EP0087064A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Program debugging method and system
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1983-02-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A debugging scheme is presented which enables programs to be debugged without the need to recompile the programs. This scheme requires the addition of a small set of instructions (called debugging instructions) to the instruction set of the device. These instructions are inserted at points in the program which enable debugging aids to be implemented by traps to the operating system of the device. To decrease the reduction in program execution speed, some special hardware is added to enable traps to the operating system to be avoided when such are not necessary to implement the debugging aids which have been requested. When none of the debugging aids have been requested there is only a small decrease in program execution speed so that execution speed is only significantly affected when the program is being debugged.
Inventors
- 👤 James G. Fiasconaro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/36; G06F11/362; G06F11/3624; G06F11/3648
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of executing and debugging a program under control of an operating system, wherein in response to user debuggingde- mands program execution is interrupted at points in the program determined by the entered debugging commands to execute debugging routines in the operating system, characterized by the following steps: preparing the program in a language which includes a set of debugging instructions, each of which indicates a type of boundary of a set of instructions in the program; providing at least one debugging instruction in the program; associating each of the memory locations (SL, EP, SS, ES) of a section of memory (11, 12) with a debugging instruction setting each either true or false, checking the value of the associated memory location upon execution of a debugging instruction with which a memory location is associated, resuming the program executions at the next instruction in the program if this location is false, and interrupting the execution of the program and making a jump to a debugging routine in the operation system if this location is true.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method of executing and debugging a program under control of an operating system, wherein in response to user debuggingde- mands program execution is interrupted at points in the program determined by the entered debugging commands to execute debugging routines in the operating system, characterized by the following steps: preparing the program in a language which includes a set of debugging instructions, each of which indicates a type of boundary of a set of instructions in the program; providing at least one debugging instruction in the program; associating each of the memory locations (SL, EP, SS, ES) of a section of memory (11, 12) with a debugging instruction setting each either true or false, checking the value of the associated memory location upon execution of a debugging instruction with which a memory location is associated, resuming the program executions at the next instruction in the program if this location is false, and interrupting the execution of the program and making a jump to a debugging routine in the operation system if this location is true.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as in claim 1, characterized in that the values of the memory locations (SL, EP, SS, ES) in the first set are set in response to user debugging commands.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method as in claim 2, characterized in that: at least one of the debugging commands requires a jump to a debugging routine when a variable stored in memory is changed; setting true a memory location (TV) in a memory section (11, 12) in response to the entry of this debugging command; generating an interrupt, when a variable stored in memory is changed if, and only if, this memory location (TV) is-true and interrupted a jump is made to a debugging routine.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
140 words
A device capable of executing programs consisting of instructions and also capable of debugging programs without the need to recompile the programs, said device being characterized by an operating system for executing and debugging programs, said operating system being responsive to a set of instructions used to write the programs, said set of instructions including at least one debugging instruction and at least one debugging command for requesting that an associated debugging aid be implemented; means for entering instructions and debugging commands to the operating system for response by the operating system; means for trapping to the operating system in response to debugging instructions; said means for trapping including means for eliminating at least some of the traps to memory which are not required to implement the debugging aids associated with all of the debugging aids which have been requested.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
140 words
A device capable of executing programs consisting of instructions and also capable of debugging programs without the need to recompile the programs, said device being characterized by an operating system for executing and debugging programs, said operating system being responsive to a set of instructions used to write the programs, said set of instructions including at least one debugging instruction and at least one debugging command for requesting that an associated debugging aid be implemented; means for entering instructions and debugging commands to the operating system for response by the operating system; means for trapping to the operating system in response to debugging instructions; said means for trapping including means for eliminating at least some of the traps to memory which are not required to implement the debugging aids associated with all of the debugging aids which have been requested.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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