linux-kernel mailing list
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subject: Program tracing.
Sirs:
Can anyone tell me how to start a program file (typically an ELF file)
and halt its execution just before the first instruction of the
program? The facility must work even for programs that have no tracing
compiled in.
I have written a Linux debugger similar to Quaid Analyzer for DOS
that uses ptrace to display memory and registers, including disassembling
the code. The last feature I need is getting control just before
the first instruction of a process.
DOS and Windows provided this ability, through an undocumented
but easily discovered system call. As far as I can tell, the ability
is not provided in gdb. I earlier struck out trying to get an
answer through the Red Hat developers mailing list.
As an aside, I have found that the specification for ptrace, distributed
with Linux and widely reproduced on the internet, is erroneous in
some respects. Is there any place to post a corrected document and
get it included in the distribution?
I only subscribe to the digest, so a separate cc would be helpful.
Robert T McQuaid
Orangeville Ontario Canada
E-mail: robert.mcquaid@hurontario.net
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