abrt-action-analyze-backtrace

Analyze backtrace for the current working directory

$ abrt-action-analyze-backtrace

$ abrt-action-analyze-backtrace -d [path/to/directory]

$ abrt-action-analyze-backtrace -v

abrt-action-analyze-backtrace [-d PROBLEM_DIR] [-f BACKTRACE_FILE] [OPTIONS]

-d PROBLEM_DIR
    Specifies the path to the ABRT problem directory containing the backtrace and related crash information to be analyzed. If omitted, the command typically expects to be run from within an ABRT problem directory or for the context to be inherited.

-f BACKTRACE_FILE
    Specifies an alternative backtrace file within the problem directory to analyze (e.g., backtrace-0, backtrace-1) instead of the default backtrace file.

-q
    Run in quiet mode, suppressing non-essential output.

-v
    Run in verbose mode, providing more detailed output about the analysis process.

--help
    Displays a help message and exits.

--version
    Displays version information and exits.

The abrt-action-analyze-backtrace command is an integral part of the ABRT (Automatic Bug Reporting Tool) system in Linux. Its primary purpose is to process and analyze existing backtrace files within an ABRT problem directory, typically generated after a software crash or hang.

It examines various files such as backtrace, bt_src, exec_path, and maps to identify the exact cause of the crash, including the failing function, library, or software component. The analysis results are then used to populate key fields within the problem directory, such as 'reason', 'component', 'cc_component', and 'kernel_component'. This information is crucial for grouping similar crashes, prioritizing bug reports, and providing developers with actionable insights.

While it can be invoked manually, it is most commonly triggered automatically by other ABRT components or services as part of the automated crash reporting and analysis workflow.

This command is primarily an internal utility of the ABRT system and is not typically intended for direct, standalone use by end-users for general debugging. Its functionality relies heavily on the specific structure and content of ABRT problem directories. Manual invocation without the proper ABRT context or directory structure may lead to unexpected behavior or incomplete analysis. It analyzes existing backtraces; it does not generate them.

abrt-action-analyze-backtrace is a critical step in the automated ABRT workflow. After a crash is detected and a core dump (if available) is processed, ABRT creates a problem directory. This action is then typically invoked to extract meaningful information from the backtrace, helping to categorize the problem before it's reported or further processed.

The command's primary output is not to standard output, but rather to populate specific files or fields within the target ABRT problem directory. Key fields include:

reason: A concise string identifying the primary cause (e.g., 'segfault in foo()').
component: The software component or package likely responsible.
cc_component: Specific C/C++ component if applicable.
kernel_component: Specific kernel component if the crash is kernel-related.

These fields are used by other ABRT tools for deduplication and reporting.

ABRT, and by extension its constituent actions like abrt-action-analyze-backtrace, has been a core component of Red Hat-based Linux distributions (like Fedora and RHEL) for automated bug reporting for many years. Its development has focused on streamlining the crash reporting process, improving automated analysis to reduce manual triage, and enabling more efficient bug fixing. Over time, the analysis heuristics and integration with system debug information have evolved significantly.

abrt(1), abrt-cli(1), abrt-action-list-ccpp-problems(1), abrt-action-analyze-vmcore(1), gdb(1)