How to print out native stacktrace in Java?

Question

I would like to print the stacktrace of native methods calls of a Java application. The Thread.dumpStack() is only printing java methods calls.

Just to clarify, by native do you mean the native keyword or the C level function calls within the JVM? — Chris K, Jun 03 '15 at 08:04

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 03 '15 at 08:14

4

If you want the non-java stack, you need a "native" debugger, e.g. gdb.

You can attach to your running java with gdb, too.

For documentation on seamless debugging of Java with gdb, see also: http://gcc.gnu.org/java/gdb.html

(gcc can compile java code to native code; at which point the native debugger will also show Java backtraces.)

answered Jun 03 '15 at 08:14

Has QUIT--Anony-Mousse

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I need a symbol table right ? I cannot run gdb without it – Bionix1441 Jun 03 '15 at 08:15
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You should of course do a *debug build* of your native library, and if you want to see details on hotspot, install the debug symbols of your JRE, too. (e.g. Ubuntu package `openjdk-8-dbg`) – Has QUIT--Anony-Mousse Jun 03 '15 at 08:36
`javac TestT.java gcj -g --main=TestT -o TestT TestT.class gdb TestT` I Should I install gcj : the Gnu Compiler for Java as well ? – Bionix1441 Jun 03 '15 at 08:49
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If you want to do the seamless debugging approach, then yes. If you want to use OpenJDK/HotSpot, no. – Has QUIT--Anony-Mousse Jun 03 '15 at 08:51
so I just do `gdb --args java TestT` – Bionix1441 Jun 03 '15 at 08:52
Or `gdb java PID` to attach to a running java process with process id `PID`. – Has QUIT--Anony-Mousse Jun 03 '15 at 17:43

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 03 '15 at 07:54

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If it is OK to do it outside of your application you can run $JAVA_HOME/bin/jstack -m <jvm_pid>

answered Jun 03 '15 at 07:54

K Erlandsson

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But what if I want the native method calls for a class `HelloWorld.java` ? – Bionix1441 Jun 03 '15 at 07:59
I get this output when I run gdb (no debugging symbols found) – Bionix1441 Jun 03 '15 at 08:17

Chris K · Answer 3 · 2015-06-03T08:16:02.460

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To view the internal JVM (C-level) function calls, attach a standard C debugger to the process.

Exactly how to do this does depends on your OS and debugger of choice, for example on OSX one would use xcode. Instructions for using gdb can be read here.

edited Jun 03 '15 at 08:16

answered Jun 03 '15 at 08:08

Chris K

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How to print out native stacktrace in Java?

3 Answers3