I don't know if anyone has added such functionality to gdbserver; but, with regards to the problem you're trying to solve -- I've faced similar ones in the past. If you use emacs, you might consider gud plus a small shell script or two. I've used in in the past to solve the problem where I have GDB and the executable remote but sources local. In emacs, do M-x gdb when prompted for how to run gdb, replace gdb with the path to a shell script that . sets up the local environment (if needed) . invokes ssh -- something like: ssh remote-host /path/to/remote/shell/script where the remote shell script does a cd if needed, creates a gdb init file if appropriate and / or needed, and then invokes gdb with appropriate arguments. GDB communicates with Emacs. When you stop / step / next / whatever, GDB tells Emacs what it needs to know. Sources stay local. &z۫b֫r