Re: [PATCH] plugin patch

[Daniel Jacobowitz <drow@mvista.com>]

On Wed, Nov 06, 2002 at 07:47:13AM -0800, Howell, David P wrote:
> 
> On Mon, 28 Oct 2002, Scott Moser wrote:
> 
> > Below is a patch to add plugin support to GDB.  It exports a fairly
> > simple programmable interface for people to extend the functionality
> of
> > GDB via runtime loaded shared libraries in ways that may not fit with
> > the direction of the main GDB tree (not cross-platform, not stable,
> > niche audience...).
> For folks like myself that are working on an alternate architecture or 
> runtime support components (in this case NGPT threads) this would be 
> very useful, as I can see several info commands that I would like to 
> add for M:N user mode scheduling state and LWP state display that would 
> be unique to NGPT and it's implementation. 
> 
> Instead of having to add this to the standard gdb as a one-off for NGPT,
> I can use the standard gdb and design them as plug-ins to be loaded only
> 
> when debugging NGPT applications. This feels a lot cleaner and could be 
> applied for other gdb features/architectures to keep the core as small 
> and efficient as possible, loading additional support/features on demand
> only when needed.

You've both given good arguments in support of a general plugin
architecture.  No one's objecting to the theory (except possibly the
FSF... who this might need to be cleared with).  I object to the
implementation, however.

Scott, I'm sure you have a plugin or two in mind.  What interfaces do
they need?  What other interfaces would be useful?  I want plugins to
have a defined interaction with GDB, not be able to call into any
global function.  If I were you, I'd still want this, because then we
won't break your plugins willy-nilly.

-- 
Daniel Jacobowitz
MontaVista Software                         Debian GNU/Linux Developer