How to pretty-print STL containers in GDB?

Question

I\'ve followed the instructions on the GDB wiki to install the python pretty-printers for viewing STL containers. My ~/.gdbinit now looks like this:

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Answer 1

I ran on this problem and hit this page while trying to figure it out. I eventually fixed it, and I thought it would be worth it to share my experience.

I am using gcc-5.2, so I downloaded the gcc-5-branch version of pretty printer from the svn repo. However, I had to do these two mods:

1. when editing the ~/.gdbinit file, the suggested addition is

   python
   import sys
   sys.path.insert(0, '/home/bartgol/.gdb/gdb_printers/python')
   from libstdcxx.v6.printers import register_libstdcxx_printers
   register_libstdcxx_printers (None)
   end
   

However, I had to comment the line register_libstdcxx_printers (None), since I kept getting an error telling me the libstdcxx_printers were already registered. Apparently they get registered during the import phase.

2. I had to edit the printers.py file for std::set and std::map. Since the type _Rep_type is private in both. In particular, I replace the routine children in std::map and std::set with the corresponding one in the version of pretty printer from the gcc-4_6-branch version on the svn repo. Got no error ever since, and stuff prints out nicely now.

Hope this helps.