Replay debugging

Details Replay debugging Replay debugging

2006-12-10

2010-12-07

Pham, Thomas K (Department: 2191)

Data processing: software development, installation, and managem

Software program development tool

Testing or debugging

C717S127000, C717S125000, C717S131000, C717S134000, C717S135000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07849446

ABSTRACT:
Transactional programming promises to substantially simplify the development and maintenance of correct, scalable, and efficient concurrent programs. Designs for supporting transactional programming using transactional memory implemented in hardware, software, and a mixture of the two have emerged recently. Unfortunately, conventional debugging programs are often inadequate when employed in relation to code that employs transactional memory and new or modified techniques are needed. We describe techniques whereby certain facilities of a transactional memory implementation can be leveraged to provide replay debugging. With replay debugging, the user can examine a partial or complete execution of an atomic block after it has happened—for example, right before the execution commits. Moreover, in some cases the user can modify the replayed execution, and decide to commit the new modified execution instead of the original replayed one.

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