sbcl.sbcl/doc/cmu-user/debugger.tex

\chapter{The Debugger}
\cindex{debugger}
\label{debugger}

\credits{by Robert MacLachlan}


\section{Debugger Introduction}

The \cmucl{} debugger is unique in its level of support for source-level
debugging of compiled code.  Although some other debuggers allow access of
variables by name, this seems to be the first \llisp{} debugger that:
\begin{itemize}

\item
Tells you when a variable doesn't have a value because it hasn't been
initialized yet or has already been deallocated, or

\item
Can display the precise source location corresponding to a code
location in the debugged program.
\end{itemize}
These features allow the debugging of compiled code to be made almost
indistinguishable from interpreted code debugging.

The debugger is an interactive command loop that allows a user to examine
the function call stack.  The debugger is invoked when:
\begin{itemize}

\item
A \tindexed{serious-condition} is signaled, and it is not handled, or

\item
\findexed{error} is called, and the condition it signals is not handled, or

\item
The debugger is explicitly invoked with the \clisp{} \findexed{break}
or \findexed{debug} functions.
\end{itemize}

{\it Note: there are two debugger interfaces in \cmucl{}: the TTY
debugger (described below) and the Motif debugger. Since the
difference is only in the user interface, much of this chapter also
applies to the Motif version. \xlref{motif-interface} for a very brief
discussion of the graphical interface.}

When you enter the TTY debugger, it looks something like this:

\begin{example}
Error in function CAR.
Wrong type argument, 3, should have been of type LIST.

Restarts:
  0: Return to Top-Level.

Debug  (type H for help)

(CAR 3)
0]
\end{example}

The first group of lines describe what the error was that put us in the
debugger.  In this case \code{car} was called on \code{3}.  After \code{Restarts:}
is a list of all the ways that we can restart execution after this error.  In
this case, the only option is to return to top-level.  After printing its
banner, the debugger prints the current frame and the debugger prompt.


\section{The Command Loop}

The debugger is an interactive read-eval-print loop much like the normal
top-level, but some symbols are interpreted as debugger commands instead
of being evaluated.  A debugger command starts with the symbol name of
the command, possibly followed by some arguments on the same line.  Some
commands prompt for additional input.  Debugger commands can be
abbreviated by any unambiguous prefix: \code{help} can be typed as
\code{h}, \code{he}, etc.  For convenience, some commands have
ambiguous one-letter abbreviations: \code{f} for \code{frame}.

The package is not significant in debugger commands; any symbol with the
name of a debugger command will work.  If you want to show the value of
a variable that happens also to be the name of a debugger command, you
can use the \code{list-locals} command or the \code{debug:var}
function, or you can wrap the variable in a \code{progn} to hide it from
the command loop.

The debugger prompt is ``\var{frame}\code{]}'', where \var{frame} is the number
of the current frame.  Frames are numbered starting from zero at the top (most
recent call), increasing down to the bottom.  The current frame is the frame
that commands refer to.  The current frame also provides the lexical
environment for evaluation of non-command forms.

\cpsubindex{evaluation}{debugger} The debugger evaluates forms in the lexical
environment of the functions being debugged.  The debugger can only
access variables.  You can't \code{go} or \code{return-from} into a
function, and you can't call local functions.  Special variable
references are evaluated with their current value (the innermost binding
around the debugger invocation)\dash{}you don't get the value that the
special had in the current frame.  \xlref{debug-vars} for more
information on debugger variable access.


\section{Stack Frames}
\cindex{stack frames} \cpsubindex{frames}{stack}

A stack frame is the run-time representation of a call to a function;
the frame stores the state that a function needs to remember what it is
doing.  Frames have:
\begin{itemize}

\item
Variables (\pxlref{debug-vars}), which are the values being operated
on, and

\item
Arguments to the call (which are really just particularly interesting
variables), and

\item
A current location (\pxlref{source-locations}), which is the place in
the program where the function was running when it stopped to call another
function, or because of an interrupt or error.
\end{itemize}


\subsection{Stack Motion}

These commands move to a new stack frame and print the name of the function
and the values of its arguments in the style of a Lisp function call:
\begin{Lentry}

\item[\code{up}]
Move up to the next higher frame.  More recent function calls are considered
to be higher on the stack.

\item[\code{down}]
Move down to the next lower frame.

\item[\code{top}]
Move to the highest frame.

\item[\code{bottom}]
Move to the lowest frame.

\item[\code{frame} [\textit{n}]]
Move to the frame with the specified number.  Prompts for the number if not
supplied.

% \key{S} [\var{function-name} [\var{n}]]
% 
% \item
% Search down the stack for function.  Prompts for the function name if not
% supplied.  Searches an optional number of times, but doesn't prompt for
% this number; enter it following the function.
% 
% \item[\key{R} [\var{function-name} [\var{n}]]]
% Search up the stack for function.  Prompts for the function name if not
% supplied.  Searches an optional number of times, but doesn't prompt for
% this number; enter it following the function.
\end{Lentry}


\subsection{How Arguments are Printed}

A frame is printed to look like a function call, but with the actual argument
values in the argument positions.  So the frame for this call in the source:

\begin{lisp}
(myfun (+ 3 4) 'a)
\end{lisp}

would look like this:

\begin{example}
(MYFUN 7 A)
\end{example}

All keyword and optional arguments are displayed with their actual
values; if the corresponding argument was not supplied, the value will
be the default.  So this call:

\begin{lisp}
(subseq "foo" 1)
\end{lisp}

would look like this:

\begin{example}
(SUBSEQ "foo" 1 3)
\end{example}

And this call:

\begin{lisp}
(string-upcase "test case")
\end{lisp}

would look like this:

\begin{example}
(STRING-UPCASE "test case" :START 0 :END NIL)
\end{example}

The arguments to a function call are displayed by accessing the argument
variables.  Although those variables are initialized to the actual argument
values, they can be set inside the function; in this case the new value will be
displayed.

\code{\amprest} arguments are handled somewhat differently.  The value of
the rest argument variable is displayed as the spread-out arguments to
the call, so:

\begin{lisp}
(format t "~A is a ~A." "This" 'test)
\end{lisp}

would look like this:

\begin{example}
(FORMAT T "~A is a ~A." "This" 'TEST)
\end{example}

Rest arguments cause an exception to the normal display of keyword
arguments in functions that have both \code{\amprest} and \code{\&key}
arguments.  In this case, the keyword argument variables are not
displayed at all; the rest arg is displayed instead.  So for these
functions, only the keywords actually supplied will be shown, and the
values displayed will be the argument values, not values of the
(possibly modified) variables.

If the variable for an argument is never referenced by the function, it will be
deleted.  The variable value is then unavailable, so the debugger prints
\code{\#\textless unused-arg\textgreater} instead of the value.  Similarly, if for any of a number of
reasons (described in more detail in section \ref{debug-vars}) the value of the
variable is unavailable or not known to be available, then
\code{\#\textless unavailable-arg\textgreater} will be printed instead of the argument value.

Printing of argument values is controlled by \code{*debug-print-level*} and
\varref{debug-print-length}.

\subsection{Function Names}
\cpsubindex{function}{names}
\cpsubindex{names}{function}

If a function is defined by \code{defun}, \code{labels}, or \code{flet}, then the
debugger will print the actual function name after the open parenthesis, like:

\begin{example}
(STRING-UPCASE "test case" :START 0 :END NIL)
((SETF AREF) \#\back{a} "for" 1)
\end{example}

Otherwise, the function name is a string, and will be printed in quotes:

\begin{example}
("DEFUN MYFUN" BAR)
("DEFMACRO DO" (DO ((I 0 (1+ I))) ((= I 13))) NIL)
("SETQ *GC-NOTIFY-BEFORE*")
\end{example}

This string name is derived from the \w{\code{def}\var{mumble}} form
that encloses or expanded into the lambda, or the outermost enclosing
form if there is no \w{\code{def}\var{mumble}}.

\subsection{Funny Frames}
\cindex{external entry points}
\cpsubindex{entry points}{external}
\cpsubindex{block compilation}{debugger implications}
\cpsubindex{external}{stack frame kind}
\cpsubindex{optional}{stack frame kind}
\cpsubindex{cleanup}{stack frame kind}

Sometimes the evaluator introduces new functions that are used to implement a
user function, but are not directly specified in the source.  The main place
this is done is for checking argument type and syntax.  Usually these functions
do their thing and then go away, and thus are not seen on the stack in the
debugger.  But when you get some sort of error during lambda-list processing,
you end up in the debugger on one of these funny frames.

These funny frames are flagged by printing ``\code{[}\var{keyword}\code{]}'' after the
parentheses.  For example, this call:

\begin{lisp}
(car 'a 'b)
\end{lisp}

will look like this:

\begin{example}
(CAR 2 A) [:EXTERNAL]
\end{example}

And this call:

\begin{lisp}
(string-upcase "test case" :end)
\end{lisp}

would look like this:

\begin{example}
("DEFUN STRING-UPCASE" "test case" 335544424 1) [:OPTIONAL]
\end{example}

As you can see, these frames have only a vague resemblance to the original
call.  Fortunately, the error message displayed when you enter the debugger
will usually tell you what problem is (in these cases, too many arguments
and odd keyword arguments.)  Also, if you go down the stack to the frame for
the calling function, you can display the original source (\pxlref{source-locations}.)

With recursive or block compiled functions
(\pxlref{block-compilation}), an \kwd{EXTERNAL} frame may appear
before the frame representing the first call to the recursive function
or entry to the compiled block. This is a consequence of the way the
compiler does block compilation: there is nothing odd with your
program. You will also see \kwd{CLEANUP} frames during the execution
of \code{unwind-protect} cleanup code. Note that inline expansion and
open-coding affect what frames are present in the debugger, see
sections \ref{debugger-policy} and \ref{open-coding}.


\subsection{Debug Tail Recursion}
\label{debug-tail-recursion}
\cindex{tail recursion}
\cpsubindex{recursion}{tail}

Both the compiler and the interpreter are ``properly tail recursive.''  If a
function call is in a tail-recursive position, the stack frame will be
deallocated {\em at the time of the call}, rather than after the call returns.
Consider this backtrace:
\begin{example}
(BAR ...) 
(FOO ...)
\end{example}
Because of tail recursion, it is not necessarily the case that
\code{FOO} directly called \code{BAR}.  It may be that \code{FOO} called
some other function \code{FOO2} which then called \code{BAR}
tail-recursively, as in this example:
\begin{example}
(defun foo ()
  ...
  (foo2 ...)
  ...)

(defun foo2 (...)
  ...
  (bar ...))

(defun bar (...)
  ...)
\end{example}

Usually the elimination of tail-recursive frames makes debugging more
pleasant, since theses frames are mostly uninformative.  If there is any
doubt about how one function called another, it can usually be
eliminated by finding the source location in the calling frame (section
\ref{source-locations}.)

The elimination of tail-recursive frames can be prevented by disabling
tail-recursion optimization, which happens when the \code{debug}
optimization quality is greater than \code{2}
(\pxlref{debugger-policy}.)

For a more thorough discussion of tail recursion, \pxlref{tail-recursion}.


\subsection{Unknown Locations and Interrupts}
\label{unknown-locations}
\cindex{unknown code locations}
\cpsubindex{locations}{unknown}
\cindex{interrupts}
\cpsubindex{errors}{run-time}

The debugger operates using special debugging information attached to
the compiled code.  This debug information tells the debugger what it
needs to know about the locations in the code where the debugger can be
invoked.  If the debugger somehow encounters a location not described in
the debug information, then it is said to be \var{unknown}.  If the code
location for a frame is unknown, then some variables may be
inaccessible, and the source location cannot be precisely displayed.

There are three reasons why a code location could be unknown:
\begin{itemize}

\item
There is inadequate debug information due to the value of the \code{debug}
optimization quality.  \xlref{debugger-policy}.

\item
The debugger was entered because of an interrupt such as \code{$\hat{ }C$}.

\item
A hardware error such as ``\code{bus error}'' occurred in code that was
compiled unsafely due to the value of the \code{safety} optimization
quality.  \xlref{optimize-declaration}.
\end{itemize}

In the last two cases, the values of argument variables are accessible,
but may be incorrect.  \xlref{debug-var-validity} for more details on
when variable values are accessible.

It is possible for an interrupt to happen when a function call or return is in
progress.  The debugger may then flame out with some obscure error or insist
that the bottom of the stack has been reached, when the real problem is that
the current stack frame can't be located.  If this happens, return from the
interrupt and try again.

When running interpreted code, all locations should be known.  However,
an interrupt might catch some subfunction of the interpreter at an
unknown location.  In this case, you should be able to go up the stack a
frame or two and reach an interpreted frame which can be debugged.


\section{Variable Access}
\label{debug-vars}
\cpsubindex{variables}{debugger access}
\cindex{debug variables}

There are three ways to access the current frame's local variables in the
debugger.  The simplest is to type the variable's name into the debugger's
read-eval-print loop.  The debugger will evaluate the variable reference as
though it had appeared inside that frame.

The debugger doesn't really understand lexical scoping; it has just one
namespace for all the variables in a function.  If a symbol is the name of
multiple variables in the same function, then the reference appears ambiguous,
even though lexical scoping specifies which value is visible at any given
source location.  If the scopes of the two variables are not nested, then the
debugger can resolve the ambiguity by observing that only one variable is
accessible.

When there are ambiguous variables, the evaluator assigns each one a
small integer identifier.  The \code{debug:var} function and the
\code{list-locals} command use this identifier to distinguish between
ambiguous variables:
\begin{Lentry}

\item[\code{list-locals} \mopt{\var{prefix}}]%%\hfill\\
This command prints the name and value of all variables in the current
frame whose name has the specified \var{prefix}.  \var{prefix} may be a
string or a symbol.  If no \var{prefix} is given, then all available
variables are printed.  If a variable has a potentially ambiguous name,
then the name is printed with a ``\code{\#}\var{identifier}'' suffix, where
\var{identifier} is the small integer used to make the name unique.
\end{Lentry}

\begin{defun}{debug:}{var}{\args{\var{name} \ampoptional{} \var{identifier}}}
  
  This function returns the value of the variable in the current frame
  with the specified \var{name}.  If supplied, \var{identifier}
  determines which value to return when there are ambiguous variables.
  
  When \var{name} is a symbol, it is interpreted as the symbol name of
  the variable, i.e. the package is significant.  If \var{name} is an
  uninterned symbol (gensym), then return the value of the uninterned
  variable with the same name.  If \var{name} is a string,
  \code{debug:var} interprets it as the prefix of a variable name, and
  must unambiguously complete to the name of a valid variable.
  
  This function is useful mainly for accessing the value of uninterned
  or ambiguous variables, since most variables can be evaluated
  directly.
\end{defun}


\subsection{Variable Value Availability}
\label{debug-var-validity}
\cindex{availability of debug variables}
\cindex{validity of debug variables}
\cindex{debug optimization quality}

The value of a variable may be unavailable to the debugger in portions of the
program where \clisp{} says that the variable is defined.  If a variable value is
not available, the debugger will not let you read or write that variable.  With
one exception, the debugger will never display an incorrect value for a
variable.  Rather than displaying incorrect values, the debugger tells you the
value is unavailable.

The one exception is this: if you interrupt (e.g., with \code{$\hat{ }C$}) or if there is
an unexpected hardware error such as ``\code{bus error}'' (which should only happen
in unsafe code), then the values displayed for arguments to the interrupted
frame might be incorrect.\footnote{Since the location of an interrupt or hardware
error will always be an unknown location (\pxlref{unknown-locations}),
non-argument variable values will never be available in the interrupted frame.}
This exception applies only to the interrupted frame: any frame farther down
the stack will be fine.

The value of a variable may be unavailable for these reasons:
\begin{itemize}

\item
The value of the \code{debug} optimization quality may have omitted debug
information needed to determine whether the variable is available.
Unless a variable is an argument, its value will only be available when
\code{debug} is at least \code{2}.

\item
The compiler did lifetime analysis and determined that the value was no longer
needed, even though its scope had not been exited.  Lifetime analysis is
inhibited when the \code{debug} optimization quality is \code{3}.

\item
The variable's name is an uninterned symbol (gensym).  To save space, the
compiler only dumps debug information about uninterned variables when the
\code{debug} optimization quality is \code{3}.

\item
The frame's location is unknown (\pxlref{unknown-locations}) because
the debugger was entered due to an interrupt or unexpected hardware error.
Under these conditions the values of arguments will be available, but might be
incorrect.  This is the exception above.

\item
The variable was optimized out of existence.  Variables with no reads are
always optimized away, even in the interpreter.  The degree to which the
compiler deletes variables will depend on the value of the \code{compile-speed}
optimization quality, but most source-level optimizations are done under all
compilation policies.
\end{itemize}


Since it is especially useful to be able to get the arguments to a function,
argument variables are treated specially when the \code{speed} optimization
quality is less than \code{3} and the \code{debug} quality is at least \code{1}.
With this compilation policy, the values of argument variables are almost
always available everywhere in the function, even at unknown locations.  For
non-argument variables, \code{debug} must be at least \code{2} for values to be
available, and even then, values are only available at known locations.


\subsection{Note On Lexical Variable Access}
\cpsubindex{evaluation}{debugger}
 
When the debugger command loop establishes variable bindings for available
variables, these variable bindings have lexical scope and dynamic
extent.\footnote{The variable bindings are actually created using the \clisp{}
\code{symbol-macrolet} special form.}  You can close over them, but such closures
can't be used as upward funargs.

You can also set local variables using \code{setq}, but if the variable was closed
over in the original source and never set, then setting the variable in the
debugger may not change the value in all the functions the variable is defined
in.  Another risk of setting variables is that you may assign a value of a type
that the compiler proved the variable could never take on.  This may result in
bad things happening.


\section{Source Location Printing}
\label{source-locations}
\cpsubindex{source location printing}{debugger}

One of \cmucl{}'s unique capabilities is source level debugging of compiled
code.  These commands display the source location for the current frame:
\begin{Lentry}

\item[\code{source} \mopt{\var{context}}]%%\hfill\\
This command displays the file that the current frame's function was defined
from (if it was defined from a file), and then the source form responsible for
generating the code that the current frame was executing.  If \var{context} is
specified, then it is an integer specifying the number of enclosing levels of
list structure to print.

\item[\code{vsource} \mopt{\var{context}}]%%\hfill\\
This command is identical to \code{source}, except that it uses the
global values of \code{*print-level*} and \code{*print-length*} instead
of the debugger printing control variables \code{*debug-print-level*}
and \code{*debug-print-length*}.
\end{Lentry}

The source form for a location in the code is the innermost list present
in the original source that encloses the form responsible for generating
that code.  If the actual source form is not a list, then some enclosing
list will be printed.  For example, if the source form was a reference
to the variable \code{*some-random-special*}, then the innermost
enclosing evaluated form will be printed.  Here are some possible
enclosing forms:
\begin{example}
(let ((a *some-random-special*))
  ...)

(+ *some-random-special* ...)
\end{example}

If the code at a location was generated from the expansion of a macro or a
source-level compiler optimization, then the form in the original source that
expanded into that code will be printed.  Suppose the file
\file{/usr/me/mystuff.lisp} looked like this:
\begin{example}
(defmacro mymac ()
  '(myfun))

(defun foo ()
  (mymac)
  ...)
\end{example}
If \code{foo} has called \code{myfun}, and is waiting for it to return, then the
\code{source} command would print:
\begin{example}
; File: /usr/me/mystuff.lisp

(MYMAC)
\end{example}
Note that the macro use was printed, not the actual function call form,
\code{(myfun)}.

If enclosing source is printed by giving an argument to \code{source} or
\code{vsource}, then the actual source form is marked by wrapping it in a list
whose first element is \code{\#:***HERE***}.  In the previous example, 
\w{\code{source 1}} would print:
\begin{example}
; File: /usr/me/mystuff.lisp

(DEFUN FOO ()
  (#:***HERE***
   (MYMAC))
  ...)
\end{example}


\subsection{How the Source is Found}

If the code was defined from \llisp{} by \code{compile} or
\code{eval}, then the source can always be reliably located.  If the
code was defined from a \code{fasl} file created by
\findexed{compile-file}, then the debugger gets the source forms it
prints by reading them from the original source file.  This is a
potential problem, since the source file might have moved or changed
since the time it was compiled.

The source file is opened using the \code{truename} of the source file
pathname originally given to the compiler.  This is an absolute pathname
with all logical names and symbolic links expanded.  If the file can't
be located using this name, then the debugger gives up and signals an
error.

If the source file can be found, but has been modified since the time it was
compiled, the debugger prints this warning:
\begin{example}
; File has been modified since compilation:
;   \var{filename}
; Using form offset instead of character position.
\end{example}
where \var{filename} is the name of the source file.  It then proceeds using a
robust but not foolproof heuristic for locating the source.  This heuristic
works if:
\begin{itemize}

\item
No top-level forms before the top-level form containing the source have been
added or deleted, and

\item
The top-level form containing the source has not been modified much.  (More
precisely, none of the list forms beginning before the source form have been
added or deleted.)
\end{itemize}

If the heuristic doesn't work, the displayed source will be wrong, but will
probably be near the actual source.  If the ``shape'' of the top-level form in
the source file is too different from the original form, then an error will be
signaled.  When the heuristic is used, the the source location commands are
noticeably slowed.

Source location printing can also be confused if (after the source was
compiled) a read-macro you used in the code was redefined to expand into
something different, or if a read-macro ever returns the same \code{eq}
list twice.  If you don't define read macros and don't use \code{\#\#} in
perverted ways, you don't need to worry about this.


\subsection{Source Location Availability}

\cindex{debug optimization quality}
Source location information is only available when the \code{debug}
optimization quality is at least \code{2}.  If source location information is
unavailable, the source commands will give an error message.

If source location information is available, but the source location is
unknown because of an interrupt or unexpected hardware error
(\pxlref{unknown-locations}), then the command will print:

\begin{example}
Unknown location: using block start.
\end{example}

and then proceed to print the source location for the start of the
{\em basic block} enclosing the code location.
\cpsubindex{block}{basic} \cpsubindex{block}{start location} 
It's a bit complicated to explain exactly what a basic block is, but
here are some properties of the block start location:

\begin{itemize}
  
\item The block start location may be the same as the true location.
  
\item The block start location will never be later in the the
  program's flow of control than the true location.
  
\item No conditional control structures (such as \code{if},
  \code{cond}, \code{or}) will intervene between the block start and
  the true location (but note that some conditionals present in the
  original source could be optimized away.)  Function calls {\em do not}
  end basic blocks.
  
\item The head of a loop will be the start of a block.
  
\item The programming language concept of ``block structure'' and the
  \clisp{} \code{block} special form are totally unrelated to the
  compiler's basic block.
\end{itemize}

In other words, the true location lies between the printed location and the
next conditional (but watch out because the compiler may have changed the
program on you.)


\section{Compiler Policy Control}
\label{debugger-policy}
\cpsubindex{policy}{debugger}
\cindex{debug optimization quality}
\cindex{optimize declaration}

The compilation policy specified by \code{optimize} declarations affects the
behavior seen in the debugger.  The \code{debug} quality directly affects the
debugger by controlling the amount of debugger information dumped.  Other
optimization qualities have indirect but observable effects due to changes in
the way compilation is done.

Unlike the other optimization qualities (which are compared in relative value
to evaluate tradeoffs), the \code{debug} optimization quality is directly
translated to a level of debug information.  This absolute interpretation
allows the user to count on a particular amount of debug information being
available even when the values of the other qualities are changed during
compilation.  These are the levels of debug information that correspond to the
values of the \code{debug} quality:
\begin{Lentry}

\item[\code{0}]
Only the function name and enough information to allow the stack to
be parsed.

\item[\code{\w{$>$ 0}}]
Any level greater than \code{0} gives level \code{0} plus all
argument variables.  Values will only be accessible if the argument
variable is never set and
\code{speed} is not \code{3}.  \cmucl{} allows any real value for optimization
qualities.  It may be useful to specify \code{0.5} to get backtrace argument
display without argument documentation.

\item[\code{1}] Level \code{1} provides argument documentation
(printed arglists) and derived argument/result type information.
This makes \findexed{describe} more informative, and allows the
compiler to do compile-time argument count and type checking for any
calls compiled at run-time.

\item[\code{2}]
Level \code{1} plus all interned local variables, source location
information, and lifetime information that tells the debugger when arguments
are available (even when \code{speed} is \code{3} or the argument is set.)  This is
the default.

\item[\code{\w{$>$ 2}}]
Any level greater than \code{2} gives level \code{2} and in addition
disables tail-call optimization, so that the backtrace will contain
frames for all invoked functions, even those in tail positions.

\item[\code{3}]
Level \code{2} plus all uninterned variables.  In addition, lifetime
analysis is disabled (even when \code{speed} is \code{3}), ensuring
that all variable values are available at any known location within
the scope of the binding.  This has a speed penalty in addition to the
obvious space penalty. 
\end{Lentry}

As you can see, if the \code{speed} quality is \code{3}, debugger performance is
degraded.  This effect comes from the elimination of argument variable
special-casing (\pxlref{debug-var-validity}.)  Some degree of
speed/debuggability tradeoff is unavoidable, but the effect is not too drastic
when \code{debug} is at least \code{2}.

\cindex{inline expansion}
\cindex{semi-inline expansion}
In addition to \code{inline} and \code{notinline} declarations, the relative values
of the \code{speed} and \code{space} qualities also change whether functions are
inline expanded (\pxlref{inline-expansion}.)  If a function is inline
expanded, then there will be no frame to represent the call, and the arguments
will be treated like any other local variable.  Functions may also be
``semi-inline'', in which case there is a frame to represent the call, but the
call is to an optimized local version of the function, not to the original
function.


\section{Exiting Commands}

These commands get you out of the debugger.

\begin{Lentry}

\item[\code{quit}]
Throw to top level.

\item[\code{restart} \mopt{\var{n}}]%%\hfill\\
Invokes the \var{n}th restart case as displayed by the \code{error}
command.  If \var{n} is not specified, the available restart cases are
reported.

\item[\code{go}]
Calls \code{continue} on the condition given to \code{debug}.  If there is no
restart case named \var{continue}, then an error is signaled.

\item[\code{abort}]
Calls \code{abort} on the condition given to \code{debug}.  This is
useful for popping debug command loop levels or aborting to top level,
as the case may be.

% (\code{debug:debug-return} \var{expression} \mopt{\var{frame}})
% 
% \item
% From the current or specified frame, return the result of evaluating
% expression.  If multiple values are expected, then this function should be
% called for multiple values.
\end{Lentry}


\section{Information Commands}

Most of these commands print information about the current frame or
function, but a few show general information.

\begin{Lentry}

\item[\code{help}, \code{?}]
Displays a synopsis of debugger commands.

\item[\code{describe}]
Calls \code{describe} on the current function, displays number of local
variables, and indicates whether the function is compiled or interpreted.

\item[\code{print}]
Displays the current function call as it would be displayed by moving to
this frame.

\item[\code{vprint} (or \code{pp}) \mopt{\var{verbosity}}]%%\hfill\\
Displays the current function call using \code{*print-level*} and
\code{*print-length*} instead of \code{*debug-print-level*} and
\code{*debug-print-length*}.  \var{verbosity} is a small integer
(default 2) that controls other dimensions of verbosity.

\item[\code{error}]
Prints the condition given to \code{invoke-debugger} and the active
proceed cases.

\item[\code{backtrace} \mopt{\var{n}}]\hfill\\
Displays all the frames from the current to the bottom.  Only shows
\var{n} frames if specified.  The printing is controlled by
\code{*debug-print-level*} and \code{*debug-print-length*}.

% (\code{debug:debug-function} \mopt{\var{n}})
% 
% \item
% Returns the function from the current or specified frame.
% 
% \item[(\code{debug:function-name} \mopt{\var{n}])]
% Returns the function name from the current or specified frame.
% 
% \item[(\code{debug:pc} \mopt{\var{frame}})]
% Returns the index of the instruction for the function in the current or
% specified frame.  This is useful in conjunction with \code{disassemble}.
% The pc returned points to the instruction after the one that was fatal.
\end{Lentry}


\section{Breakpoint Commands}\cindex{breakpoints}

\cmucl{} supports setting of breakpoints inside compiled functions and
stepping of compiled code.  Breakpoints can only be set at at known
locations (\pxlref{unknown-locations}), so these commands are largely
useless unless the \code{debug} optimize quality is at least \code{2}
(\pxlref{debugger-policy}).  These commands manipulate breakpoints:
\begin{Lentry}
\item[\code{breakpoint} \var{location} \mstar{\var{option} \var{value}}]
%%\hfill\\
Set a breakpoint in some function.  \var{location} may be an integer
code location number (as displayed by \code{list-locations}) or a
keyword.  The keyword can be used to indicate setting a breakpoint at
the function start (\kwd{start}, \kwd{s}) or function end
(\kwd{end}, \kwd{e}).  The \code{breakpoint} command has
\kwd{condition}, \kwd{break}, \kwd{print} and \kwd{function}
options which work similarly to the \code{trace} options.

\item[\code{list-locations} (or \code{ll}) \mopt{\var{function}}]%%\hfill\\
List all the code locations in the current frame's function, or in
\var{function} if it is supplied.  The display format is the code
location number, a colon and then the source form for that location:
\begin{example}
3: (1- N)
\end{example}
If consecutive locations have the same source, then a numeric range like
\code{3-5:} will be printed.  For example, a default function call has a
known location both immediately before and after the call, which would
result in two code locations with the same source.  The listed function
becomes the new default function for breakpoint setting (via the
\code{breakpoint}) command.

\item[\code{list-breakpoints} (or \code{lb})]%%\hfill\\
List all currently active breakpoints with their breakpoint number.

\item[\code{delete-breakpoint} (or \code{db}) \mopt{\var{number}}]%%\hfill\\
Delete a breakpoint specified by its breakpoint number.  If no number is
specified, delete all breakpoints.

\item[\code{step}]%%\hfill\\
Step to the next possible breakpoint location in the current function.
This always steps over function calls, instead of stepping into them
\end{Lentry}


\subsection{Breakpoint Example}

Consider this definition of the factorial function:

\begin{lisp}
(defun ! (n)
  (if (zerop n)
      1
      (* n (! (1- n)))))
\end{lisp}

This debugger session demonstrates the use of breakpoints:

\begin{example}
common-lisp-user> (break) ; Invoke debugger

Break

Restarts:
  0: [CONTINUE] Return from BREAK.
  1: [ABORT   ] Return to Top-Level.

Debug  (type H for help)

(INTERACTIVE-EVAL (BREAK))
0] ll #'!
0: #'(LAMBDA (N) (BLOCK ! (IF # 1 #)))
1: (ZEROP N)
2: (* N (! (1- N)))
3: (1- N)
4: (! (1- N))
5: (* N (! (1- N)))
6: #'(LAMBDA (N) (BLOCK ! (IF # 1 #)))
0] br 2
(* N (! (1- N)))
1: 2 in !
Added.
0] q

common-lisp-user> (! 10) ; Call the function

*Breakpoint hit*

Restarts:
  0: [CONTINUE] Return from BREAK.
  1: [ABORT   ] Return to Top-Level.

Debug  (type H for help)

(! 10) ; We are now in first call (arg 10) before the multiply
Source: (* N (! (1- N)))
3] st

*Step*

(! 10) ; We have finished evaluation of (1- n)
Source: (1- N)
3] st

*Breakpoint hit*

Restarts:
  0: [CONTINUE] Return from BREAK.
  1: [ABORT   ] Return to Top-Level.

Debug  (type H for help)

(! 9) ; We hit the breakpoint in the recursive call
Source: (* N (! (1- N)))
3] 
\end{example}


\section{Function Tracing}
\cindex{tracing}
\cpsubindex{function}{tracing}

The tracer causes selected functions to print their arguments and
their results whenever they are called.  Options allow conditional
printing of the trace information and conditional breakpoints on
function entry or exit.

\begin{defmac}{}{trace}{%
    \args{\mstar{option global-value} \mstar{name \mstar{option value}}}}
  
  \code{trace} is a debugging tool that prints information when
  specified functions are called.  In its simplest form:
  \begin{example}
    (trace \var{name-1} \var{name-2} ...)
  \end{example}
  \code{trace} causes a printout on \vindexed{trace-output} each time
  that one of the named functions is entered or returns (the
  \var{names} are not evaluated.)  Trace output is indented according
  to the number of pending traced calls, and this trace depth is
  printed at the beginning of each line of output.  Printing verbosity
  of arguments and return values is controlled by
  \vindexed{debug-print-level} and \vindexed{debug-print-length}.

  Local functions defined by \code{flet} and \code{labels} can be
  traced using the syntax \code{(flet f f1 f2 ...)} or \code{(labels f
    f1 f2 ...)} where \code{f} is the \code{flet} or \code{labels}
  function we want to trace and \code{f1}, \code{f2}, are the
  functions containing the local function \code{f}.
  Invidiual methods can also be traced using the syntax \code{(method
    \var{name} \var{qualifiers} \var{specializers})}.
  See~\ref{sec:method-tracing} for more information.

  If no \var{names} or \var{options} are are given, \code{trace}
  returns the list of all currently traced functions,
  \code{*traced-function-list*}.
  
  Trace options can cause the normal printout to be suppressed, or
  cause extra information to be printed.  Each option is a pair of an
  option keyword and a value form.  Options may be interspersed with
  function names.  Options only affect tracing of the function whose
  name they appear immediately after.  Global options are specified
  before the first name, and affect all functions traced by a given
  use of \code{trace}.  If an already traced function is traced again,
  any new options replace the old options.  The following options are
  defined:
  \begin{Lentry}
  \item[\kwd{condition} \var{form}, \kwd{condition-after} \var{form},
    \kwd{condition-all} \var{form}] If \kwd{condition} is specified,
    then \code{trace} does nothing unless \var{form} evaluates to true
    at the time of the call.  \kwd{condition-after} is similar, but
    suppresses the initial printout, and is tested when the function
    returns.  \kwd{condition-all} tries both before and after.
    
  \item[\kwd{wherein} \var{names}] If specified, \var{names} is a
    function name or list of names.  \code{trace} does nothing unless
    a call to one of those functions encloses the call to this
    function (i.e. it would appear in a backtrace.)  Anonymous
    functions have string names like \code{"DEFUN FOO"}.  Individual
    methods can also be traced.  See section~\ref{sec:method-tracing}.

  \item[\kwd{wherein-only} \var{names}] If specified, this is just
    like \kwd{wherein}, but trace produces output only if the
    immediate caller of the traced function is one of the functions
    listed in \var{names}.
    
  \item[\kwd{break} \var{form}, \kwd{break-after} \var{form},
    \kwd{break-all} \var{form}] If specified, and \var{form} evaluates
    to true, then the debugger is invoked at the start of the
    function, at the end of the function, or both, according to the
    respective option.
    
  \item[\kwd{print} \var{form}, \kwd{print-after} \var{form},
    \kwd{print-all} \var{form}] In addition to the usual printout, the
    result of evaluating \var{form} is printed at the start of the
    function, at the end of the function, or both, according to the
    respective option.  Multiple print options cause multiple values
    to be printed.
    
  \item[\kwd{function} \var{function-form}] This is a not really an
    option, but rather another way of specifying what function to
    trace.  The \var{function-form} is evaluated immediately, and the
    resulting function is traced.
    
  \item[\kwd{encapsulate \mgroup{:default | t | nil}}] In \cmucl,
    tracing can be done either by temporarily redefining the function
    name (encapsulation), or using breakpoints.  When breakpoints are
    used, the function object itself is destructively modified to
    cause the tracing action.  The advantage of using breakpoints is
    that tracing works even when the function is anonymously called
    via \code{funcall}.
  
    When \kwd{encapsulate} is true, tracing is done via encapsulation.
    \kwd{default} is the default, and means to use encapsulation for
    interpreted functions and funcallable instances, breakpoints
    otherwise.  When encapsulation is used, forms are {\it not}
    evaluated in the function's lexical environment, but
    \code{debug:arg} can still be used.

    Note that if you trace using \kwd{encapsulate}, you will
    only get a trace or breakpoint at the outermost call to the traced
    function, not on recursive calls.

  \end{Lentry}

  In the case of functions where the known return convention is used
  to optimize, encapsulation may be necessary in order to make
  tracing work at all.  The symptom of this occurring is an error
  stating
  \begin{example}
    Error in function \var{foo}: :FUNCTION-END breakpoints are
    currently unsupported for the known return convention.
  \end{example}
  in such cases we recommend using \code{(trace \var{foo} :encapsulate
    t)}
  
  \cpsubindex{tracing}{errors}
  \cpsubindex{breakpoints}{errors}
  \cpsubindex{errors}{breakpoints}
  \cindex{function-end breakpoints}
  \cpsubindex{breakpoints}{function-end}
  
  \kwd{condition}, \kwd{break} and \kwd{print} forms are evaluated in
  the lexical environment of the called function; \code{debug:var} and
  \code{debug:arg} can be used.  The \code{-after} and \code{-all}
  forms are evaluated in the null environment.
\end{defmac}

\begin{defmac}{}{untrace}{ \args{\amprest{} \var{function-names}}}
  
  This macro turns off tracing for the specified functions, and
  removes their names from \code{*traced-function-list*}.  If no
  \var{function-names} are given, then all currently traced functions
  are untraced.
\end{defmac}

\begin{defvar}{extensions:}{traced-function-list}
  
  A list of function names maintained and used by \code{trace},
  \code{untrace}, and \code{untrace-all}.  This list should contain
  the names of all functions currently being traced.
\end{defvar}

\begin{defvar}{extensions:}{max-trace-indentation}
  
  The maximum number of spaces which should be used to indent trace
  printout.  This variable is initially set to 40.
\end{defvar}

\begin{defvar}{debug:}{trace-encapsulate-package-names}
  
  A list of package names.  Functions from these packages are traced
  using encapsulation instead of function-end breakpoints.  This list
  should at least include those packages containing functions used
  directly or indirectly in the implementation of \code{trace}.
\end{defvar}

\subsection{Tracing Examples}
  Here is an example of tracing with some of the possible options.
  For simplicity, this is the function:
  \begin{example}
    (defun fact (n)
      (declare (double-float n) (optimize speed))
      (if (zerop n)
          1d0
          (* n (fact (1- n)))))
    (compile 'fact)
  \end{example}

  This example shows how to use the :condition option:
  \begin{example}
    (trace fact :condition (= 4d0 (debug:arg 0)))
    (fact 10d0) ->
      0: (FACT 4.0d0)
      0: FACT returned 24.0d0
    3628800.0d0
  \end{example}
  As we can see, we produced output when the condition was satisfied.

  Here's another example:
  \begin{example}
    (untrace)
    (trace fact :break (= 4d0 (debug:arg 0)))
    (fact 10d0) ->
      0: (FACT 5.0d0)
        1: (FACT 4.0d0)


    Breaking before traced call to FACT:
       [Condition of type SIMPLE-CONDITION]

    Restarts:
      0: [CONTINUE] Return from BREAK.
      1: [ABORT   ] Return to Top-Level.

    Debug  (type H for help)
  \end{example}
  In this example, we see that normal tracing occurs until we the
  argument reaches 4d0, at which point, we break into the debugger.


% section{The Single Stepper}
% 
% \begin{defmac}{}{step}{ \args{\var{form}}}
%   
%   Evaluates form with single stepping enabled or if \var{form} is
%   \code{T}, enables stepping until explicitly disabled.  Stepping can
%   be disabled by quitting to the lisp top level, or by evaluating the
%   form \w{\code{(step ())}}.
%   
%   While stepping is enabled, every call to eval will prompt the user
%   for a single character command.  The prompt is the form which is
%   about to be \code{eval}ed.  It is printed with \code{*print-level*}
%   and \code{*print-length*} bound to \code{*step-print-level*} and
%   \code{*step-print-length*}.  All interaction is done through the
%   stream \code{*query-io*}.  Because of this, the stepper can not be
%   used in Hemlock eval mode.  When connected to a slave Lisp, the
%   stepper can be used from Hemlock.
%   
%   The commands are:
%   \begin{Lentry}
%   
%   \item[\key{n} (next)] Evaluate the expression with stepping still
%     enabled.
%   
%   \item[\key{s} (skip)] Evaluate the expression with stepping
%     disabled.
%   
%   \item[\key{q} (quit)] Evaluate the expression, but disable all
%     further stepping inside the current call to \code{step}.
%   
%   \item[\key{p} (print)] Print current form.  (does not use
%     \code{*step-print-level*} or \code{*step-print-length*}.)
%   
%   \item[\key{b} (break)] Enter break loop, and then prompt for the
%     command again when the break loop returns.
%   
%   \item[\key{e} (eval)] Prompt for and evaluate an arbitrary
%     expression.  The expression is evaluated with stepping disabled.
%   
%   \item[\key{?} (help)] Prints a brief list of the commands.
%   
%   \item[\key{r} (return)] Prompt for an arbitrary value to return as
%     result of the current call to eval.
%   
%   \item[\key{g}] Throw to top level.
%   \end{Lentry}
% \end{defmac}
% 
% \begin{defvar}{extensions:}{step-print-level}
%   \defvarx[extensions:]{step-print-length}
%   
%   \code{*print-level*} and \code{*print-length*} are bound to these
%   values while printing the current form.  \code{*step-print-level*}
%   and \code{*step-print-length*} are initially bound to 4 and 5,
%   respectively.
% \end{defvar}
% 
% \begin{defvar}{extensions:}{max-step-indentation}
%   
%   Step indents the prompts to highlight the nesting of the evaluation.
%   This variable contains the maximum number of spaces to use for
%   indenting.  Initially set to 40.
% \end{defvar}


\section{Specials}
These are the special variables that control the debugger action.

\begin{defvar}{debug:}{debug-print-level}
  \defvarx[debug:]{debug-print-length}
  
  \code{*print-level*} and \code{*print-length*} are bound to these
  values during the execution of some debug commands.  When evaluating
  arbitrary expressions in the debugger, the normal values of
  \code{*print-level*} and \code{*print-length*} are in effect.  These
  variables are initially set to 3 and 5, respectively.
\end{defvar}