Scenario-based code trimming and code reduction

A computer-readable storage medium configured with data and with instructions that when executed by at least one processor causes the processor(s) to perform a technical process to facilitate debugging or testing a locally cached web application, the process comprising the steps of:

• (A) automatically replaying a previously recorded scenario to the locally cached web application, the locally cached web application including a plurality of functions, thereby (B) exercising a subset of the web application functions through their execution by at least one processor and (C) producing a scenario behavior from the web application;
• (D) automatically trimming from the web application at least one dead function, namely, a web application function which was not exercised during step (B), thereby (E) providing a trimmed version of the web application;
• (F) selecting a web application function which was exercised during step (B) and then (G) disabling execution of the selected exercised function;
• (H) attempting to again replay the previously recorded scenario to the web application, but with the selected function disabled even though it was exercised in step (B), thereby (J) producing a candidate behavior from the web application;
• when the step (J) candidate behavior matches the step (C) scenario behavior then (K) removing the disabled function, thereby (L) providing a trimmed and reduced version of the web application for debugging;
• and
• when the step (J) candidate behavior does not match the step (C) scenario behavior then (M) re-enabling the disabled function, thereby (N) providing a trimmed and reduction-tested version of the web application for debugging;
• wherein the process includes interleaving multiple instances of attempting the trimming step (D) with multiple instances of the removing step (K) for which candidate behavior matches the scenario behavior.

A computer system comprising:

• a logical processor;
• a memory in operable communication with the logical processor;
• an application residing in the memory and having a plurality of functions, the application having a full version;
• a recorded scenario residing in the memory which upon replay to the full version of the application provides a scenario behavior log in the system;
• a reduction tool which upon execution (i) selects a particular exercised function, namely, a particular one of the plurality of functions which was exercised during a replay of the scenario, (ii) disables execution of the particular exercised function, thereby providing a test version of the application, (iii) replays the scenario to the test version of the application, thereby providing a candidate behavior log, (iv) compares the candidate behavior log to the scenario behavior log, and (v) when the candidate behavior log matches the scenario behavior log the reduction tool removes the disabled function, thereby providing a reduced version of the application which is functionally equivalent to the full version of the application with respect to the scenario yet has fewer functions than the full version of the application, and (vii) interleaves multiple instances of trimming dead code from the application, dead code being code which was not exercised during replaying step (iii), with multiple instances of a sequence that includes disabling an exercised function, replaying the scenario, and comparing logs in an attempt to provide a further reduced version of the application.