US6961924B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Displaying variable usage while debugging
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2002-05-21
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Granted: 2005-11-01
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Expires: 2022-05-21
Abstract
Abstract Method, apparatus and article manufacture of debugging code. One embodiment provides a method of debugging code, comprising displaying a user interface screen of a debugging program; and in response to an event, displaying the value of the variable and a comment associated with the variable in the user interface screen in a location other than in an original location of the comment. In one embodiment, the comment associated with the variable comprises at least one of a user-drafted comment embedded in the code being debugged, an external comment retrieved from a data source external to the code being debugged, and a machine-generated comment indicative of a manner in which the variable is used. In one embodiment, the value and the comment are displayed as fly-over text.
Inventors
- 👤 Cary Lee Bates
- 👤 Steven Gene Halverson
- 👤 John Matthew Santosuosso
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:59
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/36; G06F11/3698
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of debugging code, comprising: executing the code during a debugging session; giving control to a debugging program when a debug event occurs; displaying a user interface screen of the debugging program, wherein the user interface screen comprises a source code panel displaying at least a portion of the code and at least one graphical control element configured to allow a user to manipulate the user interface screen; and in response to a user event, configuring the user interface screen with viewable attributes indicative of each instance of a variable in at least the code displayed in the source code panel, and reformatting the appearance of the at least one graphical control element to convey information related to the each instance of the variable in the code being debugged.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of debugging code, comprising: executing the code during a debugging session; giving control to a debugging program when a debug event occurs; displaying a user interface screen of the debugging program, wherein the user interface screen comprises a source code panel displaying at least a portion of the code and at least one graphical control element configured to allow a user to manipulate the user interface screen; and in response to a user event, configuring the user interface screen with viewable attributes indicative of each instance of a variable in at least the code displayed in the source code panel, and reformatting the appearance of the at least one graphical control element to convey information related to the each instance of the variable in the code being debugged.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the user event is a mouse pointer position relative to a statement in the source code panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to the user event, retrieving debug data collected by a compiler, wherein the debug data specifies a location of the variable in the code and is used to determine a location of the viewable attributes in the user interface screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
117 words
A storage medium containing a debug program which, when executed, performs an operation for debugging code, comprising: while executing the code during a debugging session, taking control of the code when a debug event occurs; rendering a debugger user interface screen, wherein the user interface screen comprises a source code panel displaying at least a portion of the code and at least one graphical control element configured to allow a user to manipulate the user interface screen; and in response to a user event, configuring the at least one graphical control element and user interface screen with viewable attributes indicative of each instance of a variable in at least the code displayed in the source code panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
117 words
A storage medium containing a debug program which, when executed, performs an operation for debugging code, comprising: while executing the code during a debugging session, taking control of the code when a debug event occurs; rendering a debugger user interface screen, wherein the user interface screen comprises a source code panel displaying at least a portion of the code and at least one graphical control element configured to allow a user to manipulate the user interface screen; and in response to a user event, configuring the at least one graphical control element and user interface screen with viewable attributes indicative of each instance of a variable in at least the code displayed in the source code panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The storage medium of claim 4 , wherein the user event is a mouse pointer position relative to a statement in the source code panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The storage medium of claim 4 , further comprising, in response to the user event, retrieving debug data collected by a compiler, wherein the debug data specifies a location of the variable in the code and is used to determine a location of the viewable attributes in the user interface screen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The storage medium of claim 4 , wherein configuring the user interface screen with the viewable attributes comprises at least one of: formatting at least one of a scroll bar and a scroll bar puck with a mark indicating a statement in which the variable is declared; and formatting the statement in which the variable is declared to visually distinguish the statement from other statements not containing the variable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
The storage medium of claim 4 , wherein configuring the user interface screen with the viewable attributes comprises at least one of: formatting at least one of a scroll bar and a scroll bar puck with a mark for each instance of the variable; and formatting each statement containing an instance of the variable to visually distinguish each statement from other statements not containing the variable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The storage medium of claim 8 , wherein each mark is color-coded to indicate whether the respective instance of the variable is updated or referenced.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The storage medium of claim 8 , wherein each mark is color-coded to indicate the position of an immediately next instance of the variable, relative to a current stopped position, in the execution of the code, during a debugging session.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The storage medium of claim 8 , wherein a position of each mark is reflective of a location of the respective instance of the variable in the code.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer, comprising (i) a display device, (ii) a memory containing a compiler and a debug program and (iii) a processor which at least: (a) executes the compiler to perform a compilation process, comprising: determining each instance of each variable in code; and updating a debug data record for each instance of each variable in the code; and (b) executes the debug program to perform a debugging process, comprising: in response to an event, rendering a user interface screen for display on the display device, the user interface screen comprising (i) a source code panel displaying the code which includes at least one instance of a variable and at least one graphical control element configured to allow user manipulation of the screen, and (ii) formatting the at least one graphical control element to display viewable attributes indicative of each instance of the variable in at least the code displayed in the user interface screen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
154 words
A computer, comprising (i) a display device, (ii) a memory containing a compiler and a debug program and (iii) a processor which at least: (a) executes the compiler to perform a compilation process, comprising: determining each instance of each variable in code; and updating a debug data record for each instance of each variable in the code; and (b) executes the debug program to perform a debugging process, comprising: in response to an event, rendering a user interface screen for display on the display device, the user interface screen comprising (i) a source code panel displaying the code which includes at least one instance of a variable and at least one graphical control element configured to allow user manipulation of the screen, and (ii) formatting the at least one graphical control element to display viewable attributes indicative of each instance of the variable in at least the code displayed in the user interface screen.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer of claim 12 , wherein the event is a mouse pointer position relative to a statement in the source code panel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The computer of claim 12 , further comprising, in response to the event, retrieving debug data collected by a compiler, wherein the debug data specifies a location of the variable in the code and is used to determine a location of the viewable attributes in the user interface screen.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
The computer of claim 12 , wherein rendering the user interface screen with the viewable attributes comprises at least one of: formatting at least one of a scroll bar and a scroll bar puck with a mark indicating a statement in which the variable is declared; and formatting the statement in which the variable is declared to visually distinguish the statement from other statements not containing the variable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
65 words
The computer of claim 12 , wherein configuring the user interface screen with the viewable attributes comprises at least one of: formatting at least one of a scroll bar and a scroll bar puck with a mark for each instance of the variable; and formatting each statement containing an instance of the variable to visually distinguish each statement from other statements not containing the variable.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer of claim 16 , wherein each mark is color-coded to indicate whether the respective instance of the variable is updated or referenced.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer of claim 16 , wherein each mark is color-coded to indicate the position of an immediately next instance of the variable, relative to a current stopped position, in the execution of code, during a debugging session.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The computer of claim 16 , wherein a position of each mark is reflective of a location of the respective instance of the variable in the code.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of debugging code, comprising: executing the code during a debugging session; giving control to a debugging program when a debug event occurs; displaying a user interface screen of the debugging program, wherein the user interface screen comprises a source code panel containing code; and in response to a user event, configuring the user interface screen with viewable attributes indicative of each instance of a variable in at least the code displayed in the source code panel, wherein configuring the user interface screen with the viewable attributes comprises at least one of: formatting at least one of a scroll bar and a scroll bar puck with a mark indicating a statement in which the variable is declared; and formatting the statement in which the variable is declared to visually distinguish the statement from other statements not containing the variable.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of debugging code, comprising: executing the code during a debugging session; giving control to a debugging program when a debug event occurs; displaying a user interface screen of the debugging program, wherein the user interface screen comprises a source code panel containing code; and in response to a user event, configuring the user interface screen with viewable attributes indicative of each instance of a variable in at least the code displayed in the source code panel, wherein configuring the user interface screen with the viewable attributes comprises at least one of: formatting at least one of a scroll bar and a scroll bar puck with a mark indicating a statement in which the variable is declared; and formatting the statement in which the variable is declared to visually distinguish the statement from other statements not containing the variable.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of debugging code, comprising: executing the code during a debugging session; giving control to a debugging program when a debug event occurs; displaying a user interface screen of the debugging program, wherein the user interface screen comprises a source code panel containing code; and in response to a user event, configuring the user interface screen with viewable attributes indicative of each instance of a variable in at least the code displayed in the source code panel, wherein configuring the user interface screen with the viewable attributes comprises at least one of: formatting at least one of a scroll bar and a scroll bar puck with a mark for each instance of the variable; and formatting each statement containing an instance of the variable to visually distinguish each statement from other statements not containing the variable.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
137 words
A method of debugging code, comprising: executing the code during a debugging session; giving control to a debugging program when a debug event occurs; displaying a user interface screen of the debugging program, wherein the user interface screen comprises a source code panel containing code; and in response to a user event, configuring the user interface screen with viewable attributes indicative of each instance of a variable in at least the code displayed in the source code panel, wherein configuring the user interface screen with the viewable attributes comprises at least one of: formatting at least one of a scroll bar and a scroll bar puck with a mark for each instance of the variable; and formatting each statement containing an instance of the variable to visually distinguish each statement from other statements not containing the variable.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein each mark is color-coded to indicate whether the respective instance of the variable is updated or referenced.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein each mark is color-coded to indicate the immediately next instance of the variable, relative to a current stopped position, in an execution path of the code being debugged during the debugging session.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein a position of each mark is reflective of a location of the respective instance of the variable in the code.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-10-31 | 2009-05-02 | 2009-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-10-31 | 2013-05-02 | 2013-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-10-31 | 2017-05-02 | 2017-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |