Description of problem: There is a highly visible GDB feature called Python Pretty Printing primarily for user friendly C++ data types displaying. It has been implemented by Red Hat (primarily Tom Tromey). http://sourceware.org/gdb/wiki/PythonGdb http://tromey.com/blog/?cat=17 Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): gdb-7.0.1-23.el5 How reproducible: Always. Steps to Reproduce: Have C++ program with: std::string s = "abcd"; (gdb) print s Actual results: $1 = {static npos = 18446744073709551615, _M_dataplus = {<std::allocator<char>> = {<__gnu_cxx::new_allocator<char>> = {<No data fields>}, <No data fields>}, _M_p = 0x601028 "abcd"}} Expected results: $1 = "abcd" Additional info: The python support can be enabled on existing gdb-7.0.1-23.el5.src.rpm just by: rpmbuild --with python But it requires python libraries in the same arch as GDB which is on powerpc ppc64 for gdb byt ppc (32bit) for python. Just for this reason RHEL-5.5 currently has --without python for all its arches.
* Tue Sep 21 2010 Jan Kratochvil <jan.kratochvil> - 7.0.1-28.el5 - Enable python by default even in Brew and on all the arches (BZ 609157). - Resolves: rhbz#609157
Technical note added. If any revisions are required, please edit the "Technical Notes" field accordingly. All revisions will be proofread by the Engineering Content Services team. New Contents: When debugging a C++ program, GDB displayed values of simple data types as they were implemented. With this update, GDB uses a Python feature to display such values in a human-readable format.
An advisory has been issued which should help the problem described in this bug report. This report is therefore being closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information on therefore solution and/or where to find the updated files, please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report if the solution does not work for you. http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2011-0099.html