Debug watch mechanism and method for debugging a computer program

An apparatus comprising:

• a computer program residing in a memory;
• a debug watch mechanism residing in the memory;
• means for enabling the debug watch mechanism by specifying a watch signature that defines at least one allowable operation on at least one program variable in the computer program;
• means for activating the debug watch mechanism when a first instruction is executed;
• the debug watch mechanism providing notification of any operations on the at least one program variable that are not specified in the watch signature while the debug watch signature is activated.

A method for debugging a computer program that is executed by multiple threads, the method comprising the steps of:

• defining a watch signature for at least one program variable in the computer program, the watch signature defining a plurality of allowable events, each allowable event comprising an expected operation on a program variable during execution of the computer program;
• enabling a watch in accordance with the watch signature for a range of instructions defined by the plurality of allowable events;
• activating the watch when a first thread executes the first instruction in the range;
• deactivated the watch by the first thread performing a last of the plurality of allowable events;
• providing the notification while the watch is activated for:
• any operations by the first thread that are not specified in the watch signature;
• and
• any operations by a second thread on the at least one program variable.

A program product comprising:

• (A) a debug watch mechanism that operates according to a watch signature for at least one program variable in a computer program and provides notification of any operations on the at least one program variable that are not specified in the watch signature, the watch signature defining a plurality of allowable events, each allowable event comprising an expected operation on a program variable during execution of the computer program, the debug watch mechanism being enabled by specifying the watch signature for a range of instructions, and wherein the debug watch mechanism becomes active when a thread executes the first instruction in the range, wherein the watch signature defines a plurality of allowable events, and wherein the debug watch mechanism is activated by a first thread performing a first of the plurality of allowable events and is deactivated by the first thread performing a last of the plurality of allowable events, the debug watch mechanism providing the notification while the debug watch mechanism is activated for:
• (1) any operations by the first thread that are not specified in the watch signature;
• and
• (2) any operations by a second thread on the at least one program variable;
• and
• (B) signal bearing media bearing the debug watch mechanism.