Features/EclipseCallGraph

Launch local SystemTap scripts on Eclipse

Summary

Graphically displays the call hierarchy from executing a C/C++ binary, along with various other runtime statistics.

Owner

• Name: Charley Wang
• E-mail: chwang@redhat.com
• Name: Roland Grunberg
• E-mail: rgrunber@redhat.com

Current status

• Targeted release: Fedora 12
• Last updated: 2009-09-29
• Percentage of completion: 100%

Detailed Description

Allow developers to profile their C/C++ projects directly from Eclipse, and view various runtime information about their program such as :

• Relationship between function calls
• Number of times each function was called
• Time an instance of a function took relative to whole program
• Cumulative time of a function relative to whole program
• Ability to click on a function in the visual graph, and jump to its source code
• Ability to 'step' through function calls within the graph in chronological order

In addition, this feature allows the viewing of the entire call hierarchy in various ways :

• One function at a time, and only its children, along with nodes coloured to represent whether that function has additional children
• All function in a condensed tree-like structure to show as much of the call hierarchy as is possible
• All functions in a larger tree structure so as to give the user the ability to pan around the hierarchy
• All unique functions as boxes with colour and size relative to the number of calls, and time taken respectively
• Ability to switch between viewing all instances of functions called, and all identical functions grouped together

Benefit to Fedora

Makes it easier for C/C++ developers to use SystemTap. Offers developers new ways to trace function calls, system calls, with a tidy frontend for user-friendly data.

Scope

Adds a small plugin family to Eclipse, which will provide the above functionality.

Test Plan

1. Run upstream unit tests

User Experience

1. Users of Eclipse's CDT tools will be able to select Profile As and select the script to run.
2. The present release will only contain a preconstructed function call graph script, other preconstructed scripts and a launch wizard will be in future versions.
3. For screenshots and more details, see: Eclipse/CallGraph
4. Brief demo video : http://altrez.darktech.org/basicFunctions.ogg (~ 1 min)

Dependencies

• SystemTap translator/driver (version 0.9.8/0.141+) <rpm: systemtap>
• Eclipse 3.4.1 or greater, with CDT <rpm: eclipse-cdt, eclipse-platform>
• Eclipse GEF (specifically Zest) <rpm: eclipse-gef>

Contingency Plan

• Continue without such capability.

Documentation

• SystemTap documentation: The upstream website has documentation and examples of SystemTap scripts.
• SystemTap Eclipse Documentation : Eclipse/CallGraph

Release Notes

Users will need to be part of the stapdev group on their machine in order to fully take advantage of SystemTap's offerings.

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