Compiling and using GDB for arm-linux

Some days ago I had to compile gdb manually in order to debug an arm-linux app. It's quite trivial but it's so useful that I thought it would be a nice idea to post the instructions here. Below there are some explanations about debugging remotely with KDevelop.

This was done with gdb-6.8, you can grab it here. It is assumed that arm-linux tools are available (PATH correctly set).

Compiling the GDB client

Decompress gdb-6.8 and compile it by issuing:

tar xvf gdb-6.8.tar.gz
cd gdb-6.8
./configure --build=x86 --host=x86 --target=arm-linux
make

After compiling just copy gdb/gdb to arm-linux-gdb where the arm-linux toolchain binaries reside (this is purely for organization and proper naming). You can now remove the gdb-6.8 directory.

NOTE: if your host computer architecture isn't intel-based just replace x86 by the correct value for your platform.

Compiling the GDB server (ARM)

Decompress gdb-6.8 and compile it by issuing:

tar xvf gdb-6.8.tar.gz
cd gdb-6.8
./configure --host=arm-linux
make

After compiling just copy gdb/gdbserver/gdbserver to your arm-linux filesystem so that you can execute it from a remote shell (gdbserver will be an arm-elf binary). You can now remove the gdb-6.8 directory.

Testing connections

First the server should be started in the  arm processor by issuing something like:

gdbserver host:1234 _executable_

Where _executable_ is the application that is going to be debugged and host:1234 tells gdbserver to listen for connections to port 1234.

To run gdb just type this in a PC shell:

arm-linux-gdb --se=_executable_

After that you'll get the gdb prompt. To connect to the target type:

target remote target_ip:1234

To resume execution type 'continue'. You can get an overview on gdb usage here.

Debugging with KDevelop

KDevelop can be used to watch variables and debug the remote target (place breakpoints, stop execution, etc). Just go to Project -> Project Options and make sure you have something like this:

monitor-debug.gdb is a file that contains the following

target remote target_ip:1234

After this you will be ready to remotely debug any arm-linux application.

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