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A debugger for distributed programs
Author(s) -
Side R. S.,
Shoja G. C.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
software: practice and experience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1097-024X
pISSN - 0038-0644
DOI - 10.1002/spe.4380240506
Subject(s) - debugger , debugging , computer science , programming language , distributed computing , interface (matter) , graphical user interface , operating system , bubble , maximum bubble pressure method
Developing a distributed debugger is much more complex than developing a sequential debugger. This added complexity is mainly due to the non‐determinism of events that communication delays introduce into distributed systems. We explore the problems that one must address when designing a distributed program debugger and then describe our design and implementation of DPD (distributed program debugger). Problems addressed include non‐determinism of events, finding consistent system states, setting breakpoints, recording events, and checkpointing. Important features of DPD include dynamic roll back and replay, as well as a graphical user interface. DPD has been tested successfully in debugging distributed programs within a distributed facility called REM (remote execution manager).