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