Atomic groups for debugging

Abstract

Transactional memory implementations provide the 'illusion' of multiple memory locations changing value atomically, while in fact they do not. Techniques that employ transactional memory may allow a debug user to define a group of variables as an atomic group and may ensure coherent or consistent access to variables of the atomic group. These techniques may facilitate the debugging of programs that are executed using transactional memory. Unlike conventional debuggers, debuggers that employ these techniques may be adapted to provide a coherent or consistent view of variables in a system that employs transactional memory. The atomic group may be accessed for viewing and/or modifying during debugging using a transaction, regardless of whether all or less than all of the variables in the atomic group are modified.