Find function/variable definition for a reference in source code

Question

My project contains many files.

Sometimes I need to know where a particular function is defined (implemented) in source code. What I currently do is text search within source files for the function name, which is very time consuming.

My question is: Is there a better way (compiler/linker flag) to find that function definition in source files?.... Since the linker has gone through all the trouble of resolving all these references already.

I am hoping for method better than stepping into a function call in debugger, since a function can be buried within many calls.

this is source code searching: I was hoping for something better. It takes a lot of time — aiao
– aiao, Commented Apr 9, 2014 at 18:44
In case you use an IDE, this might provide features to do so. Eclipse (eclipse.org) for example does. — alk
– alk, Commented Apr 9, 2014 at 18:45
"... it takes a lot of time" how many lines of code are we talking about? — alk
– alk, Commented Apr 9, 2014 at 18:46

Zinovy Nis · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-10 08:51:28Z

2

Try cscope utility.

From the manual:

Allows searching code for:

all references to a symbol
global definitions
functions called by a function
functions calling a function
text string
regular expression pattern
a file
files including a file
Curses based (text screen)
An information database is generated for faster searches and later reference
The fuzzy parser supports C, but is flexible enough to be useful for C++ and Java, and for use as a generalized 'grep database' (use it to browse large text documents!)
Has a command line mode for inclusion in scripts or as a backend to a GUI/frontend
Runs on all flavors of Unix, plus most monopoly-controlled operating systems.

A "screenshot":

C symbol: atoi

  File     Function     Line
  0 stdlib.h <global>      86 extern int atoi (const char *nptr);
  1 dir.c    makefilelist 336 dispcomponents = atoi(s);
  2 invlib.c invdump      793 j = atoi(term + 1);
  3 invlib.c invdump      804 j = atoi(term + 1);
  4 main.c   main         287 dispcomponents = atoi(s);
  5 main.c   main         500 dispcomponents = atoi(s);
  6 stdlib.h atoi         309 int atoi (const char *nptr) __THROW



  Find this C symbol:
  Find this global definition:
  Find functions called by this function:
  Find functions calling this function:
  Find this text string:
  Change this text string:
  Find this egrep pattern:
  Find this file:
  Find files #including this file:

answered Apr 10, 2014 at 8:51

Zinovy Nis

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2 Comments

osgx Over a year ago

How can I exit from this tool?

Andrew Lamarra Over a year ago

You can use Ctrl-d to exit from cscope

abligh · Accepted Answer · 2014-04-09 19:55:18Z

0

If the symbol is exported, then you could wire up objdump or nm and look at the .o files. This is not useful for finding things in header files though.

My suggestion would be to put your project in git (which carries numerous other advantages) and use git grep which looks only at those files under git's revision control (meaning you don't grep object files and other irrelevances). git grep is also nice and quick.

answered Apr 9, 2014 at 19:55

abligh

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