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GDB Internals

14. Porting GDB

Most of the work in making GDB compile on a new machine is in specifying the configuration of the machine. This is done in a dizzying variety of header files and configuration scripts, which we hope to make more sensible soon. Let's say your new host is called an xyz (e.g., `sun4'), and its full three-part configuration name is arch-xvend-xos (e.g., `sparc-sun-sunos4'). In particular:

• In the top level directory, edit `config.sub' and add arch, xvend, and xos to the lists of supported architectures, vendors, and operating systems near the bottom of the file. Also, add xyz as an alias that maps to arch-xvend-xos. You can test your changes by running

  ./config.sub xyz

  and

  ./config.sub arch-xvend-xos

  which should both respond with arch-xvend-xos and no error messages.

  You need to port BFD, if that hasn't been done already. Porting BFD is beyond the scope of this manual.

• To configure GDB itself, edit `gdb/configure.host' to recognize your system and set gdb_host to xyz, and (unless your desired target is already available) also edit `gdb/configure.tgt', setting gdb_target to something appropriate (for instance, xyz).

  Maintainer's note: Work in progress. The file `gdb/configure.host' originally needed to be modified when either a new native target or a new host machine was being added to GDB. Recent changes have removed this requirement. The file now only needs to be modified when adding a new native configuration. This will likely changed again in the future.

• Finally, you'll need to specify and define GDB's host-, native-, and target-dependent `.h' and `.c' files used for your configuration.