[Dwarf-Discuss] DWARF Version 4 Released

[Michael Eager]

DWARF Version 4 Released
March 17, 2010

The DWARF Debugging Information Format Committee is pleased to announce the 
availability of the public review draft of Version 4 of the DWARF Debugging 
Information Format standard. The DWARF debugging format is used to communicate 
information between a compiler and debugger to make it easier for programmers to 
develop, test, and debug programs.

DWARF is used by commercial and open source compilers and debuggers to support 
debugging of Ada, C, C++, Cobol, Fortran, Java, and several other programming 
languages. DWARF is used with many processors: ARM, Intel/AMD x86, MIPS, 
PowerPC, and many others, from 8-bit to 64-bit. DWARF is the standard debugging 
format for Linux and is widely used with embedded processors. DWARF is designed 
to be extended easily to support new languages and new processors. DWARF Version 
4 is compatible with Version 3, making it easy for compiler and debugger 
developers to upgrade their development tools. Most programmers will not notice 
the differences when using compilers or debuggers that use DWARF Version 4, 
although they may see improvements in debugging their programs.

The DWARF Committee consists of representatives from a broad range of companies, 
including Apple, ARM, CodeSourcery, Concurrent Computer, Eager Consulting, 
Google, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, RedHat, SGI, Sun Microsystems, and TotalView, as 
well as unaffiliated individuals with significant experience in compiler and 
debugger development.

Michael Eager, Chair of the DWARF Committee, said "we have made significant 
improvements in Version 4 since the previous version was released in 2006. These 
include improved data compression, better description of optimized code, and 
support for new language features in C++. Debugging programs can be difficult. 
Providing the best quality information to programmers can make this easier."

The DWARF Version 4 standard can be downloaded without charge from the DWARF 
website (http://dwarfstd.org). The DWARF Committee will accept public comments 
on DWARF Version 4 until May 31, after which a finalized version will be 
published. Additional information about DWARF, including how to subscribe to the 
DWARF mailing list, can also be found on the website. Questions about the DWARF 
Debugging Information Format or the DWARF Committee can be directed to the DWARF 
Committee Chair, Michael Eager, at mailto:info at dwarfstd.org.

-- 
Michael Eager	 eager at eagercon.com
1960 Park Blvd., Palo Alto, CA 94306  650-325-8077