comparison etc/DEBUG @ 71445:241a58942caf

Mention `pv variable' to print value of Lisp variables. Mention `xpr' and fix example to use it. Add section describing commands such as `pit' that are useful for debugging redisplay related problems.

71444:6379f5eeecbd

in the ordinary way, with the `p' command.  Then type `pr' with no
arguments.  This calls a subroutine which uses the Lisp printer.

You can also use `pp value' to print the emacs value directly.

Note: It is not a good idea to try `pr' or `pp' if you know that Emacs
is in deep trouble: its stack smashed (e.g., if it encountered SIGSEGV
due to stack overflow), or crucial data structures, such as `obarray',
corrupted, etc.  In such cases, the Emacs subroutine called by `pr'
might make more damage, like overwrite some data that is important for
debugging the original problem.

Emacs while it was inside `select'.  This is in fact what happens if
you stop Emacs while it is waiting.  In such a situation, don't try to
use `pr'.  Instead, use `s' to step out of the system call.  Then
Emacs will be between instructions and capable of handling `pr'.

If you can't use `pr' command, for whatever reason, you can fall back
on lower-level commands.  Use the `xtype' command to print out the
data type of the last data value.  Once you know the data type, use
the command that corresponds to that type.  Here are these commands:

    xint xptr xwindow xmarker xoverlay xmiscfree xintfwd xboolfwd xobjfwd
    xbufobjfwd xkbobjfwd xbuflocal xbuffer xsymbol xstring xvector xframe
    xwinconfig xcompiled xcons xcar xcdr xsubr xprocess xfloat xscrollbar

Then Emacs hits the breakpoint:

    (gdb) p frame
    $1 = 139854428
    (gdb) xtype
    Lisp_Vectorlike
    PVEC_FRAME
    (gdb) xframe
    $2 = (struct frame *) 0x8560258
    (gdb) p *$
    $3 = {
      size = 1073742931,
      next = 0x85dfe58,
      name = 140615219,
      [...]
    }
    (gdb) p $3->name
    $4 = 140615219

Now we can use `pr' to print the name of the frame:

    (gdb) pr
    "[e-mail]"

The Emacs C code heavily uses macros defined in lisp.h.  So suppose
we want the address of the l-value expression near the bottom of
`add_command_key' from keyboard.c:

   xtype

and, assuming that "xtype" says that args[0] is a symbol:

   xsymbol

** Using GDB in Emacs

Debugging with GDB in Emacs offers some advantages over the command line (See
the GDB Graphical Interface node of the Emacs manual).  There are also some

71445:241a58942caf

in the ordinary way, with the `p' command.  Then type `pr' with no
arguments.  This calls a subroutine which uses the Lisp printer.

You can also use `pp value' to print the emacs value directly.

To see the current value of a Lisp Variable, use `pv variable'.

Note: It is not a good idea to try `pr', `pp', or `pv' if you know that Emacs
is in deep trouble: its stack smashed (e.g., if it encountered SIGSEGV
due to stack overflow), or crucial data structures, such as `obarray',
corrupted, etc.  In such cases, the Emacs subroutine called by `pr'
might make more damage, like overwrite some data that is important for
debugging the original problem.

Emacs while it was inside `select'.  This is in fact what happens if
you stop Emacs while it is waiting.  In such a situation, don't try to
use `pr'.  Instead, use `s' to step out of the system call.  Then
Emacs will be between instructions and capable of handling `pr'.

If you can't use `pr' command, for whatever reason, you can use the
`xpr' command to print out the data type and value of the last data
value, For example:

    p it->object
    xpr

You may also analyze data values using lower-level commands.  Use the
`xtype' command to print out the data type of the last data value.
Once you know the data type, use the command that corresponds to that
type.  Here are these commands:

    xint xptr xwindow xmarker xoverlay xmiscfree xintfwd xboolfwd xobjfwd
    xbufobjfwd xkbobjfwd xbuflocal xbuffer xsymbol xstring xvector xframe
    xwinconfig xcompiled xcons xcar xcdr xsubr xprocess xfloat xscrollbar

Then Emacs hits the breakpoint:

    (gdb) p frame
    $1 = 139854428
    (gdb) xpr
    Lisp_Vectorlike
    PVEC_FRAME
    $2 = (struct frame *) 0x8560258
    "emacs@localhost"
    (gdb) p *$
    $3 = {
      size = 1073742931,
      next = 0x85dfe58,
      name = 140615219,
      [...]
    }

Now we can use `pr' to print the frame parameters:

    (gdb) pp $->param_alist
    ((background-mode . light) (display-type . color) [...])


The Emacs C code heavily uses macros defined in lisp.h.  So suppose
we want the address of the l-value expression near the bottom of
`add_command_key' from keyboard.c:

   xtype

and, assuming that "xtype" says that args[0] is a symbol:

   xsymbol

** Debugging Emacs Redisplay problems

The src/.gdbinit file defines many useful commands for dumping redisplay
related data structures in a terse and user-friendly format:

 `ppt' prints value of PT, narrowing, and gap in current buffer.
 `pit' dumps the current display iterator `it'.
 `pwin' dumps the current window 'win'.
 `prow' dumps the current glyph_row `row'.
 `pg' dumps the current glyph `glyph'.
 `pgi' dumps the next glyph.
 `pgrow' dumps all glyphs in current glyph_row `row'.
 `pcursor' dumps current output_cursor.

The above commands also exist in a version with an `x' suffix which
takes an object of the relevant type as argument.

** Using GDB in Emacs

Debugging with GDB in Emacs offers some advantages over the command line (See
the GDB Graphical Interface node of the Emacs manual).  There are also some