Virtual Platform Debugger Breakpoint Specification for Auto-Loaded Software
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems are inadequate for debugging automatically loaded software components during system initialization, as they do not allow for user-defined breakpoints in kernel modules, executable files, and shared libraries, making it difficult to test and debug startup processes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that enable users to specify breakpoints in kernel modules, startup processes, and shared libraries before the target environment is initialized, allowing breakpoints to be detected and set during the loading of these components, facilitating their debugging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional debugging systems are used, then the system can debug software elements loaded after startup, but it cannot debug automatically loaded software elements during initialization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by scanning source code files for breakpoint specifications before the target environment is initialized. The system reads breakpoint information from source files during the loading phase, before any software elements are executed, allowing breakpoints to be set in advance for automatically loaded modules, kernel modules, and shared libraries.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism - a breakpoint specification file or source code annotation system - that serves as a bridge between the user's debugging intent and the automatically loaded software elements. This intermediary allows the debugger to know where to pause execution without requiring manual intervention during startup.
2Ease of operation
If the debug server process is started after the startup procedure, then the system can run the debugger, but it cannot debug the initialization of processes started before the debug server
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning of source code files to identify breakpoint locations before the debug server is started. This allows the debugger to be prepared with breakpoint information in advance, so when the debug server starts, it can immediately resume at the correct breakpoints without missing initialization code execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The source code files themselves contain the breakpoint specifications through annotations or special markers. The system automatically reads these specifications during the loading phase without requiring manual configuration, allowing the debugging information to be self-contained within the source files.
3Productivity
If breakpoints are set after software elements are loaded, then the system can control execution, but it cannot observe the execution of automatically loaded modules during startup
Solution Approach 1:
The system scans and detects breakpoint specifications in source code files during the loading phase, before the software elements are executed. This preliminary detection allows the debugger to have complete knowledge of all breakpoint locations in advance, making it easy to observe and control execution of automatically loaded modules from the very beginning of startup.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention provide a system and method for a user of an event-driven simulator to specify breakpoint conditions in kernel modules, startup processes, shared libraries, and other automatically loaded software elements before the target environment is initialized. The virtual platform detects specified breakpoints when a file is loaded onto a virtual platform debugger during startup of the environment or initialization of the relevant processes. The virtual platform debugger may scan for specified breakpoints in all loaded source code files, in only those source code files that are automatically loaded, or in only those source code files specified by the designer as modified.