---
name: "gdbinit"
section: "5"
platform: "linux"
package: "gdb"
version: "18.1-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/gdbinit"
---

# gdbinit(5)

GDB initialization scripts

## NAME

gdbinit - GDB initialization scripts

## SYNOPSIS

\~/.config/gdb/gdbinit

\~/.gdbinit

./.gdbinit

## 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

## ENVIRONMENT

## SEE ALSO

[**gdb**(1)](/gdb/1.md), `"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 (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."