The blit debugger: preliminary draft

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the evolution to date of a flexible debugger for C programs on the Blit, a multi-processing bitmap terminal. The debugger is of interest for the following reasons:

-- it is assisted by the terminal software's elegant separation of the debugger process from its subject process.

-- it resides autonomously in the terminal and is bound dynamically to arbitrary subject processes.

-- it executes asynchronously with its subject.

-- its implementation is distributed as a small process in the terminal and a large process in the host timesharing system.

-- its user interface uses graphics and a mouse.

An opinion about the most fruitful direction for further application of graphics is offered.

REFERENCES

• 1: B.W. Kernighan, M. E. Lesk, J. F. Ossanna, "UNIX Time-sharing system: Document Preparation," Bell Sys. Tech. J. 57:6, pp. 2115--2135 1978
• 2: B.W. Kernighan, D. M. Ritchie, "The C Programming Language," Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey 1978
• 3: D.J. Martin, "Graphical debugging of data structures" M. Math Thesis, Department of Computer Science, University of Waterloo, 1976
• 4: M.L. Model, "Monitoring Systems Behavior in a Complex Computational Environment," CSL-79-1, Xerox Corp., 1979
• 5: B.A. Myers, "Displaying Data Structures for Interactive Debugging," CSL-80-7, Xerox Corp, 1980

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.5 Testing and Debugging
          Subjects: Debugging aids

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.3 Coding Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: Structured programming

  E. Data
  E.1 DATA STRUCTURES

General Terms:
Design, Languages, Verification