Performing identified repeatable computations in a changing computing environment

A method, comprising:

• performing by a computer system comprising a processor and a memory:
• in response to a client request to initially perform a computation that has been identified as a repeatable computation:
• generating an original initial machine image of an original computing environment associated with an original initial state of the repeatable computation,
• storing the original initial machine image on a storage device,
• instructing that the repeatable computation be performed on the original computing environment to generate an original terminal state of the repeatable computation,
• generating an original terminal machine image of the original computing environment, wherein the original terminal machine image includes at least a portion of the original terminal state of the repeatable computation, and
• storing the original terminal machine image on the storage device;
• in response to a client request to repeat the repeatable computation:
• restore the original computing environment as a restored computing environment based at least in part upon the original initial machine image, and
• instruct that the repeatable computation be performed on the restored computing environment to generate a new terminal state of the repeatable computation;
• and
• dependent at least in part upon a comparison of at least a portion of the original terminal state and at least a portion of the new terminal state, determine whether the repeatable computation has been successfully repeated.

A non-transitory computer-accessible storage medium that stores a program of instructions that, when executed by a computer system, cause the computer system to:

• in response to a client request to initially perform a computation that has been identified as a repeatable computation:
• generate an original initial machine image of an original computing environment associated with an original initial state of the repeatable computation,
• store the original initial machine image on a storage device,
• instruct that the repeatable computation be performed on the original computing environment to generate an original terminal state of the repeatable computation,
• generate an original terminal machine image of the original computing environment, wherein the original terminal machine image includes at least a portion of the original terminal state of the repeatable computation, and
• store the original terminal machine image on the storage device;
• in response to a client request to repeat the repeatable computation:
• restore the original computing environment as a restored computing environment based at least in part upon the original initial machine image, and
• instruct that the repeatable computation be performed on the restored computing environment to generate a new terminal state of the repeatable computation;
• and
• dependent at least in part upon a comparison of at least a portion of the original terminal state and at least a portion of the new terminal state, determine whether the repeatable computation has been successfully repeated.