List of dbx subcommands

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The commands and sub commands for the dbx debug program are documented in the dbx command .

The dbx debug program provides subcommands for performing the following task categories:

Setting and deleting breakpoints

Subcommand Description
clear Removes all stops at a given source line.
cleari Removes all breakpoints at an address.
delete Removes the traces and stops corresponding to the specified numbers.
status Displays the currently active trace and stop subcommands.
stop Stops execution of the application program.

Running your program

Subcommand Description
cont Continues running the program from the current breakpoint until the program finishes or another breakpoint is encountered.
detach Exits the debug program, but continues running the application.
down Moves a function down the stack.
goto Causes the specified source line to be the next line run.
gotoi Changes program counter addresses.
next Runs the application program up to the next source line.
nexti Runs the application program up to the next source instruction.
rerun Begins running an application.
return Continues running the application program until a return to the specified procedure is reached.
run Begins running an application.
skip Continues execution from the current stopping point.
step Runs one source line.
stepi Runs one source instruction.
up Move a function up the stack.

Tracing program execution

Subcommand Description
trace Prints tracing information.
tracei Turns on tracing.
where Displays a list of all active procedures and functions.

Ending program execution

Subcommand Description
quit Quits the dbx debug program.

Displaying the source file

Subcommand Description
edit Invokes an editor on the specified file.
file Changes the current source file to the specified file.
func Changes the current function to the specified function or procedure.
list Displays lines of the current source file.
listi Lists instructions from the application.
move Changes the next line to be displayed.
/ (Search) Searches forward in the current source file for a pattern.
? (Search) Searches backward in the current source file for a pattern.
use Sets the list of directories to be searched when looking for a file.

Printing and modifying variables, expressions, and types

Subcommand Description
assign Assigns a value to a variable.
case Changes the way in which dbx interprets symbols.
dump Displays the names and values of variables in the specified procedure.
print Prints the value of an expression or runs a procedure and prints the return code.
set Assigns a value to a nonprogram variable.
unset Deletes a nonprogram variable.
whatis Displays the declaration of application program components.
whereis Displays the full qualifications of all the symbols whose names match the specified identifier.
which Displays the full qualification of the specified identifier.

Thread debugging

Subcommand Description
attribute Displays information about all or selected attributes objects.
condition Displays information about all or selected condition variables.
mutex Displays information about all or selected mutexes.
thread Displays and controls threads.
tstophwp Sets a thread-level hardware watchpoint stop.
ttracehwp Sets a thread-level hardware watchpoint trace.
tstop Sets a source-level breakpoint stop for a thread.
tstopi Sets an instruction-level breakpoint stop for a thread.
ttrace Sets a source-level trace for a thread.
ttracei Sets an instruction-level trace for a thread.
tnext Runs a thread up to the next source line.
tnexti Runs a thread up to the next machine instruction.
tstep Runs a thread one source line.
tstepi Runs a thread one machine instruction.
tskip Skips breakpoints for a thread.

Multiprocess debugging

Subcommand Description
multproc Enables or disables multiprocess debugging.

Procedure calling

Subcommand Description
call Runs the object code associated with the named procedure or function.
print Prints the value of an expression or runs a procedure and prints the return code.

Signal handling

Subcommand Description
catch Starts trapping a signal before that signal is sent to the application program.
ignore Stops trapping a signal before that signal is sent to the application program.

Machine-level debugging

Subcommand Description
display memory Displays the contents of memory.
gotoi Changes program counter addresses.
map Displays address maps and loader information for the application program.
nexti Runs the application program up to the next machine instruction.
registers Displays the values of all general-purpose registers, system-control registers, floating-point registers, and the current instruction register.
stepi Runs one source instruction.
stopi Sets a stop at a specified location.
tracei Turns on tracing.

Debugging environment control

Subcommand Description
alias Displays and assigns aliases for dbx subcommands.
help Displays help information for dbx subcommands or topics.
prompt Changes the dbx prompt to the specified string.
screen Opens an Xwindow for dbx command output.
sh Passes a command to the shell for execution.
source Reads dbx commands from a file.
unalias Removes an alias.