9. Diagnostic feedback

9.1. Introduction

.intro: This document describes how to use the diagnostic feedback mechanism in the Memory Pool System.

.sources: Initially abased on [RHSK_2007-04-13] and [RHSK_2007-04-18].

9.2. Overview

Diagnostic feedback is information created by the MPS diagnostic system for the purpose of helping MPS programmers and client programmers.

Such a piece of information is called “a diagnostic”. (See also .parts.)

A diagnostic is not intended to be visible to end users, or readable by them.

A diagnostic is not intended to be stable from one release to the next: it may be modified or removed at any time.

9.3. Requirements

MPS diagnostic feedback code must do these things:

• calculate, store, and propagate data;

• collate, synthesise, and format it into a human-useful diagnostic;

• control (for example, filter) output of diagnostics;

• use a channel to get the diagnostic out.

9.4. Usage

To get diagnostic output from the MPS, you must use a variety with diagnostics compiled-in. Currently, that means variety.cool. See config.h.

There are two mechanism for getting diagnostic output:

1. Automatically via the telemetry system. See design.mps.telemetry, and the “Telemetry” chapter in the manual.

2. Manually via the debugger. In the debugger, set break points at the places where you want to inspect data structures (or wait for the debugger to be entered via an abort() call or unhandled segmentation fault). Then at the debugger command prompt, run Describe() commands of your choice. For example:

   (gdb) run
   Starting program: mv2test
   Reading symbols for shared libraries +............................. done
   cbs.c:94: MPS ASSERTION FAILED: !cbs->inCBS
   
   Program received signal SIGABRT, Aborted.
   0x00007fff83e42d46 in __kill ()
   (gdb) frame 12
   #12 0x000000010000b1fc in MVTFree (pool=0x103ffe160, base=0x101dfd000, size=5024) at poolmv2.c:711
   711         Res res = CBSInsert(MVTCBS(mvt), base, limit);
   (gdb) p MVTDescribe(mvt, mps_lib_get_stdout())
   MVT 0000000103FFE160
   {
     minSize: 8
     meanSize: 42
     maxSize: 8192
     fragLimit: 30
     reuseSize: 16384
     fillSize: 8192
     availLimit: 1110835
     abqOverflow: FALSE
     splinter: TRUE
     splinterSeg: 0000000103FEE780
     splinterBase: 0000000101D7ABB8
     splinterLimit: 0000000101D7B000
     # ... etc ...
   }
   

9.5. How to write a diagnostic

9.5.1. Compile away in non-diag varieties; no side effects

Wrap code with the STATISTIC and METER macros, to make sure that non-diagnostic varieties do not execute diagnostic-generating code.

Diagnostic-generating code must have no side effects.

9.5.2. Writing good paragraph text

Make your diagnostics easy to understand! Other people will read your diagnostics! Make them clear and helpful. Do not make them terse and cryptic. If you use symbols, print a key in the diagnostic.

9.6. How the MPS diagnostic system works

9.6.1. Parts of the MPS diagnostic system

.parts: The following facilities are considered part of the MPS diagnostic system:

• the Describe() methods.

• the STATISTIC macros (see mpm.h);

• the METER macros and meter subsystem.

9.6.2. Related systems

The MPS diagnostic system is separate from the following other MPS systems:

• The telemetry-log-events system. This emits much more data, in a less human-readable form, requires MPS-aware external tools, and is more stable from release to release). In non-diagnostic telemetry varieties, the telemetry-log-events system emits events that log all normal MPS actions. In diagnostic telemetry varieties, it may emit additional events containing diagnostic information. Additionally, the telemetry-log-events stream might in future be available as a channel for emitting human-readable text diagnostics. See also design.mps.telemetry.

• The MPS message system. This is present in all varieties, and manages asynchronous communication from the MPS to the client program). However, the MPS message system might in future also be available as a channel for emitting diagnostics. See also design.mps.message.

9.7. References

RHSK_2007-04-13

Richard Kistruck. 2007-04-13. “diagnostic feedback from the MPS”.

RHSK_2007-04-18

Richard Kistruck. 2007-04-18. “Diverse types of diagnostic feedback”.