Runtime_tools Release Notes

Runtime_tools 1.1.4

Improvements and new features

• A number of bug fixes and improvements have been done to applications runtime_tools, kernel and erts:
  
  
  • A read timeout no longer resets the sequential trace token. This is an incompatibility towards the previous behaviour. Use seq_trace:set_token([]) to reset the sequential trace token.
    
  • seq_trace:get_token/0 and seq_trace:set_token/1 now have compatible token formats.
    
  • dbg:trace_port/2 and dbg:trace_client/2,3 now supports trace to and read from a size limited "wrap file set".
    
  • dbg:trace_port_control/1 now supports operation get_listen_port for the ip trace driver.
    
  • New match spec functions {is_seq_trace} and {get_seq_trace} has been added to test and read the sequential trace token in match specs.
    
  • New match spec functions {get_tcw} and {set_tcw Value} that reads and sets a "trace control word" in the node has been added. The "trace control word" is a word in each Erlang node of at least 24 bits. There are also enhancements of BIFs: erlang:system_info(trace_control_word) and erlang:system_flag(trace_control_word, Value) for the same purpose.
    
  • A new match spec function {silent, TrueOrFalse} for setting a silent call trace flag per process that inhibits call trace messages, both local and global, has been added. The BIF erlang:trace/3 has been extended to recognize the flag 'silent' to start a call trace in silent mode.
    
  • Some bugs in the dbg module has been fixed, e.g the 'old_trace_call' flag has been removed from the 'all' flags list, and the dbg server no longer hangs if the supplied tracer fails to start.
    
  • A bug in the emulator that made 'EXIT' messages from a process involved in a sequential call trace get overwritten by the sequential trace token itself has been fixed.
    
  • The documentation regarding the above has been updated. Especially, the fact that the match spec function {return_trace} destroys the tail recursiveness of the traced function has been pointed out.
    
  
  (*** POTENTIAL INCOMPATIBILITY ***)
  Own Id: OTP-3747
  Aux Id: OTP-3592, OTP-3744

Runtime_tools 1.1.2

Improvements and new features

• New functions in the module dbg: flush_trace_port, stop_trace_client. There is a new option follow_file for trace_client.
  Own Id: OTP-3471
  Aux Id: OTP-3427
• Call tracing is greatly improved. It is now possible to trace local function calls (and calls to local functions) set up with the erlang:trace_pattern BIF. Trace compilation for local call is no longer needed. New functions in the module dbg: h, tpl, ctpl, ctpg. tp now only traces global functions - use tpl to trace global and local.
  Own Id: OTP-3518

Runtime_tools 1.1.1

Improvements and new features

• The trace_file_drv driver was internally rewritten to use the new erl_driver.h file.
  Own Id: OTP-3371