Method of controlling the execution of object-oriented programs

A method for use by a digital computer in controlling execution of an object-oriented program, said method comprising

• compiling said program,
• after said compiling, initiating execution of said program,
• stopping execution at an intermediate point of said program,
• after stopping execution and in response to a request to effect a defined action when a specified virtual function is invoked on a specified object during execution of said program, determining an address of a function that is called when said specified virtual function is invoked on said specified object, and
• inserting a breakpoint at said determined function address.

A method for use by a digital computer in effecting a defined action when a specified function is invoked on a specified object during execution of an object-oriented program, said method comprising

• determining an address of a function that is called when said specified function is invoked on said specified object,
• inserting a breakpoint at said determined address of a function,
• obtaining an address of said specified object,
• storing an entry in a breakpoint table, said entry defining said determined address of a function and said obtained address of said specified object for said breakpoint,
• in response to detecting firing of a breakpoint, ascertaining an address of said detected firing of a breakpoint and an address of a present object and
• when the ascertained breakpoint address and present object address respectively correspond to the address of a function and object address of said entry in said breakpoint table, performing said defined action.

A method for use by a digital computer in controlling execution of an object-oriented program to effect a defined action when a specified function is invoked with a specified argument during execution of said program, said method comprising

• initiating execution of said program,
• creating an object in accordance with execution of said program,
• after said creating, determining an address of a function that is called when said specified function is invoked with said specified argument and said specified argument is associated with said object, and
• inserting a breakpoint at said determined address of a function.