Software Diagnostics Library

The case of an error reporting fault chain led me to First Fault Stack Trace memory dump analysis pattern that corresponds to First Fault software diagnostics pattern proper. Here the term first fault is used for an exception that was either ignored by surrounding code or led to other exceptions or error message boxes with stack traces that masked the first one. Typical examples where it is sometimes possible to get a first exception stack trace include but not limited to:

• Fault in error reporting started as a fault in in some other process
• Hidden exception in user or kernel space
• Double fault
• Nested exception in unmanaged and managed code
• Nested offender

It is also sometimes possible unless a stack region was paged out to get partial stack traces from execution residue when the sequence of return addresses was partially overwritten by subsequently executed code.

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

These are important meta-patterns of monitoring and software problem analysis reports. It is often the case that we have software artifacts and some problem description and we need to provide recommendations on further troubleshooting. Most of the time such an analysis and associated response fit into abstract schemes where we can just substitute variables for concrete states, actions, artifacts and behavioral descriptions. Sometimes we also have difficulty to write such analysis reports so we hope report schemes is of help here to provide organizing templates for thought process. The first such scheme we call Missing Cause Trace:

1. If Action then Behavior
2. We have a trace of Behavior
3. We need a trace of Action and Behavior

The difference with Truncated Trace pattern here is that in a truncated trace it was intended to trace certain behaviour but the tracing session was stopped prematurely or started too late. In a missing cause trace only a part of necessary activity was traced and the missing part wasn’t thought of or considered for tracing.

- 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 -

After some thinking I’ve decided to apply software trace analysis pattern approach to network trace analysis which lacks a unified pattern language. Here I consider a network trace as essentially a software trace where packet headers represent software trace messages coupled with associated transmitted data:

Since we have a trace message stream formatted by a network trace visualization tool we can apply most if not all trace analysis patterns for diagnostics including software narratology for interpretation, discourse and different representations. We provide a few trivial examples here and more in subsequent parts. The first example is Discontinuity pattern:

Other similar patterns are No Activity, Truncated Trace and Time Delta. The second example is Anchor Messages:

Additional example there include Significant Event and Bifurcation Point patterns. Layered protocols are represented through Embedded Message pattern (to be described and added to the pattern list soon). Such traces can be filtered for their embedded protocol headers and therefore naturally represent Adjoint Thread pattern (for the more detailed description of adjoint threads as extension of multithreading please see the article What is an Adjoint Thread):

- 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 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 -

While preparing a seminar on Software Diagnostics I made a lot of notes and realized that a system of patterns, corresponding vocabulary and pattern language are needed for this discipline. Here patterns are supposed to be broad in nature and be different from patterns for specific artifacts such as memory dumps and software traces. So the first pattern addresses a diagnostic encounter with a First Fault in comparison to subsequent faults where the problem becomes noticeable and diagnostic resources are allocated. Such faults should not be dismissed. Dan Skwire is a passionate advocate of first fault software problem solving and wrote a book:

First Fault Software Problem Solving: A Guide for Engineers, Managers and Users

The following paper proposes distributed control flow reconstruction for first fault diagnosis:

TraceBack: First Fault Diagnosis by Reconstruction of Distributed Control Flow

Memory Dump Analysis Services uses patterns of abnormal software behavior for its first fault diagnostics that doesn’t require any special instrumentation:

Join Debugging Diagnostics Revolution!

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