Re: [RFC] [PATCH] In-kernel gdbstub based on utrace Infrastructure.

From: Ingo Molnar
Date: Mon Nov 30 2009 - 10:17:20 EST



* Frank Ch. Eigler <fche@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> peterz wrote:
>
> > Hmm,. wouldn't it make much more sense to extend the current kgdb stub
> > to include userspace debugging, providing an all-in-one solution?
> > I think it would be much more powerful to be able to observe the full
> > software stack and not be limited by this user<->kernel barrier.
>
> There exist other tools for this broad a scope (systemtap being one),
> and present gdb is not well suited for this. That makes this idea an
> exciting potential for the future, but not a practical short-term
> goal.

Well, but Peter's suggestion is the obvious next step - or even a
necessary first step in my view.

kgdb exists here and today in the kernel and you cannot just build a
facility that doesnt replace it and doesnt integrate well with it.

So if a unified user/kernel model for debugging is a 'long term' feature
in your view then perhaps this framework (which introduces _extensive_
hooks all around the kernel) is not designed/approached in the right way
and should not be merged in this form.

Concentrating on 'other tools' just generates extensive dependencies on
something that is lacking - making it even harder to implement unified
debugging down the line.

Thanks,

Ingo
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