Operating a trace procedure for a computer program

US9678821B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Thomas Hess · Bad Liebenzell, DE
• Martin Raitza · Eppelheim, DE
• Ralf Richter · Wuppertal, DE
• Philip S. Schulz · Stuttgart, DE
• Markus Strasser · Penzberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 6, 2015
• Grant date: Jun 13, 2017
• Expiry date: May 13, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F11/3636
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method is provided for operating a trace procedure, which traces execution of a computer program, where the program uses different callable modules. A program stack is used to store trace buffer information and an error state, and the modules include calls of the trace procedure. The method includes: (i) when entering execution of a module, storing the current write position of the trace buffer and a cleared error flag in the current frame of the stack; (ii) in case of an error condition during execution of the program, setting the error flag in the current frame; and (iii) when leaving execution of a module, determining if the error flag is set, and if not, then rewinding the trace buffer to the write position stored in the current frame, and deleting the current write position of the trace buffer and the error flag from the stack.