| -symbols file | file Read symbol table from file file. |
| -s file | |
| -exec file | file Use file file as the executable file to execute when appropriate, and for examining pure data in conjunction with a core dump. |
| -e file | |
| -se file | Read symbol table from file file and use it as the executable file. |
| -core file | Use file file as a core dump to examine. |
| -c file | |
| -pid number | Connect to process ID number, as with the attach command. |
| -p number | |
| -command file | Execute commands from file file. The contents of this file is evaluated exactly as the source command would. |
| -x file | |
| -eval-command command | Execute a single gdb command.This option may be used multiple times to call multiple commands. It may also be interleaved with ‘-command’ as required. gdb -ex 'target sim' -ex 'load' \ -x setbreakpoints -ex 'run' a.out |
| -ex command | |
| -directory directory | Add directory to the path to search for source and script files. |
| -d directory | |
| -r | Read each symbol file’s entire symbol table immediately, rather than the default, which is to read it incrementally as it is needed. This makes startup slower, but makes future operations faster. |
| -readnow |
