GDB 16.3: is it possible to cross-debug an x64 core from ARM?

[Luis]

On 05/12/2025 22:40, Paul Smith wrote:
> On Fri, 2025-12-05 at 19:10 +0000, Luis wrote:
>> To be honest, the aarch64 sim is very outdated. I'm not sure why we
>> still carry it around.
> 
> Well, it's built if you configure GDB with --enable-targets holding
> aarch64-linux-gnu, and if you don't use that configure option then you
> can't cross-debug ARM cores on non-ARM systems.

I usually build gdb with --enable-targets=all to get all the ports. I 
also disable all the sims with what Tom suggested (--disable-sim).

> 
> If you're suggesting that it should be possible to cross-debug for ARM
> without that sim, I can't speak to that.

Cross-debugging should work without building the simulators, and I´d 
recommend doing that so you don´t build more than required.

What I was suggesting (not specifically to you, but as an idea) is that 
we (as a project) ought to think about removing the aarch64 simulator as 
it is very stale.

> 
> Cheers!