Multiple Tracer Configurations Applied on a Function-by-Function Level

Abstract

A tracing system may use different configurations for tracing various functions in different manners. A configuration may be a group of settings that may define which data elements to collect, as well as the manner in which the data may be summarized, stored, and in some cases, displayed. Example configurations may include debugging configuration, performance optimization configuration, long term monitoring configuration, and others. The tracing system may be able to trace one group of functions with one configuration, while tracing another group of functions in the same application using a different configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed by at least one computer processor, said method comprising:
 receiving an application, said application comprising a plurality of functions;   identifying a first function from said application;   evaluating a tracing list to determine a tracing configuration for said first function;   when said first function is to be traced in a first configuration, causing said first function to be traced according to said first configuration;   when said first function is to be traced in a second configuration, causing said first function to be traced according to said second configuration;   when said first function is to be traced in a third configuration, causing said first function to be traced according to said third configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 identifying a second function from said application; 
 evaluating said tracing list to determine a second tracing configuration for said second function; and 
 causing said second function to be traced according to said second configuration when said first function is to be traced according to said first configuration. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , said first function being a first instance of said first function, said second function being a second instance of said first function. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 identifying a third function from said application; 
 evaluating said tracing list to determine a third tracing configuration for said third function; and 
 causing said third function to be traced according said third configuration when said first function is to be traced according to said first configuration and said second function is to be traced according to said second configuration. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , said first function being a first instance of said first function, said second function being a second instance of said first function, and said third function being a third instance of said first function. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , said first configuration being a debugging configuration, said second configuration being a monitoring configuration, and said third configuration comprising no tracing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , said evaluating said tracing list being performed prior to executing said application. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , said causing said first function to be traced according to said first configuration comprising compiling said first function with said first tracer configuration. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , said compiling being a just-in-time compilation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 4 , said evaluating said tracing list being performed after starting execution of said application. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 receiving an update to said tracing list after starting said execution of said application. 
 
     
     
         12 . A system comprising:
 at least one processor;   an execution environment executing on said at least one processor, said execution environment executing an application;   a tracing list comprising a plurality of entries, each of said entries comprising a function identifier and a corresponding tracing configuration;   a tracer executing within said execution environment, said tracer that:
 identifies a first function from said application; 
 evaluating a tracing list to determine a tracing configuration for said first function; 
 when said first function is to be traced in a first configuration, causing said first function to be traced according to said first configuration; 
 when said first function is to be traced in a second configuration, causing said first function to be traced according to said second configuration; 
 when said first function is to be traced in a third configuration, causing said first function to be traced according to said third configuration. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising:
 a tracing list manager that receives updates to said tracing list, and causes said tracing list to be updated. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , said tracing list manager that causes said tracing list to be updated while said application executes. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , said tracer wrapping said first function in a first tracing closure. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , said first tracing closure causing said tracer to trace said first function according to said tracing configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , said tracing list identifying a single tracing configuration applied to a group of functions. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , said group of functions being identified as a module. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , said group of functions being identified as a file comprising said group of functions. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , said tracing list identifying said first tracing configuration to be applied to a first instance of said first function, said tracing list further identifying a second tracing configuration to be applied to a second instance of said first function.