This article provides information on some basic GDB commands and explains how to use them.
You can also refer to the "Debugging with GDB" web page ([1] from gnu.org).
1. target extended-remote host:port command[edit source]
This command establishes a TCP connection between the host and a remote target board. The host can be either a host name or a numeric IP address or can be omitted for localhost connection; the port must be a decimal number:
target extended-remote <IP_Addr_of_Board>:<port>
2. info target / info files commands[edit source]
These two commands are synonymous. They both display the current target information, including the names of the executable and core dump files currently in use by the GDB, and the files from which the symbols were loaded.
The command help target lists all the possible targets rather than the current ones.
info target
Symbols from "target:/usr/local/bin/hello_world_example". Remote serial target in gdb-specific protocol: Debugging a target over a serial line. While running this, the GDB does not access memory from... Local exec file: `target:/usr/local/bin/hello_world_example', file type elf32-littlearm. Entry point: 0x10434 0x00010154 - 0x0001016d is .interp 0x00010170 - 0x00010190 is .note.ABI-tag 0x00010190 - 0x000101b4 is .note.gnu.build-id 0x000101b4 - 0x000101f4 is .gnu.hash 0x000101f4 - 0x00010284 is .dynsym 0x00010284 - 0x000102e0 is .dynstr 0x000102e0 - 0x000102f2 is .gnu.version 0x000102f4 - 0x00010314 is .gnu.version_r 0x00010314 - 0x00010324 is .rel.dyn 0x00010324 - 0x0001035c is .rel.plt 0x0001035c - 0x00010368 is .init 0x00010368 - 0x000103d0 is .plt 0x000103d0 - 0x0001058c is .text 0x0001058c - 0x00010594 is .fini 0x00010594 - 0x00010610 is .rodata 0x00010610 - 0x00010618 is .ARM.exidx 0x00010618 - 0x0001061c is .eh_frame 0x00020f10 - 0x00020f14 is .init_array 0x00020f14 - 0x00020f18 is .fini_array 0x00020f18 - 0x00021000 is .dynamic 0x00021000 - 0x0002102c is .got 0x0002102c - 0x00021034 is .data 0x00021034 - 0x0002103c is .bss 0xb6fce0f4 - 0xb6fce1b8 is .hash in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fce1b8 - 0xb6fce298 is .gnu.hash in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fce298 - 0xb6fce478 is .dynsym in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fce478 - 0xb6fce630 is .dynstr in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fce630 - 0xb6fce66c is .gnu.version in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fce66c - 0xb6fce6c8 is .gnu.version_d in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fce6c8 - 0xb6fce808 is .rel.dyn in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fce808 - 0xb6fce840 is .rel.plt in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fce840 - 0xb6fce8a8 is .plt in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fce8c0 - 0xb6fea3dc is .text in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fea3dc - 0xb6fedf74 is .rodata in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fedf74 - 0xb6fedfc8 is .ARM.extab in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fedfc8 - 0xb6fee0b0 is .ARM.exidx in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6ffea00 - 0xb6ffeee4 is .data.rel.ro in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6ffeee4 - 0xb6ffefac is .dynamic in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6ffefac - 0xb6fff000 is .got in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fff000 - 0xb6fff830 is .data in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6fff830 - 0xb6fff908 is .bss in target:/lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3 0xb6ffd0d4 - 0xb6ffd0fc is .hash in system-supplied DSO at 0xb6ffd000 0xb6ffd0fc - 0xb6ffd14c is .dynsym in system-supplied DSO at 0xb6ffd000 0xb6ffd14c - 0xb6ffd190 is .dynstr in system-supplied DSO at 0xb6ffd000 0xb6ffd190 - 0xb6ffd19a is .gnu.version in system-supplied DSO at 0xb6ffd000 0xb6ffd19c - 0xb6ffd1d4 is .gnu.version_d in system-supplied DSO at 0xb6ffd000 ---Type <return> to continue, or q <return> to quit---
3. Program running commands[edit source]
run - (abbreviation r) Runs the program until a breakpoint is found or an error occurs
continue - (abbreviation c) Continues running the program until the next breakpoint or error
finish - Runs until the current function is finished
step - (abbreviation s) Executes the next program line
step N - (abbreviation s N) Executes the next N lines of the program
stepi - (abbreviation si) Executes one machine instruction, then stops and returns to the debugger
next - (abbreviation n) Similar to s, except that it does not step into functions
nexti - (abbreviation ni) Executes one machine instruction. If it is a function call, the command proceeds until the function returns.
until - (abbreviation u) Goes up a level in the stack. This command is used to avoid single stepping through a loop more than once
until N - (abbreviation u N) Runs the program until you get N lines in front of the current line
4. Source code commands[edit source]
list - (abbreviation l) Lists listsize more lines after or around the previously listed lines
list <linenum> - (abbreviation l <linenum>) Lists listsize lines around a given line in the current file
list <filename>:<linenum> - (abbreviation l <filename>:<linenum>) Lists listsize lines around a given line in a given file
list <function> - (abbreviation l <function>) Lists listsize lines around the beginning of a given function
- To see the current listsize value (default value is 10)
show listsize Number of source lines gdb will list by default is 10.
- To update the listsize
set listsize <count>
5. Breakpoint commands[edit source]
The break command (abbreviation b) allows adding breakpoints in the program. Current breakpoints can also be listed or deleted.
5.1. break (abbreviation b)[edit source]
The command sets a software breakpoint at a specified location, which can be a function name, a line number, or an instruction address.
b main - Puts a breakpoint at the beginning of the program
b - Puts a breakpoint at the current line
b <n> - Puts a breakpoint at line n
b +<n> - Puts a breakpoint n lines forward from the current line b -<n> - Puts a breakpoint n lines backward from the current line
b <fn> - Puts a breakpoint at the beginning of the fn function
b <filename>:<linenum> - Puts a breakpoint at a given line number in a given file defined by its name
b <filename>:<function> - Puts a breakpoint at the entry to a given function in a file defined by its name
b *<address> - Puts a breakpoint at <address> address
For example, when running the program to the breakpoint:
b 16
c
Breakpoint 3, main (argc=1, argv=0xbefffc74) at hello_world_example.c:16
16 printf("\nUser space example: hello world from STMicroelectronics\n");
5.2. tbreak (abbreviation tb)[edit source]
Sets a breakpoint enabled only for one stop. Argument parameters are the same as for the break command.
5.3. hbreak (abbreviation hb)[edit source]
Sets a hardware-assisted breakpoint. Argument parameters are the same as for the break command.
5.4. thbreak (abbreviation thb)[edit source]
Sets a hardware-assisted breakpoint enabled only for one stop. Argument parameters are the same as for the break command.
5.5. list breakpoints[edit source]
info break - (abbreviation i b) Num Type Disp Enb Address What 1 breakpoint keep y 0x000103d0 in main at hello_world_example.c:16
5.6. enable/disable breakpoints[edit source]
enable <n> - Enables breakpoint number n. If n is not present, all breakpoints are enabled
disable <n> - Disables breakpoint number n. If n is not present, all breakpoints are disabled
5.7. delete breakpoints (abbreviation d)[edit source]
delete <n> - Deletes breakpoint number n. If n not present, all breakpoints are deleted
6. Backtrace command[edit source]
The backtrace command (abbreviation bt) prints a backtrace of the entire stack: one line per frame for all frames in the stack.
You can stop the backtrace at any time by typing the system interrupt character, normally Ctrl+c.
bt
For example:
(gdb) bt #0 0xbf101c48 in delta_perf_end () #1 0xbf100d04 in delta_vb2_au_queue () at sources/linux-sti/drivers/media/platform/delta/delta-v4l2.c:1016 #2 0xc04480d0 in __enqueue_in_driver () #3 0xc044a300 in vb2_qbuf () #4 0xbf0feea4 in delta_qbuf () at sources/linux-sti/drivers/media/platform/delta/delta-v4l2.c:668 #5 0xc043f150 in v4l_qbuf () #6 0xc043e914 in __video_do_ioctl () #7 0xc043e444 in video_usercopy () #8 0xc043abc0 in v4l2_ioctl () at sources/linux-sti/drivers/media/v4l2-core/v4l2-dev.c:351 #9 0xc00ea508 in do_vfs_ioctl () #10 0xc00ea708 in sys_ioctl () warning: Couldn't find the process executable path. #11 ret_fast_syscall () at sources/linux-sti/arch/arm/kernel/entry-common.S:34 #12 0xb6cc1780 in ?? () #13 0xb39b6318 in ?? () #14 0xb39b6318 in ?? () Backtrace stopped: previous frame identical to this frame (corrupt stack?)
7. info threads command[edit source]
This command displays a summary of all the threads currently in your program.
The GDB displays for each thread, in this order:
1. The thread number assigned by the GDB
2. The target system thread identifier (systag)
3. The current stack frame summary for this thread
info threads - (abbreviation i threads)
For example:
(gdb) i threads Id Target Id Frame 71 weston-desktop- (TGID:200) 0xc011619c in sys_epoll_wait () at sources/linux-sti/fs/eventpoll.c:1605 70 weston-keyboard (TGID:199) 0xc011619c in sys_epoll_wait () at sources/linux-sti/fs/eventpoll.c:1605 69 weston (TGID:198) 0xc011619c in sys_epoll_wait () at sources/linux-sti/fs/eventpoll.c:1605 68 openvt (TGID:197) 0xc0028f00 in sys_wait4 () at sources/linux-sti/kernel/exit.c:1666 67 weston.sh (TGID:190) 0xc0028f00 in sys_wait4 () at sources/linux-sti/kernel/exit.c:1666 66 [kworker/u5:0] (TGID:166) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 65 sh (TGID:152) 0xc02da3b0 in n_tty_read () 64 avahi-daemon (TGID:151) 0xc057cc34 in unix_stream_recvmsg () at sources/linux-sti/net/unix/af_unix.c:1897 63 agetty (TGID:148) 0xc02da3b0 in n_tty_read () 62 [mme_manager] (TGID:147) 0xc05e4a04 in __down_killable () at sources/linux-sti/kernel/semaphore.c:221 61 [ics_watchdog] (TGID:143) 0xc05e4ad4 in __down_timeout () at sources/linux-sti/kernel/semaphore.c:221 60 [ics_nsrv] (TGID:142) 0xc05e4a04 in __down_killable () at sources/linux-sti/kernel/semaphore.c:221 59 [ics_admin] (TGID:141) 0xc05e4a04 in __down_killable () at sources/linux-sti/kernel/semaphore.c:221 58 weston.sh (TGID:140) 0xc0028f00 in sys_wait4 () at sources/linux-sti/kernel/exit.c:1666 57 systemd-logind (TGID:139) 0xc011619c in sys_epoll_wait () at sources/linux-sti/fs/eventpoll.c:1605 56 dbus-daemon (TGID:137) 0xc011619c in sys_epoll_wait () at sources/linux-sti/fs/eventpoll.c:1605 55 avahi-daemon (TGID:132) 0xc00eaeb0 in poll_schedule_timeout () 54 systemd-udevd (TGID:102) 0xc011619c in sys_epoll_wait () at sources/linux-sti/fs/eventpoll.c:1605 53 systemd-journal (TGID:84) 0xc011619c in sys_epoll_wait () at sources/linux-sti/fs/eventpoll.c:1605 52 [kworker/1:3] (TGID:74) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 51 [deferwq] (TGID:64) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 50 [kworker/1:2] (TGID:63) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 49 [kworker/u4:3] (TGID:62) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 48 [irq/247-st-lpm] (TGID:61) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 47 [irq/55-st_therm] (TGID:60) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 46 [rc0] (TGID:59) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 45 [irq/239-fe54100] (TGID:56) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 44 [irq/220-fed4100] (TGID:53) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 43 [irq/219-fed4000] (TGID:50) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 42 [ftk_touch_wq] (TGID:49) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 41 [kworker/0:2] (TGID:48) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 40 [kpsmoused] (TGID:47) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 39 [kworker/u4:2] (TGID:40) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 38 [kworker/u4:1] (TGID:39) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 37 [scsi_eh_0] (TGID:38) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 36 [irq/205-hdmi_ir] (TGID:37) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 35 [irq/208-vsync-m] (TGID:36) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 34 [irq/207-vsync-m] (TGID:35) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 33 [B2R2] (TGID:34) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 32 [B2R2_CTL] (TGID:33) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 31 [crypto] (TGID:27) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 30 [nfsiod] (TGID:26) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 29 [fsnotify_mark] (TGID:25) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 28 [kswapd0] (TGID:24) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 27 [rpciod] (TGID:23) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 26 [khubd] (TGID:22) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 25 [ata_sff] (TGID:21) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 24 [kblockd] (TGID:20) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 23 [bioset] (TGID:19) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 22 [writeback] (TGID:18) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 21 [kworker/1:1] (TGID:17) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 20 [kworker/0:1] (TGID:16) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 19 [kdevtmpfs] (TGID:15) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 18 [khelper] (TGID:14) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 17 [kworker/1:0H] (TGID:13) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 16 [kworker/1:0] (TGID:12) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 15 [ksoftirqd/1] (TGID:11) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 14 [migration/1] (TGID:10) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 13 [rcu_sched] (TGID:9) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 12 [rcu_bh] (TGID:8) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 11 [migration/0] (TGID:7) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 10 [kworker/u4:0] (TGID:6) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 9 [kworker/0:0H] (TGID:5) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 8 [kworker/0:0] (TGID:4) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 7 [ksoftirqd/0] (TGID:3) 0xc00412a4 in kthread () 6 [kthreadd] (TGID:2) ret_from_fork () at sources/linux-sti/arch/arm/kernel/entry-common.S:92 5 systemd (TGID:1) 0xc011619c in sys_epoll_wait () at sources/linux-sti/fs/eventpoll.c:1605 4 [swapper/1] (TGID:0 <C1>) cpu_v7_do_idle () at /sources/linux-sti/arch/arm/mm/proc-v7.S:74 * 3 [swapper/0] (TGID:0 <C0>) cpu_v7_do_idle () at /sources/linux-sti/arch/arm/mm/proc-v7.S:74
8. CPU register commands[edit source]
info registers - (abbreviation i r) Prints the names and values of all registers except floating-point and vector registers (in the selected stack frame)
info all-registers - (abbreviation i all-registers) Prints the names and values of all registers, including floating-point and vector registers (in the selected stack frame)
info registers <regname> - (abbreviation i r <regname>) Prints the value of the register specified by regname
For example:
(gdb) info registers r0 0xc1917a58 3247536728 r1 0x0 0 r2 0xbb4e 47950 r3 0x0 0 r4 0xc08544b8 3229959352 r5 0xc084c000 3229925376 r6 0xc0854454 3229959252 r7 0xc089f04a 3230265418 r8 0xc05ed6ac 3227440812 r9 0xc084c000 3229925376 r10 0xc089f04a 3230265418 r11 0xc084c000 3229925376 r12 0x0 0 sp 0xc084dfb0 0xc084dfb0 lr 0xc000f748 0xc000f748 <arch_cpu_idle+40> pc 0xc001dc68 0xc001dc68 <cpu_v7_do_idle+8> cpsr 0x600f0093 1611595923
9. Variable monitoring commands[edit source]
- The print command (abbreviation p) prints the value of a given variable in a format appropriate to its data type. You can choose various formats specified by /f, where f* is a letter defining the format:
- *x: hexadecimal, d: signed decimal, u: unsigned decimal, a: address, c: character, f:float, s: string
print [/f] <variable>
For example:
print caps $21 = (GstCaps *) 0xb4a23bb8
- The display command adds a variable to the list of variables automatically displayed so that the GDB prints its value each time your program stops
display <variable>
- Note: in case of structure, add ' * ' as prefix to the variable name allow to get the structure content
10. Memory analyzing commands[edit source]
- The command below can be used to analyze the memory in various formats, independently of your program data types:
x[/nfu] <addr>
Where:
- addr: first address displayed
- n, f, and u: optional parameters that specify the memory size to display and how to format it
- n: repeat count in decimal format (default value is 1). It specifies the memory size to display (counting by units u).
- f: display format. The formats are the same as for the print command (‘x’, ‘d’, ‘u’, ‘o’, ‘t’, ‘a’, ‘c’, ‘f’, ‘s’), plus ‘i’ (for machine instructions). Default format is ‘x’ (hexadecimal). The default format changes each time either x or print is used.
- u: unit size, which can be
- b::Bytes.
- h::Half-words (two bytes).
- w::Words (four bytes). This is the initial default value.
- g::Giant words (eight bytes).
For example:
- To display a string:
x/s 0xf017826c
- To display a memory area
100 bytes in hexadecimal: x/100xb 0xf017826c 100 bytes in decimal x/100db 0xf017826c 100 words in hexadecimal x/100xw 0xf017826c
- To avoid disabling the MMU, read a physical memory area by using the monitor command (Note: this is valid only when using the OpenOCD debugger interface, so not for user space application debug, see Sending commands to the debugger paragraph)
# For example, read 20 words (32 bits) at address 0x40000400 monitor mdw phys 0x40000400 20 0x40000400: 00000080 030ce003 2127d801 4f31e7ee f8df2600 f8df80d4 686390d4 075a685b 0x40000420: b176d503 f0004640 6820f8f9 f928f000 b1684605 48284601 f8f0f000 f0004628 0x40000440: 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
- Bytes (8-bit data) can be read by using mdb, and half-words (16-bit data) by using mdh.
11. Variable setting command[edit source]
set var <variable_name>=<new value>
12. Debugging running process commands[edit source]
The attach command can be used to debug an already running process.
Note: Use either the ps utility or the ‘jobs -l’ shell command find out the process-id of a Unix process.
attach <process-id>
When the attached process debbugging is complete, you can use the detach command to release it from GDB control:
detach
13. Disassemble command[edit source]
Disassembles a specified section of memory.
disassemble - (abbreviation disas) Disassemble the function surrounding the pc of the selected frame.
disassemble <Function> - (abbreviation disas <Function>) Disassemble the given entire function
disassemble <Address> - (abbreviation disas <Address>) Disassemble the address inside a function
disassemble <Start>,<End> - (abbreviation disas <Start>,<End>) Disassemble the specified address range
disassemble <Function>,+<Length> - (abbreviation disas <Function>,+<Length>) Disassemble from the start address of the function with the amount of bytes lenght
disassemble <Address>,+<Length> - (abbreviation disas <Function>,+<Length>) Disassemble from the given start address in a function with the amount of bytes lenght
disassemble /m [...] - (abbreviation disas /m [...]) When this option is specified, the disassemble command shows the source lines that correspond to the disassembled instructions
disassemble /r [...] - (abbreviation disas /r [...]) When this option is specified, the disassemble command shows the raw byte values of all disassembled instructions
14. Quit (or q) command[edit source]
quit - (abbreviation q) Quits gdb
15. Sending commands to the debugger[edit source]
The monitor command allows sending arbitrary commands directly to the remote monitor as OpenOCD debugger.
This command does not work when debugging user space applications that use gdbsever interface instead of OpenOCD debugger path.
In that case, since the GDB does not care about the commands it sends, the monitor command allows to extend the GDB. You can add new commands that only the external monitor understands and implements.
monitor <cmd>
To get the list of cmd commands:
monitor help
16. Reference[edit source]