GSTACK(1) GNU Development Tools GSTACK(1)

# [NAME](#NAME)

gstack - Print a stack trace of a running program

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

gstack \[-h | --help] \[-v | --version] *pid*

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

Print a stack trace of a running program with process ID *pid*. If the process is multi-threaded, **gstack** outputs backtraces for every thread which exists in the process.

The script invokes GDB, attaches to the given process ID, prints the stack trace, and detaches from the process.

**gstack** exits with non-zero status if "gdb" was unable to attach to the given process ID for any reason, such as a non-existent process ID or insufficient privileges to attach to the process.

# [OPTIONS](#OPTIONS)

[**--help**](#help)

[**-h**](#h)

List all options, with brief explanations.

[**--version**](#version)

[**-v**](#v)

Print version information and then exit.

# [ENVIRONMENT](#ENVIRONMENT)

[**AWK**](#AWK)

Full file name for an Awk interpreter to use. If not set, **PATH** will be searched for an "awk" program.

[**GDB**](#GDB)

Full file name for a GDB executable to use to generate stack backtraces. If not set, **PATH** will be searched for a "gdb" program.

[**GDBARGS**](#GDBARGS)

Optional arguments to be passed to the "gdb" program.

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

The full documentation for GDB is maintained as a Texinfo manual. If the "info" and "gdb" programs and GDB's Texinfo documentation are properly installed at your site, the command

```
        info gdb
```

should give you access to the complete manual.

*Using GDB: A Guide to the GNU Source-Level Debugger*, Richard M. Stallman and Roland H. Pesch, July 1991.

# [COPYRIGHT](#COPYRIGHT)

Copyright (c) 1988-2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the Invariant Sections being "Free Software" and "Free Software Needs Free Documentation", with the Front-Cover Texts being "A GNU Manual," and with the Back-Cover Texts as in (a) below.

(a) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is: "You are free to copy and modify this GNU Manual. Buying copies from GNU Press supports the FSF in developing GNU and promoting software freedom."

2026-09-25 gdb-18.1

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Document: gstack(1) from gdb 18.1-r0 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://gitlab.com/gnutools/binutils-gdb.git