Debugging device and method as well as storage medium

• US 6,681,343 B1
• Filed: 08/24/2000
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NEC Electronics Corporation (Renesas Electronics Corporation)
• Inventors: Nakabo, Namiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Beausoliel, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bonzo, Bryce P.
• Application Number:
  US09/644,696
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 714/38, 714/46, 717/125, 717/129
• US Class Current: 714/38.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3664 Environments for testing or debugging software

Abstract

A device for debugging a program includes a memory unit for storing a program having a hierarchical structure to be debugged; a display unit for displaying the program stored in the memory; a display state control unit for controlling the display unit to display statements included in the program in selected one of first and second states; and a step-execution unit for performing a step-execution of the program to be debugged in accordance with the selected one of the first and second states.

Claims

1. A device for debugging a program comprising:

a memory unit for storing a program having a hierarchical structure to be debugged;

a display unit for displaying the program stored in the memory;

a display state control unit for controlling the display unit to display statements included in the program in selected one of first and second states; and

a step-execution unit for performing a step-execution of the program to be debugged in accordance with the selected one of the first and second states.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the first display state is a state that the statements are displayed by the display unit, whilst the second display state is a state that the statements are not displayed by the display unit.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the memory stores not only the program but also each of the first and second display states of the statements.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step-execution unit performs the step-execution of the program with reference to individual ones of the first and second display states of the statements stored in the memory.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the memory unit further stores each of the statements as set by the display state control unit and

the step-execution unit performs the step-execution of the program with reference to individual ones of the first and second display states of the statements as stored in the memory unit.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step-execution unit performs the step-execution of statements, by one step, prior to a statement having a hierarchy placed next in the first display state if a lower level hierarchy is placed in the second state.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the program includes an index line having a low level hierarchy, a low-leveled hierarchical line under the index line and normal lines, and

the display unit displays individual statements of the program together with predetermined codes which indicate individual kinds of the statements.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the display unit displays individual statements of the programs together with different codes from the codes, which codes indicate the kinds of the statements if the step-execution means performs the step-execution of the index line or the low level hierarchical lines placed in the non-displayed state.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit displays the individual statements at displaced positions in level in accordance with individual hierarchies.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit displays individual statements of the program together with predetermined codes, which codes indicate that the step-execution is now executing specific statements by the step-execution unit.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step-execution unit performs the step-execution of the program with reference to individual ones of the first and second display states of the statements as stored in the memory unit.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the program to be debugged includes at least an index line having a low level hierarchy, at least a low-leveled hierarchical line under the index line, and normal lines.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein,

the display unit displays individual statements of the programs together with predetermined codes which indicate individual kinds of the statements;

and

the display unit displays the individual statements at displaced position in level in accordance with individual hierarchies.

14. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the display unit displays individual statements of the programs together with predetermined codes which indicate that the step-execution is now on performance by the step-execution unit.

15. A debugging method comprising the steps of:

displaying a program to be debugged, the program having a hierarchical structure;

controlling the display step to place individual statements included in the program in a selected one of first and second display states; and

performing a step-execution of the program to be debugged in accordance with the selected one of the first and second display states.

16. The debugging method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step-execution step performs the step-execution of the statement by one step prior to a statement having a hierarchy placed next in the first display state, if a lower level hierarchy is placed in the second step.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step-execution step performs the step-execution of the statement including a lower level hierarchy placed in the second step in one step prior to a statement having a hierarchy placed next in the first display state.

18. A storage medium storing a debugging program capable of executing the steps of:

displaying a program to be debugged, the program having a hierarchical structure;

controlling a display to place individual statements included in the program in a selected one of first and second display states; and

performing a step-execution of the program to be debugged in accordance with the selected one of the first and second display states.

19. The storage medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein the step-execution step performs the step-execution of a statement including a lower level hierarchy placed in a second step, in one step, prior to a statement having a hierarchy placed next in the first display state.

20. The storage medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein the step-execution step performs the step-execution of the statement including a lower level hierarchy placed in the second step, in one step, and prior to a statement having a hierarchy placed next in the first display state.