getunwind - Linux

Overview

getunwind is a command-line utility for generating unwind call frames, a crucial component in debugging C++ and Rust programs. It enables one to quickly and conveniently visualize the call stack, making it easier to trace code execution flow and identify potential issues.

Syntax

getunwind [options] <binary> <address>

Options/Flags

• –arch : Specify the target architecture, such as x86_64 or aarch64. Default: auto-detect.
• –type : Set the unwind type to use, either dwarf or eh_frame. Default: dwarf.
• –offset : Adjust the address by an offset in bytes.
• –demangle: Demangle C++ symbols for readability.
• –raw: Output raw unwind information without demangling.
• –help: Display help information and exit.

Examples

Simple usage:

getunwind ./my_program 0x12345678

Demangle symbols:

getunwind --demangle ./my_program 0x12345678

Specify unwind type:

getunwind --type eh_frame ./my_program 0x12345678

Common Issues

• Missing debug symbols: Ensure the binary has debug symbols embedded.
• Incorrect architecture: Verify that the specified architecture matches the target binary.
• Invalid address: Check if the provided address is within the binary’s address space.

Integration

Integration withgdb: Use the output of getunwind to load unwind information into gdb:

gdb ./my_program
(gdb) unwind load <unwind information>

Command chaining: Combine getunwind with other commands for advanced analysis:

getunwind ./my_program 0x12345678 | less

Related Commands

• addr2line: Translates addresses into source code lines.
• c++filt: Demangles C++ symbols.
• readelf: Displays ELF file header and section information.