By default, the debugger is silent about its inner workings. If you are running on a slow machine, you may want to use the set verbose command. This makes the debugger tell you when it does a lengthy internal operation, so you will not think it has crashed.
Currently, the messages controlled by set verbose are those that announce that the symbol table for a source file is being read; see symbol-file in Section 12.1.
Enables the debugger output of certain informational messages.
Disables the debugger output of certain informational messages.
Displays whether set verbose is on or off.
By default, if the debugger encounters bugs in the symbol table of an object file, it is silent; but if you are debugging a compiler, you may find this information useful (see Section 12.2).
Permits the debugger to output limit complaints about each type of unusual symbols before becoming silent about the problem. Set limit to zero to suppress all complaints; set it to a large number to prevent complaints from being suppressed.
Displays how many symbol complaints the debugger is permitted to produce.
By default, the debugger is cautious, and asks what sometimes seems to be a lot of stupid questions to confirm certain commands. For example, if you try to run a program which is already running:
(gdb) run The program being debugged has been started already. Start it from the beginning? (y or n)
If you are willing to unflinchingly face the consequences of your own commands, you can disable this "feature":
Disables confirmation requests.
Enables confirmation requests (the default).
Displays state of confirmation requests.