Archive for the ‘Software Tracing Implementation Patterns’ Category
Saturday, September 22nd, 2018
Sometimes, we ask for a log file to see State and Event pattern, and see it there, only to find that we cannot do Back Trace of State Dumps from some Significant Event for Inter-Correlation analysis because our Data Interval is truncated (Truncated Trace). This highlights the importance of proper tracing intervals that we call Significant Interval analysis pattern by analogy with significant digits in scientific measurements. The following diagram illustrate the pattern:

If you find out you get truncated traces and logs often you may want to increase Statement Current for state logging.
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Log Analysis, Mathematics of Debugging, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Analysis Tips and Tricks, Software Tracing Design, Software Tracing Implementation Patterns, Trace Analysis Patterns | No Comments »
Friday, December 14th, 2012
This pattern is called Opposition Messages (borrowed from binary opposition originated in Saussure’s structuralism). It covers the following pairs of messages usually found in software traces and logs such as:
- open / close
- create / destroy
- allocate / free (deallocate)
- call / return
- enter / exit (leave)
- load / unload
- save / load
- lock / unlock
- map / unmap
The absence of an opposite may point to some problems such as synchronization and leaks or Incomplete History (wait chains). There can always be a possibility that a second term is missing due to Sparse Trace but this is a poor implementation choice that leads to confusion during troubleshooting and debugging.
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Debugging, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Reading, Software Tracing Implementation Patterns, Trace Analysis Patterns | No Comments »
Sunday, April 15th, 2012
In a week this short full color book should appear in online bookstores:
- Title: Software Narratology: An Introduction to the Applied Science of Software Stories
- Authors: Dmitry Vostokov, Memory Dump Analysis Services
- Description: This is a transcript of Memory Dump Analysis Services Webinar about Software Narratology: an exciting new discipline and a field of research founded by DumpAnalysis.org. When software executes it gives us its stories in the form of UI events, software traces and logs. Such stories can be analyzed for their structure and patterns for troubleshooting, debugging and problem resolution purposes. Topics also include software narremes and their types, anticipatory software construction and software diagnostics.
- Publisher: OpenTask (April 2012)
- Language: English
- Product Dimensions: 28.0 x 21.6
- Paperback: 26 pages
- ISBN-13: 978-1908043078

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Announcements, Books, CDF Analysis Tips and Tricks, Code Reading, Computer Science, Debugging, Debugging Methodology, Debugging Trends, Education and Research, Escalation Engineering, Event Tracing for Windows (ETW), Hermeneutics of Memory Dumps and Traces, Ideas, Narralog Programming Language, New Debugging School, Pattern-Driven Debugging, Pattern-Driven Software Support, Presentations, Publishing, Root Cause Analysis, SPDL, Science of Software Tracing, Software Behavior DNA, Software Behavior Patterns, Software Behavioral Genome, Software Diagnostics, Software Engineering, Software Narrative Fiction, Software Narrative Science, Software Narratology, Software Narremes, Software Problem Description Patterns, Software Problem Solving, Software Technical Support, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Analysis and History, Software Trace Deconstruction, Software Trace Linguistics, Software Trace Modeling, Software Trace Reading, Software Trace Visualization, Software Tracing Implementation Patterns, Software Troubleshooting Patterns, Structural Trace Patterns, Systems Thinking, Testing, Tools, Trace Analysis Patterns, Training and Seminars, Troubleshooting Methodology, UI Problem Analysis Patterns, Unified Debugging Patterns, Unified Software Diagnostics, Webinars | No Comments »
Sunday, February 19th, 2012
Memory Dump Analysis Services (DumpAnalysis.com) organizes a free Webinar about software narratology: an application of ideas from narratology to software narrative stories.

Learn about this exciting new discipline and a field of research. When software executes it gives us its stories in the form of UI events, software traces and logs. Such stories can be analyzed for their structure and patterns for troubleshooting, debugging and problem resolution purposes.
Prerequisites: basic software troubleshooting and ability to read software generated logs.
Audience: anyone can benefit from this new perspective: from software users to software engineers and managers.
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/603136294
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Announcements, Computer Science, Debugging, Escalation Engineering, Intelligence Analysis Patterns, Memory Dump Analysis Services, SPDL, Science of Software Tracing, Security, Software Behavior DNA, Software Behavior Patterns, Software Behavioral Genome, Software Engineering, Software Narrative Fiction, Software Narratology, Software Problem Description Patterns, Software Problem Solving, Software Technical Support, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Deconstruction, Software Trace Linguistics, Software Trace Modeling, Software Trace Reading, Software Trace Visualization, Software Tracing Implementation Patterns, Software Tracing for Dummies, Software Troubleshooting Patterns, Software Victimology, Structural Trace Patterns, Testing, Tools, Trace Analysis Patterns, Troubleshooting Methodology, UI Problem Analysis Patterns, Unified Debugging Patterns, Unit Testing, Victimware, Webinars, Windows System Administration | No Comments »
Saturday, December 17th, 2011
The number of software trace analysis patterns approaches the critical mass of 50 and we have decided to focus on software tracing and logging in the forthcoming year. Some books on tracing including Volume 7 of Memory Dump Analysis Anthology will be published by OpenTask during that year and our efforts will be to further advance software narratology, software trace linguistics, and software trace analysis in the context of memory dump analysis, generative debugging and modeling software behavior.
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Announcements, CDF Analysis Tips and Tricks, Debugging, Generative Debugging, Memoretics, Science of Software Tracing, Software Behavior DNA, Software Behavior Patterns, Software Behavioral Genome, Software Narratology, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Analysis and History, Software Trace Deconstruction, Software Trace Linguistics, Software Trace Reading, Software Trace Visualization, Software Tracing Implementation Patterns, Software Tracing for Dummies, Trace Analysis Patterns | No Comments »
Wednesday, September 21st, 2011
Memoretics as a science of memory snapshots borrows many ideas from the following disciplines (the list is not exhaustive):
- Troubleshooting and Debugging
- Intelligence Analysis
- Critical Thinking
- Forensics
- Linguistics
- Archaeology
- Psychoanalysis
- History
- Mathematics: Sets and Categories
- Literary Criticism and Narratology
It also contributes many ideas back. The following diagram depicts such an interaction:

- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Archaeology of Computer Memory, Categorical Debugging, Computer Forensics, Computer Science, Countefactual Debugging, Crash Dump Analysis, Crash Dump De-analysis, Crash Dump Patterns, Debugging, Debugging Methodology, Dublin School of Security, Education and Research, Escalation Engineering, General Memory Analysis, Generative Debugging, Hermeneutics of Memory Dumps and Traces, History, Intelligence Analysis Patterns, M->analysis, Malware Analysis, Malware Patterns, Mathematics of Debugging, Memiotics (Memory Semiotics), Memoretics, Memory Analysis Forensics and Intelligence, Memory Dump Analysis and History, Memory Systems Language, Memory Visualization, Metadefect Template Library, Metamalware, New Debugging School, Paleo-debugging, Pattern Models, Pattern Prediction, Psychoanalysis of Software Maintenance and Support, Psychology, Reverse Engineering, Root Cause Analysis, Science of Memory Dump Analysis, Science of Software Tracing, Security, Software Architecture, Software Behavior DNA, Software Behavior Patterns, Software Behavioral Genome, Software Chorography, Software Chorology, Software Defect Construction, Software Engineering, Software Narratology, Software Technical Support, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Analysis and History, Software Trace Deconstruction, Software Trace Linguistics, Software Trace Reading, Software Trace Visualization, Software Tracing Implementation Patterns, Software Troubleshooting Patterns, Software Victimology, Software and History, Structural Memory Analysis and Social Sciences, Structural Memory Patterns, Structural Trace Patterns, Systems Thinking, Testing, Tools, Trace Analysis Patterns, Troubleshooting Methodology, UI Problem Analysis Patterns, Unified Debugging Patterns, Victimware, Virtualization, Visual Dump Analysis, Workaround Patterns | No Comments »
Saturday, March 26th, 2011
The presentation materials from the webinar (25th of March, 2011) are available for download:
http://www.dumpanalysis.com/PDSPSI-materials
Thanks to everyone who registered and attended!
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Announcements, Crash Dump Analysis, Crash Dump Patterns, DebugWare Patterns, Debugging, Debugging Methodology, Escalation Engineering, Mac Crash Corner, Malware Analysis, Malware Patterns, Memory Analysis Forensics and Intelligence, Software Architecture, Software Behavior Patterns, Software Engineering, Software Technical Support, Software Trace Analysis, Software Tracing Implementation Patterns, Software Troubleshooting Patterns, Structural Memory Patterns, Structural Trace Patterns, Tools, Trace Analysis Patterns, Training and Seminars, Troubleshooting Methodology, Unified Debugging Patterns, Webinars, Workaround Patterns | No Comments »
Monday, March 7th, 2011

The first Webinar to start an in-depth discussion of pattern-driven software troubleshooting, debugging and maintenance:
Date: 25th of March 2011
Time: 18:30 (GMT) 14:30 (EST) 11:30 (PST)
Duration: 60 minutes
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/448268158
Topics include:
- A Short History of DumpAnalysis.org
- Memory Dump Analysis Patterns
- Troubleshooting and Debugging Tools (Debugware) Patterns
- Software Trace Analysis Patterns
- From Software Defects to Software Behavior
- Workaround Patterns
- Structural Memory Patterns
- Memory Analysis Domain Pattern Hierarchy
- New Directions
Prerequisites: experience in software troubleshooting and/or debugging.
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in .NET Debugging, Analysis Notation, Announcements, AntiPatterns, Best Practices, CDA Pattern Classification, Crash Dump Analysis, Crash Dump Patterns, DebugWare Patterns, Debugging, Debugging Methodology, Debugging Trends, Escalation Engineering, Java Debugging, Linux Crash Corner, Mac Crash Corner, Malware Analysis, Malware Patterns, Memory Analysis Forensics and Intelligence, Memory Dump Analysis Services, Pattern Models, Pattern Prediction, Presentations, Software Behavior Patterns, Software Chorology, Software Engineering, Software Narratology, Software Technical Support, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Reading, Software Tracing Implementation Patterns, Software Troubleshooting Patterns, Structural Memory Patterns, Structural Trace Patterns, Systems Thinking, Testing, Trace Analysis Patterns, Training and Seminars, Troubleshooting Methodology, Unified Debugging Patterns, Webinars, Workaround Patterns | No Comments »
Saturday, January 1st, 2011
With the new year starts the new initiative to integrate traditional multidisciplinary debugging approaches and methodologies with multiplatform pattern-driven software problem solving, unified debugging patterns, best practices in memory dump analysis and software tracing, computer security, economics, and the new emerging trends I’m going to write about during this year.
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Announcements, Best Practices, Computer Forensics, Computer Science, Countefactual Debugging, Crash Analysis Report Environment (CARE), Crash Dump Analysis, Crash Dump Patterns, DebugWare Patterns, Debugging, Debugging Industry, Debugging Methodology, Debugging Trends, Dublin School of Security, Economics, Education and Research, Escalation Engineering, First Fault Problem Solving, Malware Analysis, Malware Patterns, Mathematics of Debugging, Memiotics (Memory Semiotics), Memoretics, Memory Analysis Forensics and Intelligence, Memory Analysis Report System, Memory Dump Analysis Services, Memory Systems Language, Memory Visualization, New Debugging School, Science of Memory Dump Analysis, Science of Software Tracing, Security, Software Behavior Patterns, Software Defect Construction, Software Engineering, Software Generalist, Software Maintenance Institute, Software Narratology, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Visualization, Software Tracing Implementation Patterns, Software Troubleshooting Patterns, Structural Memory Patterns, Structural Trace Patterns, Systems Thinking, Testing, Tool Objects, Tools, Trace Analysis Patterns, Training and Seminars, Troubleshooting Methodology, Unified Debugging Patterns, Victimware, Visual Dump Analysis, Webinars, Workaround Patterns | No Comments »
Wednesday, December 29th, 2010
In these post series we are going to discuss the best practices for software tracing implementation including appropriate patterns and their links to software trace analysis patterns. The first one is called Period Timestamp where the start and the end time (and the date if necessary) are recorded in the trace file. This helps in Inter-Correlation and News Value analysis between several different trace types. For example, in one scenario, we had WindowHistory and MessageHistory logs. We identified a problem in the former log as happening at this time:
Handle: 00010196 Class: "ClassA" Title: "TitleA"
Captured at: 13:36:30:533
[…]
However, when we looked at the latter trace to search for specific window messages posted or sent before that time we saw that the recording started later than the former event:
Start time: 13:36:35:830
Period timestamps are necessary to distinguish Incomplete History from Truncated Trace where in the former case the absence of expected trace message is due to some problem.
From a unified debugging patterns perspective we have this sequence fragment:
Implementation Patterns: Period Timestamp
Usage Patterns: Trace Simultaneously
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Best Practices, Debugging, Debugging Methodology, Software Architecture, Software Engineering, Software Narratology, Software Technical Support, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Reading, Software Tracing Implementation Patterns, Trace Analysis Patterns, Troubleshooting Methodology, Unified Debugging Patterns | No Comments »