(gdb.info.gz) Invoking GDB

 
 Invoking GDB
 ============
 
    Invoke GDB by running the program `gdb'.  Once started, GDB reads
 commands from the terminal until you tell it to exit.
 
    You can also run `gdb' with a variety of arguments and options, to
 specify more of your debugging environment at the outset.
 
    The command-line options described here are designed to cover a
 variety of situations; in some environments, some of these options may
 effectively be unavailable.
 
    The most usual way to start GDB is with one argument, specifying an
 executable program:
 
      gdb PROGRAM
 
 You can also start with both an executable program and a core file
 specified:
 
      gdb PROGRAM CORE
 
    You can, instead, specify a process ID as a second argument, if you
 want to debug a running process:
 
      gdb PROGRAM 1234
 
 would attach GDB to process `1234' (unless you also have a file named
 `1234'; GDB does check for a core file first).
 
    Taking advantage of the second command-line argument requires a
 fairly complete operating system; when you use GDB as a remote debugger
 attached to a bare board, there may not be any notion of "process", and
 there is often no way to get a core dump.  GDB will warn you if it is
 unable to attach or to read core dumps.
 
    You can optionally have `gdb' pass any arguments after the
 executable file to the inferior using `--args'.  This option stops
 option processing.
      gdb --args gcc -O2 -c foo.c
    This will cause `gdb' to debug `gcc', and to set `gcc''s
 command-line arguments ( Arguments) to `-O2 -c foo.c'.
 
    You can run `gdb' without printing the front material, which
 describes GDB's non-warranty, by specifying `-silent':
 
      gdb -silent
 
 You can further control how GDB starts up by using command-line
 options.  GDB itself can remind you of the options available.
 
 Type
 
      gdb -help
 
 to display all available options and briefly describe their use (`gdb
 -h' is a shorter equivalent).
 
    All options and command line arguments you give are processed in
 sequential order.  The order makes a difference when the `-x' option is
 used.
(gdb.info.gz) Invoking GDB

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