permanently leave this mode is by typing `q'
or `C-x s'.
File: gdb.info, Node: TUI Commands, Next: TUI Configuration, Prev: TUI Single Key Mode, Up: TUI
25.4 TUI-specific Commands
==========================
The TUI has specific commands to control the text windows. These
commands are always available, even when GDB is not in the TUI mode.
When GDB is in the standard mode, most of these commands will
automatically switch to the TUI mode.
`info win'
List and give the size of all displayed windows.
`layout next'
Display the next layout.
`layout prev'
Display the previous layout.
`layout src'
Display the source window only.
`layout asm'
Display the assembly window only.
`layout split'
Display the source and assembly window.
`layout regs'
Display the register window together with the source or assembly
window.
`focus next'
Make the next window active for scrolling.
`focus prev'
Make the previous window active for scrolling.
`focus src'
Make the source window active for scrolling.
`focus asm'
Make the assembly window active for scrolling.
`focus regs'
Make the register window active for scrolling.
`focus cmd'
Make the command window active for scrolling.
`refresh'
Refresh the screen. This is similar to typing `C-L'.
`tui reg float'
Show the floating point registers in the register window.
`tui reg general'
Show the general registers in the register window.
`tui reg next'
Show the next register group. The list of register groups as well
as their order is target specific. The predefined register groups
are the following: `general', `float', `system', `vector', `all',
`save', `restore'.
`tui reg system'
Show the system registers in the register window.
`update'
Update the source window and the current execution point.
`winheight NAME +COUNT'
`winheight NAME -COUNT'
Change the height of the window NAME by COUNT lines. Positive
counts increase the height, while negative counts decrease it.
`tabset NCHARS'
Set the width of tab stops to be NCHARS characters.
File: gdb.info, Node: TUI Configuration, Prev: TUI Commands, Up: TUI
25.5 TUI Configuration Variables
================================
Several configuration variables control the appearance of TUI windows.
`set tui border-kind KIND'
Select the border appearance for the source, assembly and register
windows. The possible values are the following:
`space'
Use a space character to draw the border.
`ascii'
Use ASCII characters `+', `-' and `|' to draw the border.
`acs'
Use the Alternate Character Set to draw the border. The
border is drawn using character line graphics if the terminal
supports them.
`set tui border-mode MODE'
`set tui active-border-mode MODE'
Select the display attributes for the borders of the inactive
windows or the active window. The MODE can be one of the
following:
`normal'
Use normal attributes to display the border.
`standout'
Use standout mode.
`reverse'
Use reverse video mode.
`half'
Use half bright mode.
`half-standout'
Use half bright and standout mode.
`bold'
Use extra bright or bold mode.
`bold-standout'
Use extra bright or bold and standout mode.
File: gdb.info, Node: Emacs, Next: GDB/MI, Prev: TUI, Up: Top
26 Using GDB under GNU Emacs
****************************
A special interface allows you to use GNU Emacs to view (and edit) the
source files for the program you are debugging with GDB.
To use this interface, use the command `M-x gdb' in Emacs. Give the
executable file you want to debug as an argument. This command starts
GDB as a subprocess of Emacs, with input and output through a newly
created Emacs buffer.
Running GDB under Emacs can be just like running GDB normally except
for two things:
* All "terminal" input and output goes through an Emacs buffer,
called the GUD buffer.
This applies both to GDB commands and their output, and to the
input and output done by the program you are debugging.
This is useful because it means that you can copy the text of
previous commands and input them again; you can even use parts of
the output in this way.
All the facilities of Emacs' Shell mode are available for
interacting with your program. In particular, you can send
signals the usual way--for example, `C-c C-c' for an interrupt,
`C-c C-z' for a stop.
* GDB displays source code through Emacs.
Each time GDB displays a stack frame, Emacs automatically finds the
source file for that frame and puts an arrow (`=>') at the left
margin of the current line. Emacs uses a separate buffer for
source display, and splits the screen to show both your GDB session
and the source.
Explicit GDB `list' or search commands still produce output as
usual, but you probably have no reason to use them from Emacs.
We call this "text command mode". Emacs 22.1, and later, also uses
a graphical mode, enabled by default, which provides further buffers
that can control the execution and describe the state of your program.
*Note GDB Graphical Interface: (Emacs)GDB Graphical Interface.
If you specify an absolute file name when prompted for the `M-x gdb'
argument, then Emacs sets your current working directory to where your
program resides. If you only specify the file name, then Emacs sets
your current working directory to to the directory associated with the
previous buffer. In this case, GDB may find your program by searching
your environment's `PATH' variable, but on some operating systems it
might not find the source. So, although the GDB input and output
session proceeds normally, the auxiliary buffer does not display the
current source and line of execution.
The initial working directory of GDB is printed on the top line of
the GUD buffer and this serves as a default for the commands that
specify files for GDB to operate on. *Note Commands to Specify Files:
Files.
By default, `M-x gdb' calls the program called `gdb'. If you need
to call GDB by a different name (for example, if you keep several
configurations around, with different names) you can customize the
Emacs variable `gud-gdb-command-name' to run the one you want.
In the GUD buffer, you can use these special Emacs commands in
addition to the standard Shell mode commands:
`C-h m'
Describe the features of Emacs' GUD Mode.
`C-c C-s'
Execute to another source line, like the GDB `step' command; also
update the display window to show the current file and location.
`C-c C-n'
Execute to next source line in this function, skipping all function
calls, like the GDB `next' command. Then update the display window
to show the current file and location.
`C-c C-i'
Execute one instruction, like the GDB `stepi' command; update
display window accordingly.
`C-c C-f'
Execute until exit from the selected stack frame, like the GDB
`finish' command.
`C-c C-r'
Continue execution of your program, like the GDB `continue'
command.
`C-c <'
Go up the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument
(*note Numeric Arguments: (Emacs)Arguments.), like the GDB `up'
command.
`C-c >'
Go down the number of frames indicated by the numeric argument,
like the GDB `down' command.
In any source file, the Emacs command `C-x <SPC>' (`gud-break')
tells GDB to set a breakpoint on the source line point is on.
In text command mode, if you type `M-x speedbar', Emacs displays a
separate frame which shows a backtrace when the GUD buffer is current.
Move point to any frame in the stack and type <RET> to make it become
the current frame and display the associated source in the source
buffer. Alternatively, click `Mouse-2' to make the selected frame
become the current one. In graphical mode, the speedbar displays watch
expressions.
If you accidentally delete the source-display buffer, an easy way to
get it back is to type the command `f' in the GDB buffer, to request a
frame display; when you run under Emacs, this recreates the source
buffer if necessary to show you the context of the current frame.
The source files displayed in Emacs are in ordinary Emacs buffers
which are visiting the source files in the usual way. You can edit the
files with these buffers if you wish; but keep in mind that GDB
communicates with Emacs in terms of line numbers. If you add or delete
lines from the text, the line numbers that GDB knows cease to
correspond properly with the code.
A more detailed description of Emacs' interaction with GDB is given
in the Emacs manual (*note Debuggers: (Emacs)Debuggers.).
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI, Next: Annotations, Prev: Emacs, Up: Top
27 The GDB/MI Interface
***********************
Function and Purpose
====================
GDB/MI is a line based machine oriented text interface to GDB and is
activated by specifying using the `--interpreter' command line option
(*note Mode Options::). It is specifically intended to support the
development of systems which use the debugger as just one small
component of a larger system.
This chapter is a specification of the GDB/MI interface. It is
written in the form of a reference manual.
Note that GDB/MI is still under construction, so some of the
features described below are incomplete and subject to change (*note
GDB/MI Development and Front Ends: GDB/MI Development and Front Ends.).
Notation and Terminology
========================
This chapter uses the following notation:
* `|' separates two alternatives.
* `[ SOMETHING ]' indicates that SOMETHING is optional: it may or
may not be given.
* `( GROUP )*' means that GROUP inside the parentheses may repeat
zero or more times.
* `( GROUP )+' means that GROUP inside the parentheses may repeat
one or more times.
* `"STRING"' means a literal STRING.
* Menu:
* GDB/MI General Design::
* GDB/MI Command Syntax::
* GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI::
* GDB/MI Development and Front Ends::
* GDB/MI Output Records::
* GDB/MI Simple Examples::
* GDB/MI Command Description Format::
* GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands::
* GDB/MI Program Context::
* GDB/MI Thread Commands::
* GDB/MI Program Execution::
* GDB/MI Stack Manipulation::
* GDB/MI Variable Objects::
* GDB/MI Data Manipulation::
* GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands::
* GDB/MI Symbol Query::
* GDB/MI File Commands::
* GDB/MI Target Manipulation::
* GDB/MI File Transfer Commands::
* GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI General Design, Next: GDB/MI Command Syntax, Up: GDB/MI
27.1 GDB/MI General Design
==========================
Interaction of a GDB/MI frontend with GDB involves three
parts--commands sent to GDB, responses to those commands and
notifications. Each command results in exactly one response,
indicating either successful completion of the command, or an error.
For the commands that do not resume the target, the response contains
the requested information. For the commands that resume the target, the
response only indicates whether the target was successfully resumed.
Notifications is the mechanism for reporting changes in the state of the
target, or in GDB state, that cannot conveniently be associated with a
command and reported as part of that command response.
The important examples of notifications are:
* Exec notifications. These are used to report changes in target
state--when a target is resumed, or stopped. It would not be
feasible to include this information in response of resuming
commands, because one resume commands can result in multiple
events in different threads. Also, quite some time may pass
before any event happens in the target, while a frontend needs to
know whether the resuming command itself was successfully executed.
* Console output, and status notifications. Console output
notifications are used to report output of CLI commands, as well as
diagnostics for other commands. Status notifications are used to
report the progress of a long-running operation. Naturally,
including this information in command response would mean no
output is produced until the command is finished, which is
undesirable.
* General notifications. Commands may have various side effects on
the GDB or target state beyond their official purpose. For
example, a command may change the selected thread. Although such
changes can be included in command response, using notification
allows for more orthogonal frontend design.
There's no guarantee that whenever an MI command reports an error,
GDB or the target are in any specific state, and especially, the state
is not reverted to the state before the MI command was processed.
Therefore, whenever an MI command results in an error, we recommend
that the frontend refreshes all the information shown in the user
interface.
* Menu:
* Context management::
* Asynchronous and non-stop modes::
* Thread groups::
File: gdb.info, Node: Context management, Next: Asynchronous and non-stop modes, Up: GDB/MI General Design
27.1.1 Context management
-------------------------
In most cases when GDB accesses the target, this access is done in
context of a specific thread and frame (*note Frames::). Often, even
when accessing global data, the target requires that a thread be
specified. The CLI interface maintains the selected thread and frame,
and supplies them to target on each command. This is convenient,
because a command line user would not want to specify that information
explicitly on each command, and because user interacts with GDB via a
single terminal, so no confusion is possible as to what thread and
frame are the current ones.
In the case of MI, the concept of selected thread and frame is less
useful. First, a frontend can easily remember this information itself.
Second, a graphical frontend can have more than one window, each one
used for debugging a different thread, and the frontend might want to
access additional threads for internal purposes. This increases the
risk that by relying on implicitly selected thread, the frontend may be
operating on a wrong one. Therefore, each MI command should explicitly
specify which thread and frame to operate on. To make it possible,
each MI command accepts the `--thread' and `--frame' options, the value
to each is GDB identifier for thread and frame to operate on.
Usually, each top-level window in a frontend allows the user to
select a thread and a frame, and remembers the user selection for
further operations. However, in some cases GDB may suggest that the
current thread be changed. For example, when stopping on a breakpoint
it is reasonable to switch to the thread where breakpoint is hit. For
another example, if the user issues the CLI `thread' command via the
frontend, it is desirable to change the frontend's selected thread to
the one specified by user. GDB communicates the suggestion to change
current thread using the `=thread-selected' notification. No such
notification is available for the selected frame at the moment.
Note that historically, MI shares the selected thread with CLI, so
frontends used the `-thread-select' to execute commands in the right
context. However, getting this to work right is cumbersome. The
simplest way is for frontend to emit `-thread-select' command before
every command. This doubles the number of commands that need to be
sent. The alternative approach is to suppress `-thread-select' if the
selected thread in GDB is supposed to be identical to the thread the
frontend wants to operate on. However, getting this optimization right
can be tricky. In particular, if the frontend sends several commands
to GDB, and one of the commands changes the selected thread, then the
behaviour of subsequent commands will change. So, a frontend should
either wait for response from such problematic commands, or explicitly
add `-thread-select' for all subsequent commands. No frontend is known
to do this exactly right, so it is suggested to just always pass the
`--thread' and `--frame' options.
File: gdb.info, Node: Asynchronous and non-stop modes, Next: Thread groups, Prev: Context management, Up: GDB/MI General Design
27.1.2 Asynchronous command execution and non-stop mode
-------------------------------------------------------
On some targets, GDB is capable of processing MI commands even while
the target is running. This is called "asynchronous command execution"
(*note Background Execution::). The frontend may specify a preferrence
for asynchronous execution using the `-gdb-set target-async 1' command,
which should be emitted before either running the executable or
attaching to the target. After the frontend has started the executable
or attached to the target, it can find if asynchronous execution is
enabled using the `-list-target-features' command.
Even if GDB can accept a command while target is running, many
commands that access the target do not work when the target is running.
Therefore, asynchronous command execution is most useful when combined
with non-stop mode (*note Non-Stop Mode::). Then, it is possible to
examine the state of one thread, while other threads are running.
When a given thread is running, MI commands that try to access the
target in the context of that thread may not work, or may work only on
some targets. In particular, commands that try to operate on thread's
stack will not work, on any target. Commands that read memory, or
modify breakpoints, may work or not work, depending on the target. Note
that even commands that operate on global state, such as `print',
`set', and breakpoint commands, still access the target in the context
of a specific thread, so frontend should try to find a stopped thread
and perform the operation on that thread (using the `--thread' option).
Which commands will work in the context of a running thread is
highly target dependent. However, the two commands `-exec-interrupt',
to stop a thread, and `-thread-info', to find the state of a thread,
will always work.
File: gdb.info, Node: Thread groups, Prev: Asynchronous and non-stop modes, Up: GDB/MI General Design
27.1.3 Thread groups
--------------------
GDB may be used to debug several processes at the same time. On some
platfroms, GDB may support debugging of several hardware systems, each
one having several cores with several different processes running on
each core. This section describes the MI mechanism to support such
debugging scenarios.
The key observation is that regardless of the structure of the
target, MI can have a global list of threads, because most commands that
accept the `--thread' option do not need to know what process that
thread belongs to. Therefore, it is not necessary to introduce neither
additional `--process' option, nor an notion of the current process in
the MI interface. The only strictly new feature that is required is
the ability to find how the threads are grouped into processes.
To allow the user to discover such grouping, and to support arbitrary
hierarchy of machines/cores/processes, MI introduces the concept of a
"thread group". Thread group is a collection of threads and other
thread groups. A thread group always has a string identifier, a type,
and may have additional attributes specific to the type. A new
command, `-list-thread-groups', returns the list of top-level thread
groups, which correspond to processes that GDB is debugging at the
moment. By passing an identifier of a thread group to the
`-list-thread-groups' command, it is possible to obtain the members of
specific thread group.
To allow the user to easily discover processes, and other objects, he
wishes to debug, a concept of "available thread group" is introduced.
Available thread group is an thread group that GDB is not debugging,
but that can be attached to, using the `-target-attach' command. The
list of available top-level thread groups can be obtained using
`-list-thread-groups --available'. In general, the content of a thread
group may be only retrieved only after attaching to that thread group.
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Command Syntax, Next: GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI, Prev: GDB/MI General Design, Up: GDB/MI
27.2 GDB/MI Command Syntax
==========================
* Menu:
* GDB/MI Input Syntax::
* GDB/MI Output Syntax::
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Input Syntax, Next: GDB/MI Output Syntax, Up: GDB/MI Command Syntax
27.2.1 GDB/MI Input Syntax
--------------------------
`COMMAND ==>'
`CLI-COMMAND | MI-COMMAND'
`CLI-COMMAND ==>'
`[ TOKEN ] CLI-COMMAND NL', where CLI-COMMAND is any existing GDB
CLI command.
`MI-COMMAND ==>'
`[ TOKEN ] "-" OPERATION ( " " OPTION )* `[' " --" `]' ( " "
PARAMETER )* NL'
`TOKEN ==>'
"any sequence of digits"
`OPTION ==>'
`"-" PARAMETER [ " " PARAMETER ]'
`PARAMETER ==>'
`NON-BLANK-SEQUENCE | C-STRING'
`OPERATION ==>'
_any of the operations described in this chapter_
`NON-BLANK-SEQUENCE ==>'
_anything, provided it doesn't contain special characters such as
"-", NL, """ and of course " "_
`C-STRING ==>'
`""" SEVEN-BIT-ISO-C-STRING-CONTENT """'
`NL ==>'
`CR | CR-LF'
Notes:
* The CLI commands are still handled by the MI interpreter; their
output is described below.
* The `TOKEN', when present, is passed back when the command
finishes.
* Some MI commands accept optional arguments as part of the parameter
list. Each option is identified by a leading `-' (dash) and may be
followed by an optional argument parameter. Options occur first
in the parameter list and can be delimited from normal parameters
using `--' (this is useful when some parameters begin with a dash).
Pragmatics:
* We want easy access to the existing CLI syntax (for debugging).
* We want it to be easy to spot a MI operation.
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Output Syntax, Prev: GDB/MI Input Syntax, Up: GDB/MI Command Syntax
27.2.2 GDB/MI Output Syntax
---------------------------
The output from GDB/MI consists of zero or more out-of-band records
followed, optionally, by a single result record. This result record is
for the most recent command. The sequence of output records is
terminated by `(gdb)'.
If an input command was prefixed with a `TOKEN' then the
corresponding output for that command will also be prefixed by that same
TOKEN.
`OUTPUT ==>'
`( OUT-OF-BAND-RECORD )* [ RESULT-RECORD ] "(gdb)" NL'
`RESULT-RECORD ==>'
` [ TOKEN ] "^" RESULT-CLASS ( "," RESULT )* NL'
`OUT-OF-BAND-RECORD ==>'
`ASYNC-RECORD | STREAM-RECORD'
`ASYNC-RECORD ==>'
`EXEC-ASYNC-OUTPUT | STATUS-ASYNC-OUTPUT | NOTIFY-ASYNC-OUTPUT'
`EXEC-ASYNC-OUTPUT ==>'
`[ TOKEN ] "*" ASYNC-OUTPUT'
`STATUS-ASYNC-OUTPUT ==>'
`[ TOKEN ] "+" ASYNC-OUTPUT'
`NOTIFY-ASYNC-OUTPUT ==>'
`[ TOKEN ] "=" ASYNC-OUTPUT'
`ASYNC-OUTPUT ==>'
`ASYNC-CLASS ( "," RESULT )* NL'
`RESULT-CLASS ==>'
`"done" | "running" | "connected" | "error" | "exit"'
`ASYNC-CLASS ==>'
`"stopped" | OTHERS' (where OTHERS will be added depending on the
needs--this is still in development).
`RESULT ==>'
` VARIABLE "=" VALUE'
`VARIABLE ==>'
` STRING '
`VALUE ==>'
` CONST | TUPLE | LIST '
`CONST ==>'
`C-STRING'
`TUPLE ==>'
` "{}" | "{" RESULT ( "," RESULT )* "}" '
`LIST ==>'
` "[]" | "[" VALUE ( "," VALUE )* "]" | "[" RESULT ( "," RESULT )*
"]" '
`STREAM-RECORD ==>'
`CONSOLE-STREAM-OUTPUT | TARGET-STREAM-OUTPUT | LOG-STREAM-OUTPUT'
`CONSOLE-STREAM-OUTPUT ==>'
`"~" C-STRING'
`TARGET-STREAM-OUTPUT ==>'
`"@" C-STRING'
`LOG-STREAM-OUTPUT ==>'
`"&" C-STRING'
`NL ==>'
`CR | CR-LF'
`TOKEN ==>'
_any sequence of digits_.
Notes:
* All output sequences end in a single line containing a period.
* The `TOKEN' is from the corresponding request. Note that for all
async output, while the token is allowed by the grammar and may be
output by future versions of GDB for select async output messages,
it is generally omitted. Frontends should treat all async output
as reporting general changes in the state of the target and there
should be no need to associate async output to any prior command.
* STATUS-ASYNC-OUTPUT contains on-going status information about the
progress of a slow operation. It can be discarded. All status
output is prefixed by `+'.
* EXEC-ASYNC-OUTPUT contains asynchronous state change on the target
(stopped, started, disappeared). All async output is prefixed by
`*'.
* NOTIFY-ASYNC-OUTPUT contains supplementary information that the
client should handle (e.g., a new breakpoint information). All
notify output is prefixed by `='.
* CONSOLE-STREAM-OUTPUT is output that should be displayed as is in
the console. It is the textual response to a CLI command. All
the console output is prefixed by `~'.
* TARGET-STREAM-OUTPUT is the output produced by the target program.
All the target output is prefixed by `@'.
* LOG-STREAM-OUTPUT is output text coming from GDB's internals, for
instance messages that should be displayed as part of an error
log. All the log output is prefixed by `&'.
* New GDB/MI commands should only output LISTS containing VALUES.
*Note GDB/MI Stream Records: GDB/MI Stream Records, for more details
about the various output records.
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI, Next: GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, Prev: GDB/MI Command Syntax, Up: GDB/MI
27.3 GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI
==================================
For the developers convenience CLI commands can be entered directly,
but there may be some unexpected behaviour. For example, commands that
query the user will behave as if the user replied yes, breakpoint
command lists are not executed and some CLI commands, such as `if',
`when' and `define', prompt for further input with `>', which is not
valid MI output.
This feature may be removed at some stage in the future and it is
recommended that front ends use the `-interpreter-exec' command (*note
-interpreter-exec::).
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, Next: GDB/MI Output Records, Prev: GDB/MI Compatibility with CLI, Up: GDB/MI
27.4 GDB/MI Development and Front Ends
======================================
The application which takes the MI output and presents the state of the
program being debugged to the user is called a "front end".
Although GDB/MI is still incomplete, it is currently being used by a
variety of front ends to GDB. This makes it difficult to introduce new
functionality without breaking existing usage. This section tries to
minimize the problems by describing how the protocol might change.
Some changes in MI need not break a carefully designed front end, and
for these the MI version will remain unchanged. The following is a
list of changes that may occur within one level, so front ends should
parse MI output in a way that can handle them:
* New MI commands may be added.
* New fields may be added to the output of any MI command.
* The range of values for fields with specified values, e.g.,
`in_scope' (*note -var-update::) may be extended.
If the changes are likely to break front ends, the MI version level
will be increased by one. This will allow the front end to parse the
output according to the MI version. Apart from mi0, new versions of
GDB will not support old versions of MI and it will be the
responsibility of the front end to work with the new one.
The best way to avoid unexpected changes in MI that might break your
front end is to make your project known to GDB developers and follow
development on <gdb@sourceware.org> and <gdb-patches@sourceware.org>.
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Output Records, Next: GDB/MI Simple Examples, Prev: GDB/MI Development and Front Ends, Up: GDB/MI
27.5 GDB/MI Output Records
==========================
* Menu:
* GDB/MI Result Records::
* GDB/MI Stream Records::
* GDB/MI Async Records::
* GDB/MI Frame Information::
* GDB/MI Thread Information::
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Result Records, Next: GDB/MI Stream Records, Up: GDB/MI Output Records
27.5.1 GDB/MI Result Records
----------------------------
In addition to a number of out-of-band notifications, the response to a
GDB/MI command includes one of the following result indications:
`"^done" [ "," RESULTS ]'
The synchronous operation was successful, `RESULTS' are the return
values.
`"^running"'
This result record is equivalent to `^done'. Historically, it was
output instead of `^done' if the command has resumed the target.
This behaviour is maintained for backward compatibility, but all
frontends should treat `^done' and `^running' identically and rely
on the `*running' output record to determine which threads are
resumed.
`"^connected"'
GDB has connected to a remote target.
`"^error" "," C-STRING'
The operation failed. The `C-STRING' contains the corresponding
error message.
`"^exit"'
GDB has terminated.
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Stream Records, Next: GDB/MI Async Records, Prev: GDB/MI Result Records, Up: GDB/MI Output Records
27.5.2 GDB/MI Stream Records
----------------------------
GDB internally maintains a number of output streams: the console, the
target, and the log. The output intended for each of these streams is
funneled through the GDB/MI interface using "stream records".
Each stream record begins with a unique "prefix character" which
identifies its stream (*note GDB/MI Output Syntax: GDB/MI Output
Syntax.). In addition to the prefix, each stream record contains a
`STRING-OUTPUT'. This is either raw text (with an implicit new line)
or a quoted C string (which does not contain an implicit newline).
`"~" STRING-OUTPUT'
The console output stream contains text that should be displayed
in the CLI console window. It contains the textual responses to
CLI commands.
`"@" STRING-OUTPUT'
The target output stream contains any textual output from the
running target. This is only present when GDB's event loop is
truly asynchronous, which is currently only the case for remote
targets.
`"&" STRING-OUTPUT'
The log stream contains debugging messages being produced by GDB's
internals.
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Async Records, Next: GDB/MI Frame Information, Prev: GDB/MI Stream Records, Up: GDB/MI Output Records
27.5.3 GDB/MI Async Records
---------------------------
"Async" records are used to notify the GDB/MI client of additional
changes that have occurred. Those changes can either be a consequence
of GDB/MI commands (e.g., a breakpoint modified) or a result of target
activity (e.g., target stopped).
The following is the list of possible async records:
`*running,thread-id="THREAD"'
The target is now running. The THREAD field tells which specific
thread is now running, and can be `all' if all threads are
running. The frontend should assume that no interaction with a
running thread is possible after this notification is produced.
The frontend should not assume that this notification is output
only once for any command. GDB may emit this notification several
times, either for different threads, because it cannot resume all
threads together, or even for a single thread, if the thread must
be stepped though some code before letting it run freely.
`*stopped,reason="REASON",thread-id="ID",stopped-threads="STOPPED",core="CORE"'
The target has stopped. The REASON field can have one of the
following values:
`breakpoint-hit'
A breakpoint was reached.
`watchpoint-trigger'
A watchpoint was triggered.
`read-watchpoint-trigger'
A read watchpoint was triggered.
`access-watchpoint-trigger'
An access watchpoint was triggered.
`function-finished'
An -exec-finish or similar CLI command was accomplished.
`location-reached'
An -exec-until or similar CLI command was accomplished.
`watchpoint-scope'
A watchpoint has gone out of scope.
`end-stepping-range'
An -exec-next, -exec-next-instruction, -exec-step,
-exec-step-instruction or similar CLI command was
accomplished.
`exited-signalled'
The inferior exited because of a signal.
`exited'
The inferior exited.
`exited-normally'
The inferior exited normally.
`signal-received'
A signal was received by the inferior.
The ID field identifies the thread that directly caused the stop -
for example by hitting a breakpoint. Depending on whether all-stop
mode is in effect (*note All-Stop Mode::), GDB may either stop all
threads, or only the thread that directly triggered the stop. If
all threads are stopped, the STOPPED field will have the value of
`"all"'. Otherwise, the value of the STOPPED field will be a list
of thread identifiers. Presently, this list will always include a
single thread, but frontend should be prepared to see several
threads in the list. The CORE field reports the processor core on
which the stop event has happened. This field may be absent if
such information is not available.
`=thread-group-created,id="ID"'
`=thread-group-exited,id="ID"'
A thread thread group either was attached to, or has
exited/detached from. The ID field contains the GDB identifier of
the thread group.
`=thread-created,id="ID",group-id="GID"'
`=thread-exited,id="ID",group-id="GID"'
A thread either was created, or has exited. The ID field contains
the GDB identifier of the thread. The GID field identifies the
thread group this thread belongs to.
`=thread-selected,id="ID"'
Informs that the selected thread was changed as result of the last
command. This notification is not emitted as result of
`-thread-select' command but is emitted whenever an MI command
that is not documented to change the selected thread actually
changes it. In particular, invoking, directly or indirectly (via
user-defined command), the CLI `thread' command, will generate
this notification.
We suggest that in response to this notification, front ends
highlight the selected thread and cause subsequent commands to
apply to that thread.
`=library-loaded,...'
Reports that a new library file was loaded by the program. This
notification has 4 fields--ID, TARGET-NAME, HOST-NAME, and
SYMBOLS-LOADED. The ID field is an opaque identifier of the
library. For remote debugging case, TARGET-NAME and HOST-NAME
fields give the name of the library file on the target, and on the
host respectively. For native debugging, both those fields have
the same value. The SYMBOLS-LOADED field reports if the debug
symbols for this library are loaded.
`=library-unloaded,...'
Reports that a library was unloaded by the program. This
notification has 3 fields--ID, TARGET-NAME and HOST-NAME with the
same meaning as for the `=library-loaded' notification
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Frame Information, Next: GDB/MI Thread Information, Prev: GDB/MI Async Records, Up: GDB/MI Output Records
27.5.4 GDB/MI Frame Information
-------------------------------
Response from many MI commands includes an information about stack
frame. This information is a tuple that may have the following fields:
`level'
The level of the stack frame. The innermost frame has the level of
zero. This field is always present.
`func'
The name of the function corresponding to the frame. This field
may be absent if GDB is unable to determine the function name.
`addr'
The code address for the frame. This field is always present.
`file'
The name of the source files that correspond to the frame's code
address. This field may be absent.
`line'
The source line corresponding to the frames' code address. This
field may be absent.
`from'
The name of the binary file (either executable or shared library)
the corresponds to the frame's code address. This field may be
absent.
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Thread Information, Prev: GDB/MI Frame Information, Up: GDB/MI Output Records
27.5.5 GDB/MI Thread Information
--------------------------------
Whenever GDB has to report an information about a thread, it uses a
tuple with the following fields:
`id'
The numeric id assigned to the thread by GDB. This field is
always present.
`target-id'
Target-specific string identifying the thread. This field is
always present.
`details'
Additional information about the thread provided by the target.
It is supposed to be human-readable and not interpreted by the
frontend. This field is optional.
`state'
Either `stopped' or `running', depending on whether the thread is
presently running. This field is always present.
`core'
The value of this field is an integer number of the processor core
the thread was last seen on. This field is optional.
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Simple Examples, Next: GDB/MI Command Description Format, Prev: GDB/MI Output Records, Up: GDB/MI
27.6 Simple Examples of GDB/MI Interaction
==========================================
This subsection presents several simple examples of interaction using
the GDB/MI interface. In these examples, `->' means that the following
line is passed to GDB/MI as input, while `<-' means the output received
from GDB/MI.
Note the line breaks shown in the examples are here only for
readability, they don't appear in the real output.
Setting a Breakpoint
--------------------
Setting a breakpoint generates synchronous output which contains
detailed information of the breakpoint.
-> -break-insert main
<- ^done,bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
enabled="y",addr="0x08048564",func="main",file="myprog.c",
fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68",times="0"}
<- (gdb)
Program Execution
-----------------
Program execution generates asynchronous records and MI gives the
reason that execution stopped.
-> -exec-run
<- ^running
<- (gdb)
<- *stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
frame={addr="0x08048564",func="main",
args=[{name="argc",value="1"},{name="argv",value="0xbfc4d4d4"}],
file="myprog.c",fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="68"}
<- (gdb)
-> -exec-continue
<- ^running
<- (gdb)
<- *stopped,reason="exited-normally"
<- (gdb)
Quitting GDB
------------
Quitting GDB just prints the result class `^exit'.
-> (gdb)
<- -gdb-exit
<- ^exit
Please note that `^exit' is printed immediately, but it might take
some time for GDB to actually exit. During that time, GDB performs
necessary cleanups, including killing programs being debugged or
disconnecting from debug hardware, so the frontend should wait till GDB
exits and should only forcibly kill GDB if it fails to exit in
reasonable time.
A Bad Command
-------------
Here's what happens if you pass a non-existent command:
-> -rubbish
<- ^error,msg="Undefined MI command: rubbish"
<- (gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Command Description Format, Next: GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands, Prev: GDB/MI Simple Examples, Up: GDB/MI
27.7 GDB/MI Command Description Format
======================================
The remaining sections describe blocks of commands. Each block of
commands is laid out in a fashion similar to this section.
Motivation
----------
The motivation for this collection of commands.
Introduction
------------
A brief introduction to this collection of commands as a whole.
Commands
--------
For each command in the block, the following is described:
Synopsis
........
-command ARGS...
Result
......
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB CLI command(s), if any.
Example
.......
Example(s) formatted for readability. Some of the described commands
have not been implemented yet and these are labeled N.A. (not
available).
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands, Next: GDB/MI Program Context, Prev: GDB/MI Command Description Format, Up: GDB/MI
27.8 GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands
===============================
This section documents GDB/MI commands for manipulating breakpoints.
The `-break-after' Command
--------------------------
Synopsis
........
-break-after NUMBER COUNT
The breakpoint number NUMBER is not in effect until it has been hit
COUNT times. To see how this is reflected in the output of the
`-break-list' command, see the description of the `-break-list' command
below.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `ignore'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-break-insert main
^done,bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"}
(gdb)
-break-after 1 3
~
^done
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
line="5",times="0",ignore="3"}]}
(gdb)
The `-break-commands' Command
-----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-break-commands NUMBER [ COMMAND1 ... COMMANDN ]
Specifies the CLI commands that should be executed when breakpoint
NUMBER is hit. The parameters COMMAND1 to COMMANDN are the commands.
If no command is specified, any previously-set commands are cleared.
*Note Break Commands::. Typical use of this functionality is tracing a
program, that is, printing of values of some variables whenever
breakpoint is hit and then continuing.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `commands'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-break-insert main
^done,bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",
enabled="y",addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",
fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",line="5",times="0"}
(gdb)
-break-commands 1 "print v" "continue"
^done
(gdb)
The `-break-condition' Command
------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-break-condition NUMBER EXPR
Breakpoint NUMBER will stop the program only if the condition in
EXPR is true. The condition becomes part of the `-break-list' output
(see the description of the `-break-list' command below).
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `condition'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-break-condition 1 1
^done
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
line="5",cond="1",times="0",ignore="3"}]}
(gdb)
The `-break-delete' Command
---------------------------
Synopsis
........
-break-delete ( BREAKPOINT )+
Delete the breakpoint(s) whose number(s) are specified in the
argument list. This is obviously reflected in the breakpoint list.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `delete'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-break-delete 1
^done
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[]}
(gdb)
The `-break-disable' Command
----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-break-disable ( BREAKPOINT )+
Disable the named BREAKPOINT(s). The field `enabled' in the break
list is now set to `n' for the named BREAKPOINT(s).
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `disable'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-break-disable 2
^done
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[bkpt={number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="n",
addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
line="5",times="0"}]}
(gdb)
The `-break-enable' Command
---------------------------
Synopsis
........
-break-enable ( BREAKPOINT )+
Enable (previously disabled) BREAKPOINT(s).
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `enable'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-break-enable 2
^done
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[bkpt={number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
line="5",times="0"}]}
(gdb)
The `-break-info' Command
-------------------------
Synopsis
........
-break-info BREAKPOINT
Get information about a single breakpoint.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `info break BREAKPOINT'.
Example
.......
N.A.
The `-break-insert' Command
---------------------------
Synopsis
........
-break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
[ -c CONDITION ] [ -i IGNORE-COUNT ]
[ -p THREAD ] [ LOCATION ]
If specified, LOCATION, can be one of:
* function
* filename:linenum
* filename:function
* *address
The possible optional parameters of this command are:
`-t'
Insert a temporary breakpoint.
`-h'
Insert a hardware breakpoint.
`-c CONDITION'
Make the breakpoint conditional on CONDITION.
`-i IGNORE-COUNT'
Initialize the IGNORE-COUNT.
`-f'
If LOCATION cannot be parsed (for example if it refers to unknown
files or functions), create a pending breakpoint. Without this
flag, GDB will report an error, and won't create a breakpoint, if
LOCATION cannot be parsed.
`-d'
Create a disabled breakpoint.
Result
......
The result is in the form:
^done,bkpt={number="NUMBER",type="TYPE",disp="del"|"keep",
enabled="y"|"n",addr="HEX",func="FUNCNAME",file="FILENAME",
fullname="FULL_FILENAME",line="LINENO",[thread="THREADNO,]
times="TIMES"}
where NUMBER is the GDB number for this breakpoint, FUNCNAME is the
name of the function where the breakpoint was inserted, FILENAME is the
name of the source file which contains this function, LINENO is the
source line number within that file and TIMES the number of times that
the breakpoint has been hit (always 0 for -break-insert but may be
greater for -break-info or -break-list which use the same output).
Note: this format is open to change.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB commands are `break', `tbreak', `hbreak',
`thbreak', and `rbreak'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-break-insert main
^done,bkpt={number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",times="0"}
(gdb)
-break-insert -t foo
^done,bkpt={number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",times="0"}
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
addr="0x0001072c", func="main",file="recursive2.c",
fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,"line="4",times="0"},
bkpt={number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",
addr="0x00010774",func="foo",file="recursive2.c",
fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"}]}
(gdb)
-break-insert -r foo.*
~int foo(int, int);
^done,bkpt={number="3",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c,
"fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c",line="11",times="0"}
(gdb)
The `-break-list' Command
-------------------------
Synopsis
........
-break-list
Displays the list of inserted breakpoints, showing the following
fields:
`Number'
number of the breakpoint
`Type'
type of the breakpoint: `breakpoint' or `watchpoint'
`Disposition'
should the breakpoint be deleted or disabled when it is hit: `keep'
or `nokeep'
`Enabled'
is the breakpoint enabled or no: `y' or `n'
`Address'
memory location at which the breakpoint is set
`What'
logical location of the breakpoint, expressed by function name,
file name, line number
`Times'
number of times the breakpoint has been hit
If there are no breakpoints or watchpoints, the `BreakpointTable'
`body' field is an empty list.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `info break'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
addr="0x000100d0",func="main",file="hello.c",line="5",times="0"},
bkpt={number="2",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
addr="0x00010114",func="foo",file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/hello.c",
line="13",times="0"}]}
(gdb)
Here's an example of the result when there are no breakpoints:
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="0",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[]}
(gdb)
The `-break-watch' Command
--------------------------
Synopsis
........
-break-watch [ -a | -r ]
Create a watchpoint. With the `-a' option it will create an
"access" watchpoint, i.e., a watchpoint that triggers either on a read
from or on a write to the memory location. With the `-r' option, the
watchpoint created is a "read" watchpoint, i.e., it will trigger only
when the memory location is accessed for reading. Without either of
the options, the watchpoint created is a regular watchpoint, i.e., it
will trigger when the memory location is accessed for writing. *Note
Setting Watchpoints: Set Watchpoints.
Note that `-break-list' will report a single list of watchpoints and
breakpoints inserted.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB commands are `watch', `awatch', and `rwatch'.
Example
.......
Setting a watchpoint on a variable in the `main' function:
(gdb)
-break-watch x
^done,wpt={number="2",exp="x"}
(gdb)
-exec-continue
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt={number="2",exp="x"},
value={old="-268439212",new="55"},
frame={func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="5"}
(gdb)
Setting a watchpoint on a variable local to a function. GDB will
stop the program execution twice: first for the variable changing
value, then for the watchpoint going out of scope.
(gdb)
-break-watch C
^done,wpt={number="5",exp="C"}
(gdb)
-exec-continue
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",
wpt={number="5",exp="C"},value={old="-276895068",new="3"},
frame={func="callee4",args=[],
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"}
(gdb)
-exec-continue
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="5",
frame={func="callee3",args=[{name="strarg",
value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""}],
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"}
(gdb)
Listing breakpoints and watchpoints, at different points in the
program execution. Note that once the watchpoint goes out of scope, it
is deleted.
(gdb)
-break-watch C
^done,wpt={number="2",exp="C"}
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c"line="8",times="1"},
bkpt={number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="0"}]}
(gdb)
-exec-continue
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="watchpoint-trigger",wpt={number="2",exp="C"},
value={old="-276895068",new="3"},
frame={func="callee4",args=[],
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="13"}
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="2",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",times="1"},
bkpt={number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
enabled="y",addr="",what="C",times="-5"}]}
(gdb)
-exec-continue
^running
^done,reason="watchpoint-scope",wpnum="2",
frame={func="callee3",args=[{name="strarg",
value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""}],
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"}
(gdb)
-break-list
^done,BreakpointTable={nr_rows="1",nr_cols="6",
hdr=[{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="number",colhdr="Num"},
{width="14",alignment="-1",col_name="type",colhdr="Type"},
{width="4",alignment="-1",col_name="disp",colhdr="Disp"},
{width="3",alignment="-1",col_name="enabled",colhdr="Enb"},
{width="10",alignment="-1",col_name="addr",colhdr="Address"},
{width="40",alignment="2",col_name="what",colhdr="What"}],
body=[bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8",
times="1"}]}
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Program Context, Next: GDB/MI Thread Commands, Prev: GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands, Up: GDB/MI
27.9 GDB/MI Program Context
============================
The `-exec-arguments' Command
-----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-arguments ARGS
Set the inferior program arguments, to be used in the next
`-exec-run'.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `set args'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-exec-arguments -v word
^done
(gdb)
The `-environment-cd' Command
-----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-environment-cd PATHDIR
Set GDB's working directory.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `cd'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-environment-cd /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
^done
(gdb)
The `-environment-directory' Command
------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-environment-directory [ -r ] [ PATHDIR ]+
Add directories PATHDIR to beginning of search path for source files.
If the `-r' option is used, the search path is reset to the default
search path. If directories PATHDIR are supplied in addition to the
`-r' option, the search path is first reset and then addition occurs as
normal. Multiple directories may be specified, separated by blanks.
Specifying multiple directories in a single command results in the
directories added to the beginning of the search path in the same order
they were presented in the command. If blanks are needed as part of a
directory name, double-quotes should be used around the name. In the
command output, the path will show up separated by the system
directory-separator character. The directory-separator character must
not be used in any directory name. If no directories are specified,
the current search path is displayed.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `dir'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-environment-directory /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb
^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
(gdb)
-environment-directory ""
^done,source-path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb:$cdir:$cwd"
(gdb)
-environment-directory -r /home/jjohnstn/src/gdb /usr/src
^done,source-path="/home/jjohnstn/src/gdb:/usr/src:$cdir:$cwd"
(gdb)
-environment-directory -r
^done,source-path="$cdir:$cwd"
(gdb)
The `-environment-path' Command
-------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-environment-path [ -r ] [ PATHDIR ]+
Add directories PATHDIR to beginning of search path for object files.
If the `-r' option is used, the search path is reset to the original
search path that existed at gdb start-up. If directories PATHDIR are
supplied in addition to the `-r' option, the search path is first reset
and then addition occurs as normal. Multiple directories may be
specified, separated by blanks. Specifying multiple directories in a
single command results in the directories added to the beginning of the
search path in the same order they were presented in the command. If
blanks are needed as part of a directory name, double-quotes should be
used around the name. In the command output, the path will show up
separated by the system directory-separator character. The
directory-separator character must not be used in any directory name.
If no directories are specified, the current path is displayed.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `path'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-environment-path
^done,path="/usr/bin"
(gdb)
-environment-path /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb /bin
^done,path="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/ppc-eabi/gdb:/bin:/usr/bin"
(gdb)
-environment-path -r /usr/local/bin
^done,path="/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin"
(gdb)
The `-environment-pwd' Command
------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-environment-pwd
Show the current working directory.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `pwd'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-environment-pwd
^done,cwd="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb"
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Thread Commands, Next: GDB/MI Program Execution, Prev: GDB/MI Program Context, Up: GDB/MI
27.10 GDB/MI Thread Commands
============================
The `-thread-info' Command
--------------------------
Synopsis
........
-thread-info [ THREAD-ID ]
Reports information about either a specific thread, if the THREAD-ID
parameter is present, or about all threads. When printing information
about all threads, also reports the current thread.
GDB Command
...........
The `info thread' command prints the same information about all threads.
Example
.......
-thread-info
^done,threads=[
{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
frame={level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]},state="running"},
{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
frame={level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[{name="i",value="10"}],
file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"},state="running"}],
current-thread-id="1"
(gdb)
The `state' field may have the following values:
`stopped'
The thread is stopped. Frame information is available for stopped
threads.
`running'
The thread is running. There's no frame information for running
threads.
The `-thread-list-ids' Command
------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-thread-list-ids
Produces a list of the currently known GDB thread ids. At the end
of the list it also prints the total number of such threads.
This command is retained for historical reasons, the `-thread-info'
command should be used instead.
GDB Command
...........
Part of `info threads' supplies the same information.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-thread-list-ids
^done,thread-ids={thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"},
current-thread-id="1",number-of-threads="3"
(gdb)
The `-thread-select' Command
----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-thread-select THREADNUM
Make THREADNUM the current thread. It prints the number of the new
current thread, and the topmost frame for that thread.
This command is deprecated in favor of explicitly using the
`--thread' option to each command.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `thread'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-exec-next
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",thread-id="2",line="187",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/linux-dp.c"
(gdb)
-thread-list-ids
^done,
thread-ids={thread-id="3",thread-id="2",thread-id="1"},
number-of-threads="3"
(gdb)
-thread-select 3
^done,new-thread-id="3",
frame={level="0",func="vprintf",
args=[{name="format",value="0x8048e9c \"%*s%c %d %c\\n\""},
{name="arg",value="0x2"}],file="vprintf.c",line="31"}
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Program Execution, Next: GDB/MI Stack Manipulation, Prev: GDB/MI Thread Commands, Up: GDB/MI
27.11 GDB/MI Program Execution
==============================
These are the asynchronous commands which generate the out-of-band
record `*stopped'. Currently GDB only really executes asynchronously
with remote targets and this interaction is mimicked in other cases.
The `-exec-continue' Command
----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-continue [--reverse] [--all|--thread-group N]
Resumes the execution of the inferior program, which will continue
to execute until it reaches a debugger stop event. If the `--reverse'
option is specified, execution resumes in reverse until it reaches a
stop event. Stop events may include
* breakpoints or watchpoints
* signals or exceptions
* the end of the process (or its beginning under `--reverse')
* the end or beginning of a replay log if one is being used.
In all-stop mode (*note All-Stop Mode::), may resume only one
thread, or all threads, depending on the value of the
`scheduler-locking' variable. If `--all' is specified, all threads
will be resumed. The `--all' option is ignored in all-stop mode. If
the `--thread-group' options is specified, then all threads in that
thread group are resumed.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB corresponding is `continue'.
Example
.......
-exec-continue
^running
(gdb)
@Hello world
*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="2",frame={
func="foo",args=[],file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",
line="13"}
(gdb)
The `-exec-finish' Command
--------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-finish [--reverse]
Resumes the execution of the inferior program until the current
function is exited. Displays the results returned by the function. If
the `--reverse' option is specified, resumes the reverse execution of
the inferior program until the point where current function was called.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `finish'.
Example
.......
Function returning `void'.
-exec-finish
^running
(gdb)
@hello from foo
*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame={func="main",args=[],
file="hello.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/hello.c",line="7"}
(gdb)
Function returning other than `void'. The name of the internal GDB
variable storing the result is printed, together with the value itself.
-exec-finish
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="function-finished",frame={addr="0x000107b0",func="foo",
args=[{name="a",value="1"],{name="b",value="9"}},
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
gdb-result-var="$1",return-value="0"
(gdb)
The `-exec-interrupt' Command
-----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-interrupt [--all|--thread-group N]
Interrupts the background execution of the target. Note how the
token associated with the stop message is the one for the execution
command that has been interrupted. The token for the interrupt itself
only appears in the `^done' output. If the user is trying to interrupt
a non-running program, an error message will be printed.
Note that when asynchronous execution is enabled, this command is
asynchronous just like other execution commands. That is, first the
`^done' response will be printed, and the target stop will be reported
after that using the `*stopped' notification.
In non-stop mode, only the context thread is interrupted by default.
All threads will be interrupted if the `--all' option is specified. If
the `--thread-group' option is specified, all threads in that group
will be interrupted.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `interrupt'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
111-exec-continue
111^running
(gdb)
222-exec-interrupt
222^done
(gdb)
111*stopped,signal-name="SIGINT",signal-meaning="Interrupt",
frame={addr="0x00010140",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="13"}
(gdb)
(gdb)
-exec-interrupt
^error,msg="mi_cmd_exec_interrupt: Inferior not executing."
(gdb)
The `-exec-jump' Command
------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-jump LOCATION
Resumes execution of the inferior program at the location specified
by parameter. *Note Specify Location::, for a description of the
different forms of LOCATION.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `jump'.
Example
.......
-exec-jump foo.c:10
*running,thread-id="all"
^running
The `-exec-next' Command
------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-next [--reverse]
Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the
beginning of the next source line is reached.
If the `--reverse' option is specified, resumes reverse execution of
the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of the previous source
line. If you issue this command on the first line of a function, it
will take you back to the caller of that function, to the source line
where the function was called.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `next'.
Example
.......
-exec-next
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="8",file="hello.c"
(gdb)
The `-exec-next-instruction' Command
------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-next-instruction [--reverse]
Executes one machine instruction. If the instruction is a function
call, continues until the function returns. If the program stops at an
instruction in the middle of a source line, the address will be printed
as well.
If the `--reverse' option is specified, resumes reverse execution of
the inferior program, stopping at the previous instruction. If the
previously executed instruction was a return from another function, it
will continue to execute in reverse until the call to that function
(from the current stack frame) is reached.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `nexti'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-exec-next-instruction
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
addr="0x000100d4",line="5",file="hello.c"
(gdb)
The `-exec-return' Command
--------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-return
Makes current function return immediately. Doesn't execute the
inferior. Displays the new current frame.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `return'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
200-break-insert callee4
200^done,bkpt={number="1",addr="0x00010734",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"}
(gdb)
000-exec-run
000^running
(gdb)
000*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
frame={func="callee4",args=[],
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"}
(gdb)
205-break-delete
205^done
(gdb)
111-exec-return
111^done,frame={level="0",func="callee3",
args=[{name="strarg",
value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""}],
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="18"}
(gdb)
The `-exec-run' Command
-----------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-run
Starts execution of the inferior from the beginning. The inferior
executes until either a breakpoint is encountered or the program exits.
In the latter case the output will include an exit code, if the
program has exited exceptionally.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `run'.
Examples
........
(gdb)
-break-insert main
^done,bkpt={number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",line="4"}
(gdb)
-exec-run
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",
frame={func="main",args=[],file="recursive2.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"}
(gdb)
Program exited normally:
(gdb)
-exec-run
^running
(gdb)
x = 55
*stopped,reason="exited-normally"
(gdb)
Program exited exceptionally:
(gdb)
-exec-run
^running
(gdb)
x = 55
*stopped,reason="exited",exit-code="01"
(gdb)
Another way the program can terminate is if it receives a signal
such as `SIGINT'. In this case, GDB/MI displays this:
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="exited-signalled",signal-name="SIGINT",
signal-meaning="Interrupt"
The `-exec-step' Command
------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-step [--reverse]
Resumes execution of the inferior program, stopping when the
beginning of the next source line is reached, if the next source line
is not a function call. If it is, stop at the first instruction of the
called function. If the `--reverse' option is specified, resumes
reverse execution of the inferior program, stopping at the beginning of
the previously executed source line.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `step'.
Example
.......
Stepping into a function:
-exec-step
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
frame={func="foo",args=[{name="a",value="10"},
{name="b",value="0"}],file="recursive2.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"}
(gdb)
Regular stepping:
-exec-step
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",line="14",file="recursive2.c"
(gdb)
The `-exec-step-instruction' Command
------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-step-instruction [--reverse]
Resumes the inferior which executes one machine instruction. If the
`--reverse' option is specified, resumes reverse execution of the
inferior program, stopping at the previously executed instruction. The
output, once GDB has stopped, will vary depending on whether we have
stopped in the middle of a source line or not. In the former case, the
address at which the program stopped will be printed as well.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `stepi'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-exec-step-instruction
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
frame={func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"}
(gdb)
-exec-step-instruction
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="end-stepping-range",
frame={addr="0x000100f4",func="foo",args=[],file="try.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",line="10"}
(gdb)
The `-exec-until' Command
-------------------------
Synopsis
........
-exec-until [ LOCATION ]
Executes the inferior until the LOCATION specified in the argument
is reached. If there is no argument, the inferior executes until a
source line greater than the current one is reached. The reason for
stopping in this case will be `location-reached'.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `until'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-exec-until recursive2.c:6
^running
(gdb)
x = 55
*stopped,reason="location-reached",frame={func="main",args=[],
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="6"}
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Stack Manipulation, Next: GDB/MI Variable Objects, Prev: GDB/MI Program Execution, Up: GDB/MI
27.12 GDB/MI Stack Manipulation Commands
========================================
The `-stack-info-frame' Command
-------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-stack-info-frame
Get info on the selected frame.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `info frame' or `frame' (without
arguments).
Example
.......
(gdb)
-stack-info-frame
^done,frame={level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"}
(gdb)
The `-stack-info-depth' Command
-------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-stack-info-depth [ MAX-DEPTH ]
Return the depth of the stack. If the integer argument MAX-DEPTH is
specified, do not count beyond MAX-DEPTH frames.
GDB Command
...........
There's no equivalent GDB command.
Example
.......
For a stack with frame levels 0 through 11:
(gdb)
-stack-info-depth
^done,depth="12"
(gdb)
-stack-info-depth 4
^done,depth="4"
(gdb)
-stack-info-depth 12
^done,depth="12"
(gdb)
-stack-info-depth 11
^done,depth="11"
(gdb)
-stack-info-depth 13
^done,depth="12"
(gdb)
The `-stack-list-arguments' Command
-----------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-stack-list-arguments PRINT-VALUES
[ LOW-FRAME HIGH-FRAME ]
Display a list of the arguments for the frames between LOW-FRAME and
HIGH-FRAME (inclusive). If LOW-FRAME and HIGH-FRAME are not provided,
list the arguments for the whole call stack. If the two arguments are
equal, show the single frame at the corresponding level. It is an
error if LOW-FRAME is larger than the actual number of frames. On the
other hand, HIGH-FRAME may be larger than the actual number of frames,
in which case only existing frames will be returned.
If PRINT-VALUES is 0 or `--no-values', print only the names of the
variables; if it is 1 or `--all-values', print also their values; and
if it is 2 or `--simple-values', print the name, type and value for
simple data types, and the name and type for arrays, structures and
unions.
Use of this command to obtain arguments in a single frame is
deprecated in favor of the `-stack-list-variables' command.
GDB Command
...........
GDB does not have an equivalent command. `gdbtk' has a `gdb_get_args'
command which partially overlaps with the functionality of
`-stack-list-arguments'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-stack-list-frames
^done,
stack=[
frame={level="0",addr="0x00010734",func="callee4",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="8"},
frame={level="1",addr="0x0001076c",func="callee3",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="17"},
frame={level="2",addr="0x0001078c",func="callee2",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="22"},
frame={level="3",addr="0x000107b4",func="callee1",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="27"},
frame={level="4",addr="0x000107e0",func="main",
file="../../../devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",
fullname="/home/foo/bar/devo/gdb/testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line="32"}]
(gdb)
-stack-list-arguments 0
^done,
stack-args=[
frame={level="0",args=[]},
frame={level="1",args=[name="strarg"]},
frame={level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]},
frame={level="3",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg",name="fltarg"]},
frame={level="4",args=[]}]
(gdb)
-stack-list-arguments 1
^done,
stack-args=[
frame={level="0",args=[]},
frame={level="1",
args=[{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""}]},
frame={level="2",args=[
{name="intarg",value="2"},
{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""}]},
{frame={level="3",args=[
{name="intarg",value="2"},
{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""},
{name="fltarg",value="3.5"}]},
frame={level="4",args=[]}]
(gdb)
-stack-list-arguments 0 2 2
^done,stack-args=[frame={level="2",args=[name="intarg",name="strarg"]}]
(gdb)
-stack-list-arguments 1 2 2
^done,stack-args=[frame={level="2",
args=[{name="intarg",value="2"},
{name="strarg",value="0x11940 \"A string argument.\""}]}]
(gdb)
The `-stack-list-frames' Command
--------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-stack-list-frames [ LOW-FRAME HIGH-FRAME ]
List the frames currently on the stack. For each frame it displays
the following info:
`LEVEL'
The frame number, 0 being the topmost frame, i.e., the innermost
function.
`ADDR'
The `$pc' value for that frame.
`FUNC'
Function name.
`FILE'
File name of the source file where the function lives.
`LINE'
Line number corresponding to the `$pc'.
If invoked without arguments, this command prints a backtrace for the
whole stack. If given two integer arguments, it shows the frames whose
levels are between the two arguments (inclusive). If the two arguments
are equal, it shows the single frame at the corresponding level. It is
an error if LOW-FRAME is larger than the actual number of frames. On
the other hand, HIGH-FRAME may be larger than the actual number of
frames, in which case only existing frames will be returned.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB commands are `backtrace' and `where'.
Example
.......
Full stack backtrace:
(gdb)
-stack-list-frames
^done,stack=
[frame={level="0",addr="0x0001076c",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="11"},
frame={level="1",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="2",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="6",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="7",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="8",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="9",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="10",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="11",addr="0x00010738",func="main",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="4"}]
(gdb)
Show frames between LOW_FRAME and HIGH_FRAME:
(gdb)
-stack-list-frames 3 5
^done,stack=
[frame={level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="4",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"},
frame={level="5",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"}]
(gdb)
Show a single frame:
(gdb)
-stack-list-frames 3 3
^done,stack=
[frame={level="3",addr="0x000107a4",func="foo",
file="recursive2.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/recursive2.c",line="14"}]
(gdb)
The `-stack-list-locals' Command
--------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-stack-list-locals PRINT-VALUES
Display the local variable names for the selected frame. If
PRINT-VALUES is 0 or `--no-values', print only the names of the
variables; if it is 1 or `--all-values', print also their values; and
if it is 2 or `--simple-values', print the name, type and value for
simple data types, and the name and type for arrays, structures and
unions. In this last case, a frontend can immediately display the
value of simple data types and create variable objects for other data
types when the user wishes to explore their values in more detail.
This command is deprecated in favor of the `-stack-list-variables'
command.
GDB Command
...........
`info locals' in GDB, `gdb_get_locals' in `gdbtk'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-stack-list-locals 0
^done,locals=[name="A",name="B",name="C"]
(gdb)
-stack-list-locals --all-values
^done,locals=[{name="A",value="1"},{name="B",value="2"},
{name="C",value="{1, 2, 3}"}]
-stack-list-locals --simple-values
^done,locals=[{name="A",type="int",value="1"},
{name="B",type="int",value="2"},{name="C",type="int [3]"}]
(gdb)
The `-stack-list-variables' Command
-----------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-stack-list-variables PRINT-VALUES
Display the names of local variables and function arguments for the
selected frame. If PRINT-VALUES is 0 or `--no-values', print only the
names of the variables; if it is 1 or `--all-values', print also their
values; and if it is 2 or `--simple-values', print the name, type and
value for simple data types, and the name and type for arrays,
structures and unions.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-stack-list-variables --thread 1 --frame 0 --all-values
^done,variables=[{name="x",value="11"},{name="s",value="{a = 1, b = 2}"}]
(gdb)
The `-stack-select-frame' Command
---------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-stack-select-frame FRAMENUM
Change the selected frame. Select a different frame FRAMENUM on the
stack.
This command in deprecated in favor of passing the `--frame' option
to every command.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB commands are `frame', `up', `down',
`select-frame', `up-silent', and `down-silent'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-stack-select-frame 2
^done
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Variable Objects, Next: GDB/MI Data Manipulation, Prev: GDB/MI Stack Manipulation, Up: GDB/MI
27.13 GDB/MI Variable Objects
=============================
Introduction to Variable Objects
--------------------------------
Variable objects are "object-oriented" MI interface for examining and
changing values of expressions. Unlike some other MI interfaces that
work with expressions, variable objects are specifically designed for
simple and efficient presentation in the frontend. A variable object
is identified by string name. When a variable object is created, the
frontend specifies the expression for that variable object. The
expression can be a simple variable, or it can be an arbitrary complex
expression, and can even involve CPU registers. After creating a
variable object, the frontend can invoke other variable object
operations--for example to obtain or change the value of a variable
object, or to change display format.
Variable objects have hierarchical tree structure. Any variable
object that corresponds to a composite type, such as structure in C, has
a number of child variable objects, for example corresponding to each
element of a structure. A child variable object can itself have
children, recursively. Recursion ends when we reach leaf variable
objects, which always have built-in types. Child variable objects are
created only by explicit request, so if a frontend is not interested in
the children of a particular variable object, no child will be created.
For a leaf variable object it is possible to obtain its value as a
string, or set the value from a string. String value can be also
obtained for a non-leaf variable object, but it's generally a string
that only indicates the type of the object, and does not list its
contents. Assignment to a non-leaf variable object is not allowed.
A frontend does not need to read the values of all variable objects
each time the program stops. Instead, MI provides an update command
that lists all variable objects whose values has changed since the last
update operation. This considerably reduces the amount of data that
must be transferred to the frontend. As noted above, children variable
objects are created on demand, and only leaf variable objects have a
real value. As result, gdb will read target memory only for leaf
variables that frontend has created.
The automatic update is not always desirable. For example, a
frontend might want to keep a value of some expression for future
reference, and never update it. For another example, fetching memory
is relatively slow for embedded targets, so a frontend might want to
disable automatic update for the variables that are either not visible
on the screen, or "closed". This is possible using so called "frozen
variable objects". Such variable objects are never implicitly updated.
Variable objects can be either "fixed" or "floating". For the fixed
variable object, the expression is parsed when the variable object is
created, including associating identifiers to specific variables. The
meaning of expression never changes. For a floating variable object
the values of variables whose names appear in the expressions are
re-evaluated every time in the context of the current frame. Consider
this example:
void do_work(...)
{
struct work_state state;
if (...)
do_work(...);
}
If a fixed variable object for the `state' variable is created in
this function, and we enter the recursive call, the the variable object
will report the value of `state' in the top-level `do_work' invocation.
On the other hand, a floating variable object will report the value of
`state' in the current frame.
If an expression specified when creating a fixed variable object
refers to a local variable, the variable object becomes bound to the
thread and frame in which the variable object is created. When such
variable object is updated, GDB makes sure that the thread/frame
combination the variable object is bound to still exists, and
re-evaluates the variable object in context of that thread/frame.
The following is the complete set of GDB/MI operations defined to
access this functionality:
*Operation* *Description*
`-enable-pretty-printing' enable Python-based pretty-printing
`-var-create' create a variable object
`-var-delete' delete the variable object and/or its
children
`-var-set-format' set the display format of this variable
`-var-show-format' show the display format of this variable
`-var-info-num-children' tells how many children this object has
`-var-list-children' return a list of the object's children
`-var-info-type' show the type of this variable object
`-var-info-expression' print parent-relative expression that this
variable object represents
`-var-info-path-expression' print full expression that this variable
object represents
`-var-show-attributes' is this variable editable? does it exist
here?
`-var-evaluate-expression' get the value of this variable
`-var-assign' set the value of this variable
`-var-update' update the variable and its children
`-var-set-frozen' set frozeness attribute
`-var-set-update-range' set range of children to display on update
In the next subsection we describe each operation in detail and
suggest how it can be used.
Description And Use of Operations on Variable Objects
-----------------------------------------------------
The `-enable-pretty-printing' Command
-------------------------------------
-enable-pretty-printing
GDB allows Python-based visualizers to affect the output of the MI
variable object commands. However, because there was no way to
implement this in a fully backward-compatible way, a front end must
request that this functionality be enabled.
Once enabled, this feature cannot be disabled.
Note that if Python support has not been compiled into GDB, this
command will still succeed (and do nothing).
This feature is currently (as of GDB 7.0) experimental, and may work
differently in future versions of GDB.
The `-var-create' Command
-------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-create {NAME | "-"}
{FRAME-ADDR | "*" | "@"} EXPRESSION
This operation creates a variable object, which allows the
monitoring of a variable, the result of an expression, a memory cell or
a CPU register.
The NAME parameter is the string by which the object can be
referenced. It must be unique. If `-' is specified, the varobj system
will generate a string "varNNNNNN" automatically. It will be unique
provided that one does not specify NAME of that format. The command
fails if a duplicate name is found.
The frame under which the expression should be evaluated can be
specified by FRAME-ADDR. A `*' indicates that the current frame should
be used. A `@' indicates that a floating variable object must be
created.
EXPRESSION is any expression valid on the current language set (must
not begin with a `*'), or one of the following:
* `*ADDR', where ADDR is the address of a memory cell
* `*ADDR-ADDR' -- a memory address range (TBD)
* `$REGNAME' -- a CPU register name
A varobj's contents may be provided by a Python-based
pretty-printer. In this case the varobj is known as a "dynamic
varobj". Dynamic varobjs have slightly different semantics in some
cases. If the `-enable-pretty-printing' command is not sent, then GDB
will never create a dynamic varobj. This ensures backward
compatibility for existing clients.
Result
......
This operation returns attributes of the newly-created varobj. These
are:
`name'
The name of the varobj.
`numchild'
The number of children of the varobj. This number is not
necessarily reliable for a dynamic varobj. Instead, you must
examine the `has_more' attribute.
`value'
The varobj's scalar value. For a varobj whose type is some sort of
aggregate (e.g., a `struct'), or for a dynamic varobj, this value
will not be interesting.
`type'
The varobj's type. This is a string representation of the type, as
would be printed by the GDB CLI.
`thread-id'
If a variable object is bound to a specific thread, then this is
the thread's identifier.
`has_more'
For a dynamic varobj, this indicates whether there appear to be any
children available. For a non-dynamic varobj, this will be 0.
`dynamic'
This attribute will be present and have the value `1' if the
varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
then this attribute will not be present.
`displayhint'
A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
`display_hint' method. *Note Pretty Printing::.
Typical output will look like this:
name="NAME",numchild="N",type="TYPE",thread-id="M",
has_more="HAS_MORE"
The `-var-delete' Command
-------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-delete [ -c ] NAME
Deletes a previously created variable object and all of its children.
With the `-c' option, just deletes the children.
Returns an error if the object NAME is not found.
The `-var-set-format' Command
-----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-set-format NAME FORMAT-SPEC
Sets the output format for the value of the object NAME to be
FORMAT-SPEC.
The syntax for the FORMAT-SPEC is as follows:
FORMAT-SPEC ==>
{binary | decimal | hexadecimal | octal | natural}
The natural format is the default format choosen automatically based
on the variable type (like decimal for an `int', hex for pointers,
etc.).
For a variable with children, the format is set only on the variable
itself, and the children are not affected.
The `-var-show-format' Command
------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-show-format NAME
Returns the format used to display the value of the object NAME.
FORMAT ==>
FORMAT-SPEC
The `-var-info-num-children' Command
------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-info-num-children NAME
Returns the number of children of a variable object NAME:
numchild=N
Note that this number is not completely reliable for a dynamic
varobj. It will return the current number of children, but more
children may be available.
The `-var-list-children' Command
--------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-list-children [PRINT-VALUES] NAME [FROM TO]
Return a list of the children of the specified variable object and
create variable objects for them, if they do not already exist. With a
single argument or if PRINT-VALUES has a value for of 0 or
`--no-values', print only the names of the variables; if PRINT-VALUES
is 1 or `--all-values', also print their values; and if it is 2 or
`--simple-values' print the name and value for simple data types and
just the name for arrays, structures and unions.
FROM and TO, if specified, indicate the range of children to report.
If FROM or TO is less than zero, the range is reset and all children
will be reported. Otherwise, children starting at FROM (zero-based)
and up to and excluding TO will be reported.
If a child range is requested, it will only affect the current call
to `-var-list-children', but not future calls to `-var-update'. For
this, you must instead use `-var-set-update-range'. The intent of this
approach is to enable a front end to implement any update approach it
likes; for example, scrolling a view may cause the front end to request
more children with `-var-list-children', and then the front end could
call `-var-set-update-range' with a different range to ensure that
future updates are restricted to just the visible items.
For each child the following results are returned:
NAME
Name of the variable object created for this child.
EXP
The expression to be shown to the user by the front end to
designate this child. For example this may be the name of a
structure member.
For a dynamic varobj, this value cannot be used to form an
expression. There is no way to do this at all with a dynamic
varobj.
For C/C++ structures there are several pseudo children returned to
designate access qualifiers. For these pseudo children EXP is
`public', `private', or `protected'. In this case the type and
value are not present.
A dynamic varobj will not report the access qualifying
pseudo-children, regardless of the language. This information is
not available at all with a dynamic varobj.
NUMCHILD
Number of children this child has. For a dynamic varobj, this
will be 0.
TYPE
The type of the child.
VALUE
If values were requested, this is the value.
THREAD-ID
If this variable object is associated with a thread, this is the
thread id. Otherwise this result is not present.
FROZEN
If the variable object is frozen, this variable will be present
with a value of 1.
The result may have its own attributes:
`displayhint'
A dynamic varobj can supply a display hint to the front end. The
value comes directly from the Python pretty-printer object's
`display_hint' method. *Note Pretty Printing::.
`has_more'
This is an integer attribute which is nonzero if there are children
remaining after the end of the selected range.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-var-list-children n
^done,numchild=N,children=[child={name=NAME,exp=EXP,
numchild=N,type=TYPE},(repeats N times)]
(gdb)
-var-list-children --all-values n
^done,numchild=N,children=[child={name=NAME,exp=EXP,
numchild=N,value=VALUE,type=TYPE},(repeats N times)]
The `-var-info-type' Command
----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-info-type NAME
Returns the type of the specified variable NAME. The type is
returned as a string in the same format as it is output by the GDB CLI:
type=TYPENAME
The `-var-info-expression' Command
----------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-info-expression NAME
Returns a string that is suitable for presenting this variable
object in user interface. The string is generally not valid expression
in the current language, and cannot be evaluated.
For example, if `a' is an array, and variable object `A' was created
for `a', then we'll get this output:
(gdb) -var-info-expression A.1
^done,lang="C",exp="1"
Here, the values of `lang' can be `{"C" | "C++" | "Java"}'.
Note that the output of the `-var-list-children' command also
includes those expressions, so the `-var-info-expression' command is of
limited use.
The `-var-info-path-expression' Command
---------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-info-path-expression NAME
Returns an expression that can be evaluated in the current context
and will yield the same value that a variable object has. Compare this
with the `-var-info-expression' command, which result can be used only
for UI presentation. Typical use of the `-var-info-path-expression'
command is creating a watchpoint from a variable object.
This command is currently not valid for children of a dynamic varobj,
and will give an error when invoked on one.
For example, suppose `C' is a C++ class, derived from class `Base',
and that the `Base' class has a member called `m_size'. Assume a
variable `c' is has the type of `C' and a variable object `C' was
created for variable `c'. Then, we'll get this output:
(gdb) -var-info-path-expression C.Base.public.m_size
^done,path_expr=((Base)c).m_size)
The `-var-show-attributes' Command
----------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-show-attributes NAME
List attributes of the specified variable object NAME:
status=ATTR [ ( ,ATTR )* ]
where ATTR is `{ { editable | noneditable } | TBD }'.
The `-var-evaluate-expression' Command
--------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-evaluate-expression [-f FORMAT-SPEC] NAME
Evaluates the expression that is represented by the specified
variable object and returns its value as a string. The format of the
string can be specified with the `-f' option. The possible values of
this option are the same as for `-var-set-format' (*note
-var-set-format::). If the `-f' option is not specified, the current
display format will be used. The current display format can be changed
using the `-var-set-format' command.
value=VALUE
Note that one must invoke `-var-list-children' for a variable before
the value of a child variable can be evaluated.
The `-var-assign' Command
-------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-assign NAME EXPRESSION
Assigns the value of EXPRESSION to the variable object specified by
NAME. The object must be `editable'. If the variable's value is
altered by the assign, the variable will show up in any subsequent
`-var-update' list.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-var-assign var1 3
^done,value="3"
(gdb)
-var-update *
^done,changelist=[{name="var1",in_scope="true",type_changed="false"}]
(gdb)
The `-var-update' Command
-------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-update [PRINT-VALUES] {NAME | "*"}
Reevaluate the expressions corresponding to the variable object NAME
and all its direct and indirect children, and return the list of
variable objects whose values have changed; NAME must be a root
variable object. Here, "changed" means that the result of
`-var-evaluate-expression' before and after the `-var-update' is
different. If `*' is used as the variable object names, all existing
variable objects are updated, except for frozen ones (*note
-var-set-frozen::). The option PRINT-VALUES determines whether both
names and values, or just names are printed. The possible values of
this option are the same as for `-var-list-children' (*note
-var-list-children::). It is recommended to use the `--all-values'
option, to reduce the number of MI commands needed on each program stop.
With the `*' parameter, if a variable object is bound to a currently
running thread, it will not be updated, without any diagnostic.
If `-var-set-update-range' was previously used on a varobj, then
only the selected range of children will be reported.
`-var-update' reports all the changed varobjs in a tuple named
`changelist'.
Each item in the change list is itself a tuple holding:
`name'
The name of the varobj.
`value'
If values were requested for this update, then this field will be
present and will hold the value of the varobj.
`in_scope'
This field is a string which may take one of three values:
`"true"'
The variable object's current value is valid.
`"false"'
The variable object does not currently hold a valid value but
it may hold one in the future if its associated expression
comes back into scope.
`"invalid"'
The variable object no longer holds a valid value. This can
occur when the executable file being debugged has changed,
either through recompilation or by using the GDB `file'
command. The front end should normally choose to delete
these variable objects.
In the future new values may be added to this list so the front
should be prepared for this possibility. *Note GDB/MI Development
and Front Ends: GDB/MI Development and Front Ends.
`type_changed'
This is only present if the varobj is still valid. If the type
changed, then this will be the string `true'; otherwise it will be
`false'.
`new_type'
If the varobj's type changed, then this field will be present and
will hold the new type.
`new_num_children'
For a dynamic varobj, if the number of children changed, or if the
type changed, this will be the new number of children.
The `numchild' field in other varobj responses is generally not
valid for a dynamic varobj - it will show the number of children
that GDB knows about, but because dynamic varobjs lazily
instantiate their children, this will not reflect the number of
children which may be available.
The `new_num_children' attribute only reports changes to the
number of children known by GDB. This is the only way to detect
whether an update has removed children (which necessarily can only
happen at the end of the update range).
`displayhint'
The display hint, if any.
`has_more'
This is an integer value, which will be 1 if there are more
children available outside the varobj's update range.
`dynamic'
This attribute will be present and have the value `1' if the
varobj is a dynamic varobj. If the varobj is not a dynamic varobj,
then this attribute will not be present.
`new_children'
If new children were added to a dynamic varobj within the selected
update range (as set by `-var-set-update-range'), then they will
be listed in this attribute.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-var-assign var1 3
^done,value="3"
(gdb)
-var-update --all-values var1
^done,changelist=[{name="var1",value="3",in_scope="true",
type_changed="false"}]
(gdb)
The `-var-set-frozen' Command
-----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-set-frozen NAME FLAG
Set the frozenness flag on the variable object NAME. The FLAG
parameter should be either `1' to make the variable frozen or `0' to
make it unfrozen. If a variable object is frozen, then neither itself,
nor any of its children, are implicitly updated by `-var-update' of a
parent variable or by `-var-update *'. Only `-var-update' of the
variable itself will update its value and values of its children.
After a variable object is unfrozen, it is implicitly updated by all
subsequent `-var-update' operations. Unfreezing a variable does not
update it, only subsequent `-var-update' does.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-var-set-frozen V 1
^done
(gdb)
The `-var-set-update-range' command
-----------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-set-update-range NAME FROM TO
Set the range of children to be returned by future invocations of
`-var-update'.
FROM and TO indicate the range of children to report. If FROM or TO
is less than zero, the range is reset and all children will be
reported. Otherwise, children starting at FROM (zero-based) and up to
and excluding TO will be reported.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-var-set-update-range V 1 2
^done
The `-var-set-visualizer' command
---------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-var-set-visualizer NAME VISUALIZER
Set a visualizer for the variable object NAME.
VISUALIZER is the visualizer to use. The special value `None' means
to disable any visualizer in use.
If not `None', VISUALIZER must be a Python expression. This
expression must evaluate to a callable object which accepts a single
argument. GDB will call this object with the value of the varobj NAME
as an argument (this is done so that the same Python pretty-printing
code can be used for both the CLI and MI). When called, this object
must return an object which conforms to the pretty-printing interface
(*note Pretty Printing::).
The pre-defined function `gdb.default_visualizer' may be used to
select a visualizer by following the built-in process (*note Selecting
Pretty-Printers::). This is done automatically when a varobj is
created, and so ordinarily is not needed.
This feature is only available if Python support is enabled. The MI
command `-list-features' (*note GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands::) can be
used to check this.
Example
.......
Resetting the visualizer:
(gdb)
-var-set-visualizer V None
^done
Reselecting the default (type-based) visualizer:
(gdb)
-var-set-visualizer V gdb.default_visualizer
^done
Suppose `SomeClass' is a visualizer class. A lambda expression can
be used to instantiate this class for a varobj:
(gdb)
-var-set-visualizer V "lambda val: SomeClass()"
^done
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Data Manipulation, Next: GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands, Prev: GDB/MI Variable Objects, Up: GDB/MI
27.14 GDB/MI Data Manipulation
==============================
This section describes the GDB/MI commands that manipulate data:
examine memory and registers, evaluate expressions, etc.
The `-data-disassemble' Command
-------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-data-disassemble
[ -s START-ADDR -e END-ADDR ]
| [ -f FILENAME -l LINENUM [ -n LINES ] ]
-- MODE
Where:
`START-ADDR'
is the beginning address (or `$pc')
`END-ADDR'
is the end address
`FILENAME'
is the name of the file to disassemble
`LINENUM'
is the line number to disassemble around
`LINES'
is the number of disassembly lines to be produced. If it is -1,
the whole function will be disassembled, in case no END-ADDR is
specified. If END-ADDR is specified as a non-zero value, and
LINES is lower than the number of disassembly lines between
START-ADDR and END-ADDR, only LINES lines are displayed; if LINES
is higher than the number of lines between START-ADDR and
END-ADDR, only the lines up to END-ADDR are displayed.
`MODE'
is either 0 (meaning only disassembly) or 1 (meaning mixed source
and disassembly).
Result
......
The output for each instruction is composed of four fields:
* Address
* Func-name
* Offset
* Instruction
Note that whatever included in the instruction field, is not
manipulated directly by GDB/MI, i.e., it is not possible to adjust its
format.
GDB Command
...........
There's no direct mapping from this command to the CLI.
Example
.......
Disassemble from the current value of `$pc' to `$pc + 20':
(gdb)
-data-disassemble -s $pc -e "$pc + 20" -- 0
^done,
asm_insns=[
{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
inst="mov 2, %o0"},
{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"},
{address="0x000107c8",func-name="main",offset="12",
inst="or %o2, 0x140, %o1\t! 0x11940 <_lib_version+8>"},
{address="0x000107cc",func-name="main",offset="16",
inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"},
{address="0x000107d0",func-name="main",offset="20",
inst="or %o2, 0x168, %o4\t! 0x11968 <_lib_version+48>"}]
(gdb)
Disassemble the whole `main' function. Line 32 is part of `main'.
-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -- 0
^done,asm_insns=[
{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"},
{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
inst="mov 2, %o0"},
{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"},
[...]
{address="0x0001081c",func-name="main",offset="96",inst="ret "},
{address="0x00010820",func-name="main",offset="100",inst="restore "}]
(gdb)
Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of `main':
(gdb)
-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 0
^done,asm_insns=[
{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"},
{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
inst="mov 2, %o0"},
{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"}]
(gdb)
Disassemble 3 instructions from the start of `main' in mixed mode:
(gdb)
-data-disassemble -f basics.c -l 32 -n 3 -- 1
^done,asm_insns=[
src_and_asm_line={line="31",
file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
{address="0x000107bc",func-name="main",offset="0",
inst="save %sp, -112, %sp"}]},
src_and_asm_line={line="32",
file="/kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/flathead-dev/devo/gdb/ \
testsuite/gdb.mi/basics.c",line_asm_insn=[
{address="0x000107c0",func-name="main",offset="4",
inst="mov 2, %o0"},
{address="0x000107c4",func-name="main",offset="8",
inst="sethi %hi(0x11800), %o2"}]}]
(gdb)
The `-data-evaluate-expression' Command
---------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-data-evaluate-expression EXPR
Evaluate EXPR as an expression. The expression could contain an
inferior function call. The function call will execute synchronously.
If the expression contains spaces, it must be enclosed in double quotes.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB commands are `print', `output', and `call'. In
`gdbtk' only, there's a corresponding `gdb_eval' command.
Example
.......
In the following example, the numbers that precede the commands are the
"tokens" described in *Note GDB/MI Command Syntax: GDB/MI Command
Syntax. Notice how GDB/MI returns the same tokens in its output.
211-data-evaluate-expression A
211^done,value="1"
(gdb)
311-data-evaluate-expression &A
311^done,value="0xefffeb7c"
(gdb)
411-data-evaluate-expression A+3
411^done,value="4"
(gdb)
511-data-evaluate-expression "A + 3"
511^done,value="4"
(gdb)
The `-data-list-changed-registers' Command
------------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-data-list-changed-registers
Display a list of the registers that have changed.
GDB Command
...........
GDB doesn't have a direct analog for this command; `gdbtk' has the
corresponding command `gdb_changed_register_list'.
Example
.......
On a PPC MBX board:
(gdb)
-exec-continue
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",frame={
func="main",args=[],file="try.c",fullname="/home/foo/bar/try.c",
line="5"}
(gdb)
-data-list-changed-registers
^done,changed-registers=["0","1","2","4","5","6","7","8","9",
"10","11","13","14","15","16","17","18","19","20","21","22","23",
"24","25","26","27","28","30","31","64","65","66","67","69"]
(gdb)
The `-data-list-register-names' Command
---------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-data-list-register-names [ ( REGNO )+ ]
Show a list of register names for the current target. If no
arguments are given, it shows a list of the names of all the registers.
If integer numbers are given as arguments, it will print a list of the
names of the registers corresponding to the arguments. To ensure
consistency between a register name and its number, the output list may
include empty register names.
GDB Command
...........
GDB does not have a command which corresponds to
`-data-list-register-names'. In `gdbtk' there is a corresponding
command `gdb_regnames'.
Example
.......
For the PPC MBX board:
(gdb)
-data-list-register-names
^done,register-names=["r0","r1","r2","r3","r4","r5","r6","r7",
"r8","r9","r10","r11","r12","r13","r14","r15","r16","r17","r18",
"r19","r20","r21","r22","r23","r24","r25","r26","r27","r28","r29",
"r30","r31","f0","f1","f2","f3","f4","f5","f6","f7","f8","f9",
"f10","f11","f12","f13","f14","f15","f16","f17","f18","f19","f20",
"f21","f22","f23","f24","f25","f26","f27","f28","f29","f30","f31",
"", "pc","ps","cr","lr","ctr","xer"]
(gdb)
-data-list-register-names 1 2 3
^done,register-names=["r1","r2","r3"]
(gdb)
The `-data-list-register-values' Command
----------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-data-list-register-values FMT [ ( REGNO )*]
Display the registers' contents. FMT is the format according to
which the registers' contents are to be returned, followed by an
optional list of numbers specifying the registers to display. A
missing list of numbers indicates that the contents of all the
registers must be returned.
Allowed formats for FMT are:
`x'
Hexadecimal
`o'
Octal
`t'
Binary
`d'
Decimal
`r'
Raw
`N'
Natural
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB commands are `info reg', `info all-reg', and (in
`gdbtk') `gdb_fetch_registers'.
Example
.......
For a PPC MBX board (note: line breaks are for readability only, they
don't appear in the actual output):
(gdb)
-data-list-register-values r 64 65
^done,register-values=[{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"},
{number="65",value="0x00029002"}]
(gdb)
-data-list-register-values x
^done,register-values=[{number="0",value="0xfe0043c8"},
{number="1",value="0x3fff88"},{number="2",value="0xfffffffe"},
{number="3",value="0x0"},{number="4",value="0xa"},
{number="5",value="0x3fff68"},{number="6",value="0x3fff58"},
{number="7",value="0xfe011e98"},{number="8",value="0x2"},
{number="9",value="0xfa202820"},{number="10",value="0xfa202808"},
{number="11",value="0x1"},{number="12",value="0x0"},
{number="13",value="0x4544"},{number="14",value="0xffdfffff"},
{number="15",value="0xffffffff"},{number="16",value="0xfffffeff"},
{number="17",value="0xefffffed"},{number="18",value="0xfffffffe"},
{number="19",value="0xffffffff"},{number="20",value="0xffffffff"},
{number="21",value="0xffffffff"},{number="22",value="0xfffffff7"},
{number="23",value="0xffffffff"},{number="24",value="0xffffffff"},
{number="25",value="0xffffffff"},{number="26",value="0xfffffffb"},
{number="27",value="0xffffffff"},{number="28",value="0xf7bfffff"},
{number="29",value="0x0"},{number="30",value="0xfe010000"},
{number="31",value="0x0"},{number="32",value="0x0"},
{number="33",value="0x0"},{number="34",value="0x0"},
{number="35",value="0x0"},{number="36",value="0x0"},
{number="37",value="0x0"},{number="38",value="0x0"},
{number="39",value="0x0"},{number="40",value="0x0"},
{number="41",value="0x0"},{number="42",value="0x0"},
{number="43",value="0x0"},{number="44",value="0x0"},
{number="45",value="0x0"},{number="46",value="0x0"},
{number="47",value="0x0"},{number="48",value="0x0"},
{number="49",value="0x0"},{number="50",value="0x0"},
{number="51",value="0x0"},{number="52",value="0x0"},
{number="53",value="0x0"},{number="54",value="0x0"},
{number="55",value="0x0"},{number="56",value="0x0"},
{number="57",value="0x0"},{number="58",value="0x0"},
{number="59",value="0x0"},{number="60",value="0x0"},
{number="61",value="0x0"},{number="62",value="0x0"},
{number="63",value="0x0"},{number="64",value="0xfe00a300"},
{number="65",value="0x29002"},{number="66",value="0x202f04b5"},
{number="67",value="0xfe0043b0"},{number="68",value="0xfe00b3e4"},
{number="69",value="0x20002b03"}]
(gdb)
The `-data-read-memory' Command
-------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-data-read-memory [ -o BYTE-OFFSET ]
ADDRESS WORD-FORMAT WORD-SIZE
NR-ROWS NR-COLS [ ASCHAR ]
where:
`ADDRESS'
An expression specifying the address of the first memory word to be
read. Complex expressions containing embedded white space should
be quoted using the C convention.
`WORD-FORMAT'
The format to be used to print the memory words. The notation is
the same as for GDB's `print' command (*note Output Formats:
Output Formats.).
`WORD-SIZE'
The size of each memory word in bytes.
`NR-ROWS'
The number of rows in the output table.
`NR-COLS'
The number of columns in the output table.
`ASCHAR'
If present, indicates that each row should include an ASCII dump.
The value of ASCHAR is used as a padding character when a byte is
not a member of the printable ASCII character set (printable ASCII
characters are those whose code is between 32 and 126,
inclusively).
`BYTE-OFFSET'
An offset to add to the ADDRESS before fetching memory.
This command displays memory contents as a table of NR-ROWS by
NR-COLS words, each word being WORD-SIZE bytes. In total, `NR-ROWS *
NR-COLS * WORD-SIZE' bytes are read (returned as `total-bytes').
Should less than the requested number of bytes be returned by the
target, the missing words are identified using `N/A'. The number of
bytes read from the target is returned in `nr-bytes' and the starting
address used to read memory in `addr'.
The address of the next/previous row or page is available in
`next-row' and `prev-row', `next-page' and `prev-page'.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `x'. `gdbtk' has `gdb_get_mem' memory
read command.
Example
.......
Read six bytes of memory starting at `bytes+6' but then offset by `-6'
bytes. Format as three rows of two columns. One byte per word.
Display each word in hex.
(gdb)
9-data-read-memory -o -6 -- bytes+6 x 1 3 2
9^done,addr="0x00001390",nr-bytes="6",total-bytes="6",
next-row="0x00001396",prev-row="0x0000138e",next-page="0x00001396",
prev-page="0x0000138a",memory=[
{addr="0x00001390",data=["0x00","0x01"]},
{addr="0x00001392",data=["0x02","0x03"]},
{addr="0x00001394",data=["0x04","0x05"]}]
(gdb)
Read two bytes of memory starting at address `shorts + 64' and
display as a single word formatted in decimal.
(gdb)
5-data-read-memory shorts+64 d 2 1 1
5^done,addr="0x00001510",nr-bytes="2",total-bytes="2",
next-row="0x00001512",prev-row="0x0000150e",
next-page="0x00001512",prev-page="0x0000150e",memory=[
{addr="0x00001510",data=["128"]}]
(gdb)
Read thirty two bytes of memory starting at `bytes+16' and format as
eight rows of four columns. Include a string encoding with `x' used as
the non-printable character.
(gdb)
4-data-read-memory bytes+16 x 1 8 4 x
4^done,addr="0x000013a0",nr-bytes="32",total-bytes="32",
next-row="0x000013c0",prev-row="0x0000139c",
next-page="0x000013c0",prev-page="0x00001380",memory=[
{addr="0x000013a0",data=["0x10","0x11","0x12","0x13"],ascii="xxxx"},
{addr="0x000013a4",data=["0x14","0x15","0x16","0x17"],ascii="xxxx"},
{addr="0x000013a8",data=["0x18","0x19","0x1a","0x1b"],ascii="xxxx"},
{addr="0x000013ac",data=["0x1c","0x1d","0x1e","0x1f"],ascii="xxxx"},
{addr="0x000013b0",data=["0x20","0x21","0x22","0x23"],ascii=" !\"#"},
{addr="0x000013b4",data=["0x24","0x25","0x26","0x27"],ascii="$%&'"},
{addr="0x000013b8",data=["0x28","0x29","0x2a","0x2b"],ascii="()*+"},
{addr="0x000013bc",data=["0x2c","0x2d","0x2e","0x2f"],ascii=",-./"}]
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands, Next: GDB/MI Symbol Query, Prev: GDB/MI Data Manipulation, Up: GDB/MI
27.15 GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands
================================
The tracepoint commands are not yet implemented.
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Symbol Query, Next: GDB/MI File Commands, Prev: GDB/MI Tracepoint Commands, Up: GDB/MI
27.16 GDB/MI Symbol Query Commands
==================================
The `-symbol-list-lines' Command
--------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-symbol-list-lines FILENAME
Print the list of lines that contain code and their associated
program addresses for the given source filename. The entries are
sorted in ascending PC order.
GDB Command
...........
There is no corresponding GDB command.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-symbol-list-lines basics.c
^done,lines=[{pc="0x08048554",line="7"},{pc="0x0804855a",line="8"}]
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI File Commands, Next: GDB/MI Target Manipulation, Prev: GDB/MI Symbol Query, Up: GDB/MI
27.17 GDB/MI File Commands
==========================
This section describes the GDB/MI commands to specify executable file
names and to read in and obtain symbol table information.
The `-file-exec-and-symbols' Command
------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-file-exec-and-symbols FILE
Specify the executable file to be debugged. This file is the one
from which the symbol table is also read. If no file is specified, the
command clears the executable and symbol information. If breakpoints
are set when using this command with no arguments, GDB will produce
error messages. Otherwise, no output is produced, except a completion
notification.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `file'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-file-exec-and-symbols /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
^done
(gdb)
The `-file-exec-file' Command
-----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-file-exec-file FILE
Specify the executable file to be debugged. Unlike
`-file-exec-and-symbols', the symbol table is _not_ read from this
file. If used without argument, GDB clears the information about the
executable file. No output is produced, except a completion
notification.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `exec-file'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-file-exec-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
^done
(gdb)
The `-file-list-exec-source-file' Command
-----------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-file-list-exec-source-file
List the line number, the current source file, and the absolute path
to the current source file for the current executable. The macro
information field has a value of `1' or `0' depending on whether or not
the file includes preprocessor macro information.
GDB Command
...........
The GDB equivalent is `info source'
Example
.......
(gdb)
123-file-list-exec-source-file
123^done,line="1",file="foo.c",fullname="/home/bar/foo.c,macro-info="1"
(gdb)
The `-file-list-exec-source-files' Command
------------------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-file-list-exec-source-files
List the source files for the current executable.
It will always output the filename, but only when GDB can find the
absolute file name of a source file, will it output the fullname.
GDB Command
...........
The GDB equivalent is `info sources'. `gdbtk' has an analogous command
`gdb_listfiles'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-file-list-exec-source-files
^done,files=[
{file=foo.c,fullname=/home/foo.c},
{file=/home/bar.c,fullname=/home/bar.c},
{file=gdb_could_not_find_fullpath.c}]
(gdb)
The `-file-symbol-file' Command
-------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-file-symbol-file FILE
Read symbol table info from the specified FILE argument. When used
without arguments, clears GDB's symbol table info. No output is
produced, except for a completion notification.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `symbol-file'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-file-symbol-file /kwikemart/marge/ezannoni/TRUNK/mbx/hello.mbx
^done
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Target Manipulation, Next: GDB/MI File Transfer Commands, Prev: GDB/MI File Commands, Up: GDB/MI
27.18 GDB/MI Target Manipulation Commands
=========================================
The `-target-attach' Command
----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-target-attach PID | GID | FILE
Attach to a process PID or a file FILE outside of GDB, or a thread
group GID. If attaching to a thread group, the id previously returned
by `-list-thread-groups --available' must be used.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `attach'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-target-attach 34
=thread-created,id="1"
*stopped,thread-id="1",frame={addr="0xb7f7e410",func="bar",args=[]}
^done
(gdb)
The `-target-detach' Command
----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-target-detach [ PID | GID ]
Detach from the remote target which normally resumes its execution.
If either PID or GID is specified, detaches from either the specified
process, or specified thread group. There's no output.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `detach'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-target-detach
^done
(gdb)
The `-target-disconnect' Command
--------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-target-disconnect
Disconnect from the remote target. There's no output and the target
is generally not resumed.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `disconnect'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-target-disconnect
^done
(gdb)
The `-target-download' Command
------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-target-download
Loads the executable onto the remote target. It prints out an
update message every half second, which includes the fields:
`section'
The name of the section.
`section-sent'
The size of what has been sent so far for that section.
`section-size'
The size of the section.
`total-sent'
The total size of what was sent so far (the current and the
previous sections).
`total-size'
The size of the overall executable to download.
Each message is sent as status record (*note GDB/MI Output Syntax:
GDB/MI Output Syntax.).
In addition, it prints the name and size of the sections, as they are
downloaded. These messages include the following fields:
`section'
The name of the section.
`section-size'
The size of the section.
`total-size'
The size of the overall executable to download.
At the end, a summary is printed.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `load'.
Example
.......
Note: each status message appears on a single line. Here the messages
have been broken down so that they can fit onto a page.
(gdb)
-target-download
+download,{section=".text",section-size="6668",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="512",section-size="6668",
total-sent="512",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="1024",section-size="6668",
total-sent="1024",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="1536",section-size="6668",
total-sent="1536",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="2048",section-size="6668",
total-sent="2048",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="2560",section-size="6668",
total-sent="2560",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="3072",section-size="6668",
total-sent="3072",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="3584",section-size="6668",
total-sent="3584",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="4096",section-size="6668",
total-sent="4096",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="4608",section-size="6668",
total-sent="4608",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="5120",section-size="6668",
total-sent="5120",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="5632",section-size="6668",
total-sent="5632",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="6144",section-size="6668",
total-sent="6144",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".text",section-sent="6656",section-size="6668",
total-sent="6656",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".init",section-size="28",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".fini",section-size="28",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".data",section-size="3156",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".data",section-sent="512",section-size="3156",
total-sent="7236",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".data",section-sent="1024",section-size="3156",
total-sent="7748",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".data",section-sent="1536",section-size="3156",
total-sent="8260",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".data",section-sent="2048",section-size="3156",
total-sent="8772",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".data",section-sent="2560",section-size="3156",
total-sent="9284",total-size="9880"}
+download,{section=".data",section-sent="3072",section-size="3156",
total-sent="9796",total-size="9880"}
^done,address="0x10004",load-size="9880",transfer-rate="6586",
write-rate="429"
(gdb)
GDB Command
...........
No equivalent.
Example
.......
N.A.
The `-target-select' Command
----------------------------
Synopsis
........
-target-select TYPE PARAMETERS ...
Connect GDB to the remote target. This command takes two args:
`TYPE'
The type of target, for instance `remote', etc.
`PARAMETERS'
Device names, host names and the like. *Note Commands for
Managing Targets: Target Commands, for more details.
The output is a connection notification, followed by the address at
which the target program is, in the following form:
^connected,addr="ADDRESS",func="FUNCTION NAME",
args=[ARG LIST]
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `target'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-target-select remote /dev/ttya
^connected,addr="0xfe00a300",func="??",args=[]
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI File Transfer Commands, Next: GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands, Prev: GDB/MI Target Manipulation, Up: GDB/MI
27.19 GDB/MI File Transfer Commands
===================================
The `-target-file-put' Command
------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-target-file-put HOSTFILE TARGETFILE
Copy file HOSTFILE from the host system (the machine running GDB) to
TARGETFILE on the target system.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `remote put'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-target-file-put localfile remotefile
^done
(gdb)
The `-target-file-get' Command
------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-target-file-get TARGETFILE HOSTFILE
Copy file TARGETFILE from the target system to HOSTFILE on the host
system.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `remote get'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-target-file-get remotefile localfile
^done
(gdb)
The `-target-file-delete' Command
---------------------------------
Synopsis
........
-target-file-delete TARGETFILE
Delete TARGETFILE from the target system.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `remote delete'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-target-file-delete remotefile
^done
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB/MI Miscellaneous Commands, Prev: GDB/MI File Transfer Commands, Up: GDB/MI
27.20 Miscellaneous GDB/MI Commands
===================================
The `-gdb-exit' Command
-----------------------
Synopsis
........
-gdb-exit
Exit GDB immediately.
GDB Command
...........
Approximately corresponds to `quit'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-gdb-exit
^exit
The `-gdb-set' Command
----------------------
Synopsis
........
-gdb-set
Set an internal GDB variable.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `set'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-gdb-set $foo=3
^done
(gdb)
The `-gdb-show' Command
-----------------------
Synopsis
........
-gdb-show
Show the current value of a GDB variable.
GDB Command
...........
The corresponding GDB command is `show'.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-gdb-show annotate
^done,value="0"
(gdb)
The `-gdb-version' Command
--------------------------
Synopsis
........
-gdb-version
Show version information for GDB. Used mostly in testing.
GDB Command
...........
The GDB equivalent is `show version'. GDB by default shows this
information when you start an interactive session.
Example
.......
(gdb)
-gdb-version
~GNU gdb 5.2.1
~Copyright 2000 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
~GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and
~you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under
~ certain conditions.
~Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
~There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty" for
~ details.
~This GDB was configured as
"--host=sparc-sun-solaris2.5.1 --target=ppc-eabi".
^done
(gdb)
The `-list-features' Command
----------------------------
Returns a list of particular features of the MI protocol that this
version of gdb implements. A feature can be a command, or a new field
in an output of some command, or even an important bugfix. While a
frontend can sometimes detect presence of a feature at runtime, it is
easier to perform detection at debugger startup.
The command returns a list of strings, with each string naming an
available feature. Each returned string is just a name, it does not
have any internal structure. The list of possible feature names is
given below.
Example output:
(gdb) -list-features
^done,result=["feature1","feature2"]
The current list of features is:
`frozen-varobjs'
Indicates presence of the `-var-set-frozen' command, as well as
possible presense of the `frozen' field in the output of
`-varobj-create'.
`pending-breakpoints'
Indicates presence of the `-f' option to the `-break-insert'
command.
`python'
Indicates presence of Python scripting support, Python-based
pretty-printing commands, and possible presence of the
`display_hint' field in the output of `-var-list-children'
`thread-info'
Indicates presence of the `-thread-info' command.
The `-list-target-features' Command
-----------------------------------
Returns a list of particular features that are supported by the target.
Those features affect the permitted MI commands, but unlike the
features reported by the `-list-features' command, the features depend
on which target GDB is using at the moment. Whenever a target can
change, due to commands such as `-target-select', `-target-attach' or
`-exec-run', the list of target features may change, and the frontend
should obtain it again. Example output:
(gdb) -list-features
^done,result=["async"]
The current list of features is:
`async'
Indicates that the target is capable of asynchronous command
execution, which means that GDB will accept further commands while
the target is running.
The `-list-thread-groups' Command
---------------------------------
Synopsis
--------
-list-thread-groups [ --available ] [ --recurse 1 ] [ GROUP ... ]
Lists thread groups (*note Thread groups::). When a single thread
group is passed as the argument, lists the children of that group.
When several thread group are passed, lists information about those
thread groups. Without any parameters, lists information about all
top-level thread groups.
Normally, thread groups that are being debugged are reported. With
the `--available' option, GDB reports thread groups available on the
target.
The output of this command may have either a `threads' result or a
`groups' result. The `thread' result has a list of tuples as value,
with each tuple describing a thread (*note GDB/MI Thread
Information::). The `groups' result has a list of tuples as value,
each tuple describing a thread group. If top-level groups are
requested (that is, no parameter is passed), or when several groups are
passed, the output always has a `groups' result. The format of the
`group' result is described below.
To reduce the number of roundtrips it's possible to list thread
groups together with their children, by passing the `--recurse' option
and the recursion depth. Presently, only recursion depth of 1 is
permitted. If this option is present, then every reported thread group
will also include its children, either as `group' or `threads' field.
In general, any combination of option and parameters is permitted,
with the following caveats:
* When a single thread group is passed, the output will typically be
the `threads' result. Because threads may not contain anything,
the `recurse' option will be ignored.
* When the `--available' option is passed, limited information may
be available. In particular, the list of threads of a process
might be inaccessible. Further, specifying specific thread groups
might not give any performance advantage over listing all thread
groups. The frontend should assume that `-list-thread-groups
--available' is always an expensive operation and cache the
results.
The `groups' result is a list of tuples, where each tuple may have
the following fields:
`id'
Identifier of the thread group. This field is always present.
`type'
The type of the thread group. At present, only `process' is a
valid type.
`pid'
The target-specific process identifier. This field is only present
for thread groups of type `process'.
`num_children'
The number of children this thread group has. This field may be
absent for an available thread group.
`threads'
This field has a list of tuples as value, each tuple describing a
thread. It may be present if the `--recurse' option is specified,
and it's actually possible to obtain the threads.
`cores'
This field is a list of integers, each identifying a core that one
thread of the group is running on. This field may be absent if
such information is not available.
Example
-------
gdb
-list-thread-groups
^done,groups=[{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2"}]
-list-thread-groups 17
^done,threads=[{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90 (LWP 21257)",
frame={level="0",addr="0xffffe410",func="__kernel_vsyscall",args=[]},state="running"},
{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e156b0 (LWP 21254)",
frame={level="0",addr="0x0804891f",func="foo",args=[{name="i",value="10"}],
file="/tmp/a.c",fullname="/tmp/a.c",line="158"},state="running"}]]
-list-thread-groups --available
^done,groups=[{id="17",type="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2]}]
-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1
^done,groups=[{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
threads=[{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]},
{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]}]},..]
-list-thread-groups --available --recurse 1 17 18
^done,groups=[{id="17", types="process",pid="yyy",num_children="2",cores=[1,2],
threads=[{id="1",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[1]},
{id="2",target-id="Thread 0xb7e14b90",cores=[2]}]},...]
The `-interpreter-exec' Command
-------------------------------
Synopsis
--------
-interpreter-exec INTERPRETER COMMAND
Execute the specified COMMAND in the given INTERPRETER.
GDB Command
-----------
The corresponding GDB command is `interpreter-exec'.
Example
-------
(gdb)
-interpreter-exec console "break main"
&"During symbol reading, couldn't parse type; debugger out of date?.\n"
&"During symbol reading, bad structure-type format.\n"
~"Breakpoint 1 at 0x8074fc6: file ../../src/gdb/main.c, line 743.\n"
^done
(gdb)
The `-inferior-tty-set' Command
-------------------------------
Synopsis
--------
-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
Set terminal for future runs of the program being debugged.
GDB Command
-----------
The corresponding GDB command is `set inferior-tty' /dev/pts/1.
Example
-------
(gdb)
-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
^done
(gdb)
The `-inferior-tty-show' Command
--------------------------------
Synopsis
--------
-inferior-tty-show
Show terminal for future runs of program being debugged.
GDB Command
-----------
The corresponding GDB command is `show inferior-tty'.
Example
-------
(gdb)
-inferior-tty-set /dev/pts/1
^done
(gdb)
-inferior-tty-show
^done,inferior_tty_terminal="/dev/pts/1"
(gdb)
The `-enable-timings' Command
-----------------------------
Synopsis
--------
-enable-timings [yes | no]
Toggle the printing of the wallclock, user and system times for an MI
command as a field in its output. This command is to help frontend
developers optimize the performance of their code. No argument is
equivalent to `yes'.
GDB Command
-----------
No equivalent.
Example
-------
(gdb)
-enable-timings
^done
(gdb)
-break-insert main
^done,bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="keep",enabled="y",
addr="0x080484ed",func="main",file="myprog.c",
fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73",times="0"},
time={wallclock="0.05185",user="0.00800",system="0.00000"}
(gdb)
-enable-timings no
^done
(gdb)
-exec-run
^running
(gdb)
*stopped,reason="breakpoint-hit",disp="keep",bkptno="1",thread-id="0",
frame={addr="0x080484ed",func="main",args=[{name="argc",value="1"},
{name="argv",value="0xbfb60364"}],file="myprog.c",
fullname="/home/nickrob/myprog.c",line="73"}
(gdb)
File: gdb.info, Node: Annotations, Next: JIT Interface, Prev: GDB/MI, Up: Top
28 GDB Annotations
******************
This chapter describes annotations in GDB. Annotations were designed
to interface GDB to graphical user interfaces or other similar programs
which want to interact with GDB at a relatively high level.
The annotation mechanism has largely been superseded by GDB/MI
(*note GDB/MI::).
* Menu:
* Annotations Overview:: What annotations are; the general syntax.
* Server Prefix:: Issuing a command without affecting user state.
* Prompting:: Annotations marking GDB's need for input.
* Errors:: Annotations for error messages.
* Invalidation:: Some annotations describe things now invalid.
* Annotations for Running::
Whether the program is running, how it stopped, etc.
* Source Annotations:: Annotations describing source code.
File: gdb.info, Node: Annotations Overview, Next: Server Prefix, Up: Annotations
28.1 What is an Annotation?
===========================
Annotations start with a newline character, two `control-z' characters,
and the name of the annotation. If there is no additional information
associated with this annotation, the name of the annotation is followed
immediately by a newline. If there is additional information, the name
of the annotation is followed by a space, the additional information,
and a newline. The additional information cannot contain newline
characters.
Any output not beginning with a newline and two `control-z'
characters denotes literal output from GDB. Currently there is no need
for GDB to output a newline followed by two `control-z' characters, but
if there was such a need, the annotations could be extended with an
`escape' annotation which means those three characters as output.
The annotation LEVEL, which is specified using the `--annotate'
command line option (*note Mode Options::), controls how much
information GDB prints together with its prompt, values of expressions,
source lines, and other types of output. Level 0 is for no
annotations, level 1 is for use when GDB is run as a subprocess of GNU
Emacs, level 3 is the maximum annotation suitable for programs that
control GDB, and level 2 annotations have been made obsolete (*note
Limitations of the Annotation Interface: (annotate)Limitations.).
`set annotate LEVEL'
The GDB command `set annotate' sets the level of annotations to
the specified LEVEL.
`show annotate'
Show the current annotation level.
This chapter describes level 3 annotations.
A simple example of starting up GDB with annotations is:
$ gdb --annotate=3
GNU gdb 6.0
Copyright 2003 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License,
and you are welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it
under certain conditions.
Type "show copying" to see the conditions.
There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type "show warranty"
for details.
This GDB was configured as "i386-pc-linux-gnu"
^Z^Zpre-prompt
(gdb)
^Z^Zprompt
quit
^Z^Zpost-prompt
$
Here `quit' is input to GDB; the rest is output from GDB. The three
lines beginning `^Z^Z' (where `^Z' denotes a `control-z' character) are
annotations; the rest is output from GDB.
File: gdb.info, Node: Server Prefix, Next: Prompting, Prev: Annotations Overview, Up: Annotations
28.2 The Server Prefix
======================
If you prefix a command with `server ' then it will not affect the
command history, nor will it affect GDB's notion of which command to
repeat if <RET> is pressed on a line by itself. This means that
commands can be run behind a user's back by a front-end in a
transparent manner.
The `server ' prefix does not affect the recording of values into
the value history; to print a value without recording it into the value
history, use the `output' command instead of the `print' command.
Using this prefix also disables confirmation requests (*note
confirmation requests::).
File: gdb.info, Node: Prompting, Next: Errors, Prev: Server Prefix, Up: Annotations
28.3 Annotation for GDB Input
=============================
When GDB prompts for input, it annotates this fact so it is possible to
know when to send output, when the output from a given command is over,
etc.
Different kinds of input each have a different "input type". Each
input type has three annotations: a `pre-' annotation, which denotes
the beginning of any prompt which is being output, a plain annotation,
which denotes the end of the prompt, and then a `post-' annotation
which denotes the end of any echo which may (or may not) be associated
with the input. For example, the `prompt' input type features the
following annotations:
^Z^Zpre-prompt
^Z^Zprompt
^Z^Zpost-prompt
The input types are
`prompt'
When GDB is prompting for a command (the main GDB prompt).
`commands'
When GDB prompts for a set of commands, like in the `commands'
command. The annotations are repeated for each command which is
input.
`overload-choice'
When GDB wants the user to select between various overloaded
functions.
`query'
When GDB wants the user to confirm a potentially dangerous
operation.
`prompt-for-continue'
When GDB is asking the user to press return to continue. Note:
Don't expect this to work well; instead use `set height 0' to
disable prompting. This is because the counting of lines is buggy
in the presence of annotations.
File: gdb.info, Node: Errors, Next: Invalidation, Prev: Prompting, Up: Annotations
28.4 Errors
===========
^Z^Zquit
This annotation occurs right before GDB responds to an interrupt.
^Z^Zerror
This annotation occurs right before GDB responds to an error.
Quit and error annotations indicate that any annotations which GDB
was in the middle of may end abruptly. For example, if a
`value-history-begin' annotation is followed by a `error', one cannot
expect to receive the matching `value-history-end'. One cannot expect
not to receive it either, however; an error annotation does not
necessarily mean that GDB is immediately returning all the way to the
top level.
A quit or error annotation may be preceded by
^Z^Zerror-begin
Any output between that and the quit or error annotation is the error
message.
Warning messages are not yet annotated.
File: gdb.info, Node: Invalidation, Next: Annotations for Running, Prev: Errors, Up: Annotations
28.5 Invalidation Notices
=========================
The following annotations say that certain pieces of state may have
changed.
`^Z^Zframes-invalid'
The frames (for example, output from the `backtrace' command) may
have changed.
`^Z^Zbreakpoints-invalid'
The breakpoints may have changed. For example, the user just
added or deleted a breakpoint.
File: gdb.info, Node: Annotations for Running, Next: Source Annotations, Prev: Invalidation, Up: Annotations
28.6 Running the Program
========================
When the program starts executing due to a GDB command such as `step'
or `continue',
^Z^Zstarting
is output. When the program stops,
^Z^Zstopped
is output. Before the `stopped' annotation, a variety of
annotations describe how the program stopped.
`^Z^Zexited EXIT-STATUS'
The program exited, and EXIT-STATUS is the exit status (zero for
successful exit, otherwise nonzero).
`^Z^Zsignalled'
The program exited with a signal. After the `^Z^Zsignalled', the
annotation continues:
INTRO-TEXT
^Z^Zsignal-name
NAME
^Z^Zsignal-name-end
MIDDLE-TEXT
^Z^Zsignal-string
STRING
^Z^Zsignal-string-end
END-TEXT
where NAME is the name of the signal, such as `SIGILL' or
`SIGSEGV', and STRING is the explanation of the signal, such as
`Illegal Instruction' or `Segmentation fault'. INTRO-TEXT,
MIDDLE-TEXT, and END-TEXT are for the user's benefit and have no
particular format.
`^Z^Zsignal'
The syntax of this annotation is just like `signalled', but GDB is
just saying that the program received the signal, not that it was
terminated with it.
`^Z^Zbreakpoint NUMBER'
The program hit breakpoint number NUMBER.
`^Z^Zwatchpoint NUMBER'
The program hit watchpoint number NUMBER.
File: gdb.info, Node: Source Annotations, Prev: Annotations for Running, Up: Annotations
28.7 Displaying Source
======================
The following annotation is used instead of displaying source code:
^Z^Zsource FILENAME:LINE:CHARACTER:MIDDLE:ADDR
where FILENAME is an absolute file name indicating which source
file, LINE is the line number within that file (where 1 is the first
line in the file), CHARACTER is the character position within the file
(where 0 is the first character in the file) (for most debug formats
this will necessarily point to the beginning of a line), MIDDLE is
`middle' if ADDR is in the middle of the line, or `beg' if ADDR is at
the beginning of the line, and ADDR is the address in the target
program associated with the source which is being displayed. ADDR is
in the form `0x' followed by one or more lowercase hex digits (note
that this does not depend on the language).
File: gdb.info, Node: JIT Interface, Next: GDB Bugs, Prev: Annotations, Up: Top
29 JIT Compilation Interface
****************************
This chapter documents GDB's "just-in-time" (JIT) compilation
interface. A JIT compiler is a program or library that generates native
executable code at runtime and executes it, usually in order to achieve
good performance while maintaining platform independence.
Programs that use JIT compilation are normally difficult to debug
because portions of their code are generated at runtime, instead of
being loaded from object files, which is where GDB normally finds the
program's symbols and debug information. In order to debug programs
that use JIT compilation, GDB has an interface that allows the program
to register in-memory symbol files with GDB at runtime.
If you are using GDB to debug a program that uses this interface,
then it should work transparently so long as you have not stripped the
binary. If you are developing a JIT compiler, then the interface is
documented in the rest of this chapter. At this time, the only known
client of this interface is the LLVM JIT.
Broadly speaking, the JIT interface mirrors the dynamic loader
interface. The JIT compiler communicates with GDB by writing data into
a global variable and calling a fuction at a well-known symbol. When
GDB attaches, it reads a linked list of symbol files from the global
variable to find existing code, and puts a breakpoint in the function
so that it can find out about additional code.
* Menu:
* Declarations:: Relevant C struct declarations
* Registering Code:: Steps to register code
* Unregistering Code:: Steps to unregister code
File: gdb.info, Node: Declarations, Next: Registering Code, Up: JIT Interface
29.1 JIT Declarations
=====================
These are the relevant struct declarations that a C program should
include to implement the interface:
typedef enum
{
JIT_NOACTION = 0,
JIT_REGISTER_FN,
JIT_UNREGISTER_FN
} jit_actions_t;
struct jit_code_entry
{
struct jit_code_entry *next_entry;
struct jit_code_entry *prev_entry;
const char *symfile_addr;
uint64_t symfile_size;
};
struct jit_descriptor
{
uint32_t version;
/* This type should be jit_actions_t, but we use uint32_t
to be explicit about the bitwidth. */
uint32_t action_flag;
struct jit_code_entry *relevant_entry;
struct jit_code_entry *first_entry;
};
/* GDB puts a breakpoint in this function. */
void __attribute__((noinline)) __jit_debug_register_code() { };
/* Make sure to specify the version statically, because the
debugger may check the version before we can set it. */
struct jit_descriptor __jit_debug_descriptor = { 1, 0, 0, 0 };
If the JIT is multi-threaded, then it is important that the JIT
synchronize any modifications to this global data properly, which can
easily be done by putting a global mutex around modifications to these
structures.
File: gdb.info, Node: Registering Code, Next: Unregistering Code, Prev: Declarations, Up: JIT Interface
29.2 Registering Code
=====================
To register code with GDB, the JIT should follow this protocol:
* Generate an object file in memory with symbols and other desired
debug information. The file must include the virtual addresses of
the sections.
* Create a code entry for the file, which gives the start and size
of the symbol file.
* Add it to the linked list in the JIT descriptor.
* Point the relevant_entry field of the descriptor at the entry.
* Set `action_flag' to `JIT_REGISTER' and call
`__jit_debug_register_code'.
When GDB is attached and the breakpoint fires, GDB uses the
`relevant_entry' pointer so it doesn't have to walk the list looking for
new code. However, the linked list must still be maintained in order
to allow GDB to attach to a running process and still find the symbol
files.
File: gdb.info, Node: Unregistering Code, Prev: Registering Code, Up: JIT Interface
29.3 Unregistering Code
=======================
If code is freed, then the JIT should use the following protocol:
* Remove the code entry corresponding to the code from the linked
list.
* Point the `relevant_entry' field of the descriptor at the code
entry.
* Set `action_flag' to `JIT_UNREGISTER' and call
`__jit_debug_register_code'.
If the JIT frees or recompiles code without unregistering it, then
GDB and the JIT will leak the memory used for the associated symbol
files.
File: gdb.info, Node: GDB Bugs, Next: Command Line Editing, Prev: JIT Interface, Up: Top
30 Reporting Bugs in GDB
************************
Your bug reports play an essential role in making GDB reliable.
Reporting a bug may help you by bringing a solution to your problem,
or it may not. But in any case the principal function of a bug report
is to help the entire community by making the next version of GDB work
better. Bug reports are your contribution to the maintenance of GDB.
In order for a bug report to serve its purpose, you must include the
information that enables us to fix the bug.
* Menu:
* Bug Criteria:: Have you found a bug?
* Bug Reporting:: How to report bugs
File: gdb.info, Node: Bug Criteria, Next: Bug Reporting, Up: GDB Bugs
30.1 Have You Found a Bug?
==========================
If you are not sure whether you have found a bug, here are some
guidelines:
* If the debugger gets a fatal signal, for any input whatever, that
is a GDB bug. Reliable debuggers never crash.
* If GDB produces an error message for valid input, that is a bug.
(Note that if you're cross debugging, the problem may also be
somewhere in the connection to the target.)
* If GDB does not produce an error message for invalid input, that
is a bug. However, you should note that your idea of "invalid
input" might be our idea of "an extension" or "support for
traditional practice".
* If you are an experienced user of debugging tools, your suggestions
for improvement of GDB are welcome in any case.
File: gdb.info, Node: Bug Reporting, Prev: Bug Criteria, Up: GDB Bugs
30.2 How to Report Bugs
=======================
A number of companies and individuals offer support for GNU products.
If you obtained GDB from a support organization, we recommend you
contact that organization first.
You can find contact information for many support companies and
individuals in the file `etc/SERVICE' in the GNU Emacs distribution.
In any event, we also recommend that you submit bug reports for GDB.
The preferred method is to submit them directly using GDB's Bugs web
page (http://www.gnu.org/software/gdb/bugs/). Alternatively, the
e-mail gateway <bug-gdb@gnu.org> can be used.
*Do not send bug reports to `info-gdb', or to `help-gdb', or to any
newsgroups.* Most users of GDB do not want to receive bug reports.
Those that do have arranged to receive `bug-gdb'.
The mailing list `bug-gdb' has a newsgroup `gnu.gdb.bug' which
serves as a repeater. The mailing list and the newsgroup carry exactly
the same messages. Often people think of posting bug reports to the
newsgroup instead of mailing them. This appears to work, but it has one
problem which can be crucial: a newsgroup posting often lacks a mail
path back to the sender. Thus, if we need to ask for more information,
we may be unable to reach you. For this reason, it is better to send
bug reports to the mailing list.
The fundamental principle of reporting bugs usefully is this:
*report all the facts*. If you are not sure whether to state a fact or
leave it out, state it!
Often people omit facts because they think they know what causes the
problem and assume that some details do not matter. Thus, you might
assume that the name of the variable you use in an example does not
matter. Well, probably it does not, but one cannot be sure. Perhaps
the bug is a stray memory reference which happens to fetch from the
location where that name is stored in memory; perhaps, if the name were
different, the contents of that location would fool the debugger into
doing the right thing despite the bug. Play it safe and give a
specific, complete example. That is the easiest thing for you to do,
and the most helpful.
Keep in mind that the purpose of a bug report is to enable us to fix
the bug. It may be that the bug has been reported previously, but
neither you nor we can know that unless your bug report is complete and
self-contained.
Sometimes people give a few sketchy facts and ask, "Does this ring a
bell?" Those bug reports are useless, and we urge everyone to _refuse
to respond to them_ except to chide the sender to report bugs properly.
To enable us to fix the bug, you should include all these things:
* The version of GDB. GDB announces it if you start with no
arguments; you can also print it at any time using `show version'.
Without this, we will not know whether there is any point in
looking for the bug in the current version of GDB.
* The type of machine you are using, and the operating system name
and version number.
* What compiler (and its version) was used to compile GDB--e.g.
"gcc-2.8.1".
* What compiler (and its version) was used to compile the program
you are debugging--e.g. "gcc-2.8.1", or "HP92453-01 A.10.32.03 HP
C Compiler". For GCC, you can say `gcc --version' to get this
information; for other compilers, see the documentation for those
compilers.
* The command arguments you gave the compiler to compile your
example and observe the bug. For example, did you use `-O'? To
guarantee you will not omit something important, list them all. A
copy of the Makefile (or the output from make) is sufficient.
If we were to try to guess the arguments, we would probably guess
wrong and then we might not encounter the bug.
* A complete input script, and all necessary source files, that will
reproduce the bug.
* A description of what behavior you observe that you believe is
incorrect. For example, "It gets a fatal signal."
Of course, if the bug is that GDB gets a fatal signal, then we
will certainly notice it. But if the bug is incorrect output, we
might not notice unless it is glaringly wrong. You might as well
not give us a chance to make a mistake.
Even if the problem you experience is a fatal signal, you should
still say so explicitly. Suppose something strange is going on,
such as, your copy of GDB is out of synch, or you have encountered
a bug in the C library on your system. (This has happened!) Your
copy might crash and ours would not. If you told us to expect a
crash, then when ours fails to crash, we would know that the bug
was not happening for us. If you had not told us to expect a
crash, then we would not be able to draw any conclusion from our
observations.
To collect all this information, you can use a session recording
program such as `script', which is available on many Unix systems.
Just run your GDB session inside `script' and then include the
`typescript' file with your bug report.
Another way to record a GDB session is to run GDB inside Emacs and
then save the entire buffer to a file.
* If you wish to suggest changes to the GDB source, send us context
diffs. If you even discuss something in the GDB source, refer to
it by context, not by line number.
The line numbers in our development sources will not match those
in your sources. Your line numbers would convey no useful
information to us.
Here are some things that are not necessary:
* A description of the envelope of the bug.
Often people who encounter a bug spend a lot of time investigating
which changes to the input file will make the bug go away and which
changes will not affect it.
This is often time consuming and not very useful, because the way
we will find the bug is by running a single example under the
debugger with breakpoints, not by pure deduction from a series of
examples. We recommend that you save your time for something else.
Of course, if you can find a simpler example to report _instead_
of the original one, that is a convenience for us. Errors in the
output will be easier to spot, running under the debugger will take
less time, and so on.
However, simplification is not vital; if you do not want to do
this, report the bug anyway and send us the entire test case you
used.
* A patch for the bug.
A patch for the bug does help us if it is a good one. But do not
omit the necessary information, such as the test case, on the
assumption that a patch is all we need. We might see problems
with your patch and decide to fix the problem another way, or we
might not understand it at all.
Sometimes with a program as complicated as GDB it is very hard to
construct an example that will make the program follow a certain
path through the code. If you do not send us the example, we will
not be able to construct one, so we will not be able to verify
that the bug is fixed.
And if we cannot understand what bug you are trying to fix, or why
your patch should be an improvement, we will not install it. A
test case will help us to understand.
* A guess about what the bug is or what it depends on.
Such guesses are usually wrong. Even we cannot guess right about
such things without first using the debugger to find the facts.
File: gdb.info, Node: Command Line Editing, Next: Using History Interactively, Prev: GDB Bugs, Up: Top
31 Command Line Editing
***********************
This chapter describes the basic features of the GNU command line
editing interface.
* Menu:
* Introduction and Notation:: Notation used in this text.
* Readline Interaction:: The minimum set of commands for editing a line.
* Readline Init File:: Customizing Readline from a user's view.
* Bindable Readline Commands:: A description of most of the Readline commands
available for binding
* Readline vi Mode:: A short description of how to make Readline
behave like the vi editor.
File: gdb.info, Node: Introduction and Notation, Next: Readline Interaction, Up: Command Line Editing
31.1 Introduction to Line Editing
=================================
The following paragraphs describe the notation used to represent
keystrokes.
The text `C-k' is read as `Control-K' and describes the character
produced when the <k> key is pressed while the Control key is depressed.
The text `M-k' is read as `Meta-K' and describes the character
produced when the Meta key (if you have one) is depressed, and the <k>
key is pressed. The Meta key is labeled <ALT> on many keyboards. On
keyboards with two keys labeled <ALT> (usually to either side of the
space bar), the <ALT> on the left side is generally set to work as a
Meta key. The <ALT> key on the right may also be configured to work as
a Meta key or may be configured as some other modifier, such as a
Compose key for typing accented characters.
If you do not have a Meta or <ALT> key, or another key working as a
Meta key, the identical keystroke can be generated by typing <ESC>
_first_, and then typing <k>. Either process is known as "metafying"
the <k> key.
The text `M-C-k' is read as `Meta-Control-k' and describes the
character produced by "metafying" `C-k'.
In addition, several keys have their own names. Specifically,
<DEL>, <ESC>, <LFD>, <SPC>, <RET>, and <TAB> all stand for themselves
when seen in this text, or in an init file (*note Readline Init File::).
If your keyboard lacks a <LFD> key, typing <C-j> will produce the
desired character. The <RET> key may be labeled <Return> or <Enter> on
some keyboards.
File: gdb.info, Node: Readline Interaction, Next: Readline Init File, Prev: Introduction and Notation, Up: Command Line Editing
31.2 Readline Interaction
=========================
Often during an interactive session you type in a long line of text,
only to notice that the first word on the line is misspelled. The
Readline library gives you a set of commands for manipulating the text
as you type it in, allowing you to just fix your typo, and not forcing
you to retype the majority of the line. Using these editing commands,
you move the cursor to the place that needs correction, and delete or
insert the text of the corrections. Then, when you are satisfied with
the line, you simply press <RET>. You do not have to be at the end of
the line to press <RET>; the entire line is accepted regardless of the
location of the cursor within the line.
* Menu:
* Readline Bare Essentials:: The least you need to know about Readline.
* Readline Movement Commands:: Moving about the input line.
* Readline Killing Commands:: How to delete text, and how to get it back!
* Readline Arguments:: Giving numeric arguments to commands.
* Searching:: Searching through previous lines.
File: gdb.info, Node: Readline Bare Essentials, Next: Readline Movement Commands, Up: Readline Interaction
31.2.1 Readline Bare Essentials
-------------------------------
In order to enter characters into the line, simply type them. The typed
character appears where the cursor was, and then the cursor moves one
space to the right. If you mistype a character, you can use your erase
character to back up and delete the mistyped character.
Sometimes you may mistype a character, and not notice the error
until you have typed several other characters. In that case, you can
type `C-b' to move the cursor to the left, and then correct your
mistake. Afterwards, you can move the cursor to the right with `C-f'.
When you add text in the middle of a line, you will notice that
characters to the right of the cursor are `pushed over' to make room
for the text that you have inserted. Likewise, when you delete text
behind the cursor, characters to the right of the cursor are `pulled
back' to fill in the blank space created by the removal of the text. A
list of the bare essentials for editing the text of an input line
follows.
`C-b'
Move back one character.
`C-f'
Move forward one character.
<DEL> or <Backspace>
Delete the character to the left of the cursor.
`C-d'
Delete the character underneath the cursor.
Printing characters
Insert the character into the line at the cursor.
`C-_' or `C-x C-u'
Undo the last editing command. You can undo all the way back to an
empty line.
(Depending on your configuration, the <Backspace> key be set to delete
the character to the left of the cursor and the <DEL> key set to delete
the character underneath the cursor, like `C-d', rather than the
character to the left of the cursor.)
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