Java

JPDA Enhancements

 Back to JPDA Guide
The version 1.4 family of the Java 2 SDK includes the following JPDA enhancements:
Full Speed Debugging
Enable "HotSwap" Class File Replacement
Instance Filters
Support For Debugging Other Languages
VMDeathRequests

Full Speed Debugging

The Java HotSpot[TM] virtual machine now uses "full-speed debugging". In the previous version of HotSpot, when debugging was enabled, the program executed using only the interpreter. Now, the full performance advantage of HotSpot Technology is available to programs running with debugging enabled. The improved performance allows long running programs to be more easily debugged. It also allows testing to proceed at full speed and the launch of a debugger to occur on an exception:
-Xrunjdwp:transport=dt_socket,server=y,onuncaught=y,launch=myDebuggerLaunchScript
For details on launch "onthrow" and launch "onuncaught", see Connection and Invocation Details . Setting a breakpoint only inhibits compilation (full speed execution) for the method containing the breakpoint. Execution reverts to the interpreter during some debug operations such as single-stepping and when method entry/exit or watchpoints are set.

As of version 1.4.1, full-speed debugging is available with both the Java HotSpot Client Vm (default) and Java HotSpot Server VM (invoked with the -client command-line flag). In the Java 2 SDK v1.4.0, full-speed debugging was available only with the Java HotSpot Client VM.

Enable "HotSwap" Class File Replacement

This new feature encapsulates the ability to substitute modified code in a running application through the debugger APIs. For example, one can recompile a single class and replace the old instance with the new instance.

This change was made to address these issues:

  • Tool (IDE) vendors want the ability to do fix-and-continue debugging. That is, while debugging, identify a problem, fix it, and continue debugging with fixed code.
  • Organizations deploying long running servers wish to be able to fix bugs without taking down the server.

HotSwap adds functionality to the JavaTM Platform Debugger Architecture (JPDA) to allow a class to be updated while under the control of a debugger. The two central components of this functionality are RedefineClasses which replaces the class definitions and PopFrame which pops frames off the stack allowing a method which has been redefined to be re-executed.

In the reference implementation, this functionality is implemented at the Java Virtual Machine Debug Interface (JVMDI) layer and made available through the higher layers of JPDA - the Java Debug Wire Protocol (JDWP) and the Java Debug Interface (JDI).

Redefinition Functionality
JDIVirtualMachine.redefineClasses(Map classToBytes)
JDWPRedefineClasses (Cmd 18) in VirtualMachine (CmdSet 1)
JVMDIRedefineClasses(jint classCount, JVMDI_class_definition *classDefs)

Pop Frame Functionality
JDIThreadReference.popFrames(StackFrame frame)
JDWPPopFrames (Cmd 4) in StackFrame (CmdSet 16)
JVMDIPopFrame(jthread thread)

All functionality at each layer is independently optional. The GetCapabilities function at the JVMDI layer; the CapabilitiesNew command at the JDWP layer; and the canRedefineClasses, canAddMethod, canUnrestrictedlyRedefineClasses, and canPopFrames, methods at the JDI layer describe what functionality is implemented.

The bug report associated with this change is 4287595.

Instance Filters

BreakpointRequest, MethodExitRequest, ExceptionRequest, StepRequest, WatchpointRequest and MethodEntryRequest classes now have the capability of adding instance filters by using the addInstanceFilter method. Instance filters restrict the events generated by a request to those in which the currently executing instance is the object specified.

Support For Debugging Other Languages
The Java Platform Debugger Architecture has been extended so that non-Java programming language source, which is translated to Java programming language source, can be debugged in the future. The table below describes the new APIs and APIs with comments that have changed. This information is based on the SourceDebugExtension.

New APIs APIs with Changed Comments
JVMDI
GetSourceDebugExtension  
JDWP - ReferenceType (2) Command Set
SourceDebugExtension Command (12)  
JDWP - VirtualMachine (1) Command Set
SetDefaultStratum Command (19)  
JDI - VirtualMachine interface
void setDefaultStratum(String stratum)  
String getDefaultStratum()  
JDI - ReferenceType interface
String sourceNames(String stratum) String sourceName()
String sourcePaths(String stratum)  
List allLineLocations(String stratum, String sourceName) List allLineLocations()
List locationsOfLine(String stratum, String sourceName, int lineNumber) List locationsOfLine(int lineNumber)
List availableStrata()  
String defaultStratum()  
String sourceDebugExtension()  
JDI - Method interface
List allLineLocations(String stratum, String sourceName) List allLineLocations()
List locationsOfLine(String stratum, String sourceName, int lineNumber) List locationsOfLine(int lineNumber)
JDI - Location interface
  class comment (strata defined)
int lineNumber(String stratum) int lineNumber()
String sourceName(String stratum) String sourceName()
String sourcePath(String stratum)  
String sourcePath()  

VMDeathRequests
Using class VMDeathRequest, a request can be made for notification when the target VM terminates. When an enabled VMDeathRequest is satisfied, an EventSet containing a VMDeathEvent will be placed on the EventQueue.

Even without creating a VMDeathRequest, a single unsolicited VMDeathEvent will be sent with a suspend policy of SUSPEND_NONE. This request would typically be created so that a VMDeathEvent with a suspend policy of SUSPEND_ALL will be sent. This event can be used to assure completion of any processing which requires the VM to be alive (e.g. event processing). Note: the unsolicited VMDeathEvent will still be sent.

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