function::symdata - Linux

Overview

symdata is a command-line utility for extracting debug symbols from binary files. It operates on both ELF and Mach-O formats, allowing developers to inspect and analyze the compiled code and its symbols. By using symdata, programmers can gain valuable insights into the structure, organization, and behavior of their software.

Syntax

symdata <options> <files>

Options/Flags

  • -o, –output-file <file>: Specify the output file path.
  • -f, –format <format>: Choose the output format (default: JSON). Options include:
    • JSON
    • XML
    • YAML
  • -t, –type <type>: Filter symbols by type (default: all). Options include:
    • function
    • data
    • file
    • section
  • -a, –arch <arch>: Specify the target architecture.
  • -L, –library-path <path>: Add a directory to the library search path.
  • -e, –exclude <pattern>: Exclude symbols matching the given regex pattern.
  • –version: Display version and license information.
  • –help: Show help menu and exit.

Examples

Extract debug symbols from an ELF binary:

symdata -f json my_binary.elf

Extract function symbols only from a Mach-O binary:

symdata -t function -f xml my_app.app/Contents/MacOS/my_app

Exclude symbols containing a specific string:

symdata -e "_init|exit" my_module.so

Common Issues

  • Missing debug symbols: Ensure that the binary has debug information compiled.
  • Invalid architecture: Make sure the --arch option matches the binary’s architecture.
  • Permission denied: Check file permissions and use sudo if necessary.

Integration

symdata can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines to automate symbol extraction and analysis. It can also be combined with tools like DWARF Analyzer and GDB to facilitate deep debugging and code exploration.

Related Commands

  • objdump
  • gdb
  • addr2line