GDB/MI Breakpoint Commands - Debugging with GDB

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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",thread-groups=["i1"],
     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",thread-groups=["i1"],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. See 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",thread-groups=["i1"],
     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",thread-groups=["i1"],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",thread-groups=["i1"],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",thread-groups=["i1"],times="0"}]}
     (gdb)

The `-break-info` Command

Synopsis

      -break-info breakpoint

Get information about a single breakpoint.

The result is a table of breakpoints. See GDB/MI Breakpoint Information, for details on the format of each breakpoint in the table.

gdb Command

The corresponding gdb command is ‘info break breakpoint’.

Example

N.A.

The `-break-insert` Command

Synopsis

      -break-insert [ -t ] [ -h ] [ -f ] [ -d ] [ -a ]
         [ -c condition ] [ -i ignore-count ]
         [ -p thread-id ] [ 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.
‘-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.
‘-a’: Create a tracepoint. See Tracepoints. When this parameter is used together with ‘-h’, a fast tracepoint is created.
‘-c condition’: Make the breakpoint conditional on condition.
‘-i ignore-count’: Initialize the ignore-count.
‘-p thread-id’: Restrict the breakpoint to the specified thread-id.

Result

See GDB/MI Breakpoint Information, for details on the format of the resulting breakpoint.

Note: this format is open to change.

gdb Command

The corresponding gdb commands are ‘break’, ‘tbreak’, ‘hbreak’, and ‘thbreak’.

Example

     (gdb)
     -break-insert main
     ^done,bkpt={number="1",addr="0x0001072c",file="recursive2.c",
     fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="4",thread-groups=["i1"],
     times="0"}
     (gdb)
     -break-insert -t foo
     ^done,bkpt={number="2",addr="0x00010774",file="recursive2.c",
     fullname="/home/foo/recursive2.c,line="11",thread-groups=["i1"],
     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",thread-groups=["i1"],
     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",thread-groups=["i1"],
     times="0"}]}
     (gdb)

The `-dprintf-insert` Command

Synopsis

      -dprintf-insert [ -t ] [ -f ] [ -d ]
         [ -c condition ] [ -i ignore-count ]
         [ -p thread-id ] [ location ] [ format ]
         [ argument ]

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.
‘-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.
‘-c condition’: Make the breakpoint conditional on condition.
‘-i ignore-count’: Set the ignore count of the breakpoint (see ignore count) to ignore-count.
‘-p thread-id’: Restrict the breakpoint to the specified thread-id.

Result

See GDB/MI Breakpoint Information, for details on the format of the resulting breakpoint.

gdb Command

The corresponding gdb command is ‘dprintf’.

Example

     (gdb)
     4-dprintf-insert foo "At foo entry\n"
     4^done,bkpt={number="1",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
     addr="0x000000000040061b",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
     fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="25",thread-groups=["i1"],
     times="0",script={"printf \"At foo entry\\n\"","continue"},
     original-location="foo"}
     (gdb)
     5-dprintf-insert 26 "arg=%d, g=%d\n" arg g
     5^done,bkpt={number="2",type="dprintf",disp="keep",enabled="y",
     addr="0x000000000040062a",func="foo",file="mi-dprintf.c",
     fullname="mi-dprintf.c",line="26",thread-groups=["i1"],
     times="0",script={"printf \"arg=%d, g=%d\\n\", arg, g","continue"},
     original-location="mi-dprintf.c:26"}
     (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
‘Thread-groups’: list of thread groups to which this breakpoint applies
‘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",thread-groups=["i1"],
     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",thread-groups=["i1"],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-passcount` Command

Synopsis

      -break-passcount tracepoint-number passcount

Set the passcount for tracepoint tracepoint-number to passcount. If the breakpoint referred to by tracepoint-number is not a tracepoint, error is emitted. This corresponds to CLI command ‘passcount’.

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. See Setting 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",thread-groups=["i1"],
     times="1"},
     bkpt={number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
     enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],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",thread-groups=["i1"],
     times="1"},
     bkpt={number="2",type="watchpoint",disp="keep",
     enabled="y",addr="",what="C",thread-groups=["i1"],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",
     thread-groups=["i1"],times="1"}]}
     (gdb)

27.8 gdb/mi Breakpoint Commands

The -break-after Command

Synopsis

gdb Command

Example

The -break-commands Command

Synopsis

gdb Command

Example

The -break-condition Command

Synopsis

gdb Command

Example

The -break-delete Command

Synopsis

gdb Command

Example

The -break-disable Command

Synopsis

gdb Command

Example

The -break-enable Command

Synopsis

gdb Command

Example

The -break-info Command

Synopsis

gdb Command

Example

The -break-insert Command

Synopsis

Result

gdb Command

Example

The -dprintf-insert Command

Synopsis

Result

gdb Command

Example

The -break-list Command

Synopsis

gdb Command

Example

The -break-passcount Command

Synopsis

The -break-watch Command

Synopsis

gdb Command

Example

The `-break-after` Command

The `-break-commands` Command

The `-break-condition` Command

The `-break-delete` Command

The `-break-disable` Command

The `-break-enable` Command

The `-break-info` Command

The `-break-insert` Command

The `-dprintf-insert` Command

The `-break-list` Command

The `-break-passcount` Command

The `-break-watch` Command