Dump program variables

UNIX for Advanced & Expert Users
1

Hi,

Wish if could provide some clues.
How do I dump all the C program variables(global) into say a file with their names and the values. So that when I restart the application again I could use this same file for reinitializing.Is this possible?

Thanks,
Reji

2

To do this the way you state it is only possible if you use the symbol table, and you do not want to use a debugging tool as part of your program :slight_smile:

You should put all your globals into a struct, and then read and write that struct.

lets say you have a name, and some int, and a float:

int GL_i;
char GL_name[256];
float GL_f;

Change this to:

struct {
	int i;
	char name[256];
	float f;

} GL;

As a rule, if you have lots of globals spread out like in the first example, your program is badly structured.
A global is a potential bug.
For every global, contemplate making it static.
For the structure above, contemplate storing it in a dynamically allocated buffer - you will win big: You can have multiple instances, and your program (or library) will become safer, for a library this may provide reentrancy (each instance has its own data - or you will have to lock it!)

Atle