How to get better debugging for the kernel.

[Gordon Ross]

Actually, mdb primaryliy uses Compact ANSI-C Type Format (CTF),
which is in sections added to binaries by tools that convert from
either dwarf or stabs.

I've assumed FreeBSD already has CTF since dtrace normally uses it too...


On Sat, Aug 13, 2016 at 1:22 PM, Pedro Giffuni <pfg at freebsd.org> wrote:
> Gordon Ross wrote:
>>
>> I heard a rumor someone might be working on a port of illumos "mdb".
>> Anyone know if that's true, and how far along it went?
>>
>
> FWIW, I heard the same rumor.
>
>> We depend heavily upon this tool for production support;
>> so much that I'm not sure how we'd live without it.
>
>
> There is interest, and I have seen some attempt at work on it however
> it is not something likely to bear much fruit because mdb knows nothing
> about dwarf; AFAICT it knows only about stabs, which we don't use
> at all.
>
> Also, Oracle did make some Dtrace enhancements in upstream gdb that
> would be good to port.
>
> Pedro.