NAME

ddt − interactive symbolic debugger (Balance only)

SYNOPSIS

ddt [ -cdfhiw ] [ file [ file ] ]

DESCRIPTION

Ddt is an interactive symbolic debugger that allows debugging at the assembly language level for the Balance series; for the Symmetry series, use pdbx. Ddt works through ptrace(2) by default or through a /dev/mem file. Code may be displayed and breakpoints set. Single-stepping is possible at machine instruction level, procedure level, or on non-sequential instruction fetch.

When no options are specified and two file names are given, the first file must be an a.out format file with symbols and the second file must be a core file.  To specify a core file without specifying an a.out file, use the −c option. 

Ddt also allows examination of:

•  DYNIX, through /dev/mem or /dev/kmem (using the −f option).  •  Any DYNIX file without symbols (using −f file).

Options are:

−c Indicate that the file is a core file.  No symbols are available.  Used only when one file name is given. 

−d Set input and output radix to decimal. 

−f Examine file “straight.” No symbols exist and addresses represent actual offsets into the file. 

When the −f option is specified with two filenames, ddt assumes the first is a file in a.out format and the second is a /dev/mem file.  Ddt examines memory through the /dev/mem files, not through the system ptrace calls.  Symbols are available in this case. 

−h Set input and output radix to hexadecimal. 

−i Open file, but do not allow it to be executed.  −i is useful for comparing and checking a.out files.  It cannot be used with −c or −f. 

−w Write-enable file. −w must be used with −f or −i.  Using −fw allows file to be changed.  Using −iw allows patching on a.out files.  −w is useful for changing code by hand. 

When no options are specified, ddt opens an a.out file in the current directory in hexadecimal mode. 

In the following descriptions, the following characters are specified symbolically:

$    = escape

<cr> = return

<lf> = line feed ( ^j or ’ )

<bs> = backspace

Ddt Command Format

Most command lines use the format:

[ expression ]  ...  [ $ [ $ ] ]  [ number ]  ...  command [ <cr> ]

Command is a command character or characters.  Expression and number arguments, such as symbols defined in an a.out file and numbers in the current radix, can optionally be used with certain command characters.  Most commands are specified with one or two escape characters ($).  The typical command consists of “$command”, which is escape followed by a command character.  Some commands have multiple command characters and some require a <cr> to complete. 

Commands are executed immediately.  When symbols or expressions are typed, <bs> may be used for input editing. 

Symbols

Symbols are composed of alphanumerics, underlines (_), dollar signs ($), and periods (.). 

The “$” and “.” symbols are defined by ddt.  Alone, the symbol “.” refers to the most recently specified address, or if it is used immediately after a number, “.” means input the number in decimal radix.  Ddt translates “$” into “.”, so “$” functions the same as “.”. 

Symbols other than “$” and “.” are defined by the file being debugged. 

The following NS32032 CPU registers are available; they are specified to ddt by the register names:

r0, r1, r2, r3, r4, r5, r6, r7General Purpose Registers 0-7
psr                           Processor Status Register
f0, f1, f2, f3, f4, f5, f6, f7Floating Point Registers 0-7
modModule Table Register
pcProgram Counter
spStack Pointer
fpFrame Pointer

When a symbol is specified in a command line, the symbol can be abbreviated and an initial underline (_) need not be typed.  When ddt looks for the symbol it selects the best match.  For example, assuming the symbol “XYZ” has been typed as part of a command line, ddt will look through all the symbols and select the one closest to “XYZ”, as follows:

1) XYZ
2) _XYZ
3) XYZ$anything
4) XYZanything
5) _XYZanything

If ddt does not find any of the six possible matches, it prints “symbol <XYZ> not found”.  If ddt returns, for example, “XYZTOMATO”, then the symbols “XYZ” and “_XYZ” do not exist in the file; the symbols “_XYZanything”, “XYZanything”, and “_XYZanything” may or may not be present in the file.  The anything field matches the first matching symbol. 

Expressions

Expressions are composed of symbols, numbers, and operators. 

When ddt evaluates expressions, it finds the value of primary expressions first.  (Primary expressions, for example, symbols and numbers, have intrinsic values.)   Next, if necessary, ddt negates or complements the primary expression.  Ddt performs multiply, and, div, mod, shift right, and shift left operations.  Last, ddt does add, subtract, or, and xor operations in the expression.  The following grammar details ddt’s order of evaluation for expression:

Low Priority

expr ::=  D1 “+” D1add
 
        | D1 “-” D1subtract
 
        | D1 “|” D1or
 
        | D1 “^” D1xor

Medium Priority

D1   ::=  D2 “∗” D2multiply
 
        | D2 “&” D2and
 
        | D2 “#” D2div
 
        | D2 “%” D2mod
 
        | D2 “>” D2shift right by second D2
 
        | D2 “<” D2shift left by second D2

High Priority Operators

D2   ::=  “-” D3negate
 
        | “~” D3complement

Primary Expressions

D3   ::=  “(” expr “)”subexpression
 
          “ . ”           dot
 
          “ ‘ ”           last displayed value
 
          D3 "@@e        indirect through D3
 
          symbol        take symbol value
 
          %symbol       assume % is part of symbol
 

          number [0-9,a-f,A-F] if the leading digit is in the range a-f
                                provide a leading 0.  For example, type
                                “0a” for hex a

 
          number[.,o,x] . means decimal, o octal, and x hex
 
          register[r0-r7,f0-f7,fp,sp,pc,psr,mod]

The postfix ‘@@’ operator makes the expression a pointer, and the value is the 4-byte quantity at that memory address. 

When a register is used in an expression, it is both an address and a value.  For example, “r0+4” is the contents of r0 plus 4, while “r0/” is the contents of r0 and “r0/5<cr>” stores 5 in r0.  “r0/<lf><lf>” prints the contents of r0, r1, and r2.  (Be careful, “r0<lf>” stores the contents of r0 in the currently open location.) 

Examples:

Consider the addressing mode 4(8(fp)).  The effective operand address could be displayed with:

fp+8@@+4=

or:

fp+8@@+4;

The operand could be displayed in the current mode with:

fp+8@@+4/

The more complicated case of “4(8(fp))[r2:w]” can be displayed with: “fp+8@@+4+r2∗2i” (then “=”, “;”, “/”, etc.) 

For ext(a)+b, type:

mod+4@@+a∗4@@+b

Mode Selection Commands

Mode selection commands tell ddt what format to use for displaying output.  The output format mode is specified locally or permanently.  Typing a single $ changes the output mode locally; typing $$ changes the output mode permanently.  Local formats remain in effect until the next <cr> is typed.  Permanent formats are effective until another permanent mode is specified. 

Mode selection commands are:

$mb Select absolute numeric mode.  Print the numeric value using the current radix.  $mb is the same as $mn, except that $mb ignores $mA and $mr . 

$mc Select character mode.  Show the hexadecimal value of nonprintable characters preceded by a backslash (/). 

$mf Select floating-point mode.  Print numbers as floating-point numbers. 

$mg Select double-precision floating-point mode.  If a memory address is given, the eight bytes at the current location are printed as a double-precision floating-point number.  If a register is given, it is taken as the first register of a register pair which is printed as a double-precision floating-point number. 

$mi Select instruction mode.  Display memory as assembly instruction mnemonics and their operands.  ($mi mode is used by automatic mode ($mA) when the address is in the program code area.) 

$mn Select numeric mode.  $mn is the same as $mb, but $mr and $mA override $mn. 

$ms Select string mode.  Show memory contents as character strings, and stop printing on null. 

$mA Select automatic mode (default except for −f file option).  Ddt prints the data at addresses in the program code area as instructions (like under “$mi”); ddt prints the data at other addresses numerically, according to the size given by “$tX”. 

$mN Select normal mode (default for −f file option).  $mN prints all data numerically and no symbols are available. 

$ma Select nonsymbolic mode. 

$mr Select symbolic mode.  $mr overrules $mn. 

value$mm
Set maximum offset. The maximum offset tells ddt to show addresses as offsets from a symbol until the offset is greater than value. Default value is 1000. 

$r[bodx]
Set input/output radix as in printf: b=binary, o=octal, d=decimal, x=hex. Character or instruction input modes are not available.

$t[bwd]
Select the context or data size: b=byte, w=word, d=doubleword. Default is d. 

$n Like “=” (defined below) only display numeric as unsigned.  Retype the last value as an unsigned number. 

A decimal radix number can always be entered regardless of the input radix by typing the number followed by a “.”; i.e., “234.” is 234 base 10.  Likewise a hexadecimal radix number can always be entered by typing the number followed by a “x”; i.e., “2aex” is 2AE base 16.  An octal radix number can always be entered by typing the number followed by an “o”. 

Run Commands

The run commands are:

$g and $G arguments <cr>
Begin execution of the a.out (or file). $G allows arguments to be passed to the program through ddt. For example, to debug “/usr/ucb/ls −R”, give the run command “$G −R <cr>”. Arguments need only be set once with $G; on repeat runs, $g will use the same arguments.  $G can be issued at any time to change arguments. 

When ddt begins execution, it gives the name of file and the arguments; for example, ddt prints:

running /usr/ucb/ls −R

Both $g and $G put all breakpoints in a program before running. 

Retyping Output

Ddt recognizes three commands for retyping output:

; Retype the last value in symbolic format. 

= Retype the last value as a number. 

$n Retype the last value as a unsigned number. 

Display (or Open Location) Commands

These commands display code or data and “open” locations. 

In the following table, “the new address” means the last value typed, either by ddt or through the keyboard.  However, “if typed” means “if typed on the keyboard.” Certain commands change the location counter (.).  Open location commands and their effects on “.” are:

Command	Function	Changes “.”?
!	Open the new address	If typed
/	Open and type the new address	If typed
\	Open and type the new address	Never
^I (tab)	Open and type the new address	Always

For example, “10/” displays address 10 and the contents of address “10”; it leaves “.” set to 10.  “10\” displays the same things, but it does not change “.” at all. 

Display or Change Commands

These commands display and change memory locations.  To change the contents of a location, the address must be open (see previous section) and a replacement expression must be specified in the command line.  Ddt stores the value of the replacement expression in the location. 

Some commands increment or decrement the location counter (.).  The delta depends on the contexts established with the $tX command, or in $mi mode, it depends on the size of the instruction. 

All change or display commands open the new “.”. 

The change or display commands are:

?  Decrement “.” and display the new address. 

expr? Store expr first then decrement “.” and display the new address. 

< lf> Increment “.” and displays the new address. 

expr’ Store expr then decrement “.” and display the new address. 

expr< lf> Store expr then increment “.” and display the new address. 

<cr> Cancel temporary output format modes. 

expr<cr> Store expr then decrement “.” display the new address. 

Program Control Commands

Program control commands manage breakpoints, step through a program, provide a help facility, quit ddt, display memory, and create command strings. For these commands the radix of number is always decimal. 

addr$b
Set breakpoint at addr. If addr is not specified, then the value of “.” is used. 

$numberb
Remove breakpoint number. 

$B Remove all breakpoints. 

$l List all existing breakpoints. 

number$p
Proceed from current pc. With number , proceeds from the specified breakpoint; default is 0.  Proceed is done by stepping one instruction, (as with “ [”), inserting all breakpoints and running. 

number$P
Same as $p, except proceeds without signal. 

number]
Single-step over pc. Do not insert breakpoint. Default is 0.

number[
Single-step over pc. If the next instruction is cxp, cxpd, jsr, or bsr, step over call. Does not insert breakpoint. number[ will do number single-steps.  Default is 0. 

} Single-step.  Insert breakpoints. 

{ Single-step pc.  If the instruction is cxp, cxpd, jsr, or bsr, step over call.  Insert breakpoints. 

$k Skip the current instruction. 

$s Display a stack trace.  Show offset in function and arguments to call (for C call-return sequences). 

$S Display a stack trace.  Show offset in function but no arguments to call (for bad stacks and non-C stacks). 

$u Insert an uplevel breakpoint at the return pc of the next frame and proceed.  Execution proceeds to that breakpoint because $u causes ddt to temporarily ignore any intervening breakpoints.  When ddt reaches the next frame, $u removes the breakpoint it inserted.  $u differs from $U in that it proceeds directly to the next frame.  Note: $u can be used to get out of a call.  To work as intended, be sure to step past the ENTER instruction in the current routine (the fp hasn’t changed yet).  If you are not beyond the ENTER, then the breakpoint will be placed at a depth one greater than expected. 

$U Put an uplevel breakpoint at the return pc of the next frame. 

calladdr, argn... arg1$c
Perform a cxp call to the address given. The address must be the start of routine and have the correct module value for that symbol. The arguments will be pushed on the stack in right to left order. If the program stops due to a breakpoint within the call routine, the arguments will not be cleaned off the stack on proceed or step.

$h Print a synopsis of ddt commands. 

$q Quit ddt.

^d Display next 10 data items. 

^b Single-step 10 times (10 ‘ ] ’). 

^f Single-step over 10 times (10 ‘ [ ’). 

number$ecommand-string
Execute the command-string when breakpoint number is hit, or if no number is given, whenever the program stops.  A command-string is any other ddt command.  For example: “$er0/” will show the contents of r0 every time the program stops (single-step or breakpoint). 

number$E
Disable command string for breakpoint number, or if no number is given, disable the $e (the any-stop string).  $numberb will also disable command string number, and $B will disable all number command strings. 

$L List all stop strings.  Stop strings are set with $e.  In the display, T: is the any break command string.  “1:” would indicate breakpoint number 1 has that command string. 

SEE ALSO

pdbx(1), ptrace(2)

DYNIX