db_connect: Could not connect to paper db at "wotug@dragon.kent.ac.uk"
db_connect: Could not connect to paper db at "wotug@dragon.kent.ac.uk"
%T Repeatable execution of occam programs
db_connect: Could not connect to paper db at "wotug@dragon.kent.ac.uk"
%A Umberto Villano
db_connect: Could not connect to paper db at "wotug@dragon.kent.ac.uk"
%E Janet Edwards
%B Proceedings of WoTUG\-14: Occam and the Transputer\-Current Developments
%X Parallel programs are intrinsically non\-deterministic, and
therefore the techniques of cyclical debugging that are
commonly used for sequential programs are not suitable for
parallel ones. This paper proposes a method for guaranteeing
the repeatability of occam program behaviour. Saving
information on the ALT guards selected at run\-time allows
program replay. i.e. makes it possible to re\-execute the
program following the same instruction path whatever the
speed at which each component process is executed. This
enables the software developer to use tools such as
debuggers and intrusive monitors to help identify program
errors. After a discussion on the possible implementations
of the proposed technique, a prototype tools that allows the
replat of occam programs within TDS is briefly described.