| Option | Description |
| -a, -attach | Switch to GDB mode and attach the host shell to context specified. |
| -annotate | Set the gdb annotation level: |
| 0=normal |
| 1=fullname (for use when running under emacs) |
| 2=output annotated suitably for use by programs that control gdb |
| 3=maximum annotation |
| -c, -command | Executes expression and exits shell (batch mode). |
| -cd | Change current working directory. |
| -cT, -connTimeout | Set the target connection timeout. The default is 120. |
| -dp[backend_server_port ] | Debugger Server port to use. |
| -ds[backend_server_session ] | Debugger Server session to use. |
| -dt target | Backend target definition name. |
| -e, -execute | Executes Tcl expression after initialization. |
| -h, -help | Print help. |
| -host | Retrieve target server data from host's registry. |
| -m[ode] | Indicates mode to start in: C (C), Tcl (Tcl or tcl or TCL), GDB (Gdb or gdb or GDB), or Cmd (Cmd or cmd or CMD). |
| -N, -noconnection | Specifies that the host shell will not connect to the backend server on startup. This allows a Tcl script to control the host shell. |
| -n, -noinit | Do not read home Tcl initialization file. |
| -nologo | Do not print the host shell logo. |
| -p, -poll | Sets event poll interval in milliseconds; the default is 200. |
| -q, -quiet | Turns off echo of script commands as they are executed. |
| -r, -rootMappings | Root pathname mappings. |
| -s, -startup | Specifies the startup file of shell commands to execute. |
| -T, -Tclmode | Start in Tcl mode. |
| -v, -version | Display host shell version. |
| -w, -waituser | Wait user input when exiting. |