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Re: Minimal symbols and gdb's two-stage symbol reading


Orjan Friberg wrote:
> 
> Would it be safe to rely on an absolute global symbol being read into
> the minimal symbol table with the initial 'file' command (without using
> the '-readnow' option) for an a.out target? From looking at
> read_dbx_symtab it wasn't clear to me what happens.

That's because the absolute global symbols are not read by 
read_dbx_symtab.  That function reads the stabs, which are 
entirely distinct from the "minimal symbols".  The minimal
symbols (mainly) come from the linker symbols, not the stabs.
The minimal symbols are all read on the first pass.  So yes,
it should be safe to make the assumption you asked about.

> As discussed in a previous thread, I will use the symbol as an ABI
> indicator, and I'm just wondering if gdb's two-stage symbol reading
> could interfere with my intentions (i.e., the symbol not being there yet
> when I want it to).

So long as "when I want it to" is after the "file" command
(ie. there is a symbol file now), then this should be safe.

Michael

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