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.

Answer 1

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: