SQL debugging using XML dataflows

• US 7,203,927 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2001
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Al-Azzawe, Abdul Hamid, Nelin, Constance Jane
• Primary Examiner(s): Steelman; Mary J.
• Application Number:
  US09/957,795
• Publication Number:
  US 20030056198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,028 Days
• Field of Search: 717124-129, 717/131, 715/513, 714/45, 707 1- 5, 707/10
• US Class Current: 717/124
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066

Abstract

A method, apparatus and article of manufacture is provided for debugging within a computer system network. The method uses XML dataflows from/to a console for debugging of instructions located in a server, which has a database management system for retrieving data from a database stored in an electronic storage device coupled to the server. The method uses a debugger manager at the console for commanding and monitoring debugging operations of the server-side instructions, performed by a debugger engine, and uses XML command and status report dataflows for providing a database communication interface between the debugger manager and the debugger engine. Some preferred embodiments use stored procedures in addition to the XML dataflows, and the debugger manager executes in a multi-threaded environment.

Claims

1. A computer network-based debugging method using XML dataflows from a client for debugging of instructions located in a server having a database management system for retrieving data from a database stored in an electronic storage device coupled to the server, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) debugging of the server-side instructions performed by a server-side debugger engine; and

(b) using XML dataflows for providing a database communication interface between a client-side debugger manager and the server-side debugger engine.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the debugged instructions being written in Persistent SQL Modules (PSM) language.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the debugged instructions being written in PL/SQL language.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the debugged instructions being written in TSQL language.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the debugged instructions being selected from a group comprising stored procedures, user defined functions and triggers.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of using XML dataflows includes sending and receiving the XML dataflows defined as command and status report dataflows, wherein each said dataflow having an XML textual data stream and an XML binary data stream.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the XML textual data stream including textual data type values, the length and offset of any binary data type value contained in the XML binary data stream.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the debugging step providing call-stack tracking, line-by-line execution status reporting, line breakpoints management, variable change breakpoints management, and variable value reporting and modification capabilities.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method being used in a distributed computing environment wherein at least two computer systems being connected by a network, and the computer systems having computers of different type.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the XML dataflows being used for managing server network resources.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein only nonproprietary database connections being required between the server and the client.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of using XML dataflows comprising the following steps:

sending and receiving the XML dataflows defined as command and status report dataflows, wherein each said dataflow having an XML textual data stream and an XML binary data stream; and

using stored procedures at the server as a database communication interface between the debugger manager and the server-side debugger engine.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database communication interface enabling the server-side debugger manager to command and monitor debugging operations of the server-side SQL instructions performed by the server-side debugger engine.

14. A debugger system within a computer system network, using XML dataflows from a client for debugging of instructions located in a server having a database management system for retrieving data from a database stored in an electronic storage device coupled to the server, the system comprising:

a server-side debugger engine for debugging of the server-side instructions; and

a database communication interface between a client-side debugger manager and the server-side debugger engine using XML dataflows.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the debugged instructions being written in Persistent SQL Modules (PSM) language.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the debugged instructions being written in PL/SQL language.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the debugged instructions being written in TSQL language.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein the debugged instructions being selected from a group comprising stored procedures, user defined ftinctions and triggers.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein said XML dataflows comprising XML command dataflows and XML status report dataflows, each having an XML textual data stream and an XML binary data stream.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the XML textual data stream including textual data type values, the length and offset of any binary data type value contained in the XML binary data stream.

21. The system according to claim 14, wherein the server-side debugger system providing call-stack tracking, line-by-line execution status reporting, line breakpoints management, variable change breakpoints management, and variable value reporting and modification capabilities.

22. The system according to claim 14, wherein the system being used in a distributed computing environment wherein at least two computer systems being connected by a network, and the computer systems having computers of different type.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the XML dataflows being used for managing server network resources.

24. The system according to claim 14, wherein only nonproprietary database connections being required between the server and the client.

25. The system according to claim 14, further comprising:

means for sending and receiving the XML dataflows defined as command and status report dataflows, wherein each said dataflow having an XML textual data stream and an XML binary data stream; and

means for using stored procedures at the server as a database communication interface between the server-side debugger manager and the server-side debugger engine.

26. The system according to claim 14, wherein the database communication interface enabling the server-side debugger manager to command and monitor debugging operations of the server-side SQL instructions performed by the server-side debugger engine.

27. A program storage device readable by a computer tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a computer network-based debugging method using XML dataflows from a client for debugging of instructions located in a server having a database management system for retrieving data from a database stored in an electronic storage device coupled to the server, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) debugging of the server-side instructions performed by a server-side debugger engine; and

(b) using XML dataflows for providing a database communication interface between a client-side debugger manager and the server-side debugger engine.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the debugged instructions being written in Persistent SQL Modules (PSM) language.

29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the debugged instructions being written in PL/SQL language.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the debugged instructions being written in TSQL language.

31. The method according to claim 27, wherein the debugged instructions being selected from a group comprising stored procedures, user defined functions and triggers.

32. The method according to claim 27, wherein the step of using XML dataflows includes sending and receiving the XML dataflows defined as command and status report dataflows, wherein each said dataflow having an XML textual data stream and an XML binary data stream.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein the XML textual data stream including textual data type values, the length and offset of any binary data type value contained in the XML binary data stream.

34. The method according to claim 27, wherein the debugging step providing call-stack tracking, line-by-line execution status reporting, line breakpoints management, variable change breakpoints management, and variable value reporting and modification capabilities.

35. The method according to claim 27, wherein the method being used in a distributed computing environment wherein at least two computer systems being connected by a network, and the computer systems having computers of different type.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the XML dataflows being used for managing server network resources.

37. The method according to claim 27, wherein only nonproprietary database connections being required between the server and the client.

38. The method according to claim 27, wherein the step of using XML dataflows comprising the following steps:

sending and receiving the XML dataflows defined as command and status report dataflows, wherein each said dataflow having an XML textual data stream and an XML binary data stream; and

using stored procedures at the server as a database communication interface between the debugger manager and the server-side debugger engine.

39. The method according to claim 27, wherein the database communication interface enabling the server-side debugger manager to command and monitor debugging operations of the server-side SQL instructions performed by the server-side debugger engine.