How to make GDB + GEF print a list of local variables in context?

Question

I am coming from debugging python3 using pudb3, which is a delight. Now I am trying to debug C code in gdb, and I am trying to get a similar experience.

In order to get there, today I installed gef. It looks good, but after searching in the documentation, I cannot find a way of maintaining a list with all the local variables in the "context" view. I know that info locals can print what I need, but I would like to have it at all times in the context view of gef (that I am redirecting to another terminal).

Is there any way to achieve this? Is there another solution to get a pudb3-like experience on debugging C code?

Much appreciated.

Answer 1

You can add custom context panes to gef. Create a file with the following contents, then source it in your gdbinit file:

import gdb

def get_locals() -> str:
    localvars = gdb.execute("info locals", to_string=True).strip()
    if localvars != 'No symbol table info available.':
        return localvars

def print_locals():
    gef_print(get_locals())

def info_locals_title() -> str:
    return "info locals"

register_external_context_pane("info_locals", print_locals, info_locals_title, condition=get_locals)