Archive for the ‘The Way of Philip Marlowe’ Category
Sunday, September 23rd, 2012
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 -
Posted in Announcements, Computer Science, Core Dump Analysis, Crash Dump Analysis, Crash Dump Patterns, Debugging, Debugging Methodology, Education and Research, Escalation Engineering, First Fault Software Diagnostics, Hermeneutics of Memory Dumps and Traces, Logic, Memiotics (Memory Semiotics), Memoretics, Memory Dump Analysis Methodology, Performance Monitoring, Phenomenology of Software Diagnostics, Philosophy, Philosophy of Software Diagnostics, Root Cause Analysis, Science of Memory Dump Analysis, Science of Software Tracing, Semiotics, Software Behavior Patterns, Software Diagnostics, Software Diagnostics Institute, Software Diagnostics Pattern Language, Software Diagnostics Patterns, Software Diagnostics Services, Software and Philosophy, Systems Theory, Systems Thinking, Testing, The Way of Philip Marlowe, Trace Analysis Patterns, Unified Software Diagnostics, Webinars | No Comments »
Thursday, November 3rd, 2011
The new 6th volume contains revised, edited, cross-referenced, and thematically organized selected DumpAnalysis.org blog posts about memory dump and software trace analysis, software troubleshooting and debugging written in November 2010 - October 2011 for software engineers developing and maintaining products on Windows platforms, quality assurance engineers testing software on Windows platforms, technical support and escalation engineers dealing with complex software issues, and security researchers, malware analysts and reverse engineers. The sixth volume features:
- 56 new crash dump analysis patterns including 14 new .NET memory dump analysis patterns
- 4 new pattern interaction case studies
- 11 new trace analysis patterns
- New Debugware pattern
- Introduction to UI problem analysis patterns
- Introduction to intelligence analysis patterns
- Introduction to unified debugging pattern language
- Introduction to generative debugging, metadefect template library and DNA of software behaviour
- The new school of debugging and trends
- .NET memory dump analysis checklist
- Software trace analysis checklist
- Introduction to close and deconstructive readings of a software trace
- Memory dump analysis compass
- Computical and Stack Trace Art
- The abductive reasoning of Philip Marlowe
- Orbifold memory space and cloud computing
- Memory worldview
- Interpretation of cyberspace
- Relationship of memory dumps to religion
- Fully cross-referenced with Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, Volume 4, and Volume 5
Product information:
- Title: Memory Dump Analysis Anthology, Volume 6
- Author: Dmitry Vostokov
- Language: English
- Product Dimensions: 22.86 x 15.24
- Paperback: 300 pages
- Publisher: Opentask (December 2011)
- ISBN-13: 978-1-908043-19-1
- Hardcover: 300 pages
- Publisher: Opentask (January 2012)
- ISBN-13: 978-1-908043-20-7

Back cover features 3d memory space visualization image created with ParaView.
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in .NET Debugging, Announcements, Art, Books, Cloud Computing, Cloud Memory Dump Analysis, Common Mistakes, Complete Memory Dump Analysis, Computer Science, Computicart (Computical Art), Crash Dump Analysis, Crash Dump Patterns, Cyber Intelligence, Cyber Problems, Cyber Security, Cyber Space, Cyber Warfare, DebugWare Patterns, Debugging, Debugging Industry, Debugging Methodology, Debugging Slang, Debugging Trends, Escalation Engineering, Generative Debugging, Intelligence Analysis Patterns, Kernel Development, Memoidealism, Memoretics, Memory Visualization, Metadefect Template Library, New Debugging School, Philosophy, Physicalist Art, Publishing, Root Cause Analysis, Science of Memory Dump Analysis, Science of Software Tracing, Security, Software Behavior DNA, Software Behavior Patterns, Software Behavioral Genome, Software Engineering, Software Narratology, Software Technical Support, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Deconstruction, Software Trace Reading, Software Victimology, Testing, The Way of Philip Marlowe, Tools, Trace Analysis Patterns, Training and Seminars, Troubleshooting Methodology, UI Problem Analysis Patterns, Unified Debugging Patterns, Victimware, WinDbg Tips and Tricks, Windows 7, Windows Azure, Windows Data Structures, Windows Server 2008, Windows System Administration, x64 Windows | No Comments »
Sunday, April 17th, 2011
I’m pleased to announce that MDAA, Volume 5 is available in PDF format:
www.dumpanalysis.org/Memory+Dump+Analysis+Anthology+Volume+5
It features:
- 25 new crash dump analysis patterns
- 11 new pattern interaction case studies (including software tracing)
- 16 new trace analysis patterns
- 7 structural memory patterns
- 4 modeling case studies for memory dump analysis patterns
- Discussion of 3 common analysis mistakes
- Malware analysis case study
- Computer independent architecture of crash analysis report service
- Expanded coverage of software narratology
- Metaphysical and theological implications of memory dump worldview
- More pictures of memory space and physicalist art
- Classification of memory visualization tools
- Memory visualization case studies
- Close reading of the stories of Sherlock Holmes: Dr. Watson’s observational patterns
- Fully cross-referenced with Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3, and Volume 4
Its table of contents is available here:
www.dumpanalysis.org/MDAA/MDA-Anthology-V5-TOC.pdf
Paperback and hardcover versions should be available in a week or two. I also started working on Volume 6 that should be available in November-December.
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Aesthetics of Memory Dumps, Analysis Notation, Announcements, AntiPatterns, Archaeology of Computer Memory, Art, Assembly Language, Best Practices, Books, C and C++, CDF Analysis Tips and Tricks, Categorical Debugging, Citrix, Common Mistakes, Common Questions, Complete Memory Dump Analysis, Computer Forensics, Computer Science, Crash Analysis Report Environment (CARE), Crash Dump Analysis, Crash Dump De-analysis, Crash Dump Patterns, Crash Dumps for Dummies, Cyber Warfare, Debugging, Debugging Bureau, Debugging Industry, Debugging Methodology, Debugging Slang, Debugging Trends, Deep Down C++, Dr. Watson, Dublin School of Security, Education and Research, Escalation Engineering, Fun with Crash Dumps, Fun with Debugging, Fun with Software Traces, General Memory Analysis, Hermeneutics of Memory Dumps and Traces, Images of Computer Memory, Kernel Development, Malware Analysis, Mathematics of Debugging, Memiotics (Memory Semiotics), Memory Analysis Forensics and Intelligence, Memory Diagrams, Memory Dump Analysis Services, Memory Dumps in Myths, Memory Space Art, Memory Systems Language, Memory Visualization, Memory and Glitches, Metaphysics of Memory Worldview, Multithreading, Music for Debugging, New Acronyms, New Debugging School, New Words, Pattern Models, Philosophy, Physicalist Art, Publishing, Reverse Engineering, Science of Memory Dump Analysis, Science of Software Tracing, Security, Software Architecture, Software Behavior Patterns, Software Chorography, Software Chorology, Software Defect Construction, Software Engineering, Software Generalist, Software Maintenance Institute, Software Narratology, Software Technical Support, Software Trace Analysis, Software Trace Reading, Software Trace Visualization, Software Tracing for Dummies, Software Troubleshooting Patterns, Software Victimology, Structural Memory Patterns, Structural Trace Patterns, Systems Thinking, Testing, The Way of Philip Marlowe, Tools, Trace Analysis Patterns, Training and Seminars, Troubleshooting Methodology, Victimware, Vista, Webinars, WinDbg Scripting Extensions, WinDbg Scripts, WinDbg Tips and Tricks, WinDbg for GDB Users, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows System Administration, Workaround Patterns, x64 Windows | No Comments »
Thursday, February 24th, 2011
Learning from Philip Marlowe, a detective:
“I like you,” she said suddenly. “You believe in miracles.”
Raymond Chandler, The Big Sleep
Do you believe in miracles from a driver modifying an arbitrary user space? Or in a miracle of suddenly disappearing software incidents?
- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Bugtations, Debugging, Escalation Engineering, Fun with Debugging, Kernel Development, Software Technical Support, The Way of Philip Marlowe | 1 Comment »
Sunday, January 2nd, 2011
Working for more than 7 years in technical support environment I found that many support incidents were resolved more easily by abductive reasoning than by induction and deduction practiced by Sherlock Holmes and observed by Dr. Watson. Abduction as a way to build an incident theory to advance in problem resolution was practiced by a USA colleague of Holmes: Philip Marlowe. Because technical support is less detached from customers (”the world”) when compared to software engineering departments I see the way of Marlowe as more natural. Of course, from time to time the way of Holmes is also appropriate. All depends on a support case. I found that abductive reasoning is also appropriate for memory dump and software trace analysis where “leaps of faith” are necessary because of insufficient information. Such leaps of abduction actually happen all the time when analysts give troubleshooting advice based on patterns.
I plan to write more about the 3rd way of reasoning after I finish reading two Raymond Chandler’s novels and a few other inference, causality and explanation books I mention later: The Big Sleep & Farewell, My Lovely (Modern Library)
.


I’m grateful for Clive Gamble for pointing this way out in his book Archaeology: The Basics


- Dmitry Vostokov @ DumpAnalysis.org + TraceAnalysis.org -
Posted in Archaeology of Computer Memory, Books, Crash Dump Analysis, Debugging, Debugging Methodology, Dr. Watson, Escalation Engineering, Logic, New Debugging School, Software Technical Support, Software Trace Analysis, The Way of Philip Marlowe, Troubleshooting Methodology | No Comments »