In
computer programming
Computer programming or coding is the composition of sequences of instructions, called computer program, programs, that computers can follow to perform tasks. It involves designing and implementing algorithms, step-by-step specifications of proc ...
, instrumentation is the act of modifying software so that
analysis
Analysis (: analyses) is the process of breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts in order to gain a better understanding of it. The technique has been applied in the study of mathematics and logic since before Aristotle (38 ...
can be performed on it.
Generally, instrumentation either modifies
source code
In computing, source code, or simply code or source, is a plain text computer program written in a programming language. A programmer writes the human readable source code to control the behavior of a computer.
Since a computer, at base, only ...
or
binary code
A binary code represents plain text, text, instruction set, computer processor instructions, or any other data using a two-symbol system. The two-symbol system used is often "0" and "1" from the binary number, binary number system. The binary cod ...
. Execution environments like the JVM provide separate interfaces to add instrumentation to program executions, such as the
JVMTI, which enables instrumentation during program start.
Instrumentation enables
profiling:
measuring dynamic behavior during a test run. This is useful for properties of a program that cannot be
analyzed statically with sufficient precision, such as
performance
A performance is an act or process of staging or presenting a play, concert, or other form of entertainment. It is also defined as the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing an action, task, or function.
Performance has evolved glo ...
and
alias analysis.
Instrumentation can include:
*
Logging events such as failures and operation start and end
* Measuring and logging the duration of operations
Limitations
Instrumentation is limited by execution coverage. If the program never reaches a particular point of execution, then instrumentation at that point collects no data. For instance, if a word processor application is instrumented, but the user never activates the print feature, then the instrumentation can say nothing about the routines which are used exclusively by the printing feature.
Instrumentation increases the execution time of a program. In some contexts, this increase might be dramatic and hence limit the application of instrumentation to debugging contexts. The instrumentation overhead differs depending on the used instrumentation technology.
[Reichelt, D. G., Bulej, L., Jung, R., & van Hoorn, A. (2024, May). Overhead Comparison of Instrumentation Frameworks. In Companion of the 15th ACM/SPEC International Conference on Performance Engineering (pp. 249-256).]
See also
*
Hooking
In computer programming, the term hooking covers a range of techniques used to alter or augment the behaviour of an operating system, of applications, or of other software components by intercepting function calls or messages or events passed ...
– range of techniques used to alter or augment the behavior of an operating system, of applications, or of other software components by intercepting function calls or messages or events passed between software components.
*
Instruction set simulator
An instruction set simulator (ISS) is a simulation model (abstract), model, usually coded in a high-level programming language, which mimics the behavior of a mainframe or microprocessor by "reading" instructions and maintaining internal variables ...
– simulation of all instructions at machine code level to provide instrumentation
*
Runtime intelligence – technologies,
managed services
Managed services is the practice of outsourcing the responsibility for maintaining, and anticipating need for, a range of processes and functions, ostensibly for the purpose of improved operations and reduced budgetary expenditures through the ...
and practices for the collection, integration, analysis, and presentation of application usage levels, patterns, and practices.
*
Software performance analysis – techniques to monitor code performance, including instrumentation.
*
Hardware performance counter In computers, hardware performance counters (HPCs), or hardware counters are a set of special-purpose registers built into modern microprocessors to store the counts of hardware-related activities. Advanced users often rely on those counters to cond ...
*
DTrace
DTrace is a comprehensive dynamic tracing framework originally created by Sun Microsystems for troubleshooting kernel and application problems on production systems in real time.
Originally developed for Solaris, it has since been released un ...
– A comprehensive dynamic tracing framework for troubleshooting kernel and application problems on production systems in real time, implemented in
Solaris
Solaris is the Latin word for sun.
It may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Literature, television and film
* ''Solaris'' (novel), a 1961 science fiction novel by Stanisław Lem
** ''Solaris'' (1968 film), directed by Boris Nirenburg
** ''Sol ...
,
macOS
macOS, previously OS X and originally Mac OS X, is a Unix, Unix-based operating system developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple since 2001. It is the current operating system for Apple's Mac (computer), Mac computers. With ...
,
FreeBSD
FreeBSD is a free-software Unix-like operating system descended from the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD). The first version was released in 1993 developed from 386BSD, one of the first fully functional and free Unix clones on affordable ...
, and many other platforms and products.
*
''Java Management Extensions'' (JMX) – Java technology for managing and monitoring applications, system objects, devices (such as printers), and service-oriented networks.
*
Application Response Measurement
Application Response Measurement (ARM) is an open standard published by the Open Group for monitoring and diagnosing performance bottlenecks within complex enterprise applications that use loosely-coupled designs or service-oriented architecture ...
– standardized instrumentation
API
An application programming interface (API) is a connection between computers or between computer programs. It is a type of software interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standard that describes how to build ...
for
C and
Java
Java is one of the Greater Sunda Islands in Indonesia. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the south and the Java Sea (a part of Pacific Ocean) to the north. With a population of 156.9 million people (including Madura) in mid 2024, proje ...
.
*
Dynamic recompilation
In computer science, dynamic recompilation is a feature of some emulators and virtual machines, where the system may recompile some part of a program during execution. By compiling during execution, the system can tailor the generated code to ...
– a feature of some emulators and virtual machines where the system may recompile some part of a program during execution.
References
Introduction to Instrumentation and Tracing: Microsoft Developer NetworkSystemTapprovides free software (GPL) infrastructure to simplify the gathering of information about the running Linux system.
cwrapAuto wrap C and C++ functions with instrumentation.
Software optimization
System administration
Management systems
Debugging
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