About This Guide
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## About This Guide

This guide explains how to use the source level debugger, `dbx`. You can use `dbx` to debug programs in C, C++, Fortran, and assembly language. This manual is written for programmers, and assumes that you are familiar with general debugging techniques.

This book contains the following information:

- Chapter 1, “Getting Started with dbx”, introduces some basic `dbx` commands and offers some tips about how to approach a debugging session.

- Chapter 2, “Running dbx”, explains how to run `dbx` and perform basic `dbx` control functions.

- Chapter 3, “Examining Source Files”, explains how to examine source files under `dbx`.

- Chapter 4, “Controlling dbx”, describes features of `dbx` that affect its operation while debugging a program.

- Chapter 5, “Examining and Changing Data”, describes how to examine and change data in your program while running it under `dbx`.

- Chapter 6, “Controlling Program Execution”, describes how to use the `dbx` commands that control execution of your program.

- Chapter 7, “Debugging Machine Language Code”, explains how to debug machine language code.

- Chapter 8, “Debugging Multiprocess Programs”, explains multiprocess debugging procedures.

- Appendix A, “dbx Commands”, lists and describes all `dbx` commands.

- Appendix B, “Predefined Aliases”, lists and describes all predefined `dbx` aliases.

- Appendix C, “Predefined dbx Variables”, lists and describes all predefined `dbx` variables.

## Related Publications

The following documents contain additional information that may be helpful:

- SpeedShop User's Guide

- C Language Reference Manual

- C++ Programmer's Guide

- MIPSpro Fortran 90 Commands and Directives Reference Manual

- MIPSpro Fortran Language Reference Manual, Volume 1

- MIPSpro Fortran Language Reference Manual, Volume 2

- MIPSpro Fortran Language Reference Manual, Volume 3

- MIPSpro Fortran 77 Language Reference Manual

- MIPSpro Fortran 77 Programmer's Guide

- ProDev WorkShop: ProMP User's Guide

- ProDev Workshop: Debugger User's Guide

- ProDev Workshop: Static Analyzer User's Guide

- ProDev WorkShop: Overview

## Obtaining Publications

To obtain SGI documentation, go to the SGI Technical Publications Library at:

    http://techpubs.sgi.com.

## Conventions

The following conventions are used throughout this document:

Convention |  | Meaning
`command` |  | This fixed-space font denotes literal items such as commands, files, routines, path names, signals, messages, and programming language structures.
variable |  | Italic typeface denotes variable entries and words or concepts being defined.
`user input` |  | This bold, fixed-space font denotes literal items that the user enters in interactive sessions. Output is shown in nonbold, fixed-space font.
[ ] |  | Brackets enclose optional portions of a command or directive line.
... |  | Ellipses indicate that a preceding element can be repeated.

In addition to the above conventions, some commands in this documentation may show mutually exclusive arguments to a command enclosed in braces (`{ }`) and separated by a pipe character (`|`).

## Reader Comments

If you have comments about the technical accuracy, content, or organization of this document, please tell us. You can contact us in any of the following ways:

- Send us electronic mail at the following address:

      techpubs@sgi.com

- Contact your customer service representative and ask that a PV be filed.

- Call our Software Publications Group in Eagan, Minnesota, through the Customer Service Call Center, using either of the following numbers:

  1-800-950-2729 (toll free from the United States and Canada)
  +1-651-683-5600

- Send a facsimile of your comments to the attention of Software Publications Group in Eagan, Minnesota, at fax number +1-651-683-5599.

We value your comments and will respond to them promptly.

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dbx User's Guide |  | Chapter 1. Getting Started with dbx