On IRIX 5.3, stabs debug info is embedded in ECOFF. Beginning with gas 2.13, -mdebug must be passed to correctly handle COFF debugging info. GCC does not do this.
The result is a lot of stabs related failures: http://gcc.gnu.org/ml/gcc-testresults/2009-01/msg02896.html A possible solution is to add %{gstabs*:-mdebug} %{!gstabs*:-no-mdebug} to SUBTARGET_ASM_DEBUGGING_SPEC, but only for an IRIX5 target, and only when using GAS. -- Summary: stabs debug info fails onIRIX 5.3 Product: gcc Version: 4.4.0 Status: UNCONFIRMED Severity: normal Priority: P3 Component: debug AssignedTo: unassigned at gcc dot gnu dot org ReportedBy: J dot J dot vanderHeijden at gmail dot com GCC build triplet: mips-sgi-irix5.3 GCC host triplet: mips-sgi-irix5.3 GCC target triplet: mips-sgi-irix5.3 http://gcc.gnu.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=39104