PowerView automatically opens a TERM.GATE window when it detects that your target application uses the MetaWare® hostlink library. This prevents the application from hanging before reaching main().

By default, the MetaWare® C/C++ Compiler links the MetaWare hostlink library into the application. The hostlink library enables communication between the target application and the host PC running TRACE32, for example to support functions such as printf.

Before entering main(), an application linked with the hostlink library waits in a polling loop to receive the argc and argv parameters from the host PC. If the debugger does not interact with the target, the application remains in this loop indefinitely.

To enable hostlink support in TRACE32, execute the following commands after loading the ELF file:

TERM.METHOD METAWARE
TERM.GATE

When you start the target with the TRACE32 Go command, PowerView checks whether the ELF file contains the special symbol __HOSTLINK__, which normally indicates that the MetaWare hostlink library is present. If this symbol is found but no suitable TERM.GATE window is open, PowerView opens one automatically.

In rare cases, this detection can produce a false positive. For example, if your application defines a symbol named __HOSTLINK__ for another purpose, PowerView assumes that the MetaWare hostlink library is being used and opens a TERM.GATE window even though it is not required.

How can I prevent TERM.GATE from opening automatically?

You have several options:

• If your application uses the MetaWare hostlink library, explicitly enable hostlink support after loading the ELF file:

  TERM.METHOD METAWARE
  TERM.GATE

• If your application does not require the hostlink library, exclude it during linking by using the compiler option:

  -Hhostlib=

• Rename your application's __HOSTLINK__ symbol to a different name.

• Rename the symbol in TRACE32 after loading the ELF file, for example:

  sYmbol.Modify.NAME __HOSTLINK__ __HOSTLINK-OFF__

For additional information, refer to the MetaWare® C/C++ Programmer's Guide for ARC®