GCOV-DUMP(1)

📦
version 16.2.0 · 3 versions
, in arch rolling

💅 gcov-dump — the GNU manual page, but make it make sense

ok so bestie, you know how GCC be generating all these profile files and you're just sitting there like 👀 what is even IN those?? well. this is the man page for gcov-dump(1), part of the GNU fam, and it's literally your little x-ray machine for that. let's get into it 💖

✨ NAME ✨

gcov-dump — the offline gcda and gcno profile dump tool 🎀

like, it dumps the contents of your profile files. offline. no compiling required, we're just vibing and reading files.

🌸 SYNOPSIS 🌸

gcov-dump [-v|--version]
     [-h|--help]
     [-l|--long]
     [-p|--positions]
     [-r|--raw]
     [-s|--stable]
     gcovfiles

so it's the command, then a whole lil stack of optional flags, then the actual gcovfiles you wanna peek at. iconic behavior honestly.

🦋 DESCRIPTION 🦋

okay so here's the tea 🍓: gcov-dump is a tool you can use in conjunction with GCC to dump the content of gcda and gcno profile files, offline.

that's the whole vibe. GCC makes the files, gcov-dump reads them out loud for you. no cap. ✨

👑 OPTIONS 👑

every single flag, no skips, no cuts, fr fr:

  • -h, --help — displays help about using gcov-dump on the standard output, and then dips out — exits without doing any further processing. 🫶
  • -l, --long — dumps the content of records. the long version, obviously 💅
  • -p, --positions — dumps the positions of records. where things are, bestie 📍
  • -r, --raw — prints content records in raw format. no filter, no glam, just raw 😭
  • -s, --stable — prints content in stable format, usable for comparison. yes queen, give us something diff-able 🌈
  • -v, --version — displays the gcov-dump version number on the standard output, and exits without doing any further processing. quick flex, then bounce ✌️
heads up: both -h and -v are one-and-done — they print to standard output and exit immediately, no further processing, periodt.

Copyright (c) 2017-2026 Free Software Foundation, Inc. 🥺

Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.3 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation; with the Invariant Sections being "GNU General Public License" and "Funding Free Software", the Front-Cover texts being (a) (see below), and with the Back-Cover Texts being (b) (see below). A copy of the license is included in the gfdl(7) man page. 📜

(a) The FSF's Front-Cover Text is:

A GNU Manual

(b) The FSF's Back-Cover Text is:

You have freedom to copy and modify this GNU Manual, like GNU
software.  Copies published by the Free Software Foundation raise
funds for GNU development.

aaaand that's the whole page, bestie, you ate that 🍓💅 this lil gem is from gcc-16.2.0, dated 2026-08-07 — so go dump some profile files and slay the day 👑✨

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