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| <h2 class="chapter">24 Command Interpreters</h2> |
| |
| <p><a name="index-command-interpreters-1949"></a> |
| <span class="sc">gdb</span> supports multiple command interpreters, and some command |
| infrastructure to allow users or user interface writers to switch |
| between interpreters or run commands in other interpreters. |
| |
| <p><span class="sc">gdb</span> currently supports two command interpreters, the console |
| interpreter (sometimes called the command-line interpreter or <span class="sc">cli</span>) |
| and the machine interface interpreter (or <span class="sc">gdb/mi</span>). This manual |
| describes both of these interfaces in great detail. |
| |
| <p>By default, <span class="sc">gdb</span> will start with the console interpreter. |
| However, the user may choose to start <span class="sc">gdb</span> with another |
| interpreter by specifying the <samp><span class="option">-i</span></samp> or <samp><span class="option">--interpreter</span></samp> |
| startup options. Defined interpreters include: |
| |
| <dl> |
| <dt><code>console</code><dd><a name="index-console-interpreter-1950"></a>The traditional console or command-line interpreter. This is the most often |
| used interpreter with <span class="sc">gdb</span>. With no interpreter specified at runtime, |
| <span class="sc">gdb</span> will use this interpreter. |
| |
| <br><dt><code>mi</code><dd><a name="index-mi-interpreter-1951"></a>The newest <span class="sc">gdb/mi</span> interface (currently <code>mi2</code>). Used primarily |
| by programs wishing to use <span class="sc">gdb</span> as a backend for a debugger GUI |
| or an IDE. For more information, see <a href="GDB_002fMI.html#GDB_002fMI">The <span class="sc">gdb/mi</span> Interface</a>. |
| |
| <br><dt><code>mi2</code><dd><a name="index-mi2-interpreter-1952"></a>The current <span class="sc">gdb/mi</span> interface. |
| |
| <br><dt><code>mi1</code><dd><a name="index-mi1-interpreter-1953"></a>The <span class="sc">gdb/mi</span> interface included in <span class="sc">gdb</span> 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3. |
| |
| </dl> |
| |
| <p><a name="index-invoke-another-interpreter-1954"></a>The interpreter being used by <span class="sc">gdb</span> may not be dynamically |
| switched at runtime. Although possible, this could lead to a very |
| precarious situation. Consider an IDE using <span class="sc">gdb/mi</span>. If a user |
| enters the command "interpreter-set console" in a console view, |
| <span class="sc">gdb</span> would switch to using the console interpreter, rendering |
| the IDE inoperable! |
| |
| <p><a name="index-interpreter_002dexec-1955"></a>Although you may only choose a single interpreter at startup, you may execute |
| commands in any interpreter from the current interpreter using the appropriate |
| command. If you are running the console interpreter, simply use the |
| <code>interpreter-exec</code> command: |
| |
| <pre class="smallexample"> interpreter-exec mi "-data-list-register-names" |
| </pre> |
| <p><span class="sc">gdb/mi</span> has a similar command, although it is only available in versions of |
| <span class="sc">gdb</span> which support <span class="sc">gdb/mi</span> version 2 (or greater). |
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