Marker correlation of application constructs with visualizations

Abstract

The visual display of the timing of execution of a marker. During a time frame, a first application program interface, which is configured to represent a first marker, is executed on a first thread of execution of an application. The first application program interface generates a first event for visualization on the display, when executed. During the time frame, a second application program interface, which is configured to represent a second marker, is also executed on the first thread of execution of the application. The second application program interface generates a second event for visualization on the display, when executed. A visualization of the first marker and the second marker is displayed on a timeline visualization of activity of the first thread of execution of the application in the context of the time frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by a computing system having a display for visually indicating on the display a timing of execution of a marker, the method comprising:
 during a time frame, an act of one or more processors of the computing system executing a first application program interface on a first thread of execution of an application, the first application program interface configured to represent a first marker, the first application program interface generating a first event for visualization on the display, when executed;   during the time frame, an act of executing a second application program interface on the first thread of execution of the application, the second application program interface configured to represent a second marker, the second application program interface generating a second event for visualization on the display, when executed; and   an act of displaying a visualization of the first marker and the second marker on a timeline visualization of activity of the first thread of execution of the application in the context of the time frame.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first marker includes a mechanism for turning the visualization of the first marker on and off through an event generation infrastructure. 
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first application program interface includes a text description that is displayed in the timeline visualization of activity. 
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first marker is displayed as a first vertical bar and the second marker is displayed as a second vertical bar. 
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the visualization of the first marker also includes an association with the first thread of execution. 
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the timeline visualization of the execution of the application includes a plurality of threads. 
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an act of capturing a first time that the first event executed. 
     
     
         8 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the timeline is represented in a horizontal direction proceeding from left to right. 
     
     
         9 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the timeline visualization can include any one of: the plurality of threads, disk activity, kernel activity, or processor activity. 
     
     
         10 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the timeline visualization provides an option to expand portions of the timeline for a detailed view. 
     
     
         11 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the executing thread represented on the timeline is assigned an identifier. 
     
     
         12 . A computer program product comprising one or more hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system having a display for visually indicating on the display a timing of execution of a marker, cause the computer system to perform at least the following:
 during a time frame, executing a first application program interface on a first thread of execution of an application, the first application program interface configured to represent a first marker, the first application program interface generating a first event for visualization on the display, when executed;   during the time frame, executing a second application program interface on the first thread of execution of the application, the second application program interface configured to represent a second marker, the second application program interface generating a second event for visualization on the display, when executed; and   displaying a visualization of the first marker and the second marker on a timeline visualization of activity of the first thread of execution of the application in the context of the time frame.   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the first marker includes a mechanism for turning the visualization of the first marker on and off through an event generation infrastructure. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the first application program interface includes a text description that is displayed in the timeline visualization of activity. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the first marker is displayed as a first vertical bar and the second marker is displayed as a second vertical bar. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the visualization of the first marker also includes an association with the first thread of execution. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising an act of capturing a first time that the first event executed. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the timelines is represented in a horizontal direction proceeding from left to right. 
     
     
         19 . A computer system, comprising:
 one or more processors;   a display; and   one or more computer-readable media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to perform at least the following:   during a time frame, executing a first application program interface on a first thread of execution of an application, the first application program interface configured to represent a first marker, the first application program interface generating a first event for visualization on the display, when executed;   during the time frame, executing a second application program interface on the first thread of execution of the application, the second application program interface configured to represent a second marker, the second application program interface generating a second event for visualization on the display, when executed; and   displaying a visualization of the first marker and the second marker on a timeline visualization of activity of the first thread of execution of the application in the context of the time frame.   
     
     
         20 . The computer system in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein the first application program interface includes a text description that is displayed in the timeline visualization of activity.