GDBINIT(5) GNU Development Tools GDBINIT(5)

# [NAME](#NAME)

gdbinit - GDB initialization scripts

# [SYNOPSIS](#SYNOPSIS)

~/.config/gdb/gdbinit

~/.gdbinit

./.gdbinit

# [DESCRIPTION](#DESCRIPTION)

These files contain GDB commands to automatically execute during GDB startup. The lines of contents are canned sequences of commands, described in the GDB manual in node "Sequences" -- shell command "info -f gdb -n Sequences".

Please read more in the GDB manual in node "Startup" -- shell command "info -f gdb -n Startup".

**(not enabled with "--with-system-gdbinit" during compilation)**

System-wide initialization file. It is executed unless user specified GDB option "-nx" or "-n". See more in the GDB manual in node "System-wide configuration" -- shell command "info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'".

**(not enabled with "--with-system-gdbinit-dir" during compilation)**

System-wide initialization directory. All files in this directory are executed on startup unless user specified GDB option "-nx" or "-n", as long as they have a recognized file extension. See more in the GDB manual in node "System-wide configuration" -- shell command "info -f gdb -n 'System-wide configuration'".

***~/.config/gdb/gdbinit* or *~/.gdbinit***

User initialization file. It is executed unless user specified GDB options "-nx", "-n" or "-nh".

***.gdbinit***

Initialization file for current directory. It may need to be enabled with GDB security command "set auto-load local-gdbinit". See more in the GDB manual in node "Init File in the Current Directory" -- shell command "info -f gdb -n 'Init File in the Current Directory'".

# [OPTIONS](#OPTIONS)

# [ENVIRONMENT](#ENVIRONMENT)

# [SEE ALSO](#SEE_ALSO)

[**gdb**(1)](/man/os/gdb/gdb.1), "info -f gdb -n Startup"

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: gdbinit(5) from gdb 18.1-r0 (Chainguard OS)
Source: https://gitlab.com/gnutools/binutils-gdb.git