How Debuggers Work: Algorithms, Data Structures, and Architecture

By Jonathan B. Rosenberg

Book Overview

A total guide to debuggers: what they do, how they work, and how to use them to produce better programs "Debuggers are the magnifying glass, the microscope, the logic analyzer, the profiler, and the browser with which a program can be examined."-Jonathan B. Rosenberg Debuggers are an indispensable tool in the development process. In fact, during the course of the average software project, more hours are spent debugging software than in compiling code. Yet, not many programmers really know how to constructively interpret the results they get back from debuggers. And even fewer know what makes these complex suites of algorithms and data structures tick. Now in this extremely accessible guide, Jonathan B. Rosenberg demystifies debuggers for programmers and shows them how to make better use of debuggers in their next projects. Taking a hands-on, problem-solving approach to a complex subject, Rosenberg explains how debuggers work and why programmers use them. Most importantly, he provides practical discussions of debugger algorithms and procedures for their use, accompanied by many practical examples. The author also discusses a wide variety of systems applications, from Microsoft's Win32 debug API to a large parallel architecture. Visit our Web site at: http://www.wiley.com/compbooks/

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471149667
• ISBN13: 9780471149668
• Release Date: October 1996
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.11 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.5" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Quite useful short book

I think this book deserves reading, espesially if you are a beginner in corresponding field. It covers main aproaches to debugging, describes difficulties of debugging, briefly describes functionality, provided by Unix and Windows and it mentions future trends in this field. I think, taking into account nearly total absence of any structured information about this field of computer science, this book deserves reading.

i liked this book very much

This book has been real help to me in "designing implementation of symbolic debugger" as my b.e. final year project. This book has been a source of help in case of any problem i faced during my project.

A Good introductory book

Considering there are practically *no* books around that deals with debugger theory, I would label it a pioneering effort from Mr. Rosenberg.True that it side steps or do not discuss in detail issues which most debugger *writers* would want to know, I can understand why the author named the book 'How debuggers Work' instead of 'How to write debuggers' or 'Debugger writing: Principles and Techniques' etc. Still it gets you going and clear lots of necessary concepts.

A well written introduction to a very complex topic

Kudos! I found this book to be insightful and informative. The hints about internal workings of debuggers gave me, as a software engineer, insights into how to write higher quality code. My use of debuggers is no longer shrouded in magic. Now I really understand what they're telling me.