From: Tom Tromey <tom@tromey.com>
To: gdb-patches@sourceware.org
Cc: Tom Tromey <tom@tromey.com>
Subject: [PATCH v2 2/4] Add wrappers for some Python APIs
Date: Fri, 15 May 2026 13:59:22 -0600 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <20260515-python-safety-initial-v2-2-6129cadf258a@tromey.com> (raw)
In-Reply-To: <20260515-python-safety-initial-v2-0-6129cadf258a@tromey.com>
This adds some new functions that wrap Python APIs. The wrapping
follows some proposed rules for Python safety in gdb:
* Functions returning a new reference return gdbpy_ref<>
* Errors are reported via exceptions, not special values
* Functions accepting a stolen reference take a gdbpy_ref<>&&
---
gdb/python/py-wrappers.h | 334 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
gdb/python/python-internal.h | 2 +
2 files changed, 336 insertions(+)
diff --git a/gdb/python/py-wrappers.h b/gdb/python/py-wrappers.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..78c1f8070cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/gdb/python/py-wrappers.h
@@ -0,0 +1,334 @@
+/* Wrappers for some Python safety.
+
+ Copyright (C) 2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+
+ This file is part of GDB.
+
+ This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+ the Free Software Foundation; either version 3 of the License, or
+ (at your option) any later version.
+
+ This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
+ GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+ You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+ along with this program. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>. */
+
+#ifndef GDB_PYTHON_PY_WRAPPERS_H
+#define GDB_PYTHON_PY_WRAPPERS_H
+
+#include "py-ref.h"
+
+/* Gdb implements its own wrappers for many Python APIs. This is done
+ in an attempt to be more safe.
+
+ In particular, in gdb:
+
+ - APIs returning a new reference will return gdbpy_ref<>. This
+ makes reference counting errors less likely.
+
+ - APIs will throw an exception rather than return a special value
+ (NULL or -1). This makes error checking simpler.
+
+ - APIs requiring a stolen reference take a gdbpy_ref<>&&, to make
+ reference counting errors less likely.
+
+ This file holds the currently-defined wrappers. If new APIs are
+ needed, the normal approach is to add a wrapper here.
+
+ APIs here are named after the underlying Python function, but using
+ lower case and an "_" at each word break. */
+
+/* The type of exception thrown when the Python exception has been
+ set. */
+struct gdb_python_exception
+{
+ gdb_python_exception ()
+ {
+ gdb_assert (PyErr_Occurred ());
+ }
+};
+
+template<typename T>
+gdbpy_ref<T>
+gdbpy_new ()
+{
+ gdbpy_ref<T> result (PyObject_New (T, T::corresponding_object_type));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_bool_from_long (long value)
+{
+ /* This cannot fail. */
+ return gdbpy_ref<> (PyBool_FromLong (value));
+}
+
+static inline char *
+gdbpy_bytes_as_string (gdbpy_borrowed_ref ref)
+{
+ char *result = PyBytes_AsString (ref);
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline void
+gdbpy_bytes_as_string_and_size (gdbpy_borrowed_ref ref,
+ char **buffer,
+ Py_ssize_t *length)
+{
+ if (PyBytes_AsStringAndSize (ref, buffer, length) == -1)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_bytes_from_string (const char *str)
+{
+ gdb_assert (str != nullptr);
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PyBytes_FromString (str));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_bytes_from_string_and_size (const char *str, Py_ssize_t len)
+{
+ /* Python allows STR==nullptr but it leaves the object
+ uninitialized, and I think we should avoid this in gdb. */
+ gdb_assert (str != nullptr);
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PyBytes_FromStringAndSize (str, len));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline Py_ssize_t
+gdbpy_bytes_size (gdbpy_borrowed_ref ref)
+{
+ Py_ssize_t result = PyBytes_Size (ref);
+ if (result == -1)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_new_list (Py_ssize_t len)
+{
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PyList_New (len));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline void
+gdbpy_list_append (gdbpy_borrowed_ref list, gdbpy_borrowed_ref val)
+{
+ if (PyList_Append (list, val) < 0)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_new_dict ()
+{
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PyDict_New ());
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline void
+gdbpy_dict_set_item_string (gdbpy_borrowed_ref dict,
+ const char *key,
+ gdbpy_borrowed_ref value)
+{
+ if (PyDict_SetItemString (dict, key, value) != 0)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+}
+
+static inline void
+gdbpy_dict_del_item_string (gdbpy_borrowed_ref dict,
+ const char *key)
+{
+ if (PyDict_DelItemString (dict, key) == -1)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_borrowed_ref
+gdbpy_dict_get_item_with_error (gdbpy_borrowed_ref dict,
+ gdbpy_borrowed_ref key)
+{
+ PyObject *result = PyDict_GetItemWithError (dict, key);
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_dict_keys (gdbpy_borrowed_ref dict)
+{
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PyDict_Keys (dict));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_unicode_from_string (std::string_view str)
+{
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PyUnicode_FromStringAndSize (str.data (), str.size ()));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_unicode_from_format (const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+ va_list args;
+ va_start (args, fmt);
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PyUnicode_FromFormatV (fmt, args));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ va_end (args);
+ return result;
+}
+
+[[noreturn]] static inline void
+gdbpy_err_set_string (gdbpy_borrowed_ref type, const char *str)
+{
+ PyErr_SetString (type, str);
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+}
+
+/* This is a template because PyErr_FormatV was only added in Python
+ 3.5. */
+template<typename... Arg>
+[[noreturn]] void
+gdbpy_err_format (gdbpy_borrowed_ref type, const char *fmt, Arg... args)
+{
+ PyErr_Format (type, fmt, std::forward<Arg> (args)...);
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+}
+
+template<typename... Arg>
+void
+gdbpy_arg_parse_tuple_and_keywords (gdbpy_borrowed_ref args,
+ gdbpy_opt_borrowed_ref kw,
+ const char *fmt,
+ const char **keywords,
+ Arg... outputs)
+{
+ /* It would be cool if callers could use references to the
+ out-parameters and also if gdbpy_borrowed_ref could be used for
+ those. That requires some hairy template metaprogramming
+ though. */
+ if (!gdb_PyArg_ParseTupleAndKeywords (args, kw, fmt, keywords,
+ std::forward<Arg> (outputs)...))
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+}
+
+static inline void
+gdbpy_arg_parse_tuple (gdbpy_borrowed_ref param, const char *format, ...)
+{
+ va_list args;
+ va_start (args, format);
+ if (!PyArg_VaParse (param, format, args))
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ va_end (args);
+}
+
+static inline long
+gdbpy_long_as_long (gdbpy_borrowed_ref arg)
+{
+ long result = PyLong_AsLong (arg);
+ if (result == -1 && PyErr_Occurred ())
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_tuple_new (Py_ssize_t len)
+{
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PyTuple_New (len));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_borrowed_ref
+gdbpy_tuple_get_item (gdbpy_borrowed_ref tuple, Py_ssize_t pos)
+{
+ PyObject *result = PyTuple_GetItem (tuple, pos);
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline void
+gdbpy_tuple_set_item (gdbpy_borrowed_ref tuple, Py_ssize_t pos,
+ gdbpy_ref<> &&item)
+{
+ if (PyTuple_SetItem (tuple, pos, item.release ()) == -1)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+}
+
+static inline Py_ssize_t
+gdbpy_tuple_size (gdbpy_borrowed_ref tuple)
+{
+ Py_ssize_t result = PyTuple_Size (tuple);
+ if (result == -1)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline Py_ssize_t
+gdbpy_sequence_size (gdbpy_borrowed_ref seq)
+{
+ Py_ssize_t result = PySequence_Size (seq);
+ if (result == -1)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_sequence_get_item (gdbpy_borrowed_ref seq, Py_ssize_t i)
+{
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PySequence_GetItem (seq, i));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline void
+gdbpy_sequence_del_item (gdbpy_borrowed_ref seq, Py_ssize_t i)
+{
+ if (PySequence_DelItem (seq, i) == -1)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_sequence_list (gdbpy_borrowed_ref seq)
+{
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PySequence_List (seq));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+static inline gdbpy_ref<>
+gdbpy_sequence_concat (gdbpy_borrowed_ref first, gdbpy_borrowed_ref second)
+{
+ gdbpy_ref<> result (PySequence_Concat (first, second));
+ if (result == nullptr)
+ throw gdb_python_exception ();
+ return result;
+}
+
+#endif /* GDB_PYTHON_PY_WRAPPERS_H */
diff --git a/gdb/python/python-internal.h b/gdb/python/python-internal.h
index 693829e920d..6df0c62e2b3 100644
--- a/gdb/python/python-internal.h
+++ b/gdb/python/python-internal.h
@@ -1382,4 +1382,6 @@ py_notimplemented ()
#undef Py_RETURN_FALSE
#undef Py_RETURN_NOTIMPLEMENTED
+#include "py-wrappers.h"
+
#endif /* GDB_PYTHON_PYTHON_INTERNAL_H */
--
2.49.0
next prev parent reply other threads:[~2026-05-15 20:00 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 17+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
2026-05-15 19:59 [PATCH v2 0/4] Python safety initial work Tom Tromey
2026-05-15 19:59 ` [PATCH v2 1/4] Add gdbpy_borrowed_ref Tom Tromey
2026-05-17 11:40 ` Andrew Burgess
2026-05-21 17:48 ` Tom Tromey
2026-05-21 21:01 ` Tom Tromey
2026-05-15 19:59 ` Tom Tromey [this message]
2026-05-17 12:06 ` [PATCH v2 2/4] Add wrappers for some Python APIs Andrew Burgess
2026-05-21 21:05 ` Tom Tromey
2026-05-15 19:59 ` [PATCH v2 3/4] Add wrappers for Python implementation functions and methods Tom Tromey
2026-05-18 9:33 ` Andrew Burgess
2026-05-21 21:23 ` Tom Tromey
2026-05-18 10:00 ` Andrew Burgess
2026-05-21 22:41 ` Tom Tromey
2026-05-29 15:58 ` Andrew Burgess
2026-05-15 19:59 ` [PATCH v2 4/4] Convert py-tui.c to the "python safety" approach Tom Tromey
2026-05-18 12:39 ` Andrew Burgess
2026-05-21 21:21 ` Tom Tromey
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