System and method for debugging programs

A method for debugging Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) programs, comprising:

• automatically locating a program variable within a first code of a program;
• for the located program variable, automatically modifying the first code by inserting into the first code a second code, the second code, when executed, generating a debugging comment;
• and
• executing the modified first code.

A method for debugging programs that include program elements arranged as a node-set, comprising:

• for each node of a program:
• generating a corresponding debugging comment;
• integrating the debugging comment with a main output of the program;
• and
• indenting the debugging comment to indicate a position of the debugging comment's corresponding node within a genealogical line of executed nodes.

A method for debugging Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) programs, comprising:

• automatically modifying a first XSL program code to include a second code for generating a debugging comment, the first code including a third code for retrieving data stored in a location inaccessible to an XSL routine, the third code corresponding to the XSL routine;
• and
• executing the modified first code,
• wherein, to execute the third code, a routine coded in a language that includes an element for accessing the location is implemented instead of the XSL routine.

An article of manufacture comprising a computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions adapted to be executed by a processor, the instructions which, when executed, define a method for debugging Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) programs, the method comprising:

• automatically locating program elements within a first code of a first XSL program;
• for each located program element, automatically modifying the first code by inserting into the first code a second code for implementing a routine, the routine coded in a programming language that provides an element for maintaining a state information, and, when executed, generating a debugging comment based on the state information for a corresponding program element;
• and
• executing the modified first code.

A system for debugging Extensible Stylesheet Language (XSL) programs, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• automatically locate program elements variables and selected program paths within a first code of a first XSL program;
• for each located program element, automatically modify the first code by an insertion into the first code of a second code for implementation of a routine, the routine coded in a programming language that provides an element for the maintenance of state information, and, when executed, generates a debugging comment based on the state information for a corresponding program element;
• and
• execute the modified first code.

A method for analyzing a program, comprising:

• automatically locating program elements within a first code of a program;
• for each located program element, automatically modifying the first code by inserting into the first code a second code, the second code, when executed, generating a comment based on a state information;
• executing the modified first code;
• and
• displaying each said comment based on state information.

A method for analyzing a program, comprising:

• automatically modifying a first program code of a first language to include a second code for generating a debugging comment, the first code including a third code for retrieving data stored in a location inaccessible to a routine of the first language, the third code corresponding to the routine of the first language;
• and
• executing the modified first code,
• wherein, to execute the third code, a routine coded in a second language that has access to the location is implemented instead of the routine of the first language.