C++-fy and prepare for sharing fork_inferior

As a preparation for the next patch, which will move fork_inferior
from GDB to common/ (and therefore share it with gdbserver), it is
interesting to convert a few functions to C++.

This patch touches functions related to parsing command-line arguments
to the inferior (see gdb/fork-child.c:breakup_args), the way the
arguments are stored on fork_inferior (using std::vector instead of
char **), and the code responsible for dealing with argv also on
gdbserver.

I've taken this opportunity and decided to constify a few arguments to
fork_inferior/create_inferior as well, in order to make the code
cleaner.  And now, on gdbserver, we're using xstrdup everywhere and
aren't checking for memory allocation failures anymore, as requested
by Pedro:

  <https://sourceware.org/ml/gdb-patches/2017-03/msg00191.html>
  Message-Id: <025ebdb9-90d9-d54a-c055-57ed2406b812@redhat.com>

  Pedro Alves wrote:

  > On the "== NULL" check: IIUC, the old NULL check was there to
  > handle strdup returning NULL due to out-of-memory.
  > See NULL checks and comments further above in this function.
  > Now that you're using a std::vector, that doesn't work or make
  > sense any longer, since if push_back fails to allocate space for
  > its internal buffer (with operator new), our operator new replacement
  > (common/new-op.c) calls malloc_failure, which aborts gdbserver.
  >
  > Not sure it makes sense to handle out-of-memory specially in
  > the gdb/rsp-facing functions nowadays (maybe git blame/log/patch
  > submission for that code shows some guidelines).  Maybe (or, probably)
  > it's OK to stop caring about it, but then we should consistently remove
  > left over code, by using xstrdup instead and remove the NULL checks.

IMO this refactoring was very good to increase the readability of the
code as well, because some parts of the argument handling were
unnecessarily confusing before.

gdb/ChangeLog:
2017-04-12  Sergio Durigan Junior  <sergiodj@redhat.com>

	* common/common-utils.c (free_vector_argv): New function.
	* common/common-utils.h: Include <vector>.
	(free_vector_argv): New prototype.
	* darwin-nat.c (darwin_create_inferior): Rewrite function
	prototype in order to constify "exec_file" and accept a
	"std::string" for "allargs".
	* fork-child.c: Include <vector>.
	(breakup_args): Rewrite function, using C++.
	(fork_inferior): Rewrite function header, constify "exec_file_arg"
	and accept "std::string" for "allargs".  Update the code to
	calculate "argv" based on "allargs".  Update calls to "exec_fun"
	and "execvp".
	* gnu-nat.c (gnu_create_inferior): Rewrite function prototype in
	order to constify "exec_file" and accept a "std::string" for
	"allargs".
	* go32-nat.c (go32_create_inferior): Likewise.
	* inf-ptrace.c (inf_ptrace_create_inferior): Likewise.
	* infcmd.c (run_command_1): Constify "exec_file".  Use
	"std::string" for inferior arguments.
	* inferior.h (fork_inferior): Update prototype.
	* linux-nat.c (linux_nat_create_inferior): Rewrite function
	prototype in order to constify "exec_file" and accept a
	"std::string" for "allargs".
	* nto-procfs.c (procfs_create_inferior): Likewise.
	* procfs.c (procfs_create_inferior): Likewise.
	* remote-sim.c (gdbsim_create_inferior): Likewise.
	* remote.c (extended_remote_run): Update code to accept
	"std::string" as argument.
	(extended_remote_create_inferior): Rewrite function prototype in
	order to constify "exec_file" and accept a "std::string" for
	"allargs".
	* rs6000-nat.c (super_create_inferior): Likewise.
	(rs6000_create_inferior): Likewise.
	* target.h (struct target_ops) <to_create_inferior>: Likewise.
	* windows-nat.c (windows_create_inferior): Likewise.

gdb/gdbserver/ChangeLog:
2017-04-12  Sergio Durigan Junior  <sergiodj@redhat.com>

	* server.c: Include <vector>.
	<program_argv, wrapper_argv>: Convert to std::vector.
	(start_inferior): Rewrite function to use C++.
	(handle_v_run): Likewise.  Update code that calculates the argv
	based on the vRun packet; use C++.
	(captured_main): Likewise.

20 files changed, 220 insertions, 176 deletions

diff --git a/gdb/ChangeLog b/gdb/ChangeLog
index a5d07e64e96..c8f1bcfbc53 100644
--- a/gdb/ChangeLog
+++ b/gdb/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,41 @@
+2017-04-12  Sergio Durigan Junior  <sergiodj@redhat.com>
+
+	* common/common-utils.c (free_vector_argv): New function.
+	* common/common-utils.h: Include <vector>.
+	(free_vector_argv): New prototype.
+	* darwin-nat.c (darwin_create_inferior): Rewrite function
+	prototype in order to constify "exec_file" and accept a
+	"std::string" for "allargs".
+	* fork-child.c: Include <vector>.
+	(breakup_args): Rewrite function, using C++.
+	(fork_inferior): Rewrite function header, constify "exec_file_arg"
+	and accept "std::string" for "allargs".  Update the code to
+	calculate "argv" based on "allargs".  Update calls to "exec_fun"
+	and "execvp".
+	* gnu-nat.c (gnu_create_inferior): Rewrite function prototype in
+	order to constify "exec_file" and accept a "std::string" for
+	"allargs".
+	* go32-nat.c (go32_create_inferior): Likewise.
+	* inf-ptrace.c (inf_ptrace_create_inferior): Likewise.
+	* infcmd.c (run_command_1): Constify "exec_file".  Use
+	"std::string" for inferior arguments.
+	* inferior.h (fork_inferior): Update prototype.
+	* linux-nat.c (linux_nat_create_inferior): Rewrite function
+	prototype in order to constify "exec_file" and accept a
+	"std::string" for "allargs".
+	* nto-procfs.c (procfs_create_inferior): Likewise.
+	* procfs.c (procfs_create_inferior): Likewise.
+	* remote-sim.c (gdbsim_create_inferior): Likewise.
+	* remote.c (extended_remote_run): Update code to accept
+	"std::string" as argument.
+	(extended_remote_create_inferior): Rewrite function prototype in
+	order to constify "exec_file" and accept a "std::string" for
+	"allargs".
+	* rs6000-nat.c (super_create_inferior): Likewise.
+	(rs6000_create_inferior): Likewise.
+	* target.h (struct target_ops) <to_create_inferior>: Likewise.
+	* windows-nat.c (windows_create_inferior): Likewise.
+
 2017-04-11  Pedro Alves  <palves@redhat.com>
 
 	* thread.c: Fix whitespace throughout.
diff --git a/gdb/common/common-utils.c b/gdb/common/common-utils.c
index afc0af9641c..e94fdc4cb36 100644
--- a/gdb/common/common-utils.c
+++ b/gdb/common/common-utils.c
@@ -317,3 +317,14 @@ skip_to_space_const (const char *chp)
     chp++;
   return chp;
 }
+
+/* See common/common-utils.h.  */
+
+void
+free_vector_argv (std::vector<char *> &v)
+{
+  for (char *el : v)
+    xfree (el);
+
+  v.clear ();
+}
diff --git a/gdb/common/common-utils.h b/gdb/common/common-utils.h
index 618d2663fab..c331f0d62ff 100644
--- a/gdb/common/common-utils.h
+++ b/gdb/common/common-utils.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #define COMMON_UTILS_H
 
 #include <string>
+#include <vector>
 
 /* If possible, define FUNCTION_NAME, a macro containing the name of
    the function being defined.  Since this macro may not always be
@@ -103,4 +104,8 @@ extern const char *skip_spaces_const (const char *inp);
 
 extern const char *skip_to_space_const (const char *inp);
 
+/* Assumes that V is an argv for a program, and iterates through
+   freeing all the elements.  */
+extern void free_vector_argv (std::vector<char *> &v);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/gdb/darwin-nat.c b/gdb/darwin-nat.c
index e5092401f87..cba84caec3b 100644
--- a/gdb/darwin-nat.c
+++ b/gdb/darwin-nat.c
@@ -102,8 +102,10 @@ static void darwin_ptrace_me (void);
 
 static void darwin_ptrace_him (int pid);
 
-static void darwin_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, char *exec_file,
-				    char *allargs, char **env, int from_tty);
+static void darwin_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops,
+				    const char *exec_file,
+				    const std::string &allargs,
+				    char **env, int from_tty);
 
 static void darwin_files_info (struct target_ops *ops);
 
@@ -1826,8 +1828,10 @@ darwin_execvp (const char *file, char * const argv[], char * const env[])
 }
 
 static void
-darwin_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, char *exec_file,
-			char *allargs, char **env, int from_tty)
+darwin_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops,
+			const char *exec_file,
+			const std::string &allargs,
+			char **env, int from_tty)
 {
   /* Do the hard work.  */
   fork_inferior (exec_file, allargs, env, darwin_ptrace_me, darwin_ptrace_him,
diff --git a/gdb/fork-child.c b/gdb/fork-child.c
index 04d2cdfbfac..6b7386e07e2 100644
--- a/gdb/fork-child.c
+++ b/gdb/fork-child.c
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "top.h"
 #include "signals-state-save-restore.h"
 #include <signal.h>
+#include <vector>
 
 /* This just gets used as a default if we can't find SHELL.  */
 #define SHELL_FILE "/bin/sh"
@@ -48,41 +49,32 @@ static char *exec_wrapper;
    fill in ARGV with the four arguments "a", "b", "c", "d".  */
 
 static void
-breakup_args (char *scratch, char **argv)
+breakup_args (const std::string &scratch, std::vector<char *> &argv)
 {
-  char *cp = scratch, *tmp;
-
-  for (;;)
+  for (size_t cur_pos = 0; cur_pos < scratch.size ();)
     {
-      /* Scan past leading separators */
-      while (*cp == ' ' || *cp == '\t' || *cp == '\n')
-	cp++;
-
-      /* Break if at end of string.  */
-      if (*cp == '\0')
-	break;
-
-      /* Take an arg.  */
-      *argv++ = cp;
-
-      /* Scan for next arg separator.  */
-      tmp = strchr (cp, ' ');
-      if (tmp == NULL)
-	tmp = strchr (cp, '\t');
-      if (tmp == NULL)
-	tmp = strchr (cp, '\n');
-
-      /* No separators => end of string => break.  */
-      if (tmp == NULL)
-	break;
-      cp = tmp;
-
-      /* Replace the separator with a terminator.  */
-      *cp++ = '\0';
+      /* Skip whitespace-like chars.  */
+      std::size_t pos = scratch.find_first_not_of (" \t\n", cur_pos);
+
+      if (pos != std::string::npos)
+	cur_pos = pos;
+
+      /* Find the position of the next separator.  */
+      std::size_t next_sep = scratch.find_first_of (" \t\n", cur_pos);
+
+      /* No separator found, which means this is the last
+	 argument.  */
+      if (next_sep == std::string::npos)
+	next_sep = scratch.size ();
+
+      char *arg = savestring (scratch.c_str () + cur_pos, next_sep - cur_pos);
+      argv.push_back (arg);
+
+      cur_pos = next_sep;
     }
 
-  /* Null-terminate the vector.  */
-  *argv = NULL;
+  /* NULL-terminate the vector.  */
+  argv.push_back (NULL);
 }
 
 /* When executing a command under the given shell, return non-zero if
@@ -145,9 +137,10 @@ trace_start_error_with_name (const char *string)
    made static to ensure that they survive the vfork call.  */
 
 int
-fork_inferior (char *exec_file_arg, char *allargs, char **env,
-	       void (*traceme_fun) (void), void (*init_trace_fun) (int),
-	       void (*pre_trace_fun) (void), char *shell_file_arg,
+fork_inferior (const char *exec_file_arg, const std::string &allargs,
+	       char **env, void (*traceme_fun) (void),
+	       void (*init_trace_fun) (int), void (*pre_trace_fun) (void),
+	       char *shell_file_arg,
                void (*exec_fun)(const char *file, char * const *argv,
                                 char * const *env))
 {
@@ -159,10 +152,10 @@ fork_inferior (char *exec_file_arg, char *allargs, char **env,
      to you in the parent process.  It's only used by humans for debugging.  */
   static int debug_setpgrp = 657473;
   static char *shell_file;
-  static char *exec_file;
+  static const char *exec_file;
   char **save_our_env;
   int shell = 0;
-  static char **argv;
+  std::vector<char *> argv;
   const char *inferior_io_terminal = get_inferior_io_terminal ();
   struct inferior *inf;
   int i;
@@ -171,9 +164,10 @@ fork_inferior (char *exec_file_arg, char *allargs, char **env,
 
   /* If no exec file handed to us, get it from the exec-file command
      -- with a good, common error message if none is specified.  */
-  exec_file = exec_file_arg;
-  if (exec_file == 0)
+  if (exec_file_arg == NULL)
     exec_file = get_exec_file (1);
+  else
+    exec_file = exec_file_arg;
 
   /* 'startup_with_shell' is declared in inferior.h and bound to the
      "set startup-with-shell" option.  If 0, we'll just do a
@@ -191,43 +185,26 @@ fork_inferior (char *exec_file_arg, char *allargs, char **env,
 
   if (!shell)
     {
-      /* We're going to call execvp.  Create argument vector.
-	 Calculate an upper bound on the length of the vector by
-	 assuming that every other character is a separate
-	 argument.  */
-      int argc = (strlen (allargs) + 1) / 2 + 2;
-
-      argv = XALLOCAVEC (char *, argc);
-      argv[0] = exec_file;
-      breakup_args (allargs, &argv[1]);
+      /* We're going to call execvp.  Create argument vector.  */
+      argv.push_back (xstrdup (exec_file));
+      breakup_args (allargs, argv);
     }
   else
     {
       /* We're going to call a shell.  */
-      char *shell_command;
-      int len;
-      char *p;
+      std::string shell_command;
+      const char *p;
       int need_to_quote;
       const int escape_bang = escape_bang_in_quoted_argument (shell_file);
 
-      /* Multiplying the length of exec_file by 4 is to account for the
-         fact that it may expand when quoted; it is a worst-case number
-         based on every character being '.  */
-      len = 5 + 4 * strlen (exec_file) + 1 + strlen (allargs) + 1 + /*slop */ 12;
-      if (exec_wrapper)
-        len += strlen (exec_wrapper) + 1;
-
-      shell_command = (char *) alloca (len);
-      shell_command[0] = '\0';
-
-      strcat (shell_command, "exec ");
+      shell_command = std::string ("exec ");
 
       /* Add any exec wrapper.  That may be a program name with arguments, so
 	 the user must handle quoting.  */
       if (exec_wrapper)
 	{
-	  strcat (shell_command, exec_wrapper);
-	  strcat (shell_command, " ");
+	  shell_command += exec_wrapper;
+	  shell_command += ' ';
 	}
 
       /* Now add exec_file, quoting as necessary.  */
@@ -268,33 +245,32 @@ fork_inferior (char *exec_file_arg, char *allargs, char **env,
     end_scan:
       if (need_to_quote)
 	{
-	  strcat (shell_command, "'");
+	  shell_command += '\'';
 	  for (p = exec_file; *p != '\0'; ++p)
 	    {
 	      if (*p == '\'')
-		strcat (shell_command, "'\\''");
+		shell_command += "'\\''";
 	      else if (*p == '!' && escape_bang)
-		strcat (shell_command, "\\!");
+		shell_command += "\\!";
 	      else
-		strncat (shell_command, p, 1);
+		shell_command += *p;
 	    }
-	  strcat (shell_command, "'");
+	  shell_command += '\'';
 	}
       else
-	strcat (shell_command, exec_file);
+	shell_command += exec_file;
 
-      strcat (shell_command, " ");
-      strcat (shell_command, allargs);
+      shell_command += " " + allargs;
 
       /* If we decided above to start up with a shell, we exec the
 	 shell, "-c" says to interpret the next arg as a shell command
 	 to execute, and this command is "exec <target-program>
-	 <args>".  */
-      argv = (char **) alloca (4 * sizeof (char *));
-      argv[0] = shell_file;
-      argv[1] = (char *) "-c";
-      argv[2] = shell_command;
-      argv[3] = (char *) 0;
+	 <args>".  We xstrdup all the strings here because they will
+	 be free'd later in the code.  */
+      argv.push_back (xstrdup (shell_file));
+      argv.push_back (xstrdup ("-c"));
+      argv.push_back (xstrdup (shell_command.c_str ()));
+      argv.push_back (NULL);
     }
 
   /* Retain a copy of our environment variables, since the child will
@@ -401,9 +377,9 @@ fork_inferior (char *exec_file_arg, char *allargs, char **env,
       environ = env;
 
       if (exec_fun != NULL)
-        (*exec_fun) (argv[0], argv, env);
+        (*exec_fun) (argv[0], &argv[0], env);
       else
-        execvp (argv[0], argv);
+        execvp (argv[0], &argv[0]);
 
       /* If we get here, it's an error.  */
       save_errno = errno;
@@ -417,6 +393,8 @@ fork_inferior (char *exec_file_arg, char *allargs, char **env,
       _exit (0177);
     }
 
+  free_vector_argv (argv);
+
   /* Restore our environment in case a vforked child clob'd it.  */
   environ = save_our_env;
 
diff --git a/gdb/gdbserver/ChangeLog b/gdb/gdbserver/ChangeLog
index 8b1adfe2709..1f8c5938b79 100644
--- a/gdb/gdbserver/ChangeLog
+++ b/gdb/gdbserver/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,12 @@
+2017-04-12  Sergio Durigan Junior  <sergiodj@redhat.com>
+
+	* server.c: Include <vector>.
+	<program_argv, wrapper_argv>: Convert to std::vector.
+	(start_inferior): Rewrite function to use C++.
+	(handle_v_run): Likewise.  Update code that calculates the argv
+	based on the vRun packet; use C++.
+	(captured_main): Likewise.
+
 2017-04-06  Simon Marchi  <simon.marchi@ericsson.com>
 
 	* server.c (handle_v_cont): Initialize thread_resume::thread
diff --git a/gdb/gdbserver/server.c b/gdb/gdbserver/server.c
index 9cc6145b051..69fcab128b4 100644
--- a/gdb/gdbserver/server.c
+++ b/gdb/gdbserver/server.c
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "tracepoint.h"
 #include "dll.h"
 #include "hostio.h"
+#include <vector>
 
 /* The thread set with an `Hc' packet.  `Hc' is deprecated in favor of
    `vCont'.  Note the multi-process extensions made `vCont' a
@@ -78,7 +79,8 @@ static int vCont_supported;
    space randomization feature before starting an inferior.  */
 int disable_randomization = 1;
 
-static char **program_argv, **wrapper_argv;
+static std::vector<char *> program_argv;
+static std::vector<char *> wrapper_argv;
 
 int pass_signals[GDB_SIGNAL_LAST];
 int program_signals[GDB_SIGNAL_LAST];
@@ -239,29 +241,21 @@ target_running (void)
 static int
 start_inferior (char **argv)
 {
-  char **new_argv = argv;
+  std::vector<char *> new_argv;
 
-  if (wrapper_argv != NULL)
-    {
-      int i, count = 1;
-
-      for (i = 0; wrapper_argv[i] != NULL; i++)
-	count++;
-      for (i = 0; argv[i] != NULL; i++)
-	count++;
-      new_argv = XALLOCAVEC (char *, count);
-      count = 0;
-      for (i = 0; wrapper_argv[i] != NULL; i++)
-	new_argv[count++] = wrapper_argv[i];
-      for (i = 0; argv[i] != NULL; i++)
-	new_argv[count++] = argv[i];
-      new_argv[count] = NULL;
-    }
+  if (!wrapper_argv.empty ())
+    new_argv.insert (new_argv.begin (),
+		     wrapper_argv.begin (),
+		     wrapper_argv.end ());
+
+  for (int i = 0; argv[i] != NULL; ++i)
+    new_argv.push_back (argv[i]);
+
+  new_argv.push_back (NULL);
 
   if (debug_threads)
     {
-      int i;
-      for (i = 0; new_argv[i]; ++i)
+      for (int i = 0; i < new_argv.size (); ++i)
 	debug_printf ("new_argv[%d] = \"%s\"\n", i, new_argv[i]);
       debug_flush ();
     }
@@ -271,7 +265,7 @@ start_inferior (char **argv)
   signal (SIGTTIN, SIG_DFL);
 #endif
 
-  signal_pid = create_inferior (new_argv[0], new_argv);
+  signal_pid = create_inferior (new_argv[0], &new_argv[0]);
 
   /* FIXME: we don't actually know at this point that the create
      actually succeeded.  We won't know that until we wait.  */
@@ -288,7 +282,7 @@ start_inferior (char **argv)
   atexit (restore_old_foreground_pgrp);
 #endif
 
-  if (wrapper_argv != NULL)
+  if (!wrapper_argv.empty ())
     {
       ptid_t ptid = pid_to_ptid (signal_pid);
 
@@ -2852,7 +2846,8 @@ handle_v_attach (char *own_buf)
 static int
 handle_v_run (char *own_buf)
 {
-  char *p, *next_p, **new_argv;
+  char *p, *next_p;
+  std::vector<char *> new_argv;
   int i, new_argc;
 
   new_argc = 0;
@@ -2862,62 +2857,51 @@ handle_v_run (char *own_buf)
       new_argc++;
     }
 
-  new_argv = (char **) calloc (new_argc + 2, sizeof (char *));
-  if (new_argv == NULL)
-    {
-      write_enn (own_buf);
-      return 0;
-    }
-
-  i = 0;
-  for (p = own_buf + strlen ("vRun;"); *p; p = next_p)
+  for (i = 0, p = own_buf + strlen ("vRun;"); *p; p = next_p, ++i)
     {
       next_p = strchr (p, ';');
       if (next_p == NULL)
 	next_p = p + strlen (p);
 
       if (i == 0 && p == next_p)
-	new_argv[i] = NULL;
+	{
+	  /* No program specified.  */
+	  new_argv.push_back (NULL);
+	}
       else
 	{
-	  /* FIXME: Fail request if out of memory instead of dying.  */
-	  new_argv[i] = (char *) xmalloc (1 + (next_p - p) / 2);
-	  hex2bin (p, (gdb_byte *) new_argv[i], (next_p - p) / 2);
-	  new_argv[i][(next_p - p) / 2] = '\0';
+	  size_t len = (next_p - p) / 2;
+	  char *arg = (char *) xmalloc (len + 1);
+
+	  hex2bin (p, (gdb_byte *) arg, len);
+	  arg[len] = '\0';
+	  new_argv.push_back (arg);
 	}
 
       if (*next_p)
 	next_p++;
-      i++;
     }
-  new_argv[i] = NULL;
+  new_argv.push_back (NULL);
 
   if (new_argv[0] == NULL)
     {
       /* GDB didn't specify a program to run.  Use the program from the
 	 last run with the new argument list.  */
-
-      if (program_argv == NULL)
+      if (program_argv.empty ())
 	{
 	  write_enn (own_buf);
-	  freeargv (new_argv);
+	  free_vector_argv (new_argv);
 	  return 0;
 	}
 
-      new_argv[0] = strdup (program_argv[0]);
-      if (new_argv[0] == NULL)
-	{
-	  write_enn (own_buf);
-	  freeargv (new_argv);
-	  return 0;
-	}
+      new_argv.push_back (xstrdup (program_argv[0]));
     }
 
   /* Free the old argv and install the new one.  */
-  freeargv (program_argv);
+  free_vector_argv (program_argv);
   program_argv = new_argv;
 
-  start_inferior (program_argv);
+  start_inferior (&program_argv[0]);
   if (last_status.kind == TARGET_WAITKIND_STOPPED)
     {
       prepare_resume_reply (own_buf, last_ptid, &last_status);
@@ -3536,13 +3520,18 @@ captured_main (int argc, char *argv[])
 	multi_mode = 1;
       else if (strcmp (*next_arg, "--wrapper") == 0)
 	{
+	  char **tmp;
+
 	  next_arg++;
 
-	  wrapper_argv = next_arg;
+	  tmp = next_arg;
 	  while (*next_arg != NULL && strcmp (*next_arg, "--") != 0)
-	    next_arg++;
+	    {
+	      wrapper_argv.push_back (*next_arg);
+	      next_arg++;
+	    }
 
-	  if (next_arg == wrapper_argv || *next_arg == NULL)
+	  if (next_arg == tmp || *next_arg == NULL)
 	    {
 	      gdbserver_usage (stderr);
 	      exit (1);
@@ -3692,13 +3681,12 @@ captured_main (int argc, char *argv[])
       int i, n;
 
       n = argc - (next_arg - argv);
-      program_argv = XNEWVEC (char *, n + 1);
       for (i = 0; i < n; i++)
-	program_argv[i] = xstrdup (next_arg[i]);
-      program_argv[i] = NULL;
+	program_argv.push_back (xstrdup (next_arg[i]));
+      program_argv.push_back (NULL);
 
       /* Wait till we are at first instruction in program.  */
-      start_inferior (program_argv);
+      start_inferior (&program_argv[0]);
 
       /* We are now (hopefully) stopped at the first instruction of
 	 the target process.  This assumes that the target process was
@@ -4313,9 +4301,9 @@ process_serial_event (void)
 	  fprintf (stderr, "GDBserver restarting\n");
 
 	  /* Wait till we are at 1st instruction in prog.  */
-	  if (program_argv != NULL)
+	  if (!program_argv.empty ())
 	    {
-	      start_inferior (program_argv);
+	      start_inferior (&program_argv[0]);
 	      if (last_status.kind == TARGET_WAITKIND_STOPPED)
 		{
 		  /* Stopped at the first instruction of the target
diff --git a/gdb/gnu-nat.c b/gdb/gnu-nat.c
index b2a975dead7..6298103e45e 100644
--- a/gdb/gnu-nat.c
+++ b/gdb/gnu-nat.c
@@ -2131,7 +2131,8 @@ gnu_ptrace_me (void)
 
 static void
 gnu_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, 
-		     char *exec_file, char *allargs, char **env,
+		     const char *exec_file, const std::string &allargs,
+		     char **env,
 		     int from_tty)
 {
   struct inf *inf = cur_inf ();
diff --git a/gdb/go32-nat.c b/gdb/go32-nat.c
index a20067e7ef7..4e609a87e7a 100644
--- a/gdb/go32-nat.c
+++ b/gdb/go32-nat.c
@@ -631,8 +631,9 @@ go32_kill_inferior (struct target_ops *ops)
 }
 
 static void
-go32_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, char *exec_file,
-		      char *args, char **env, int from_tty)
+go32_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops,
+		      const char *exec_file,
+		      const std::string &allargs, char **env, int from_tty)
 {
   extern char **environ;
   jmp_buf start_state;
@@ -641,6 +642,7 @@ go32_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, char *exec_file,
   size_t cmdlen;
   struct inferior *inf;
   int result;
+  const char *args = allargs.c_str ();
 
   /* If no exec file handed to us, get it from the exec-file command -- with
      a good, common error message if none is specified.  */
diff --git a/gdb/inf-ptrace.c b/gdb/inf-ptrace.c
index c91100134b1..b19aaf9e29b 100644
--- a/gdb/inf-ptrace.c
+++ b/gdb/inf-ptrace.c
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ inf_ptrace_me (void)
 
 static void
 inf_ptrace_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops,
-			    char *exec_file, char *allargs, char **env,
-			    int from_tty)
+			    const char *exec_file, const std::string &allargs,
+			    char **env, int from_tty)
 {
   int pid;
 
diff --git a/gdb/infcmd.c b/gdb/infcmd.c
index f6ffb9ba186..22b2c7aadec 100644
--- a/gdb/infcmd.c
+++ b/gdb/infcmd.c
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ prepare_execution_command (struct target_ops *target, int background)
 static void
 run_command_1 (char *args, int from_tty, int tbreak_at_main)
 {
-  char *exec_file;
+  const char *exec_file;
   struct cleanup *old_chain;
   ptid_t ptid;
   struct ui_out *uiout = current_uiout;
@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ run_command_1 (char *args, int from_tty, int tbreak_at_main)
   if (tbreak_at_main)
     tbreak_command (main_name (), 0);
 
-  exec_file = (char *) get_exec_file (0);
+  exec_file = get_exec_file (0);
 
   /* We keep symbols from add-symbol-file, on the grounds that the
      user might want to add some symbols before running the program
@@ -607,7 +607,8 @@ run_command_1 (char *args, int from_tty, int tbreak_at_main)
 
   /* We call get_inferior_args() because we might need to compute
      the value now.  */
-  run_target->to_create_inferior (run_target, exec_file, get_inferior_args (),
+  run_target->to_create_inferior (run_target, exec_file,
+				  std::string (get_inferior_args ()),
 				  environ_vector (current_inferior ()->environment),
 				  from_tty);
   /* to_create_inferior should push the target, so after this point we
diff --git a/gdb/inferior.h b/gdb/inferior.h
index 7c0ddf37f1e..bf06ac1c7ef 100644
--- a/gdb/inferior.h
+++ b/gdb/inferior.h
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ extern void trace_start_error (const char *fmt, ...)
 extern void trace_start_error_with_name (const char *string)
   ATTRIBUTE_NORETURN;
 
-extern int fork_inferior (char *, char *, char **,
+extern int fork_inferior (const char *, const std::string &, char **,
 			  void (*)(void),
 			  void (*)(int), void (*)(void), char *,
                           void (*)(const char *,
diff --git a/gdb/linux-nat.c b/gdb/linux-nat.c
index 8dececf2c52..b008df0ac06 100644
--- a/gdb/linux-nat.c
+++ b/gdb/linux-nat.c
@@ -1105,8 +1105,8 @@ linux_nat_post_attach_wait (ptid_t ptid, int first, int *signalled)
 
 static void
 linux_nat_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, 
-			   char *exec_file, char *allargs, char **env,
-			   int from_tty)
+			   const char *exec_file, const std::string &allargs,
+			   char **env, int from_tty)
 {
   struct cleanup *restore_personality
     = maybe_disable_address_space_randomization (disable_randomization);
diff --git a/gdb/nto-procfs.c b/gdb/nto-procfs.c
index 75f92dcf780..7fb7095745f 100644
--- a/gdb/nto-procfs.c
+++ b/gdb/nto-procfs.c
@@ -1163,8 +1163,9 @@ breakup_args (char *scratch, char **argv)
 }
 
 static void
-procfs_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, char *exec_file,
-			char *allargs, char **env, int from_tty)
+procfs_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, const char *exec_file,
+			const std::string &allargs,
+			char **env, int from_tty)
 {
   struct inheritance inherit;
   pid_t pid;
@@ -1176,7 +1177,7 @@ procfs_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, char *exec_file,
   const char *inferior_io_terminal = get_inferior_io_terminal ();
   struct inferior *inf;
 
-  argv = xmalloc (((strlen (allargs) + 1) / (unsigned) 2 + 2) *
+  argv = xmalloc ((allargs.size () / (unsigned) 2 + 2) *
 		  sizeof (*argv));
   argv[0] = get_exec_file (1);
   if (!argv[0])
@@ -1187,7 +1188,7 @@ procfs_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, char *exec_file,
 	return;
     }
 
-  args = xstrdup (allargs);
+  args = xstrdup (allargs.c_str ());
   breakup_args (args, (exec_file != NULL) ? &argv[1] : &argv[0]);
 
   argv = nto_parse_redirection (argv, &in, &out, &err);
diff --git a/gdb/procfs.c b/gdb/procfs.c
index 87c317f3758..5d940ddbae2 100644
--- a/gdb/procfs.c
+++ b/gdb/procfs.c
@@ -4526,8 +4526,8 @@ procfs_set_exec_trap (void)
    inf-ptrace?  */
 
 static void
-procfs_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, char *exec_file,
-			char *allargs, char **env, int from_tty)
+procfs_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, const char *exec_file,
+			const std::string &allargs, char **env, int from_tty)
 {
   char *shell_file = getenv ("SHELL");
   char *tryname;
diff --git a/gdb/remote-sim.c b/gdb/remote-sim.c
index 4396d4bcfe4..fd1bc666423 100644
--- a/gdb/remote-sim.c
+++ b/gdb/remote-sim.c
@@ -607,13 +607,14 @@ gdbsim_load (struct target_ops *self, const char *args, int fromtty)
    user types "run" after having attached.  */
 
 static void
-gdbsim_create_inferior (struct target_ops *target, char *exec_file, char *args,
-			char **env, int from_tty)
+gdbsim_create_inferior (struct target_ops *target, const char *exec_file,
+			const std::string &allargs, char **env, int from_tty)
 {
   struct sim_inferior_data *sim_data
     = get_sim_inferior_data (current_inferior (), SIM_INSTANCE_NEEDED);
   int len;
   char *arg_buf, **argv;
+  const char *args = allargs.c_str ();
 
   if (exec_file == 0 || exec_bfd == 0)
     warning (_("No executable file specified."));
@@ -633,7 +634,7 @@ gdbsim_create_inferior (struct target_ops *target, char *exec_file, char *args,
 
   if (exec_file != NULL)
     {
-      len = strlen (exec_file) + 1 + strlen (args) + 1 + /*slop */ 10;
+      len = strlen (exec_file) + 1 + allargs.size () + 1 + /*slop */ 10;
       arg_buf = (char *) alloca (len);
       arg_buf[0] = '\0';
       strcat (arg_buf, exec_file);
diff --git a/gdb/remote.c b/gdb/remote.c
index a61469c9872..7c5fe87da8a 100644
--- a/gdb/remote.c
+++ b/gdb/remote.c
@@ -9526,7 +9526,7 @@ extended_remote_disable_randomization (int val)
 }
 
 static int
-extended_remote_run (char *args)
+extended_remote_run (const std::string &args)
 {
   struct remote_state *rs = get_remote_state ();
   int len;
@@ -9545,14 +9545,13 @@ extended_remote_run (char *args)
   len += 2 * bin2hex ((gdb_byte *) remote_exec_file, rs->buf + len,
 		      strlen (remote_exec_file));
 
-  gdb_assert (args != NULL);
-  if (*args)
+  if (!args.empty ())
     {
       struct cleanup *back_to;
       int i;
       char **argv;
 
-      argv = gdb_buildargv (args);
+      argv = gdb_buildargv (args.c_str ());
       back_to = make_cleanup_freeargv (argv);
       for (i = 0; argv[i] != NULL; i++)
 	{
@@ -9597,7 +9596,8 @@ extended_remote_run (char *args)
 
 static void
 extended_remote_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops,
-				 char *exec_file, char *args,
+				 const char *exec_file,
+				 const std::string &args,
 				 char **env, int from_tty)
 {
   int run_worked;
@@ -9622,7 +9622,7 @@ extended_remote_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops,
 	 user requested.  */
       if (remote_exec_file[0])
 	error (_("Remote target does not support \"set remote exec-file\""));
-      if (args[0])
+      if (!args.empty ())
 	error (_("Remote target does not support \"set args\" or run <ARGS>"));
 
       /* Fall back to "R".  */
diff --git a/gdb/rs6000-nat.c b/gdb/rs6000-nat.c
index 8f5d25cdb30..83e0693d983 100644
--- a/gdb/rs6000-nat.c
+++ b/gdb/rs6000-nat.c
@@ -524,11 +524,13 @@ rs6000_wait (struct target_ops *ops,
 /* Set the current architecture from the host running GDB.  Called when
    starting a child process.  */
 
-static void (*super_create_inferior) (struct target_ops *,char *exec_file, 
-				      char *allargs, char **env, int from_tty);
+static void (*super_create_inferior) (struct target_ops *,
+				      const char *exec_file,
+				      const std::string &allargs,
+				      char **env, int from_tty);
 static void
-rs6000_create_inferior (struct target_ops * ops, char *exec_file,
-			char *allargs, char **env, int from_tty)
+rs6000_create_inferior (struct target_ops * ops, const char *exec_file,
+			const std::string &allargs, char **env, int from_tty)
 {
   enum bfd_architecture arch;
   unsigned long mach;
diff --git a/gdb/target.h b/gdb/target.h
index fac9d51c017..a971adf8c6c 100644
--- a/gdb/target.h
+++ b/gdb/target.h
@@ -591,7 +591,8 @@ struct target_ops
        ENV is the environment vector to pass.  Errors reported with error().
        On VxWorks and various standalone systems, we ignore exec_file.  */
     void (*to_create_inferior) (struct target_ops *, 
-				char *, char *, char **, int);
+				const char *, const std::string &,
+				char **, int);
     void (*to_post_startup_inferior) (struct target_ops *, ptid_t)
       TARGET_DEFAULT_IGNORE ();
     int (*to_insert_fork_catchpoint) (struct target_ops *, int)
diff --git a/gdb/windows-nat.c b/gdb/windows-nat.c
index 21b5ebefd8d..dd5cfe4cad4 100644
--- a/gdb/windows-nat.c
+++ b/gdb/windows-nat.c
@@ -2412,8 +2412,9 @@ redirect_inferior_handles (const char *cmd_orig, char *cmd,
    ENV is the environment vector to pass.  Errors reported with error().  */
 
 static void
-windows_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, char *exec_file,
-		       char *allargs, char **in_env, int from_tty)
+windows_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, const char *exec_file,
+			 const std::string &origallargs, char **in_env,
+			 int from_tty)
 {
   STARTUPINFO si;
 #ifdef __CYGWIN__
@@ -2432,6 +2433,7 @@ windows_create_inferior (struct target_ops *ops, char *exec_file,
   char real_path[__PMAX];
   char shell[__PMAX]; /* Path to shell */
   char *toexec;
+  const char *allargs = origallargs.c_str ();
   char *args, *allargs_copy;
   size_t args_len, allargs_len;
   int fd_inp = -1, fd_out = -1, fd_err = -1;