Command Reference

allow_critical_exclusion [on|off]

aout_cache_size num

Size of a.out loadobject cache; set this to num when debugging num programs serially from a single dbx. A num of zero still allows caching of shared objects. See entry for locache_enable. Default: 1

array_bounds_check [on|off]

If on, dbx checks the array bounds. Default: on

cfront_demangling [on|off]

Governs demangling of Cfront (SC 2.0 and SC 2.0.1) names while loading a program. It is necessary to set this parameter to on or start dbx with the -F option if debugging programs compiled with Cfront or programs linked with Cfront compiled libraries. If set to off, dbx loads the program approximately 15% faster. Default: off

delay_xs [on|off]

Governs whether debugging information for modules compiled with the -xs option is loaded at dbx startup or delayed. Default: on

disassembler_version [autodetect|v8|v9|v9vis]

SPARC: Set the version of dbx's built-in disassembler for SPARC V8, V9, or V9 with the Visual Instruction set. Default is autodetect, which sets the mode dynamically depending on the type of the machine a.out is running on. Non-SPARC platforms: Only valid choice is autodetect.

fix_verbose [on|off]

Governs the printing of compilation line during a fix. Default: off

follow_fork_inherit [on|off]

When following a child, inherit or do not inherit events. Default: off 

follow_fork_mode ...

When process executes a fork/vfork/fork1 ... Default: parent 

follow_fork_mode parent

... stay with parent. 

follow_fork_mode child

... follow child. 

follow_fork_mode both

... follow both parent and child (Sun WorkShop only). 

follow_fork_mode ask

... ask which of the above the user wants. 

follow_fork_mode_inner [unset|

parent|child|both]

Of relevance after a fork has been detected if follow_fork_mode was set to ask, and you chose stop. By setting this variable you need not use cont -follow.

input_case_sensitive [autodetect|

true|false]

If set to autodetect, dbx automatically selects case sensitivity based on the language of the file: false for FORTRAN 77 or Fortran 90 files, otherwise true. If true, case matters in variable and function names; otherwise, case is not significant. Default: autodetect

language_mode [autodetect|main|c| ansic|c++|objc|fortran| fortran90|native_java]

Governs the language used for parsing and evaluating expressions. autodetect: sets to language of current file. Useful if debugging programs with mixed languages (default mode). main: sets language of the main routine in the program. Useful if debugging homogeneous programs. c, c++, ansic, c++, objc, fortran, fortran90, native_java: sets to selected language.

locache_enable [on|off]

Enable or disable loadobject cache entirely. Default: on 

mt_watchpoints [on|off]

Allow or disallow watchpoint facility for multithreaded programs. Default: off. Warning: Be aware that when using watchpoints on a multithreaded program that the application may deadlock if a semaphore occurs on a page that is being watched. 

output_auto_flush [on|off]

Automatically call fflush() after each call. Default: on

output_base [8|10|16|automatic]

Default base for printing integer constants. Default: automatic (pointers in hexadecimal characters, all else in decimal. 

output_dynamic_type [on|off]

When on, -d is the default for printing, displaying and inspecting. Default: off

output_inherited_members [on|off]

When on, -r is the default for printing, displaying and inspecting. Default: off 

output_list_size num

Governs the default number of lines to print in the list command. Default: 10

output_log_file_name filename

Name of the command logfile. Default: /tmp/dbx.log.uniqueID

output_max_string_length num

Set # of chars printed for char *s. Default: 512

output_pretty_print [on|off]

Sets -p as the default for printing, displaying and inspecting. Default: off.

output_short_file_name [on|off]

Display short pathnames for files. Default: on 

overload_function [on|off]

For C++, if on, do automatic function overload resolution. Default: on

overload_operator [on|off]

For C++, if on, do automatic operator overload resolution. Default: on

pop_auto_destruct [on|off]

If on, automatically call appropriate destructors for locals when popping a frame. Default: on

rtc_auto_continue [on|off]

Logs errors to rtc_error_log_file_name and continue. Default: off

rtc_auto_suppress [on| off]

If on, an RTC error at a given location is reported only once. Default: off

rtc_biu_at_exit [on|off|verbose]

Used when check -memuse is on explicitly or via check -all. If the value is on, a non-verbose memory use (blocks in use) report is produced at program exit. If the value is verbose, a verbose memory use report is produced at program exit. The value off causes no output. Default: on

rtc_error_limit num

Number of RTC errors to be reported. Default: 1000 

rtc_error_log_file_name filename

Name of file where RTC errors are logged if rtc_auto_continue is set. Default: /tmp/dbx.errlog.uniqueID

rtc_mel_at_exit [on|off|verbose]

Used when leaks checking is on. If the value is on, a non-verbose memory leak report is produced at program exit. If the value is verbose, a verbose memory leak report is produced at program exit. The value off causes no output. Default: on

run_autostart [on|off]

If on with no active program, step, next, stepi, and nexti implicitly run the program and stop at the language-dependent main routine. If on, cont implies run when necessary. Default: off

run_io [stdio|pty]

Governs whether the user program's I/O is redirected to dbx's stdio or a specific pty. The pty is provided via run_pty. Default: stdio.

run_pty ptyname

Sets the name of the pty to use when run_io is set to pty. Ptys are used by GUI wrappers.

run_quick [on|off]

If on, no symbolic information is loaded. The symbolic information can be loaded on demand using prog -readsysms. Until then dbx behaves as if the program being debugged is stripped. Default: off

run_savetty [on|off]

Multiplexes tty settings, process group, and keyboard settings (if -kbd was used on the command line) between dbx and the debuggee; useful when debugging editors and shells. Try setting to on if dbx gets SIGTTIN or SIGTTOU and pops back into the shell. Try setting to off to gain a slight speed advantage. The setting is irrelevant if dbx is attached to the debugee or is running under Sun WorkShop. Default: on

run_setpgrp [on|off]

If on, when a program is run setgprp(2)is called right after the fork. Default: off

scope_global_enums [on|off]

If on, enumerators are put in global scope and not in file scope. Should be set before debugging information is processed (~/.dbxrc). Default: off

scope_look_aside [on|off]

Find file static symbols, even when not in scope. Default: on 

session_log_file_name filename

Name of file where dbx logs all commands and their output. Output is appended to the file. Default: "" (no session logging)

stack_max_size num

Sets the default size for the where command. Default: 100

stack_verbose [on|off]

Governs the printing of arguments and line information in where. Default: on

step_events [on|off]

Allows breakpoints while stepping and nexting.Default: off 

suppress_startup_message num

Sets the release level below which the startup message is not printed. Default: 3.01 

symbol_info_compression [on|off]

Reads debugging information for each include file only once. Default: on

trace_speed num

Sets the speed of tracing execution. Value is the number of seconds to pause between steps. Default: 0.50