RMS's gdb Debugger Tutorial

Table of Contents

1. How do I use the gdb debugger?

   How do I...

   1. compile with debugging symbols?
   2. run programs with the debugger?
   3. restart a program running in the debugger?
   4. exit the debugger?
   5. get help on debugger commands?

2. How do I watch the execution of my program?

   How do I...

   1. stop execution
   2. continue execution
   3. see where my program stopped?
   4. step through my code line-by-line?
   5. examine variables?
   6. modify variables?
   7. call functions linked into my program?
   8. return from a function?

3. How do I use the call stack?

   How do I...

   1. get a backtrace?
   2. change stack frames?
   3. examine stack frames?

4. How do I use breakpoints?

   How do I...

   1. set a breakpoint on a line?
   2. set a breakpoint on a C function?
   3. set a breakpoint on a C++ function?
   4. set a temporary breakpoint?
   5. get a list of breakpoints?
   6. disable breakpoints?
   7. skip breakpoints?

5. How do I use watchpoints?

   How do I...

   1. set a write watchpoint for a variable?
   2. set a read watchpoint for a variable?
   3. set a read/write watchpoint for a variable?
   4. disable watchpoints?

6. Advanced gdb Features

   How do I...

   1. How do I examine memory?
   2. How do I see what is in the processor registers?
   3. How do I debug with a core file?
   4. How do I step through my code at the instruction level?
   5. How do I see the assembly code my program is running?

7. Example Debugging Sessions

   1. Infinite Loop Example
   2. Segmentation Fault Example

8. gdb Links

   • The FSF's gdb manual
   • DDD, a graphical interface to gdb
   • GVD, the GNU visual debugger, written in GtkAda
   • Another gdb tutorial, with a postscript reference card
   • Yet another gdb tutorial, this one from the Cornell Theory Center