aboutsummaryrefslogtreecommitdiff
path: root/documentation/content/en/books/developers-handbook/tools/_index.adoc
blob: 27baae3b9855e8296de53422ea72f258ecf25b61 (plain) (blame)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
1001
1002
1003
1004
1005
1006
1007
1008
1009
1010
1011
1012
1013
1014
1015
1016
1017
1018
1019
1020
1021
1022
1023
1024
1025
1026
1027
1028
1029
1030
1031
1032
1033
1034
1035
1036
1037
1038
1039
1040
1041
1042
1043
1044
1045
1046
1047
1048
1049
1050
1051
1052
1053
1054
1055
1056
1057
1058
1059
1060
1061
1062
1063
1064
1065
1066
1067
1068
1069
1070
1071
1072
1073
1074
1075
1076
1077
1078
1079
1080
1081
1082
1083
1084
1085
1086
1087
1088
1089
1090
1091
1092
1093
1094
1095
1096
1097
1098
1099
1100
1101
1102
1103
1104
1105
1106
1107
1108
1109
1110
1111
1112
1113
1114
1115
1116
1117
1118
1119
1120
1121
1122
1123
1124
1125
1126
1127
1128
1129
1130
1131
1132
1133
1134
1135
1136
1137
1138
1139
1140
1141
1142
1143
1144
1145
1146
1147
1148
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
1154
1155
1156
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181
1182
1183
1184
1185
1186
1187
1188
1189
1190
1191
1192
1193
1194
1195
1196
1197
1198
1199
1200
1201
1202
1203
1204
1205
1206
1207
1208
1209
1210
1211
1212
1213
1214
1215
1216
1217
1218
1219
1220
1221
1222
1223
1224
1225
1226
1227
1228
1229
1230
1231
1232
1233
1234
1235
1236
1237
1238
1239
1240
1241
1242
1243
1244
1245
1246
1247
1248
1249
1250
1251
1252
1253
1254
1255
1256
1257
1258
1259
1260
1261
1262
1263
1264
1265
1266
1267
1268
1269
1270
1271
1272
1273
1274
1275
1276
1277
1278
1279
1280
1281
1282
1283
1284
1285
1286
1287
1288
1289
1290
1291
1292
1293
1294
1295
1296
1297
1298
1299
1300
1301
1302
1303
1304
1305
1306
1307
1308
1309
1310
1311
1312
1313
1314
1315
1316
1317
1318
1319
1320
1321
1322
1323
1324
1325
1326
1327
1328
1329
1330
1331
1332
1333
1334
1335
1336
1337
1338
1339
1340
1341
1342
1343
1344
1345
1346
1347
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382
1383
1384
1385
1386
1387
1388
1389
1390
1391
1392
1393
1394
1395
1396
1397
1398
1399
1400
1401
1402
1403
1404
1405
1406
1407
1408
1409
1410
1411
1412
1413
1414
1415
1416
1417
1418
1419
1420
1421
1422
1423
1424
1425
1426
1427
1428
1429
1430
1431
1432
1433
1434
1435
1436
1437
1438
1439
1440
1441
1442
1443
1444
1445
1446
1447
1448
1449
1450
1451
1452
1453
1454
1455
1456
1457
1458
1459
1460
1461
1462
1463
1464
1465
1466
1467
1468
1469
1470
1471
1472
1473
1474
1475
1476
1477
1478
1479
1480
1481
1482
1483
1484
1485
1486
1487
1488
1489
1490
1491
1492
1493
1494
1495
1496
1497
1498
1499
1500
1501
1502
1503
1504
1505
1506
1507
1508
1509
1510
1511
1512
1513
1514
1515
1516
1517
1518
1519
1520
1521
1522
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
1543
1544
1545
1546
1547
1548
1549
1550
1551
1552
1553
1554
1555
1556
1557
1558
1559
1560
1561
1562
1563
1564
1565
1566
1567
1568
1569
1570
1571
1572
1573
1574
1575
1576
1577
1578
1579
1580
1581
1582
1583
1584
1585
1586
1587
1588
1589
1590
1591
1592
1593
1594
1595
1596
1597
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622
1623
1624
1625
1626
1627
1628
1629
1630
1631
1632
1633
1634
1635
1636
1637
1638
1639
1640
1641
1642
1643
1644
1645
1646
1647
1648
1649
1650
1651
1652
1653
1654
1655
1656
1657
1658
1659
1660
1661
1662
1663
1664
1665
1666
1667
1668
1669
1670
1671
1672
1673
1674
1675
1676
1677
1678
1679
1680
1681
1682
1683
1684
1685
1686
1687
1688
1689
1690
1691
1692
1693
1694
1695
1696
1697
1698
1699
1700
1701
1702
1703
1704
1705
1706
1707
1708
1709
1710
---
title: Chapter 2. Programming Tools
authors:
  - author: James Raynard
  - author: Murray Stokely
prev: books/developers-handbook/introduction
next: books/developers-handbook/secure
description: Programming Tools
tags: ["tools", "Interpreters", "Compilers", "cc", "make", "Debugging", "lldb", "gdb", "Emacs"]
---

[[tools]]
= Programming Tools
:doctype: book
:toc: macro
:toclevels: 1
:icons: font
:sectnums:
:sectnumlevels: 6
:source-highlighter: rouge
:experimental:
:skip-front-matter:
:xrefstyle: basic
:relfileprefix: ../
:outfilesuffix:
:sectnumoffset: 2
:c-plus-plus-command: c++
:clang-plus-plus-command: clang++

include::shared/mirrors.adoc[]
include::shared/authors.adoc[]
include::shared/releases.adoc[]
include::shared/{{% lang %}}/mailing-lists.adoc[]
include::shared/{{% lang %}}/teams.adoc[]
include::shared/{{% lang %}}/urls.adoc[]

toc::[]

[[tools-synopsis]]
== Synopsis

This chapter is an introduction to using some of the programming tools supplied with FreeBSD,
although much of it will be applicable to many other versions of UNIX(R).
It does _not_ attempt to describe coding in any detail.
Most of the chapter assumes little or no previous programming knowledge,
although it is hoped that most programmers will find something of value in it.

[[tools-intro]]
== Introduction

FreeBSD offers an excellent development environment.
Compilers for C and C++ and an assembler come with the basic system, not to mention classic UNIX(R) tools such as `sed` and `awk`.
If that is not enough, there are many more compilers and interpreters in the Ports collection.
The following section, <<tools-programming,Introduction to Programming>>, lists some of the available options.
FreeBSD is very compatible with standards such as POSIX(R) and ANSI C, as well with its own BSD heritage, so it is possible to write applications that will compile and run with little or no modification on a wide range of platforms.

However, all this power can be rather overwhelming at first if you have never written programs on a UNIX(R) platform before.
This document aims to help you get up and running, without getting too deeply into more advanced topics.
The intention is that this document should give you enough of the basics to be able to make some sense of the documentation.

Most of the document requires little or no knowledge of programming, although it does assume a basic competence with using UNIX(R) and a willingness to learn!

[[tools-programming]]
== Introduction to Programming

A program is a set of instructions that tell the computer to do various things; sometimes the instruction it has to perform depends on what happened when it performed a previous instruction.
This section gives an overview of the two main ways in which you can give these instructions, or "commands" as they are usually called.
One way uses an _interpreter_, the other a _compiler_.
As human languages are too difficult for a computer to understand in an unambiguous way, commands are usually written in one or other languages specially designed for the purpose.

=== Interpreters

With an interpreter, the language comes as an environment, where you type in commands at a prompt and the environment executes them for you.
For more complicated programs, you can type the commands into a file and get the interpreter to load the file and execute the commands in it.
If anything goes wrong, many interpreters will drop you into a debugger to help you track down the problem.

The advantage of this is that you can see the results of your commands immediately, and mistakes can be corrected readily.
The biggest disadvantage comes when you want to share your programs with someone.
They must have the same interpreter, or you must have some way of giving it to them, and they need to understand how to use it.
Also users may not appreciate being thrown into a debugger if they press the wrong key! From a performance point of view, interpreters can use up a lot of memory, and generally do not generate code as efficiently as compilers.

In my opinion, interpreted languages are the best way to start if you have not done any programming before.
This kind of environment is typically found with languages like Lisp, Smalltalk, Perl and Basic.
It could also be argued that the UNIX(R) shell (`sh`, `csh`) is itself an interpreter, and many people do in fact write shell "scripts" to help with various "housekeeping" tasks on their machine.
Indeed, part of the original UNIX(R) philosophy was to provide lots of small utility programs that could be linked together in shell scripts to perform useful tasks.

=== Interpreters Available with FreeBSD

Here is a list of interpreters that are available from the FreeBSD Ports Collection, with a brief discussion of some of the more popular interpreted languages.

Instructions on how to get and install applications from the Ports Collection can be found in the link:{handbook}#ports-using/[Ports section] of the handbook.

BASIC::
Short for Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.
Developed in the 1950s for teaching University students to program and provided with every self-respecting personal computer in the 1980s, BASIC has been the first programming language for many programmers.
It is also the foundation for Visual Basic.
+
The Bywater Basic Interpreter can be found in the Ports Collection as package:lang/bwbasic[] and the Phil Cockroft's Basic Interpreter (formerly Rabbit Basic) is available as package:lang/pbasic[].

Lisp::
A language that was developed in the late 1950s as an alternative to the "number-crunching" languages that were popular at the time.
Instead of being based on numbers, Lisp is based on lists; in fact, the name is short for "List Processing".
It is very popular in AI (Artificial Intelligence) circles.
+
Lisp is an extremely powerful and sophisticated language, but can be rather large and unwieldy.
+
Various implementations of Lisp that can run on UNIX(R) systems are available in the Ports Collection for FreeBSD.
GNU Common Lisp can be found as package:lang/gcl[].
CLISP by Bruno Haible and Michael Stoll is available as package:lang/clisp[].
For CMUCL, which includes a highly-optimizing compiler too, or simpler Lisp implementations like SLisp, which implements most of the Common Lisp constructs in a few hundred lines of C code, package:lang/cmucl[] and package:lang/slisp[] are available respectively.

Perl::
Very popular with system administrators for writing scripts; also often used on World Wide Web servers for writing CGI scripts.
+
Perl is available in the Ports Collection as package:lang/perl5.24[] for all FreeBSD releases.

Scheme::
A dialect of Lisp that is rather more compact and cleaner than Common Lisp.
Popular in Universities as it is simple enough to teach to undergraduates as a first language,
while it has a high enough level of abstraction to be used in research work.
+
Scheme is available from the Ports Collection as package:lang/elk[] for the Elk Scheme Interpreter.
The MIT Scheme Interpreter can be found in package:lang/mit-scheme[] and the SCM Scheme Interpreter in package:lang/scm[].

Icon::
Icon is a high-level language with extensive facilities for processing strings and structures.
The version of Icon for FreeBSD can be found in the Ports Collection as package:lang/icon[].

Logo::
Logo is a language that is easy to learn, and has been used as an introductory programming language in various courses.
It is an excellent tool to work with when teaching programming to smaller age groups, as it makes creation of elaborate geometric shapes an easy task.
+
The latest version of Logo for FreeBSD is available from the Ports Collection in package:lang/logo[].

Python::
Python is an Object-Oriented, interpreted language.
Its advocates argue that it is one of the best languages to start programming with, since it is relatively easy to start with, but is not limited in comparison to other popular interpreted languages that are used for the development of large, complex applications (Perl and Tcl are two other languages that are popular for such tasks).
+
The latest version of Python is available from the Ports Collection in package:lang/python[].

Ruby::
Ruby is an interpreter, pure object-oriented programming language.
It has become widely popular because of its easy to understand syntax, flexibility when writing code, and the ability to easily develop and maintain large, complex programs.
+
Ruby is available from the Ports Collection as package:lang/ruby25[].

Tcl and Tk::
Tcl is an embeddable, interpreted language, that has become widely used and became popular mostly because of its portability to many platforms.
It can be used both for quickly writing small, prototype applications, or (when combined with Tk, a GUI toolkit) fully-fledged, featureful programs.
+
Various versions of Tcl are available as ports for FreeBSD.
The latest version, Tcl 8.5, can be found in package:lang/tcl87[].

=== Compilers

Compilers are rather different.
First of all, you write your code in a file (or files) using an editor.
You then run the compiler and see if it accepts your program.
If it did not compile, grit your teeth and go back to the editor;
if it did compile and gave you a program, you can run it either at a shell command prompt or in a debugger to see if it works properly.footnote:[If you run it in the shell, you may get a core dump.]

Obviously, this is not quite as direct as using an interpreter.
However it allows you to do a lot of things which are very difficult or even impossible with an interpreter,
such as writing code which interacts closely with the operating system-or even writing your own operating system!
It is also useful if you need to write very efficient code, as the compiler can take its time and optimize the code,
which would not be acceptable in an interpreter.
Moreover, distributing a program written for a compiler is usually more straightforward than one written for an interpreter-you can just give them a copy of the executable, assuming they have the same operating system as you.

As the edit-compile-run-debug cycle is rather tedious when using separate programs, many commercial compiler makers have produced Integrated Development Environments (IDEs for short).
FreeBSD does not include an IDE in the base system, but package:devel/kdevelop[] is available in the Ports Collection and many use Emacs for this purpose.
Using Emacs as an IDE is discussed in <<emacs>>.

[[tools-compiling]]
== Compiling with `cc`

This section deals with the gcc and clang compilers for C and C++, since they come with the FreeBSD base system.
Starting with FreeBSD 10.X `clang` is installed as `cc`.
The details of producing a program with an interpreter vary considerably between interpreters, and are usually well covered in the documentation and on-line help for the interpreter.

Once you have written your masterpiece, the next step is to convert it into something that will (hopefully!) run on FreeBSD.
This usually involves several steps, each of which is done by a separate program.

[.procedure]
. Pre-process your source code to remove comments and do other tricks like expanding macros in C.
. Check the syntax of your code to see if you have obeyed the rules of the language. If you have not, it will complain!
. Convert the source code into assembly language-this is very close to machine code, but still understandable by humans. Allegedly.
. Convert the assembly language into machine code-yep, we are talking bits and bytes, ones and zeros here.
. Check that you have used things like functions and global variables in a consistent way. For example, if you have called a non-existent function, it will complain.
. If you are trying to produce an executable from several source code files, work out how to fit them all together.
. Work out how to produce something that the system's run-time loader will be able to load into memory and run.
. Finally, write the executable on the filesystem.

The word _compiling_ is often used to refer to just steps 1 to 4-the others are referred to as _linking_.
Sometimes step 1 is referred to as _pre-processing_ and steps 3-4 as _assembling_.

Fortunately, almost all this detail is hidden from you, as `cc` is a front end that manages calling all these programs with the right arguments for you; simply typing

[source,bash]
....
% cc foobar.c
....

will cause [.filename]#foobar.c# to be compiled by all the steps above.
If you have more than one file to compile, just do something like

[source,bash]
....
% cc foo.c bar.c
....

Note that the syntax checking is just that-checking the syntax.
It will not check for any logical mistakes you may have made, like putting the program into an infinite loop,
or using a bubble sort when you meant to use a binary sort.footnote:[In case you did not know, a binary sort is an efficient way of sorting things into order and a bubble sort is not.]

There are lots and lots of options for `cc`, which are all in the manual page.
Here are a few of the most important ones, with examples of how to use them.

`-o _filename_`::
The output name of the file. If you do not use this option, `cc` will produce an executable called [.filename]#a.out#.footnote:[The reasons for this are buried in the mists of history.]
+
[source,bash]
....
% cc foobar.c               executable is a.out
% cc -o foobar foobar.c     executable is foobar
....

`-c`::
Just compile the file, do not link it.
Useful for toy programs where you just want to check the syntax, or if you are using a [.filename]#Makefile#.
+
[source,bash]
....
% cc -c foobar.c
....
+
This will produce an _object file_ (not an executable) called [.filename]#foobar.o#.
This can be linked together with other object files into an executable.

`-g`::
Create a debug version of the executable.
This makes the compiler put information into the executable about which line of which source file corresponds to which function call.
A debugger can use this information to show the source code as you step through the program, which is _very_ useful;
the disadvantage is that all this extra information makes the program much bigger.
Normally, you compile with `-g` while you are developing a program and then compile a "release version" without `-g` when you are satisfied it works properly.
+

[source,bash]
....
% cc -g foobar.c
....
+
This will produce a debug version of the program. footnote:[Note, we did not use the -o flag to specify the executable name, so we will get an executable called a.out. Producing a debug version called foobar is left as an exercise for the reader!]

`-O`::
Create an optimized version of the executable.
The compiler performs various clever tricks to try to produce an executable that runs faster than normal.
You can add a number after the `-O` to specify a higher level of optimization, but this often exposes bugs in the compiler's optimizer.
+
[source,bash]
....
% cc -O -o foobar foobar.c
....
+
This will produce an optimized version of [.filename]#foobar#.

The following three flags will force `cc` to check that your code complies to the relevant international standard,
often referred to as the ANSI standard, though strictly speaking it is an ISO standard.

`-Wall`::
Enable all the warnings which the authors of `cc` believe are worthwhile.
Despite the name, it will not enable all the warnings `cc` is capable of.

`-ansi`::
Turn off most, but not all, of the non-ANSI C features provided by `cc`.
Despite the name, it does not guarantee strictly that your code will comply to the standard.

`-pedantic`::
Turn off _all_ ``cc``'s non-ANSI C features.

Without these flags, `cc` will allow you to use some of its non-standard extensions to the standard.
Some of these are very useful, but will not work with other compilers-in fact,
one of the main aims of the standard is to allow people to write code that will work with any compiler on any system.
This is known as _portable code_.

Generally, you should try to make your code as portable as possible,
as otherwise you may have to completely rewrite the program later to get it to work somewhere else-and who knows what you may be using in a few years time?

[source,bash]
....
% cc -Wall -ansi -pedantic -o foobar foobar.c
....

This will produce an executable [.filename]#foobar# after checking [.filename]#foobar.c# for standard compliance.

`-l__library__`::
Specify a function library to be used at link time.
+
The most common example of this is when compiling a program that uses some of the mathematical functions in C.
Unlike most other platforms, these are in a separate library from the standard C one and you have to tell the compiler to add it.
+
The rule is that if the library is called [.filename]#libsomething.a#, you give `cc` the argument `-l__something__`.
For example, the math library is [.filename]#libm.a#, so you give `cc` the argument `-lm`.
A common "gotcha" with the math library is that it has to be the last library on the command line.
+
[source,bash]
....
% cc -o foobar foobar.c -lm
....
+
This will link the math library functions into [.filename]#foobar#.
+
If you are compiling C++ code, use {c-plus-plus-command}.
{c-plus-plus-command} can also be invoked as {clang-plus-plus-command} on FreeBSD.
+
[source,bash]
....
% c++ -o foobar foobar.cc
....
+
This will both produce an executable [.filename]#foobar# from the C++ source file [.filename]#foobar.cc#.

=== Common `cc` Queries and Problems

==== I am trying to write a program which uses the sin() function and I get an error like this. What does it mean?

[source,bash]
....
/var/tmp/cc0143941.o: Undefined symbol `_sin' referenced from text segment
....

When using mathematical functions like `sin()`, you have to tell `cc` to link in the math library, like so:

[source,bash]
....
% cc -o foobar foobar.c -lm
....

==== All right, I wrote this simple program to practice using -lm. All it does is raise 2.1 to the power of 6.

[.programlisting]
....
#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
	float f;

	f = pow(2.1, 6);
	printf("2.1 ^ 6 = %f\n", f);
	return 0;
}
....

and I compiled it as:

[source,bash]
....
% cc temp.c -lm
....

like you said I should, but I get this when I run it:

[source,bash]
....
% ./a.out
2.1 ^ 6 = 1023.000000
....

This is not the right answer! What is going on?

When the compiler sees you call a function, it checks if it has already seen a prototype for it.
If it has not, it assumes the function returns an int, which is definitely not what you want here.

==== So how do I fix this?

The prototypes for the mathematical functions are in [.filename]#math.h#.
If you include this file, the compiler will be able to find the prototype and it will stop doing strange things to your calculation!

[.programlisting]
....
#include <math.h>
#include <stdio.h>

int main() {
...
....

After recompiling it as you did before, run it:

[source,bash]
....
% ./a.out
2.1 ^ 6 = 85.766121
....

If you are using any of the mathematical functions, _always_ include [.filename]#math.h# and remember to link in the math library.

==== I compiled a file called foobar.c and I cannot find an executable called foobar. Where has it gone?

Remember, `cc` will call the executable [.filename]#a.out# unless you tell it differently.
Use the `-o _filename_` option:

[source,bash]
....
% cc -o foobar foobar.c
....

==== OK, I have an executable called foobar, I can see it when I run ls, but when I type in foobar at the command prompt it tells me there is no such file. Why can it not find it?

Unlike MS-DOS(R), UNIX(R) does not look in the current directory when it is trying to find out which executable you want it to run, unless you tell it to.
Type `./foobar`, which means "run the file called [.filename]#foobar# in the current directory."

=== I called my executable test, but nothing happens when I run it. What is going on?

Most UNIX(R) systems have a program called `test` in [.filename]#/usr/bin# and the shell is picking that one up before it gets to checking the current directory.
Either type:

[source,bash]
....
% ./test
....

or choose a better name for your program!

==== I compiled my program and it seemed to run all right at first, then there was an error and it said something about core dumped. What does that mean?

The name _core dump_ dates back to the very early days of UNIX(R), when the machines used core memory for storing data.
Basically, if the program failed under certain conditions, the system would write the contents of core memory to disk in a file called [.filename]#core#, which the programmer could then pore over to find out what went wrong.

==== Fascinating stuff, but what I am supposed to do now?

Use a debugger to analyze the core (see <<debugging>>).

==== When my program dumped core, it said something about a segmentation fault. What is that?

This basically means that your program tried to perform some sort of illegal operation on memory;
UNIX(R) is designed to protect the operating system and other programs from rogue programs.

Common causes for this are:

* Trying to write to a NULL pointer, eg
+
[.programlisting]
....
char *foo = NULL;
strcpy(foo, "bang!");
....

* Using a pointer that has not been initialized, eg
+
[.programlisting]
....
char *foo;
strcpy(foo, "bang!");
....
+
The pointer will have some random value that, with luck, will point into an area of memory that is not available to your program and the kernel will kill your program before it can do any damage.
If you are unlucky, it will point somewhere inside your own program and corrupt one of your data structures, causing the program to fail mysteriously.
* Trying to access past the end of an array, eg
+
[.programlisting]
....
int bar[20];
bar[27] = 6;
....

* Trying to store something in read-only memory, eg
+
[.programlisting]
....
char *foo = "My string";
strcpy(foo, "bang!");
....
+
UNIX(R) compilers often put string literals like `"My string"` into read-only areas of memory.
* Doing naughty things with `malloc()` and `free()`, eg
+
[.programlisting]
....
char bar[80];
free(bar);
....
+
or
+
[.programlisting]
....
char *foo = malloc(27);
free(foo);
free(foo);
....

Making one of these mistakes will not always lead to an error, but they are always bad practice.
Some systems and compilers are more tolerant than others,
which is why programs that ran well on one system can crash when you try them on an another.

==== Sometimes when I get a core dump it says bus error. It says in my UNIX(R) book that this means a hardware problem, but the computer still seems to be working. Is this true?

No, fortunately not (unless of course you really do have a hardware problem...).
This is usually another way of saying that you accessed memory in a way you should not have.

==== This dumping core business sounds as though it could be quite useful, if I can make it happen when I want to. Can I do this, or do I have to wait until there is an error?

Yes, just go to another console or xterm, do

[source,bash]
....
% ps
....

to find out the process ID of your program, and do

[source,bash]
....
% kill -ABRT pid
....

where `_pid_` is the process ID you looked up.

This is useful if your program has got stuck in an infinite loop, for instance.
If your program happens to trap SIGABRT, there are several other signals which have a similar effect.

Alternatively, you can create a core dump from inside your program, by calling the `abort()` function.
See the manual page of man:abort[3] to learn more.

If you want to create a core dump from outside your program, but do not want the process to terminate, you can use the `gcore` program.
See the manual page of man:gcore[1] for more information.

[[tools-make]]
== Make

=== What is `make`?

When you are working on a simple program with only one or two source files, typing in

[source,bash]
....
% cc file1.c file2.c
....

is not too bad, but it quickly becomes very tedious when there are several files-and it can take a while to compile, too.

One way to get around this is to use object files and only recompile the source file if the source code has changed.
So we could have something like:

[source,bash]
....
% cc file1.o file2.o … file37.c …
....

if we had changed [.filename]#file37.c#, but not any of the others, since the last time we compiled.
This may speed up the compilation quite a bit, but does not solve the typing problem.

Or we could write a shell script to solve the typing problem, but it would have to re-compile everything, making it very inefficient on a large project.

What happens if we have hundreds of source files lying about? What if we are working in a team with other people who forget to tell us when they have changed one of their source files that we use?

Perhaps we could put the two solutions together and write something like a shell script that would contain some kind of magic rule saying when a source file needs compiling.
Now all we need now is a program that can understand these rules, as it is a bit too complicated for the shell.

This program is called `make`.
It reads in a file, called a _makefile_, that tells it how different files depend on each other, and works out which files need to be re-compiled and which ones do not.
For example, a rule could say something like "if [.filename]#fromboz.o# is older than [.filename]#fromboz.c#, that means someone must have changed [.filename]#fromboz.c#, so it needs to be re-compiled."
The makefile also has rules telling make _how_ to re-compile the source file, making it a much more powerful tool.

Makefiles are typically kept in the same directory as the source they apply to, and can be called [.filename]#makefile#, [.filename]#Makefile# or [.filename]#MAKEFILE#.
Most programmers use the name [.filename]#Makefile#, as this puts it near the top of a directory listing, where it can easily be seen.footnote:[They do not use the MAKEFILE form as block capitals are often used for documentation files like README.]

=== Example of Using `make`

Here is a very simple make file:

[.programlisting]
....
foo: foo.c
	cc -o foo foo.c
....

It consists of two lines, a dependency line and a creation line.

The dependency line here consists of the name of the program (known as the _target_),
followed by a colon, then whitespace, then the name of the source file.
When `make` reads this line, it looks to see if [.filename]#foo# exists;
if it exists, it compares the time [.filename]#foo# was last modified to the time [.filename]#foo.c# was last modified.
If [.filename]#foo# does not exist, or is older than [.filename]#foo.c#, it then looks at the creation line to find out what to do.
In other words, this is the rule for working out when [.filename]#foo.c# needs to be re-compiled.

The creation line starts with a tab (press kbd:[tab]) and then the command you would type to create [.filename]#foo# if you were doing it at a command prompt.
If [.filename]#foo# is out of date, or does not exist, `make` then executes this command to create it.
In other words, this is the rule which tells make how to re-compile [.filename]#foo.c#.

So, when you type `make`, it will make sure that [.filename]#foo# is up to date with respect to your latest changes to [.filename]#foo.c#.
This principle can be extended to [.filename]#Makefile#'s with hundreds of targets-in fact, on FreeBSD,
it is possible to compile the entire operating system just by typing `make world` in the appropriate directory!

Another useful property of makefiles is that the targets do not have to be programs.
For instance, we could have a make file that looks like this:

[.programlisting]
....
foo: foo.c
	cc -o foo foo.c

install:
	cp foo /home/me
....

We can tell make which target we want to make by typing:

[source,bash]
....
% make target
....

`make` will then only look at that target and ignore any others.
For example, if we type `make foo` with the makefile above, make will ignore the `install` target.

If we just type `make` on its own, make will always look at the first target and then stop without looking at any others.
So if we typed `make` here, it will just go to the `foo` target, re-compile [.filename]#foo# if necessary, and then stop without going on to the `install` target.

Notice that the `install` target does not actually depend on anything! This means that the command on the following line is always executed when we try to make that target by typing `make install`.
In this case, it will copy [.filename]#foo# into the user's home directory.
This is often used by application makefiles, so that the application can be installed in the correct directory when it has been correctly compiled.

This is a slightly confusing subject to try to explain.
If you do not quite understand how `make` works, the best thing to do is to write a simple program like "hello world" and a make file like the one above and experiment.
Then progress to using more than one source file, or having the source file include a header file.
`touch` is very useful here-it changes the date on a file without you having to edit it.

=== Make and include-files

C code often starts with a list of files to include, for example stdio.h.
Some of these files are system-include files, some of them are from the project you are now working on:

[.programlisting]
....
#include <stdio.h>
#include "foo.h"

int main(....
....

To make sure that this file is recompiled the moment [.filename]#foo.h# is changed, you have to add it in your [.filename]#Makefile#:

[.programlisting]
....
foo: foo.c foo.h
....

The moment your project is getting bigger and you have more and more own include-files to maintain,
it will be a pain to keep track of all include files and the files which are depending on it.
If you change an include-file but forget to recompile all the files which are depending on it,
the results will be devastating.
`clang` has an option to analyze your files and to produce a list of include-files and their dependencies: `-MM`.

If you add this to your Makefile:

[.programlisting]
....
depend:
	cc -E -MM *.c > .depend
....

and run `make depend`, the file [.filename]#.depend# will appear with a list of object-files, C-files and the include-files:

[.programlisting]
....
foo.o: foo.c foo.h
....

If you change [.filename]#foo.h#, next time you run `make` all files depending on [.filename]#foo.h# will be recompiled.

Do not forget to run `make depend` each time you add an include-file to one of your files.

=== FreeBSD Makefiles

Makefiles can be rather complicated to write.
Fortunately, BSD-based systems like FreeBSD come with some very powerful ones as part of the system.
One very good example of this is the FreeBSD ports system.
Here is the essential part of a typical ports [.filename]#Makefile#:

[.programlisting]
....
MASTER_SITES=   ftp://freefall.cdrom.com/pub/FreeBSD/LOCAL_PORTS/
DISTFILES=      scheme-microcode+dist-7.3-freebsd.tgz

.include <bsd.port.mk>
....

Now, if we go to the directory for this port and type `make`, the following happens:

[.procedure]
. A check is made to see if the source code for this port is already on the system.
. If it is not, an FTP connection to the URL in MASTER_SITES is set up to download the source.
. The checksum for the source is calculated and compared it with one for a known, good, copy of the source. This is to make sure that the source was not corrupted while in transit.
. Any changes required to make the source work on FreeBSD are applied-this is known as _patching_.
. Any special configuration needed for the source is done. (Many UNIX(R) program distributions try to work out which version of UNIX(R) they are being compiled on and which optional UNIX(R) features are present-this is where they are given the information in the FreeBSD ports scenario).
. The source code for the program is compiled. In effect, we change to the directory where the source was unpacked and do `make`-the program's own make file has the necessary information to build the program.
. We now have a compiled version of the program. If we wish, we can test it now; when we feel confident about the program, we can type `make install`. This will cause the program and any supporting files it needs to be copied into the correct location; an entry is also made into a `package database`, so that the port can easily be uninstalled later if we change our mind about it.

Now I think you will agree that is rather impressive for a four line script!

The secret lies in the last line, which tells `make` to look in the system makefile called [.filename]#bsd.port.mk#.
It is easy to overlook this line, but this is where all the clever stuff comes from-someone has written a makefile that tells `make` to do all the things above (plus a couple of other things I did not mention,
including handling any errors that may occur) and anyone can get access to that just by putting a single line in their own make file!

If you want to have a look at these system makefiles, they are in [.filename]#/usr/share/mk#,
but it is probably best to wait until you have had a bit of practice with makefiles,
as they are very complicated (and if you do look at them, make sure you have a flask of strong coffee handy!)

=== More Advanced Uses of `make`

`Make` is a very powerful tool, and can do much more than the simple example above shows.
Unfortunately, there are several different versions of `make`, and they all differ considerably.
The best way to learn what they can do is probably to read the documentation-hopefully this introduction will have given you a base from which you can do this.

The version of make that comes with FreeBSD is the Berkeley make; there is a tutorial for it in [.filename]#/usr/share/doc/psd/12.make#.
To view it, do

[source,bash]
....
% zmore paper.ascii.gz
....

in that directory.

Many applications in the ports use GNU make, which has a very good set of "info" pages.
If you have installed any of these ports, GNU make will automatically have been installed as `gmake`.
It is also available as a port and package in its own right.

To view the info pages for GNU make, you will have to edit [.filename]#dir# in the [.filename]#/usr/local/info# directory to add an entry for it.
This involves adding a line like

[.programlisting]
....
 * Make: (make).                 The GNU Make utility.
....

to the file. Once you have done this, you can type `info` and then select [.guimenuitem]#make# from the menu (or in Emacs, do `C-h i`).

[[debugging]]
== Debugging

=== Introduction to Available Debuggers

Using a debugger allows running the program under more controlled circumstances.
Typically, it is possible to step through the program a line at a time, inspect the value of variables, change them, tell the debugger to run up to a certain point and then stop, and so on.
It is also possible to attach to a program that is already running, or load a core file to investigate why the program crashed.
It is even possible to debug the kernel, though that is a little trickier than the user applications we will be discussing in this section.

This section is intended to be a quick introduction to using debuggers and does not cover specialized topics such as debugging the kernel.
For more information about that, refer to crossref:kerneldebug[kerneldebug,Kernel Debugging].

The standard debugger supplied with FreeBSD {rel121-current} is called `lldb` (LLVM debugger).
As it is part of the standard installation for that release, there is no need to do anything special to use it.
It has good command help, accessible via the `help` command, as well as https://lldb.llvm.org/[a web tutorial and documentation].

[NOTE]
====
The `lldb` command is available for FreeBSD {rel113-current} link:{handbook}#ports-using/[from ports or packages] as package:devel/llvm[].
This will install the default version of lldb (currently 9.0).
====

The other debugger available with FreeBSD is called `gdb` (GNU debugger).
Unlike lldb, it is not installed by default on FreeBSD {rel121-current};
to use it, link:{handbook}#ports-using/[install] package:devel/gdb[] from ports or packages.
The version installed by default on FreeBSD {rel113-current} is old; instead, install package:devel/gdb[] there as well.
It has quite good on-line help, as well as a set of info pages.

Which one to use is largely a matter of taste.
If familiar with one only, use that one.
People familiar with neither or both but wanting to use one from inside Emacs will need to use `gdb` as `lldb` is unsupported by Emacs.
Otherwise, try both and see which one you prefer.

=== Using lldb

==== Starting lldb

Start up lldb by typing

[source,bash]
....
% lldb -- progname
....

==== Running a Program with lldb

Compile the program with `-g` to get the most out of using `lldb`.
It will work without, but will only display the name of the function currently running, instead of the source code.
If it displays a line like:

[source,bash]
....
Breakpoint 1: where = temp`main, address = …
....

(without an indication of source code filename and line number) when setting a breakpoint, this means that the program was not compiled with `-g`.

[TIP]
====
Most `lldb` commands have shorter forms that can be used instead.
The longer forms are used here for clarity.
====

At the `lldb` prompt, type `breakpoint set -n main`.
This will tell the debugger not to display the preliminary set-up code in the program being run and to stop execution at the beginning of the program's code.
Now type `process launch` to actually start the program- it will start at the beginning of the set-up code and then get stopped by the debugger when it calls `main()`.

To step through the program a line at a time, type `thread step-over`.
When the program gets to a function call, step into it by typing `thread step-in`.
Once in a function call, return from it by typing `thread step-out` or use `up` and `down` to take a quick look at the caller.

Here is a simple example of how to spot a mistake in a program with `lldb`.
This is our program (with a deliberate mistake):

[.programlisting]
....
#include <stdio.h>

int bazz(int anint);

main() {
	int i;

	printf("This is my program\n");
	bazz(i);
	return 0;
}

int bazz(int anint) {
	printf("You gave me %d\n", anint);
	return anint;
}
....

This program sets i to be `5` and passes it to a function `bazz()` which prints out the number we gave it.

Compiling and running the program displays

[source,bash]
....
% cc -g -o temp temp.c
% ./temp
This is my program
anint = -5360
....

That is not what was expected! Time to see what is going on!

[source,bash]
....
% lldb -- temp
(lldb) target create "temp"
Current executable set to 'temp' (x86_64).
(lldb) breakpoint set -n main				Skip the set-up code
Breakpoint 1: where = temp`main + 15 at temp.c:8:2, address = 0x00000000002012ef	lldb puts breakpoint at main()
(lldb) process launch					Run as far as main()
Process 9992 launching
Process 9992 launched: '/home/pauamma/tmp/temp' (x86_64)	Program starts running

Process 9992 stopped
* thread #1, name = 'temp', stop reason = breakpoint 1.1	lldb stops at main()
    frame #0: 0x00000000002012ef temp`main at temp.c:8:2
   5	main() {
   6		int i;
   7
-> 8		printf("This is my program\n");			Indicates the line where it stopped
   9		bazz(i);
   10		return 0;
   11	}
(lldb) thread step-over			Go to next line
This is my program						Program prints out
Process 9992 stopped
* thread #1, name = 'temp', stop reason = step over
    frame #0: 0x0000000000201300 temp`main at temp.c:9:7
   6		int i;
   7
   8		printf("This is my program\n");
-> 9		bazz(i);
   10		return 0;
   11	}
   12
(lldb) thread step-in			step into bazz()
Process 9992 stopped
* thread #1, name = 'temp', stop reason = step in
    frame #0: 0x000000000020132b temp`bazz(anint=-5360) at temp.c:14:29	lldb displays stack frame
   11	}
   12
   13	int bazz(int anint) {
-> 14		printf("You gave me %d\n", anint);
   15		return anint;
   16	}
(lldb)
....

Hang on a minute! How did anint get to be `-5360`? Was it not set to `5` in `main()`? Let us move up to `main()` and have a look.

[source,bash]
....
(lldb) up		Move up call stack
frame #1: 0x000000000020130b temp`main at temp.c:9:2		lldb displays stack frame
   6		int i;
   7
   8		printf("This is my program\n");
-> 9		bazz(i);
   10		return 0;
   11	}
   12
(lldb) frame variable i			Show us the value of i
(int) i = -5360							lldb displays -5360
....

Oh dear! Looking at the code, we forgot to initialize i.
We meant to put

[.programlisting]
....
...
main() {
	int i;

	i = 5;
	printf("This is my program\n");
...
....

but we left the `i=5;` line out.
As we did not initialize i, it had whatever number happened to be in that area of memory when the program ran,
which in this case happened to be `-5360`.

[NOTE]
====
The `lldb` command displays the stack frame every time we go into or out of a function, even if we are using `up` and `down` to move around the call stack.
This shows the name of the function and the values of its arguments, which helps us keep track of where we are and what is going on.
(The stack is a storage area where the program stores information about the arguments passed to functions and where to go when it returns from a function call.)
====

==== Examining a Core File with lldb

A core file is basically a file which contains the complete state of the process when it crashed.
In "the good old days", programmers had to print out hex listings of core files and sweat over machine code manuals, but now life is a bit easier.
Incidentally, under FreeBSD and other 4.4BSD systems, a core file is called [.filename]#progname.core# instead of just [.filename]#core#, to make it clearer which program a core file belongs to.

To examine a core file, specify the name of the core file in addition to the program itself.
Instead of starting up `lldb` in the usual way, type `lldb -c _progname_.core -- _progname_`

The debugger will display something like this:

[source,bash,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
....
% lldb -c [.filename]#progname.core# -- [.filename]#progname#
(lldb) target create "[.filename]#progname#" --core "[.filename]#progname#.core"
Core file '/home/pauamma/tmp/[.filename]#progname.core#' (x86_64) was loaded.
(lldb)
....

In this case, the program was called [.filename]#progname#, so the core file is called [.filename]#progname.core#.
The debugger does not display why the program crashed or where.
For this, use `thread backtrace all`.
This will also show how the function where the program dumped core was called.

[source,bash,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
....
(lldb) thread backtrace all
* thread #1, name = 'progname', stop reason = signal SIGSEGV
  * frame #0: 0x0000000000201347 progname`bazz(anint=5) at temp2.c:17:10
    frame #1: 0x0000000000201312 progname`main at temp2.c:10:2
    frame #2: 0x000000000020110f progname`_start(ap=<unavailable>, cleanup=<unavailable>) at crt1.c:76:7
(lldb)
....

`SIGSEGV` indicates that the program tried to access memory (run code or read/write data usually) at a location that does not belong to it, but does not give any specifics.
For that, look at the source code at line 10 of file temp2.c, in `bazz()`.
The backtrace also says that in this case, `bazz()` was called from `main()`.

==== Attaching to a Running Program with lldb

One of the neatest features about `lldb` is that it can attach to a program that is already running.
Of course, that requires sufficient permissions to do so.
A common problem is stepping through a program that forks and wanting to trace the child, but the debugger will only trace the parent.

To do that, start up another `lldb`, use `ps` to find the process ID for the child, and do

[source,bash]
....
(lldb) process attach -p pid
....

in `lldb`, and then debug as usual.

For that to work well, the code that calls `fork` to create the child needs to do something like the following (courtesy of the `gdb` info pages):

[.programlisting]
....
...
if ((pid = fork()) < 0)		/* _Always_ check this */
	error();
else if (pid == 0) {		/* child */
	int PauseMode = 1;

	while (PauseMode)
		sleep(10);	/* Wait until someone attaches to us */
	...
} else {			/* parent */
	...
....

Now all that is needed is to attach to the child, set PauseMode to `0` with `expr PauseMode = 0` and wait for the `sleep()` call to return.

=== Remote Debugging Using LLDB

[NOTE]
====
The described functionality is available starting with LLDB version 12.0.0.
Users of FreeBSD releases containing an earlier LLDB version may wish to use the snapshot available in link:{handbook}#ports-using/[ports or packages], as package:devel/llvm-devel[].
====

Starting with LLDB 12.0.0, remote debugging is supported on FreeBSD.
This means that `lldb-server` can be started to debug a program on one host, while the interactive `lldb` client connects to it from another one.

To launch a new process to be debugged remotely, run `lldb-server` on the remote server by typing

[source,bash]
....
% lldb-server g host:port -- progname
....

The process will be stopped immediately after launching, and `lldb-server` will wait for the client to connect.

Start `lldb` locally and type the following command to connect to the remote server:

[source,bash]
....
(lldb) gdb-remote host:port
....

`lldb-server` can also attach to a running process.
To do that, type the following on the remote server:

[source,bash]
....
% lldb-server g host:port --attach pid-or-name
....

=== Using gdb

==== Starting gdb

Start up gdb by typing

[source,bash]
....
% gdb progname
....

although many people prefer to run it inside Emacs.
To do this, type:

[source,bash]
....
 M-x gdb RET progname RET
....

Finally, for those finding its text-based command-prompt style off-putting, there is a graphical front-end for it (package:devel/xxgdb[]) in the Ports Collection.

==== Running a Program with gdb

Compile the program with `-g` to get the most out of using `gdb`.
It will work without, but will only display the name of the function currently running, instead of the source code.
A line like:

[source,bash]
....
... (no debugging symbols found) ...
....

when `gdb` starts up means that the program was not compiled with `-g`.

At the `gdb` prompt, type `break main`.
This will tell the debugger to skip the preliminary set-up code in the program being run and to stop execution at the beginning of the program's code.
Now type `run` to start the program- it will start at the beginning of the set-up code and then get stopped by the debugger when it calls `main()`.

To step through the program a line at a time, press `n`.
When at a function call, step into it by pressing `s`.
Once in a function call, return from it by pressing `f`, or use `up` and `down` to take a quick look at the caller.

Here is a simple example of how to spot a mistake in a program with `gdb`.
This is our program (with a deliberate mistake):

[.programlisting]
....
#include <stdio.h>

int bazz(int anint);

main() {
	int i;

	printf("This is my program\n");
	bazz(i);
	return 0;
}

int bazz(int anint) {
	printf("You gave me %d\n", anint);
	return anint;
}
....

This program sets i to be `5` and passes it to a function `bazz()` which prints out the number we gave it.

Compiling and running the program displays

[source,bash]
....
% cc -g -o temp temp.c
% ./temp
This is my program
anint = 4231
....

That was not what we expected! Time to see what is going on!

[source,bash]
....
% gdb temp
GDB is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies of it
 under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see the conditions.
There is absolutely no warranty for GDB; type "show warranty" for details.
GDB 4.13 (i386-unknown-freebsd), Copyright 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
(gdb) break main				Skip the set-up code
Breakpoint 1 at 0x160f: file temp.c, line 9.	gdb puts breakpoint at main()
(gdb) run					Run as far as main()
Starting program: /home/james/tmp/temp		Program starts running

Breakpoint 1, main () at temp.c:9		gdb stops at main()
(gdb) n						Go to next line
This is my program				Program prints out
(gdb) s						step into bazz()
bazz (anint=4231) at temp.c:17			gdb displays stack frame
(gdb)
....

Hang on a minute! How did anint get to be `4231`? Was it not set to `5` in `main()`? Let us move up to `main()` and have a look.

[source,bash]
....
(gdb) up					Move up call stack
#1  0x1625 in main () at temp.c:11		gdb displays stack frame
(gdb) p i					Show us the value of i
$1 = 4231					gdb displays 4231
....

Oh dear! Looking at the code, we forgot to initialize i.
We meant to put

[.programlisting]
....
...
main() {
	int i;

	i = 5;
	printf("This is my program\n");
...
....

but we left the `i=5;` line out.
As we did not initialize i, it had whatever number happened to be in that area of memory when the program ran,
which in this case happened to be `4231`.

[NOTE]
====
The `gdb` command displays the stack frame every time we go into or out of a function, even if we are using `up` and `down` to move around the call stack.
This shows the name of the function and the values of its arguments, which helps us keep track of where we are and what is going on.
(The stack is a storage area where the program stores information about the arguments passed to functions and where to go when it returns from a function call.)
====

==== Examining a Core File with gdb

A core file is basically a file which contains the complete state of the process when it crashed.
In "the good old days", programmers had to print out hex listings of core files and sweat over machine code manuals, but now life is a bit easier.
Incidentally, under FreeBSD and other 4.4BSD systems, a core file is called [.filename]#progname.core# instead of just [.filename]#core#, to make it clearer which program a core file belongs to.

To examine a core file, start up `gdb` in the usual way.
Instead of typing `break` or `run`, type

[source,bash]
....
(gdb) core progname.core
....

If the core file is not in the current directory, type `dir /path/to/core/file` first.

The debugger should display something like this:

[source,bash,subs="verbatim,quotes"]
....
% gdb [.filename]#progname#
GDB is free software and you are welcome to distribute copies of it
 under certain conditions; type "show copying" to see the conditions.
There is absolutely no warranty for GDB; type "show warranty" for details.
GDB 4.13 (i386-unknown-freebsd), Copyright 1994 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
(gdb) core [.filename]#progname.core#
Core was generated by `[.filename]#progname#'.
Program terminated with signal 11, Segmentation fault.
Cannot access memory at address 0x7020796d.
#0  0x164a in bazz (anint=0x5) at temp.c:17
(gdb)
....

In this case, the program was called [.filename]#progname#, so the core file is called [.filename]#progname.core#.
We can see that the program crashed due to trying to access an area in memory that was not available to it in a function called `bazz`.

Sometimes it is useful to be able to see how a function was called,
as the problem could have occurred a long way up the call stack in a complex program.
`bt` causes `gdb` to print out a back-trace of the call stack:

[source,bash]
....
(gdb) bt
#0  0x164a in bazz (anint=0x5) at temp.c:17
#1  0xefbfd888 in end ()
#2  0x162c in main () at temp.c:11
(gdb)
....

The `end()` function is called when a program crashes;
in this case, the `bazz()` function was called from `main()`.

==== Attaching to a Running Program with gdb

One of the neatest features about `gdb` is that it can attach to a program that is already running.
Of course, that requires sufficient permissions to do so.
A common problem is stepping through a program that forks and wanting to trace the child, but the debugger will only trace the parent.

To do that, start up another `gdb`, use `ps` to find the process ID for the child, and do

[source,bash]
....
(gdb) attach pid
....

in `gdb`, and then debug as usual.

For that to work well, the code that calls `fork` to create the child needs to do something like the following (courtesy of the `gdb` info pages):

[.programlisting]
....
...
if ((pid = fork()) < 0)		/* _Always_ check this */
	error();
else if (pid == 0) {		/* child */
	int PauseMode = 1;

	while (PauseMode)
		sleep(10);	/* Wait until someone attaches to us */
	...
} else {			/* parent */
	...
....

Now all that is needed is to attach to the child, set PauseMode to `0`, and wait for the `sleep()` call to return!

[[emacs]]
== Using Emacs as a Development Environment

=== Emacs

Emacs is a highly customizable editor-indeed, it has been customized to the point where it is more like an operating system than an editor!
Many developers and sysadmins do in fact spend practically all their time working inside Emacs, leaving it only to log out.

It is impossible even to summarize everything Emacs can do here, but here are some of the features of interest to developers:

* Very powerful editor, allowing search-and-replace on both strings and regular expressions (patterns), jumping to start/end of block expression, etc, etc.
* Pull-down menus and online help.
* Language-dependent syntax highlighting and indentation.
* Completely customizable.
* You can compile and debug programs within Emacs.
* On a compilation error, you can jump to the offending line of source code.
* Friendly-ish front-end to the `info` program used for reading GNU hypertext documentation, including the documentation on Emacs itself.
* Friendly front-end to `gdb`, allowing you to look at the source code as you step through your program.

And doubtless many more that have been overlooked.

Emacs can be installed on FreeBSD using the package:editors/emacs[] port.

Once it is installed, start it up and do `C-h t` to read an Emacs tutorial-that means hold down kbd:[control], press kbd:[h], let go of kbd:[control], and then press kbd:[t].
(Alternatively, you can use the mouse to select [.guimenuitem]#Emacs Tutorial# from the menu:Help[] menu.)

Although Emacs does have menus, it is well worth learning the key bindings,
as it is much quicker when you are editing something to press a couple of keys than to try to find the mouse and then click on the right place.
And, when you are talking to seasoned Emacs users, you will find they often casually throw around expressions like "`M-x replace-s RET foo RET bar RET`" so it is useful to know what they mean.
And in any case, Emacs has far too many useful functions for them to all fit on the menu bars.

Fortunately, it is quite easy to pick up the key-bindings, as they are displayed next to the menu item.
My advice is to use the menu item for, say, opening a file until you understand how it works and feel confident with it, then try doing C-x C-f.
When you are happy with that, move on to another menu command.

If you cannot remember what a particular combination of keys does, select [.guimenuitem]#Describe Key# from the menu:Help[] menu and type it in-Emacs will tell you what it does.
You can also use the [.guimenuitem]#Command Apropos# menu item to find out all the commands which contain a particular word in them, with the key binding next to it.

By the way, the expression above means hold down the kbd:[Meta] key, press kbd:[x], release the kbd:[Meta] key, type `replace-s` (short for `replace-string`-another feature of Emacs is that you can abbreviate commands), press the kbd:[return] key, type `foo` (the string you want replaced), press the kbd:[return] key, type bar (the string you want to replace `foo` with) and press kbd:[return] again.
Emacs will then do the search-and-replace operation you have just requested.

If you are wondering what on earth kbd:[Meta] is, it is a special key that many UNIX(R) workstations have.
Unfortunately, PC's do not have one, so it is usually kbd:[alt] (or if you are unlucky, the kbd:[escape] key).

Oh, and to get out of Emacs, do `C-x C-c` (that means hold down the kbd:[control] key, press kbd:[x], press kbd:[c] and release the kbd:[control] key).
If you have any unsaved files open, Emacs will ask you if you want to save them.
(Ignore the bit in the documentation where it says `C-z` is the usual way to leave Emacs-that leaves Emacs hanging around in the background, and is only really useful if you are on a system which does not have virtual terminals).

=== Configuring Emacs

Emacs does many wonderful things; some of them are built in, some of them need to be configured.

Instead of using a proprietary macro language for configuration, Emacs uses a version of Lisp specially adapted for editors, known as Emacs Lisp.
Working with Emacs Lisp can be quite helpful if you want to go on and learn something like Common Lisp.
Emacs Lisp has many features of Common Lisp, although it is considerably smaller (and thus easier to master).

The best way to learn Emacs Lisp is to download the link:ftp://ftp.gnu.org/old-gnu/emacs/elisp-manual-19-2.4.tar.gz[Emacs Tutorial]

However, there is no need to actually know any Lisp to get started with configuring Emacs,
as I have included a sample [.filename]#.emacs#, which should be enough to get you started.
Just copy it into your home directory and restart Emacs if it is already running;
it will read the commands from the file and (hopefully) give you a useful basic setup.

=== A Sample [.filename]#.emacs#

Unfortunately, there is far too much here to explain it in detail; however there are one or two points worth mentioning.

* Everything beginning with a `;` is a comment and is ignored by Emacs.
* In the first line, the `-*- Emacs-Lisp -*-` is so that we can edit [.filename]#.emacs# itself within Emacs and get all the fancy features for editing Emacs Lisp. Emacs usually tries to guess this based on the filename, and may not get it right for [.filename]#.emacs#.
* The kbd:[tab] key is bound to an indentation function in some modes, so when you press the tab key, it will indent the current line of code. If you want to put a tab character in whatever you are writing, hold the kbd:[control] key down while you are pressing the kbd:[tab] key.
* This file supports syntax highlighting for C, C++, Perl, Lisp and Scheme, by guessing the language from the filename.
* Emacs already has a pre-defined function called `next-error`. In a compilation output window, this allows you to move from one compilation error to the next by doing `M-n`; we define a complementary function, `previous-error`, that allows you to go to a previous error by doing `M-p`. The nicest feature of all is that `C-c C-c` will open up the source file in which the error occurred and jump to the appropriate line.
* We enable Emacs's ability to act as a server, so that if you are doing something outside Emacs and you want to edit a file, you can just type in
+
[source,bash]
....
% emacsclient filename
....
+
and then you can edit the file in your Emacs!footnote:[Many Emacs users set their EDITOR environment to emacsclient so this happens every time they need to edit a file.]

.A Sample [.filename]#.emacs#
====
[.programlisting]
....
;; -*-Emacs-Lisp-*-

;; This file is designed to be re-evaled; use the variable first-time
;; to avoid any problems with this.
(defvar first-time t
  "Flag signifying this is the first time that .emacs has been evaled")

;; Meta
(global-set-key "\M- " 'set-mark-command)
(global-set-key "\M-\C-h" 'backward-kill-word)
(global-set-key "\M-\C-r" 'query-replace)
(global-set-key "\M-r" 'replace-string)
(global-set-key "\M-g" 'goto-line)
(global-set-key "\M-h" 'help-command)

;; Function keys
(global-set-key [f1] 'manual-entry)
(global-set-key [f2] 'info)
(global-set-key [f3] 'repeat-complex-command)
(global-set-key [f4] 'advertised-undo)
(global-set-key [f5] 'eval-current-buffer)
(global-set-key [f6] 'buffer-menu)
(global-set-key [f7] 'other-window)
(global-set-key [f8] 'find-file)
(global-set-key [f9] 'save-buffer)
(global-set-key [f10] 'next-error)
(global-set-key [f11] 'compile)
(global-set-key [f12] 'grep)
(global-set-key [C-f1] 'compile)
(global-set-key [C-f2] 'grep)
(global-set-key [C-f3] 'next-error)
(global-set-key [C-f4] 'previous-error)
(global-set-key [C-f5] 'display-faces)
(global-set-key [C-f8] 'dired)
(global-set-key [C-f10] 'kill-compilation)

;; Keypad bindings
(global-set-key [up] "\C-p")
(global-set-key [down] "\C-n")
(global-set-key [left] "\C-b")
(global-set-key [right] "\C-f")
(global-set-key [home] "\C-a")
(global-set-key [end] "\C-e")
(global-set-key [prior] "\M-v")
(global-set-key [next] "\C-v")
(global-set-key [C-up] "\M-\C-b")
(global-set-key [C-down] "\M-\C-f")
(global-set-key [C-left] "\M-b")
(global-set-key [C-right] "\M-f")
(global-set-key [C-home] "\M-<")
(global-set-key [C-end] "\M->")
(global-set-key [C-prior] "\M-<")
(global-set-key [C-next] "\M->")

;; Mouse
(global-set-key [mouse-3] 'imenu)

;; Misc
(global-set-key [C-tab] "\C-q\t")	; Control tab quotes a tab.
(setq backup-by-copying-when-mismatch t)

;; Treat 'y' or <CR> as yes, 'n' as no.
(fset 'yes-or-no-p 'y-or-n-p)
(define-key query-replace-map [return] 'act)
(define-key query-replace-map [?\C-m] 'act)

;; Load packages
(require 'desktop)
(require 'tar-mode)

;; Pretty diff mode
(autoload 'ediff-buffers "ediff" "Intelligent Emacs interface to diff" t)
(autoload 'ediff-files "ediff" "Intelligent Emacs interface to diff" t)
(autoload 'ediff-files-remote "ediff"
  "Intelligent Emacs interface to diff")

(if first-time
    (setq auto-mode-alist
	  (append '(("\\.cpp$" . c++-mode)
		    ("\\.hpp$" . c++-mode)
		    ("\\.lsp$" . lisp-mode)
		    ("\\.scm$" . scheme-mode)
		    ("\\.pl$" . perl-mode)
		    ) auto-mode-alist)))

;; Auto font lock mode
(defvar font-lock-auto-mode-list
  (list 'c-mode 'c++-mode 'c++-c-mode 'emacs-lisp-mode 'lisp-mode 'perl-mode 'scheme-mode)
  "List of modes to always start in font-lock-mode")

(defvar font-lock-mode-keyword-alist
  '((c++-c-mode . c-font-lock-keywords)
    (perl-mode . perl-font-lock-keywords))
  "Associations between modes and keywords")

(defun font-lock-auto-mode-select ()
  "Automatically select font-lock-mode if the current major mode is in font-lock-auto-mode-list"
  (if (memq major-mode font-lock-auto-mode-list)
      (progn
	(font-lock-mode t))
    )
  )

(global-set-key [M-f1] 'font-lock-fontify-buffer)

;; New dabbrev stuff
;(require 'new-dabbrev)
(setq dabbrev-always-check-other-buffers t)
(setq dabbrev-abbrev-char-regexp "\\sw\\|\\s_")
(add-hook 'emacs-lisp-mode-hook
	  '(lambda ()
	     (set (make-local-variable 'dabbrev-case-fold-search) nil)
	     (set (make-local-variable 'dabbrev-case-replace) nil)))
(add-hook 'c-mode-hook
	  '(lambda ()
	     (set (make-local-variable 'dabbrev-case-fold-search) nil)
	     (set (make-local-variable 'dabbrev-case-replace) nil)))
(add-hook 'text-mode-hook
	  '(lambda ()
	     (set (make-local-variable 'dabbrev-case-fold-search) t)
	     (set (make-local-variable 'dabbrev-case-replace) t)))

;; C++ and C mode...
(defun my-c++-mode-hook ()
  (setq tab-width 4)
  (define-key c++-mode-map "\C-m" 'reindent-then-newline-and-indent)
  (define-key c++-mode-map "\C-ce" 'c-comment-edit)
  (setq c++-auto-hungry-initial-state 'none)
  (setq c++-delete-function 'backward-delete-char)
  (setq c++-tab-always-indent t)
  (setq c-indent-level 4)
  (setq c-continued-statement-offset 4)
  (setq c++-empty-arglist-indent 4))

(defun my-c-mode-hook ()
  (setq tab-width 4)
  (define-key c-mode-map "\C-m" 'reindent-then-newline-and-indent)
  (define-key c-mode-map "\C-ce" 'c-comment-edit)
  (setq c-auto-hungry-initial-state 'none)
  (setq c-delete-function 'backward-delete-char)
  (setq c-tab-always-indent t)
;; BSD-ish indentation style
  (setq c-indent-level 4)
  (setq c-continued-statement-offset 4)
  (setq c-brace-offset -4)
  (setq c-argdecl-indent 0)
  (setq c-label-offset -4))

;; Perl mode
(defun my-perl-mode-hook ()
  (setq tab-width 4)
  (define-key c++-mode-map "\C-m" 'reindent-then-newline-and-indent)
  (setq perl-indent-level 4)
  (setq perl-continued-statement-offset 4))

;; Scheme mode...
(defun my-scheme-mode-hook ()
  (define-key scheme-mode-map "\C-m" 'reindent-then-newline-and-indent))

;; Emacs-Lisp mode...
(defun my-lisp-mode-hook ()
  (define-key lisp-mode-map "\C-m" 'reindent-then-newline-and-indent)
  (define-key lisp-mode-map "\C-i" 'lisp-indent-line)
  (define-key lisp-mode-map "\C-j" 'eval-print-last-sexp))

;; Add all of the hooks...
(add-hook 'c++-mode-hook 'my-c++-mode-hook)
(add-hook 'c-mode-hook 'my-c-mode-hook)
(add-hook 'scheme-mode-hook 'my-scheme-mode-hook)
(add-hook 'emacs-lisp-mode-hook 'my-lisp-mode-hook)
(add-hook 'lisp-mode-hook 'my-lisp-mode-hook)
(add-hook 'perl-mode-hook 'my-perl-mode-hook)

;; Complement to next-error
(defun previous-error (n)
  "Visit previous compilation error message and corresponding source code."
  (interactive "p")
  (next-error (- n)))

;; Misc...
(transient-mark-mode 1)
(setq mark-even-if-inactive t)
(setq visible-bell nil)
(setq next-line-add-newlines nil)
(setq compile-command "make")
(setq suggest-key-bindings nil)
(put 'eval-expression 'disabled nil)
(put 'narrow-to-region 'disabled nil)
(put 'set-goal-column 'disabled nil)
(if (>= emacs-major-version 21)
	(setq show-trailing-whitespace t))

;; Elisp archive searching
(autoload 'format-lisp-code-directory "lispdir" nil t)
(autoload 'lisp-dir-apropos "lispdir" nil t)
(autoload 'lisp-dir-retrieve "lispdir" nil t)
(autoload 'lisp-dir-verify "lispdir" nil t)

;; Font lock mode
(defun my-make-face (face color &optional bold)
  "Create a face from a color and optionally make it bold"
  (make-face face)
  (copy-face 'default face)
  (set-face-foreground face color)
  (if bold (make-face-bold face))
  )

(if (eq window-system 'x)
    (progn
      (my-make-face 'blue "blue")
      (my-make-face 'red "red")
      (my-make-face 'green "dark green")
      (setq font-lock-comment-face 'blue)
      (setq font-lock-string-face 'bold)
      (setq font-lock-type-face 'bold)
      (setq font-lock-keyword-face 'bold)
      (setq font-lock-function-name-face 'red)
      (setq font-lock-doc-string-face 'green)
      (add-hook 'find-file-hooks 'font-lock-auto-mode-select)

      (setq baud-rate 1000000)
      (global-set-key "\C-cmm" 'menu-bar-mode)
      (global-set-key "\C-cms" 'scroll-bar-mode)
      (global-set-key [backspace] 'backward-delete-char)
					;      (global-set-key [delete] 'delete-char)
      (standard-display-european t)
      (load-library "iso-transl")))

;; X11 or PC using direct screen writes
(if window-system
    (progn
      ;;      (global-set-key [M-f1] 'hilit-repaint-command)
      ;;      (global-set-key [M-f2] [?\C-u M-f1])
      (setq hilit-mode-enable-list
	    '(not text-mode c-mode c++-mode emacs-lisp-mode lisp-mode
		  scheme-mode)
	    hilit-auto-highlight nil
	    hilit-auto-rehighlight 'visible
	    hilit-inhibit-hooks nil
	    hilit-inhibit-rebinding t)
      (require 'hilit19)
      (require 'paren))
  (setq baud-rate 2400)			; For slow serial connections
  )

;; TTY type terminal
(if (and (not window-system)
	 (not (equal system-type 'ms-dos)))
    (progn
      (if first-time
	  (progn
	    (keyboard-translate ?\C-h ?\C-?)
	    (keyboard-translate ?\C-? ?\C-h)))))

;; Under UNIX
(if (not (equal system-type 'ms-dos))
    (progn
      (if first-time
	  (server-start))))

;; Add any face changes here
(add-hook 'term-setup-hook 'my-term-setup-hook)
(defun my-term-setup-hook ()
  (if (eq window-system 'pc)
      (progn
;;	(set-face-background 'default "red")
	)))

;; Restore the "desktop" - do this as late as possible
(if first-time
    (progn
      (desktop-load-default)
      (desktop-read)))

;; Indicate that this file has been read at least once
(setq first-time nil)

;; No need to debug anything now

(setq debug-on-error nil)

;; All done
(message "All done, %s%s" (user-login-name) ".")
....
====

=== Extending the Range of Languages Emacs Understands

Now, this is all very well if you only want to program in the languages already catered for in [.filename]#.emacs# (C, C++, Perl, Lisp and Scheme), but what happens if a new language called "whizbang" comes out, full of exciting features?

The first thing to do is find out if whizbang comes with any files that tell Emacs about the language.
These usually end in [.filename]#.el#, short for "Emacs Lisp".
For example, if whizbang is a FreeBSD port, we can locate these files by doing

[source,bash]
....
% find /usr/ports/lang/whizbang -name "*.el" -print
....

and install them by copying them into the Emacs site Lisp directory.
On FreeBSD, this is [.filename]#/usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp#.

So for example, if the output from the find command was

[source,bash]
....
/usr/ports/lang/whizbang/work/misc/whizbang.el
....

we would do

[source,bash]
....
# cp /usr/ports/lang/whizbang/work/misc/whizbang.el /usr/local/share/emacs/site-lisp
....

Next, we need to decide what extension whizbang source files have.
Let us say for the sake of argument that they all end in [.filename]#.wiz#.
We need to add an entry to our [.filename]#.emacs# to make sure Emacs will be able to use the information in [.filename]#whizbang.el#.

Find the auto-mode-alist entry in [.filename]#.emacs# and add a line for whizbang, such as:

[.programlisting]
....
...
("\\.lsp$" . lisp-mode)
("\\.wiz$" . whizbang-mode)
("\\.scm$" . scheme-mode)
...
....

This means that Emacs will automatically go into `whizbang-mode` when you edit a file ending in [.filename]#.wiz#.

Just below this, you will find the font-lock-auto-mode-list entry.
Add `whizbang-mode` to it like so:

[.programlisting]
....
;; Auto font lock mode
(defvar font-lock-auto-mode-list
  (list 'c-mode 'c++-mode 'c++-c-mode 'emacs-lisp-mode 'whizbang-mode 'lisp-mode 'perl-mode 'scheme-mode)
  "List of modes to always start in font-lock-mode")
....

This means that Emacs will always enable `font-lock-mode` (ie syntax highlighting) when editing a [.filename]#.wiz# file.

And that is all that is needed. If there is anything else you want done automatically when you open up [.filename]#.wiz#,
you can add a `whizbang-mode hook` (see `my-scheme-mode-hook` for a simple example that adds `auto-indent`).

[[tools-reading]]
== Further Reading

For information about setting up a development environment for contributing fixes to FreeBSD itself, please see man:development[7].

* Brian Harvey and Matthew Wright _Simply Scheme_ MIT 1994. ISBN 0-262-08226-8
* Randall Schwartz _Learning Perl_ O'Reilly 1993 ISBN 1-56592-042-2
* Patrick Henry Winston and Berthold Klaus Paul Horn _Lisp (3rd Edition)_ Addison-Wesley 1989 ISBN 0-201-08319-1
* Brian W. Kernighan and Rob Pike _The Unix Programming Environment_ Prentice-Hall 1984 ISBN 0-13-937681-X
* Brian W. Kernighan and Dennis M. Ritchie _The C Programming Language (2nd Edition)_ Prentice-Hall 1988 ISBN 0-13-110362-8
* Bjarne Stroustrup _The C++ Programming Language_ Addison-Wesley 1991 ISBN 0-201-53992-6
* W. Richard Stevens _Advanced Programming in the Unix Environment_ Addison-Wesley 1992 ISBN 0-201-56317-7
* W. Richard Stevens _Unix Network Programming_ Prentice-Hall 1990 ISBN 0-13-949876-1