Invoke and control GDB from Python

Question

I am running a Python GUI application. I want to invoke and control GDB from it, like load an executable file, set breakpoints etc. I see that GDB has a command line interface which can be used by sending strings to the GDB process, but I want to do it the Python way. Is there a gdb.py? I see that "archer" branch has something like "import gdb", but it doesn't work in Ubuntu's default installation of Python. Where do I get this module or is there any other method to control GDB from Python?

Answer 1

Yes, you can control GDB from Python. The Python documentation is at http://sourceware.org/gdb/current/onlinedocs/gdb/Python.html#Python.

If you want an example of some scripting, take a look at http://tromey.com/blog/?p=548

Answer 2

pygdbmi is what you want.

With it I was able to reset an embedded target from Python using the following:

from pygdbmi.gdbcontroller import GdbController if __name__ == '__main__':     gdbmi = GdbController()     response = gdbmi.write('b main')     response = gdbmi.write('target remote localhost:2331')     response = gdbmi.write('mon reset 0')     response = gdbmi.write('c') 

gdbgui provides a much cooler example.