Dbx
dbx is the IRIX debugger used for IRIS Development Option and MIPSPro based binaries. It is the primary system debugger, available in the "ProDev Workshop" CDs.
Cheat Sheet
For those unfamiliar, this section explains how to load and use it.
Getting Started
% dbx [program] – Launch dbx with a program.
% dbx [program] program.core – Load a core dump.
% dbx -I [path] – Add search path for source files.
Running Programs
run [args] – Run the program with optional arguments.
rerun – Restart program with the same arguments.
kill – Stop the current program.
quit – Exit dbx.
Breakpoints
stop in function – Break at a function.
stop at file:line – Break at a line.
delete n – Delete breakpoint number n.
status – List breakpoints.
GDB Equivalents
dbx: stop in func → gdb: break func
dbx: stop at file:line → gdb: break file:line
dbx: status → gdb: info breakpoints
Stepping & Execution Control
step – Step into.
next – Step over.
cont – Continue.
where – Show call stack.
up / down – Move in the call stack.
GDB Equivalents
dbx: step → gdb: step
dbx: next → gdb: next
dbx: cont → gdb: continue
dbx: where → gdb: backtrace
Examining Variables
print var – Show variable.
whatis var – Show type.
dump var – Expand structure contents.
display var – Auto‑print each step.
undisplay var – Remove display.
GDB Equivalents
dbx: print → gdb: print
dbx: whatis → gdb: ptype
dbx: dump → gdb: print *var or info locals
Modifying State
assign var = value – Set variable.
call function(args) – Call a function in the debugged program.
GDB Equivalents
dbx: assign → gdb: set var var=value
dbx: call → gdb: call
list – Show code around the current location.
list file:line – Show code for a specific place.
Signals
ignore signal – Ignore a signal.
handle signal – Let program handle signal.
catchsignal signal – Break when a signal occurs.
GDB Equivalents
dbx: ignore → gdb: handle SIGX ignore
dbx: catchsignal → gdb: catch signal
Core Files
debug [program] program.core – Load executable + core.
where – Inspect stack.
dump var – Inspect state.
Useful Misc Commands
help – Show help.
help topic – Help on a specific topic.
sh command – Run a shell command.
