15.4.4.1 Method Names in Commands

The following commands have been extended to accept Objective-C method names as line specifications:

• clear
• break
• info line
• jump
• list

A fully qualified Objective-C method name is specified as

-[Class methodName]

where the minus sign is used to indicate an instance method and a plus sign (not shown) is used to indicate a class method. The class name Class and method name methodName are enclosed in brackets, similar to the way messages are specified in Objective-C source code. For example, to set a breakpoint at the create instance method of class Fruit in the program currently being debugged, enter:

break -[Fruit create]

To list ten program lines around the initialize class method, enter:

list +[NSText initialize]

In the current version of GDB, the plus or minus sign is required. In future versions of GDB, the plus or minus sign will be optional, but you can use it to narrow the search. It is also possible to specify just a method name:

break create

You must specify the complete method name, including any colons. If your program’s source files contain more than one create method, you’ll be presented with a numbered list of classes that implement that method. Indicate your choice by number, or type ‘0’ to exit if none apply.

As another example, to clear a breakpoint established at the makeKeyAndOrderFront: method of the NSWindow class, enter:

clear -[NSWindow makeKeyAndOrderFront:]