Abstract for DWARF/ELF Extensions Library Reference

This information supports IBM® z/OS® (5650-ZOS) and contains information about z/OS Runtime Library Extensions.

Purpose of this information
This information is the reference for IBM extensions to the libdwarf and libelf libraries.
Note: This document discusses only IBM extensions and does not provide a detailed explanation of standard DWARF and ELF APIs.
Who should read this information

This information is intended for programmers who will be developing program analysis applications and debugging applications for the IBM XL C/C++ or Enterprise COBOL compilers on the z/OS operating system. The libraries provided by CDA allow applications to create DWARF debugging information in ELF object file format. They also allow applications to query DWARF debugging information from ELF object files or GOFF program object files on the z/OS operating system.

How to use this information
It is assumed that you have a working knowledge of the following items:
  • The z/OS operating system
  • The libdwarf APIs
  • The libelf APIs
  • The ELF ABI
  • Writing debugging programs in C, C++ or COBOL on z/OS
  • The IBM z/OS Language Environment®
  • POSIX on z/OS
  • z/OS UNIX System Services shell
Terminology used in this information
This document uses the following terminology:
API
Application programming interface. An interface that allows an application program that is written in a high-level language to use specific data or functions of the operating system or another program. An extension to a standard DWARF API can include:
  • Extensions to standard DWARF files, objects, or operations
  • Additional objects or operations
object
In object-oriented design or programming, a concrete realization (instance) of a class that consists of data and the operations associated with that data. An object contains the instance data that is defined by the class, but the class owns the operations that are associated with the data. Objects described in this document are generally a type definition or data structure, a container for a callback function prototype, or items that have been added to a DWARF file.
operation
In object-oriented design or programming, a service that can be requested at the boundary of an object. Operations can modify an object or disclose information about an object.
Technical support

Additional technical support is available from the z/OS XL C/C++ Support page. This page provides a portal with search capabilities to a large selection of technical support FAQs and other support documents. You can find the z/OS XL C/C++ Support page on the Web at: www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/czos/support/.

If you cannot find what you need, you can e-mail: compinfo@ca.ibm.com

For the latest technical data, business news, and other information about COBOL, visit the COBOL Cafe at: www.ibm.com/developerworks/rational/community/cafe/cobol.html.

For information about boosting performance, productivity and portability, visit the C/C++ Cafe at: www.ibm.com/software/rational/cafe/community/ccpp.