Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Thomas Preisler

Wayne C Gramlich

Terrence C Miller

Eduardo Pelegri-Llopart

David W Weatherford

Crispin S Perdue

This Continuation-In-Part describes a part of this run-time debugger operation which is designated the 'Fix-and-Continue' invention. This invention permits a user to begin a debugging session wherein if an error in the code is encountered, the user can edit the corresponding source code to correct the error and then execute a 'Fix and Continue' command all without leaving the debugging session. The Fix and Continue code calls the compiler to recompile the source code file with the edited text in it, receives the resulting recompiled object code file from the compiler, uses the dynamic linker to link the recompiled object code into the target application program process, patches the previous version of this same object code fie to refer to the newly recompiled code, resets any required variables and registers, resets the program counter to the line of code being executed when the error was discovered. The debugger then continues in the debug session thereby saving the time it would ordinarily take to quit the debug session, relink and reload the target program and start the debug session once again.

Method and apparatus for a fast debugger fix and continue operation

The present invention provides an economical, high performance, adaptable system and method for a type-specific data presentation by a development tool. In the preferred embodiment, one or more type-specific function name are found from the symbol table of the target program which might be able to display a data object. These type-specific function names are analyzed to determine if one and only one such name is able to display the data object and if so the found function name is used to call that function to display the data object. In the preferred embodiment the development tool is a debugger for C++ target programs.

Growing community of inventors

Morgan Hill, CA, United States of America

Thomas Preisler