GDB debugger mode for Emacs in ELPA

[Nick Roberts <nickrob at snap dot net dot nz>]

This post is Emacs related.  Apologies to those not interested.

I have updated the GDB debugger mode in the Emacs Lisp Package Archive at
http://tromey.com/elpa (couretesy of Tom Tromey).  This is much improved and
now provides a good basis for future inclusion in Emacs.

It comprises of modified gud.el and a file called gdb-mi.el which replaces
gdb-ui.el.  When installed, this overrides the current files and invoking M-x
gdb will use GDB/MI directly (starts with "gdb -i=mi").  When deleted ('d'
followed by 'x' in Package Menu mode), the files are deleted and old
functionality restored.

It would be helpful if others could test/develop it.

Here's some background for those who are interested:

The file gdb-ui.el currently in Emacs uses an interface for GDB called
annotations.  This involves marking up GDB's output, which is really intended
to be read by humans.  This output changes with time and has variable
formatting, so a more stable and precise machine interface called GDB/MI is
being developed.  In future some features of GDB will only be available through
GDB/MI so it is essential that Emacs migrates to it.

-- 
Nick                                           http://www.inet.net.nz/~nickrob