Concurrent test instrumentation

• US 9,091,723 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2012
• Issued: 07/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Buckhurst, David W., Cartmell, Michael T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Do, Chat
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEON, JAE U
• Application Number:
  US13/593,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20130179109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 717/124, 717/127, 717/130, 717/131
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/2516 Modular arrangements for computer based systems; using personal computers (PC's), e.g. "virtual instruments"
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/2834 Automated test systems [ATE]; using microprocessors or computers G01R31/317 takes precedence; ATE for detection of defective computer hardware G06F11/2736

Abstract

A program can be instrumented to test the program. The test instruments are classified, and concurrency constraints applied based on the classifications. A testing tool determines classifications of a plurality of test instruments in the instrumented program. The testing tool prevents concurrent instantiation of multiple of the plurality of test instruments in a first classification of the classifications. Multiple of the plurality of test instruments in a second classification of the classifications are concurrently instantiated.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining classifications of a plurality of test instruments in an instrumented program, wherein the plurality of test instruments at least includes a first test instrument and a second test instrument in a first classification of the classifications and the plurality of test instruments includes at least a third test instrument and a fourth test instrument in a second classification of the classifications;

instantiating the first test instrument in the instrumented program;

incrementing a counter for the first classification after the instantiation of the first test instrument [is instantiated] and decrementing the counter for the first classification when the first test instrument is no longer active;

preventing concurrent instantiation, in the instrumented program, of the second test instrument with the first test instrument based, at least in part, on the first and second test instruments being in the first classification, wherein preventing concurrent instantiation, in the instrumented program, of the second test instrument with the first test instrument comprises,

determining that the instrumented program is attempting to instantiate the second test instrument;

determining that the first test instrument is currently instantiated for the instrumented program, wherein determining that the first test instrument is currently instantiated for the program comprises determining that the counter for the first classification is greater than zero;

preventing access to code of the second test instrument in response to determining that the first test instrument is currently instantiated;

concurrently instantiating, in the instrumented program, the third and fourth test instruments based, at least in part, on the third and fourth test instruments being in the second classification;

creating a copy of the instrumented program with an indication that prevents instantiation of the first test instrument in the copy and that allows instantiation of the second test instrument; and

instantiating the second test instrument in the copy.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining sub-classes of a set of the plurality of test instruments classified in a third classification of the classifications; and

preventing concurrent instantiation of multiple of the set of the plurality of test instruments in same ones of the sub-classes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said determining the sub-classes of the set of the plurality of test instruments classified in the third classification of the classifications comprises:

for each of the set of the plurality of test instruments, determining an identifier of the test instrument and determining which of the sub-classes the identifier indicates.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining the classifications of the plurality of test instruments in the instrumented program comprises:

for each of the plurality of test instruments, determining an identifier of the test instrument and determining which of the classifications the identifier indicates.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said preventing instantiation of the second test instrument comprises one of deleting the second test instrument, commenting out the second test instrument, and skipping execution of the second test instrument.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising tracking instantiations of test instruments for each of the plurality of classifications.