Re: How to Read Program Architecture from GDB/MI?

[dwk <dwks42@gmail.com>]

This is a bug in gdb/cli/cli-setshow.c. The current code reads

647   /* FIXME: cagney/2005-02-10: Need to split this in half: code to
648      convert the value into a string (esentially the above); and
649      code to print the value out.  For the latter there should be
650      MI and CLI specific versions.  */
651
652   if (ui_out_is_mi_like_p (uiout))
653     ui_out_field_stream (uiout, "value", stb);
654   else
655     {
656       char *value = ui_file_xstrdup (stb, NULL);
657
658       make_cleanup (xfree, value);
659       if (c->show_value_func != NULL)
660         c->show_value_func (gdb_stdout, from_tty, c, value);
661       else
662         deprecated_show_value_hack (gdb_stdout, from_tty, c, value);
663     }

The if statement is a special case for GDB/MI. It seems to prepare to
generate a value but then never write anything. My guess is that this
code was supposed to generate a nicely parsable version of the string. In
the case of "-gdb-show architecture", there is a c->show_value_func
(show_architecture) to call which prints "unfriendly" output. I tried
playing with different code here but the simplest fix seems to be to
disable the if statement entirely (add 0&& to its test). Then your
"show architecture" command works correctly.

(gdb) interpreter-exec mi "-gdb-show architecture"
~"The target architecture is set automatically (currently i386)\n"
^done
(gdb)

I don't know what cagney was worrying about when this split occurred,
but given that it was in 2005 it may no longer be an issue. Perhaps
try disabling the if statement as I suggested and see if other problems
crop up.

diff --git a/gdb/cli/cli-setshow.c b/gdb/cli/cli-setshow.c
index eb17158..8d9b691 100644
--- a/gdb/cli/cli-setshow.c
+++ b/gdb/cli/cli-setshow.c
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ do_show_command (const char *arg, int from_tty,
struct cmd_list_element *c)
      code to print the value out.  For the latter there should be
      MI and CLI specific versions.  */

-  if (ui_out_is_mi_like_p (uiout))
+  if (0 && ui_out_is_mi_like_p (uiout))
     ui_out_field_stream (uiout, "value", stb);
   else
     {


Cheers.

~~ dwk

On Mon, Jul 25, 2016 at 1:30 AM, Paramjot Oberoi <paramjot@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I am attempting to get the CPU architecture of the currently debugged
> program via a GDB/MI command. I'm not sure what's I'm doing wrong:
>
> Console interpreter looks good:
> (gdb) show architecture
> The target architecture is set automatically (currently i386)
>
> MI interpreter succeeds without any data:
> (gdb) interpreter-exec mi "-gdb-show architecture"
> ^done
>
> If I set the arch to auto, then query with MI I get "auto" back...:
> (gdb) set arch auto
> The target architecture is set automatically (currently i386)
> (gdb) interpreter-exec mi "-gdb-show architecture"
> ^done,value="auto"
>
> Any advice on how I can query the architecture in GDB/MI mode? Thanks
> in advance, I appreciate it.