Collaborative Software Debugging In A Distributed System With Real-Time Variable Modification Indicators

A method of collaborative software debugging in a distributed system, the distributed system comprising a debug server, a plurality of debug clients, and a data communications network, the debug server coupled for data communications to the plurality of debug clients through the data communications network, the debug server comprising a debug administrator, a message router, a back-end debugger, and a debuggee, the method comprising:

• presenting, by each debug client to a user of the debug client, a client-specific graphical user interface (GUI'), the client-specific GUI comprising a client-specific display of a debug session of the debuggee;
• detecting, by each debug client, user input through the client-specific GUI, including detecting, by a requesting debug client, user input indicating a present modification of a value of a particular variable;
• generating, by each debug client in dependence upon the detected user input, one or more application-level messages, including generating a request to notify other debug clients that the requesting debug client is presently modifying the value of the particular variable;
• sending, by each debug client, the application-level messages to the debug server, including sending, by the requesting debug client, the request to the debug server;
• receiving, by each debug client responsive to the application-level messages, client-specific debug results, including receiving, by each of the other debug clients, a notification that the requesting debug client is presently modifying the value of the particular variable;
• and
• displaying, by each debug client in the client-specific GUI, the client-specific debug results, including displaying by each of the other debug clients an indication of the requesting debug client's present modification.

An apparatus for collaborative software debugging in a distributed system, the distributed system comprising a debug server, a plurality of debug clients, and a data communications network, the debug server coupled for data communications to the plurality of debug clients through the data communications network, the debug server comprising a debug administrator, a message router, a back-end debugger, and a debuggee, the apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

• presenting, by each debug client to a user of the debug client, a client-specific graphical user interface (GUI'), the client-specific GUI comprising a client-specific display of a debug session of the debuggee;
• detecting, by each debug client, user input through the client-specific GUI, including detecting, by a requesting debug client, user input indicating a present modification of a value of a particular variable;
• generating, by each debug client in dependence upon the detected user input, one or more application-level messages, including generating a request to notify other debug clients that the requesting debug client is presently modifying the value of the particular variable;
• sending, by each debug client, the application-level messages to the debug server, including sending, by the requesting debug client, the request to the debug server;
• receiving, by each debug client responsive to the application-level messages, client-specific debug results, including receiving, by each of the other debug clients, a notification that the requesting debug client is presently modifying the value of the particular variable;
• and
• displaying, by each debug client in the client-specific GUI, the client-specific debug results, including displaying by each of the other debug clients an indication of the requesting debug client's present modification.

A computer program product for collaborative software debugging in a distributed system, the distributed system comprising a debug server, a plurality of debug clients, and a data communications network, the debug server coupled for data communications to the plurality of debug clients through the data communications network, the debug server comprising a debug administrator, a message router, a back-end debugger, and a debuggee, the computer program product disposed upon a computer readable storage medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions that, when executed by a computer processor of a computer, cause the computer to carry out the steps of:

• presenting, by each debug client to a user of the debug client, a client-specific graphical user interface (‘GUI’), the client-specific GUI comprising a client-specific display of a debug session of the debuggee;
• detecting, by each debug client, user input through the client-specific GUI, including detecting, by a requesting debug client, user input indicating a present modification of a value of a particular variable;
• generating, by each debug client in dependence upon the detected user input, one or more application-level messages, including generating a request to notify other debug clients that the requesting debug client is presently modifying the value of the particular variable;
• sending, by each debug client, the application-level messages to the debug server, including sending, by the requesting debug client, the request to the debug server;
• receiving, by each debug client responsive to the application-level messages, client-specific debug results, including receiving, by each of the other debug clients, a notification that the requesting debug client is presently modifying the value of the particular variable;
• and
• displaying, by each debug client in the client-specific GUI, the client-specific debug results, including displaying by each of the other debug clients an indication of the requesting debug client's present modification.