Before I go and test each of them myself, maybe someone already has the answer?

if using swithches like -gl (lineinfo) -gh (heaptrc) -gv (valgrind) -pg (GProf)

do they automatically add debug info (stabs if no other specified)? or do only the -g? do that

For lineinfo, I assume yes, since the unit has nothing to report on if not.

heaptrc could live without, couldn't it?

-pg isn't even a -g switch....

Martin wrote

For lineinfo, I assume yes, since the unit has nothing to report on if not. heaptrc could live without, couldn't it?

Yes, in this case just add the heaptrc unit to the uses clause.

Does that mean -gh does add debug info? (stabs, unless others specified)?

Martin wrote

Does that mean -gh does add debug info?

As the compiler help specifies, -g enables debug information. -gh is the same as -g -gh. You can use -g-h to enable heaptrc without debug information.

(stabs, unless others specified)?

The default debug format depends on the target platform.

Jonas

Jonas Maebe wrote

On 17 Sep 2011, at 15:39, Martin wrote: > Does that mean -gh does add debug info? As the compiler help specifies, -g enables debug information. -gh is the same as -g -gh. You can use -g-h to enable heaptrc without debug information.

thanks for the tip

> (stabs, unless others specified)? The default debug format depends on the target platform.

Is there documentation anywhere?
http://www.freepascal.org/docs-html/user/usersu15.html#x38-450005.1.4 says only:
-g Generate debugging information for debugging with gdb.

After you wrote this, I did see that the compiler prints (-h) -g Generate debug information (default format for target)

but I found nothing about which platform has which default format?

No. And the default can also change over time.

Jonas