Software Diagnostics Library

Software Diagnostics Services launches its first cyber satellite to survey the state of cyber space and mine its patterns:

http://www.dumpanalysis.com/cybervostok

Notice a satellite logo: it has an UML 2.0 interface sink similar to Software Diagnostics Institute logo:

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Memory Analysis Patterns (MAPs) including memory dump, malware, software trace (TAPs), and other patterns and pattern catalogs from Software Diagnostics Institute form the very rich semantic network. Now it is possible (by using a metaphorical bijection) to create a catalog of General Patterns of Abnormal Structure and Behaviour including software, hardware, biological behavior including animal (ethology) and human behavior, sociological and historical behavior including economics, business and finance, ethics and law, and even behavior of chemical and physical systems. Such “GAPs of Structure and Behavior” may include wait chains, spikes, deadlocks, etc. We provide more specific examples in the forthcoming parts. So we are a few steps closer to realization of my old dangerous idea of a parameterized science of universal memory dumps by the so called science files or might event a general diagnostics discipline.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

The new SF novella to be published this year: Holes of Infinity (ISBN 978-1-908043436). Book description:

The year 1000001. Intergalactic flight is in deep past. Humans switch between holes on manifold computers to navigate through parallel universes. Some universes are fine-tuned for usage as a library storage and others as universal computers. A researcher finds an ancient desktop machine description in one of the universal libraries and builds a working copy.  Fascinated by the ability of ancients to switch between windows to navigate through different views of the same data the researcher discovers a long sought fine-tuning constant that will transform one of universes into a world suitable for colonization. A new era begins…

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Before deciding on whether to retrospect on 2012 we found that since March 14, 2008 this site has had more than 1 million visitors with more than 33% returning. So instead of just 2012 we decided to retrospect on that interval up to December 31, 2012. Google Analytics has improved since last January, 2012 and now made our task easier. So we start with the first one hundred sites referring to us:

Next table is distribution of visits among countries:

Then the first 100 network locations:

Then the first 100 search keywords and phrases that led to us:

Then browser stats (we have never thought that there are so many of them):

Browser	Visits
Internet Explorer	446051
Firefox	356686
Chrome	184535
Opera	45787
Safari	24123
Mozilla	3780
Mozilla Compatible Agent	2401
Android Browser	1337
Konqueror	1057
IE with Chrome Frame	982
Opera Mini	705
SeaMonkey	503
Safari (in-app)	197
Lunascape	144
BlackBerry8900	128
Camino	126
RockMelt	124
(not set)	96
Netscape	72
Playstation 3	36
IUC	34
Googlebot	29
Lynx	24
Unsupported Browser Version	22
BlackBerry9630	21
NetFront	17
BlackBerry9700	15
Microsoft-Symbol-Server	14
BlackBerry9000	12
Galeon	11
Midori	9
NokiaE63	9
Yahoo! Slurp	9
BlackBerry8530	8
BlackBerry8520	7
PagePeeker.com	7
SAMSUNG-SGH-I617	7
BlackBerry9530	6
JUC	6
MSR-ISRCCrawler	6
OpenWave	6
anonimo	5
BlackBerry9300	5
HTC_HD2_T8585 Opera	5
Nokia5233	5
Space Bison	5
-Vasya	4
Blazer	4
Uzbl	4
-^_^- Hello	3
<?echo ‘<pre>’; system	3
12345	3
BlackBerry9330	3
BlackBerry9650	3
HTC_P3700 Opera	3
HTC_TyTN_II Mozilla	3
NOKIAN78	3
Playstation Portable	3
PPC; 240×320; HTC_P3450	3
undefined GoogleToolbarBB	3
anonymous	2
Empty	2
GreatBrowse	2
Helyi user agent	2
HTC_Touch_Pro2_T7373 Opera	2
HTC_Touch2_T3333 Opera	2
J2ME	2
Mozilla 5.0	2
NokiaC1-01	2
NokiaC3-00	2
NokiaC7-00	2
NokiaX2-01	2
nwzfq	2
test	2
—	1
?M5	1
“PagePeeker.com”	1
<?include	1
<script>alert	1
<SCRIPT>window.location=’http:	1
2.0.0.11	1
31337′	1
8900b	1
AltaVista Intranet V2.0 evreka.com crawler@evreka.com	1
annoying	1
AppEngine-Google;	1
BlackBerry9500	1
BlackBerry9550	1
bwh3_user_agent	1
Citrix	1
EBABrowser	1
EY	1
fake_user_agent Mozilla	1
FAST Enterprise Crawler 6 used by Reed Exhibitions	1
foo	1
General Browser	1
GOOGLEBOT	1
HD_mini_T5555 Opera	1
Hellbrowser 6.66	1
holy_teacher FirePHP	1
HTC_P3490 Opera	1
HTC_P4550 Mozilla	1
HTC_Polaris Mozilla	1
HTC_Touch_3G_T3232 Opera	1
HTC_Touch_HD_T8282 Opera	1
HTC_Touch_Pro_T7272 Opera	1
HTC_Touch2_T3320 Opera	1
HTC-8900	1
IE 8	1
IE6	1
iTunes	1
Keep Out	1
KraftwayBrowser2	1
Links	1
Maemo Browser	1
Medusa	1
MERONG	1
Motorola_ES405B	1
mozilla	1
Mozilla Firefox	1
MS-OC 4.0	1
msie	1
NCSA Mosaic	1
NightDynamo AdminPanel v0.2.1	1
Nokia2700c-2	1
Nokia2730c-1	1
Nokia305	1
Nokia5230	1
Nokia5310XpressMusic	1
Nokia5800 XpressMusic	1
Nokia6300	1
Nokia6700c-1	1
NokiaC2-01	1
NokiaC2-02	1
NokiaC2-03	1
NokiaC5-03	1
nokiac6-00	1
NokiaC6-00	1
NOKIAE65	1
NokiaE66	1
NokiaE71	1
NokiaE71-2;Mozilla	1
NokiaE72-1	1
NokiaN-GageQD	1
NokiaN70-1	1
NokiaNokia 6210s	1
NoneOfYourBusiness	1
nothisname_wangxiaoyang3	1
OmniWeb	1
Palm750	1
Peeplo Screenshot Bot	1
PerTrUsTsQuiD	1
pippos.7	1
PPC; 480×800; HTC_Touch_HD_T8282; OpVer 34.159.1.612	1
PriceGoblin User Agent	1
Private	1
Privoxy	1
Read Later	1
SAMSUNG-GT-E2222	1
samsung-gt-s3653	1
samsung-gt-s3653 UNTRUSTED	1
SAMSUNG-S8000	1
SAMSUNG-SGH-I637	1
Samsung-SPHM540 Polaris	1
SmallProxy 3.5.4	1
SonyEricssonK750	1
Surf	1
tdhbrowser	1
TiFiC Client Z	1
union update table sd_users set userid=9 where username=’coco	1
unknown	1
Unknown	1
UNTRUSTED	1
Updownerbot	1
WIN	1
WinXP SP2	1
Wlwap	1
WM5 PIE	1
Xda_orbit_2; 240×320	1
Xyi znat kakoi browser MRA 5.7	1
ZooShot 0.1a	1
ZooShot 0.42	1

and finally mobile devices stats (you may find your own device there):

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Here are some achievements I’d like to highlight for 2012 (The Year of Software Trace Analysis):

• The birth of Software Diagnostics as a discipline
• Pattern-driven software diagnostics comes to Mac OS X
• Pattern-driven software trace and log analysis acquires a reference training course
• Software Narratology gets an introduction
• Victimware is introduced

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

This is the title of a novella to be published in Spring 2013 (ISBN: 978-1908043412). Book description:

Russia, 1908, June 30, 7:14 a.m., the court of Tsar Nicholas II is wiped out by an impact, an enormous explosion over St. Petersburg. In an ensuring chaos State Duma takes power over Imperial Russia changing the course of World history forever. Russia, 2017, an alternative history novella is published about the Tunguska event that missed the capital of Russia…

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

I get many questions on whether software log analysis patterns from Software Diagnostics Institute are OS or platform or product specific. My answer is that they are independent from all of them because they are based on viewing software logs as stories of computation and were discovered by application of narratological analysis (software narratology). In addition to these patterns there exist domain specific problem patterns such as wrong hotfix level or specific product error code during software installation or execution. Typical examples of support for such platform and product specific type of patterns include Microsoft Windows Problem Reporting and Citrix Auto Support.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Finally, the new version of WinDbg: A Reference Poster and Learning Cards is under development. This time every page is published online for comments, suggestions and corrections which are very welcome. The format of every page follows colored memory space diagram where red cards are for native kernel space commands, blue cards are for unmanaged user space, and green cards are for managed .NET space (click on a picture to open a PDF file):

Download page 1 PDF file

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Pattern-driven software post-construction problem solving involves using preexisting pattern languages and pattern catalogs for software diagnostics, troubleshooting and debugging. Pattern-based software post-construction problem solving addresses PLS (Pattern Life Cycle) - from the discovery of a new pattern through its integration into an existing catalog and language, testing, packaging and delivering to pattern consumers with subsequent usage, refactoring and writing case studies:

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

In addition to MemOS (Memory OS) we propose memCPU architecture where software diagnostics is built from the start. Every CPU instruction from memISA (Memory Instruction Set Architecture) has its previous memory state saved in a memory dump. Plus there are special instructions to facilitate software tracing. All this will be discussed later but for now there is a conceptual diagram depicting data and code input streams and continuous output memory dump stream:

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Influenced by stages of Husserlian phenomenological investigation I propose the following stages for the investigation of phenomena as it appears in software execution artifacts such as memory dumps, traces and logs:

1. Bracketing the outside source code as reduction to patterns of phenomena independent from causal software engineering explanations.

2. Constructing the computational world for the given incident (the so called horizon of computation).

3. Comparing with “computed-in” experience of past computational worlds from which all universal patterns of computational structural and behavioral phenomena emerged.

PS. According to the above software diagnostics is a phenomenological science of patterns. Most probably this sketch will be revised soon. In the mean time here’s a funny coincidence. The first step in a phenomenological method is the so called epoché. I provide my own interpretation of this - “exception processing of crash” hypothetical episteme. Similar to EPOCH metaphysical grand conjecture that our World is just one enormous exception processing handler after Big Bang.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Learn from this Webinar about phenomenological, hermeneutical and analytical approaches to software diagnostics and its knowledge, foundations, norms, theories, logic, methodology, language, ontology, nature and truth. This seminar is hosted by Software Diagnostics Services.

Title: Introduction to Philosophy of Software Diagnostics
Date: 17th of December, 2012
Time: 19:00 GMT
Duration: 60 minutes

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/872846486

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

We tried to post this positive review on Amazon 3 times and each time it was rejected despite being an Amazon verified purchase:

Mathematical Physics

We decided that we never post a review on Amazon again due to such censoring of an opinion about mathematical physics and category theory textbook.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ LiterateScientist.com -

Software Diagnostics Institute main page now features the brand new medical-style logo with UML 2 components and interface sinks:

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

For some time I was struggling with finding a good name for memory dump and software trace analysis activities. The name Memoretics I use for the science of memory dump analysis (that also incorporates software traces) seems not so good to describe the whole practical activity that should be transparent to everyone in IT. Fortunately, I timely understood that all these activities constitute the essence of software diagnostics that previously lacked any solid foundation. Thus, Software Diagnostics Institute was reborn from the previous Crash Dump Analysis Portal. This institute does pure and applied research and scientific activities and in recent years was funded mainly from OpenTask publisher and recently from Memory Dump Analysis Services. The latter company also recognized that the broadening of its commercial activities requires a new name. So, Software Diagnostics Services was reborn:

The First Comprehensive Software Diagnostics Service

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

This is a second Webinar from Memory Dump Analysis Services on software diagnostics. The first one is about pattern recognition. During this Webinar you will learn how to apply systems theory and systems thinking for effective and efficient abnormal software behavior diagnostics: the foundation of software troubleshooting and debugging. The seminar summarizes 6 years of research done by Software Diagnostics Institute started with a short blog post Dumps and Systems Theory.

Title: Introduction to Systemic Software Diagnostics: Systems Thinking in Memory Dump and Software Trace Analysis
Date: 3rd of September, 2012
Time: 17:00 (BST) 12:00 (EST) 09:00 (PST)
Duration: 60 minutes

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/377382766

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Memory Dump Analysis Services organizes a free webinar on a unified malware and victimware analysis by using behavioral and structural patterns including a live memory dump analysis example.

Date: 2nd of July, 2012
Time: 17:00 (BST) 12:00 (EST) 09:00 (PST)
Duration: 60 minutes

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/332458406

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

Memory Dump Analysis Services will be administering certifications developed by Software Diagnostics Institute for memory dump and software trace analysis:

Software Diagnostics Maturity Enterprise Certification
Memory Dump Analysis Certification is available this September

Debugging TV Frames episode 0×10 contains some background information.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

DumpAnalysis.org portal has been reorganized to Software Diagnostics Institute to reflect the nature of its research activities. More updates later on.

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -

The cover of the latest Economist issue arrived today picturing a third industrial revolution prompted me to write about Software as means of production that I was thinking for sometime and even created a Software Generalist Party you are welcome to join. Software generalists are the future driving force of society change and I started working on a work comparable to Marx’s Capital called Software, Volume 1 subtitled as A Critical Analysis of Industrial Production (ISBN: 978-1908043375). It will also include an analysis of new emerging commodities such as memories.