Types

Pseudo function that by means of a parse_transform translates the literal fun() typed as parameter in the function call to a match specification as described in the match_spec manual of ERTS users guide. (With literal I mean that the fun() needs to textually be written as the parameter of the function, it cannot be held in a variable which in turn is passed to the function).

The parse transform is implemented in the module ms_transform and the source must include the file ms_transform.hrl in STDLIB for this pseudo function to work. Failing to include the hrl file in the source will result in a runtime error, not a compile time ditto. The include file is easiest included by adding the line -include_lib("stdlib/include/ms_transform.hrl"). to the source file.

The fun() is very restricted, it can take only a single parameter (the parameter list to match), a sole variable or a list. It needs to use the is_XXX guard tests and one cannot use language constructs that have no representation in a match_spec (like if, case, receive etc). The return value from the fun will be the return value of the resulting match_spec.

Example:

1> dbg:fun2ms(fun([M,N]) when N > 3 -> return_trace() end).
[{['$1','$2'],[{'>','$2',3}],[{return_trace}]}]

Variables from the environment can be imported, so that this works:

2> X=3.
3
3> dbg:fun2ms(fun([M,N]) when N > X  -> return_trace() end).
[{['$1','$2'],[{'>','$2',{const,3}}],[{return_trace}]}]

The imported variables will be replaced by match_spec const expressions, which is consistent with the static scoping for Erlang fun()s. Local or global function calls cannot be in the guard or body of the fun however. Calls to builtin match_spec functions of course is allowed:

4> dbg:fun2ms(fun([M,N]) when N > X, is_atomm(M)  -> return_trace() end).
Error: fun containing local erlang function calls ('is_atomm' called in guard)\
 cannot be translated into match_spec
{error,transform_error}
5> dbg:fun2ms(fun([M,N]) when N > X, is_atom(M)  -> return_trace() end).
[{['$1','$2'],[{'>','$2',{const,3}},{is_atom,'$1'}],[{return_trace}]}]

As you can see by the example, the function can be called from the shell too. The fun() needs to be literally in the call when used from the shell as well. Other means than the parse_transform are used in the shell case, but more or less the same restrictions apply (the exception being records, as they are not handled by the shell).

More information is provided by the ms_transform manual page in STDLIB.

h stands for help. Gives a list of items for brief online help.

Types

h stands for help. Gives a brief help text for functions in the dbg module. The available items can be listed with dbg:h/0.

Equivalent to p(Item, [m]).

Types

p stands for process. Traces Item in accordance to the value specified by Flags. The variation of Item is listed below:

pid() or port()

The corresponding process or port is traced. The process or port may be a remote process or port (on another Erlang node). The node must be in the list of traced nodes (see n/1 and tracer/3).

all

All processes and ports in the system as well as all processes and ports created hereafter are to be traced.

processes

All processes in the system as well as all processes created hereafter are to be traced.

ports

All ports in the system as well as all ports created hereafter are to be traced.

new

All processes and ports created after the call is are to be traced.

new_processes

All processes created after the call is are to be traced.

new_ports

All ports created after the call is are to be traced.

existing

All existing processes and ports are traced.

existing_processes

All existing processes are traced.

existing_ports

All existing ports are traced.

atom()

The process or port with the corresponding registered name is traced. The process or port may be a remote process (on another Erlang node). The node must be added with the n/1 or tracer/3 function.

integer()

The process <0.Item.0> is traced.

{X, Y, Z}

The process <X.Y.Z> is traced.

string()

If the Item is a string "<X.Y.Z>" as returned from pid_to_list/1, the process <X.Y.Z> is traced.

When enabling an Item that represents a group of processes, the Item is enabled on all nodes added with the n/1 or tracer/3 function.

Flags can be a single atom, or a list of flags. The available flags are:

s (send)

Traces the messages the process or port sends.

r (receive)

Traces the messages the process or port receives.

m (messages)

Traces the messages the process or port receives and sends.

c (call)

Traces global function calls for the process according to the trace patterns set in the system (see tp/2).

p (procs)

Traces process related events to the process.

ports

Traces port related events to the port.

sos (set on spawn)

Lets all processes created by the traced process inherit the trace flags of the traced process.

sol (set on link)

Lets another process, P2, inherit the trace flags of the traced process whenever the traced process links to P2.

sofs (set on first spawn)

This is the same as sos, but only for the first process spawned by the traced process.

sofl (set on first link)

This is the same as sol, but only for the first call to link/1 by the traced process.

all

Sets all flags except silent.

clear

Clears all flags.

The list can also include any of the flags allowed in erlang:trace/3

The function returns either an error tuple or a tuple {ok, List}. The List consists of specifications of how many processes and ports that matched (in the case of a pure pid() exactly 1). The specification of matched processes is {matched, Node, N}. If the remote processor call, rpc, to a remote node fails, the rpc error message is delivered as a fourth argument and the number of matched processes are 0. Note that the result {ok, List} may contain a list where rpc calls to one, several or even all nodes failed.

Equivalent to c(Mod, Fun, Args, all).

c stands for call. Evaluates the expression apply(Mod, Fun, Args) with the trace flags in Flags set. This is a convenient way to trace processes from the Erlang shell.

i stands for information. Displays information about all traced processes and ports.

Same as tp({Module, '_', '_'}, MatchSpec)

Same as tp({Module, Function, '_'}, MatchSpec)

Same as tp({Module, Function, Arity}, MatchSpec)

Types

tp stands for trace pattern. This function enables call trace for one or more functions. All exported functions matching the {Module, Function, Arity} argument will be concerned, but the match_spec() may further narrow down the set of function calls generating trace messages.

For a description of the match_spec() syntax, please turn to the User's guide part of the online documentation for the runtime system (erts). The chapter Match Specifications in Erlang explains the general match specification "language". The most common generic match specifications used can be found as Built-inAlias', see ltp/0 below for details.

The Module, Function and/or Arity parts of the tuple may be specified as the atom '_' which is a "wild-card" matching all modules/functions/arities. Note, if the Module is specified as '_', the Function and Arity parts have to be specified as '_' too. The same holds for the Functions relation to the Arity.

All nodes added with n/1 or tracer/3 will be affected by this call, and if Module is not '_' the module will be loaded on all nodes.

The function returns either an error tuple or a tuple {ok, List}. The List consists of specifications of how many functions that matched, in the same way as the processes and ports are presented in the return value of p/2.

There may be a tuple {saved, N} in the return value, if the MatchSpec is other than []. The integer N may then be used in subsequent calls to this function and will stand as an "alias" for the given expression. There are also a couple of built-in aliases for common expressions, see ltp/0 below for details.

If an error is returned, it can be due to errors in compilation of the match specification. Such errors are presented as a list of tuples {error, string()} where the string is a textual explanation of the compilation error. An example:

(x@y)4> dbg:tp({dbg,ltp,0},[{[],[],[{message, two, arguments}, {noexist}]}]).
{error,
 [{error,"Special form 'message' called with wrong number of
          arguments in {message,two,arguments}."},
  {error,"Function noexist/1 does_not_exist."}]}

Same as tpl({Module, '_', '_'}, MatchSpec)

Same as tpl({Module, Function, '_'}, MatchSpec)

Same as tpl({Module, Function, Arity}, MatchSpec)

tpl stands for trace pattern local. This function works as tp/2, but enables tracing for local calls (and local functions) as well as for global calls (and functions).

Types

tpe stands for trace pattern event. This function associates a match specification with trace event send or 'receive'. By default all executed send and 'receive' events are traced if enabled for a process. A match specification can be used to filter traced events based on sender, receiver and/or message content.

For a description of the match_spec() syntax, please turn to the User's guide part of the online documentation for the runtime system (erts). The chapter Match Specifications in Erlang explains the general match specification "language".

For send, the matching is done on the list [Receiver, Msg]. Receiver is the process or port identity of the receiver and Msg is the message term. The pid of the sending process can be accessed with the guard function self/0.

For 'receive', the matching is done on the list [Node, Sender, Msg]. Node is the node name of the sender. Sender is the process or port identity of the sender, or the atom undefined if the sender is not known (which may be the case for remote senders). Msg is the message term. The pid of the receiving process can be accessed with the guard function self/0.

All nodes added with n/1 or tracer/3 will be affected by this call.

The return value is the same as for tp/2. The number of matched events are never larger than 1 as tpe/2 does not accept any form of wildcards for argument Event.

Same as ctp({'_', '_', '_'})

Same as ctp({Module, '_', '_'})

Same as ctp({Module, Function, '_'})

Same as ctp({Module, Function, Arity})

Types

ctp stands for clear trace pattern. This function disables call tracing on the specified functions. The semantics of the parameter is the same as for the corresponding function specification in tp/2 or tpl/2. Both local and global call trace is disabled.

The return value reflects how many functions that matched, and is constructed as described in tp/2. No tuple {saved, N} is however ever returned (for obvious reasons).

Same as ctpl({'_', '_', '_'})

Same as ctpl({Module, '_', '_'})

Same as ctpl({Module, Function, '_'})

Same as ctpl({Module, Function, Arity})

ctpl stands for clear trace pattern local. This function works as ctp/1, but only disables tracing set up with tpl/2 (not with tp/2).

Same as ctpg({'_', '_', '_'})

Same as ctpg({Module, '_', '_'})

Same as ctpg({Module, Function, '_'})

Same as ctpg({Module, Function, Arity})

ctpg stands for clear trace pattern global. This function works as ctp/1, but only disables tracing set up with tp/2 (not with tpl/2).

Types

ctpe stands for clear trace pattern event. This function clears match specifications for the specified trace event (send or 'receive'). It will revert back to the default behavior of tracing all triggered events.

The return value follow the same style as for ctp/1.

ltp stands for list trace patterns. Use this function to recall all match specifications previously used in the session (i. e. previously saved during calls to tp/2, and built-in match specifications. This is very useful, as a complicated match_spec can be quite awkward to write. Note that the match specifications are lost if stop/0 is called.

Match specifications used can be saved in a file (if a read-write file system is present) for use in later debugging sessions, see wtp/1 and rtp/1

There are three built-in trace patterns: exception_trace, caller_trace and caller_exception_trace (or x, c and cx respectively). Exception trace sets a trace which will show function names, parameters, return values and exceptions thrown from functions. Caller traces display function names, parameters and information about which function called it. An example using a built-in alias:

(x@y)4> dbg:tp(lists,sort,cx).
{ok,[{matched,nonode@nohost,2},{saved,cx}]}
(x@y)4> lists:sort([2,1]).
(<0.32.0>) call lists:sort([2,1]) ({erl_eval,do_apply,5})
(<0.32.0>) returned from lists:sort/1 -> [1,2]
[1,2]

dtp stands for delete trace patterns. Use this function to "forget" all match specifications saved during calls to tp/2. This is useful when one wants to restore other match specifications from a file with rtp/1. Use dtp/1 to delete specific saved match specifications.

Types

dtp stands for delete trace pattern. Use this function to "forget" a specific match specification saved during calls to tp/2.

Types

wtp stands for write trace patterns. This function will save all match specifications saved during the session (during calls to tp/2) and built-in match specifications in a text file with the name designated by Name. The format of the file is textual, why it can be edited with an ordinary text editor, and then restored with rtp/1.

Each match spec in the file ends with a full stop (.) and new (syntactically correct) match specifications can be added to the file manually.

The function returns ok or an error tuple where the second element contains the I/O error that made the writing impossible.

Types

rtp stands for read trace patterns. This function reads match specifications from a file (possibly) generated by the wtp/1 function. It checks the syntax of all match specifications and verifies that they are correct. The error handling principle is "all or nothing", i. e. if some of the match specifications are wrong, none of the specifications are added to the list of saved match specifications for the running system.

The match specifications in the file are merged with the current match specifications, so that no duplicates are generated. Use ltp/0 to see what numbers were assigned to the specifications from the file.

The function will return an error, either due to I/O problems (like a non existing or non readable file) or due to file format problems. The errors from a bad format file are in a more or less textual format, which will give a hint to what's causing the problem.

Types

n stands for node. The dbg server keeps a list of nodes where tracing should be performed. Whenever a tp/2 call or a p/2 call is made, it is executed for all nodes in this list including the local node (except for p/2 with a specific pid() or port() as first argument, in which case the command is executed only on the node where the designated process or port resides).

This function adds a remote node (Nodename) to the list of nodes where tracing is performed. It starts a tracer process on the remote node, which will send all trace messages to the tracer process on the local node (via the Erlang distribution). If no tracer process is running on the local node, the error reason no_local_tracer is returned. The tracer process on the local node must be started with the tracer/0/2 function.

If Nodename is the local node, the error reason cant_add_local_node is returned.

If a trace port (see trace_port/2) is running on the local node, remote nodes cannot be traced with a tracer process. The error reason cant_trace_remote_pid_to_local_port is returned. A trace port can however be started on the remote node with the tracer/3 function.

The function will also return an error if the node Nodename is not reachable.

Types

cn stands for clear node. Clears a node from the list of traced nodes. Subsequent calls to tp/2 and p/2 will not consider that node, but tracing already activated on the node will continue to be in effect.

Returns ok, cannot fail.

ln stands for list nodes. Shows the list of traced nodes on the console.

This function starts a server on the local node that will be the recipient of all trace messages. All subsequent calls to p/2 will result in messages sent to the newly started trace server.

A trace server started in this way will simply display the trace messages in a formatted way in the Erlang shell (i. e. use io:format). See tracer/2 for a description of how the trace message handler can be customized.

To start a similar tracer on a remote node, use n/1.

Types

This function starts a tracer server with additional parameters on the local node. The first parameter, the Type, indicates if trace messages should be handled by a receiving process (process), by a tracer port (port) or by a tracer module (module). For a description about tracer ports see trace_port/2 and for a tracer modules see erl_tracer.

If Type is process, a message handler function can be specified (HandlerSpec). The handler function, which should be a fun taking two arguments, will be called for each trace message, with the first argument containing the message as it is and the second argument containing the return value from the last invocation of the fun. The initial value of the second parameter is specified in the InitialData part of the HandlerSpec. The HandlerFun may choose any appropriate action to take when invoked, and can save a state for the next invocation by returning it.

If Type is port, then the second parameter should be a fun which takes no arguments and returns a newly opened trace port when called. Such a fun is preferably generated by calling trace_port/2.

if Type is module, then the second parameter should be either a tuple describing the erl_tracer module to be used for tracing and the state to be used for that tracer module or a fun returning the same tuple.

if Type is file, then the second parameter should be a filename specifying a file where all the traces are printed.

If an error is returned, it can either be due to a tracer server already running ({error,already_started}) or due to the HandlerFun throwing an exception.

To start a similar tracer on a remote node, use tracer/3.

Types

This function is equivalent to tracer/2, but acts on the given node. A tracer is started on the node (Nodename) and the node is added to the list of traced nodes.

For details, see tracer/2.

Types

This function creates a trace port generating fun. The fun takes no arguments and returns a newly opened trace port. The return value from this function is suitable as a second parameter to tracer/2, i.e. dbg:tracer(port, dbg:trace_port(ip, 4711)).

A trace port is an Erlang port to a dynamically linked in driver that handles trace messages directly, without the overhead of sending them as messages in the Erlang virtual machine.

Two trace drivers are currently implemented, the file and the ip trace drivers. The file driver sends all trace messages into one or several binary files, from where they later can be fetched and processed with the trace_client/2 function. The ip driver opens a TCP/IP port where it listens for connections. When a client (preferably started by calling trace_client/2 on another Erlang node) connects, all trace messages are sent over the IP network for further processing by the remote client.

Using a trace port significantly lowers the overhead imposed by using tracing.

The file trace driver expects a filename or a wrap files specification as parameter. A file is written with a high degree of buffering, why all trace messages are not guaranteed to be saved in the file in case of a system crash. That is the price to pay for low tracing overhead.

A wrap files specification is used to limit the disk space consumed by the trace. The trace is written to a limited number of files each with a limited size. The actual filenames are Filename ++ SeqCnt ++ Suffix, where SeqCnt counts as a decimal string from 0 to WrapCnt and then around again from 0. When a trace term written to the current file makes it longer than WrapSize, that file is closed, if the number of files in this wrap trace is as many as WrapCnt the oldest file is deleted then a new file is opened to become the current. Thus, when a wrap trace has been stopped, there are at most WrapCnt trace files saved with a size of at least WrapSize (but not much bigger), except for the last file that might even be empty. The default values are WrapSize = 128*1024 and WrapCnt = 8.

The SeqCnt values in the filenames are all in the range 0 through WrapCnt with a gap in the circular sequence. The gap is needed to find the end of the trace.

If the WrapSize is specified as {time, WrapTime}, the current file is closed when it has been open more than WrapTime milliseconds, regardless of it being empty or not.

The ip trace driver has a queue of QueSize messages waiting to be delivered. If the driver cannot deliver messages as fast as they are produced by the runtime system, a special message is sent, which indicates how many messages that are dropped. That message will arrive at the handler function specified in trace_client/3 as the tuple {drop, N} where N is the number of consecutive messages dropped. In case of heavy tracing, drop's are likely to occur, and they surely occur if no client is reading the trace messages. The default value of QueSize is 200.

Equivalent to flush_trace_port(node()).

Equivalent to trace_port_control(Nodename,flush).

Equivalent to trace_port_control(node(),Operation).

Types

This function is used to do a control operation on the active trace port driver on the given node (Nodename). Which operations are allowed as well as their return values depend on which trace driver is used.

Returns either ok or {ok, Result} if the operation was successful, or {error, Reason} if the current tracer is a process or if it is a port not supporting the operation.

The allowed values for Operation are:

flush

This function is used to flush the internal buffers held by a trace port driver. Currently only the file trace driver supports this operation. Returns ok.

get_listen_port

Returns {ok, IpPort} where IpPort is the IP port number used by the driver listen socket. Only the ip trace driver supports this operation.

Types

This function starts a trace client that reads the output created by a trace port driver and handles it in mostly the same way as a tracer process created by the tracer/0 function.

If Type is file, the client reads all trace messages stored in the file named Filename or specified by WrapFilesSpec (must be the same as used when creating the trace, see trace_port/2) and let's the default handler function format the messages on the console. This is one way to interpret the data stored in a file by the file trace port driver.

If Type is follow_file, the client behaves as in the file case, but keeps trying to read (and process) more data from the file until stopped by stop_trace_client/1. WrapFilesSpec is not allowed as second argument for this Type.

If Type is ip, the client connects to the TCP/IP port PortNumber on the host Hostname, from where it reads trace messages until the TCP/IP connection is closed. If no Hostname is specified, the local host is assumed.

As an example, one can let trace messages be sent over the network to another Erlang node (preferably not distributed), where the formatting occurs:

On the node stack there's an Erlang node ant@stack, in the shell, type the following:

ant@stack> dbg:tracer(port, dbg:trace_port(ip,4711)).
<0.17.0>
ant@stack> dbg:p(self(), send).
{ok,1}

All trace messages are now sent to the trace port driver, which in turn listens for connections on the TCP/IP port 4711. If we want to see the messages on another node, preferably on another host, we do like this:

-> dbg:trace_client(ip, {"stack", 4711}).
<0.42.0>

If we now send a message from the shell on the node ant@stack, where all sends from the shell are traced:

ant@stack> self() ! hello.
hello

The following will appear at the console on the node that started the trace client:

(<0.23.0>) <0.23.0> ! hello
(<0.23.0>) <0.22.0> ! {shell_rep,<0.23.0>,{value,hello,[],[]}}

The last line is generated due to internal message passing in the Erlang shell. The process id's will vary.

Types

This function works exactly as trace_client/2, but allows you to write your own handler function. The handler function works mostly as the one described in tracer/2, but will also have to be prepared to handle trace messages of the form {drop, N}, where N is the number of dropped messages. This pseudo trace message will only occur if the ip trace driver is used.

For trace type file, the pseudo trace message end_of_trace will appear at the end of the trace. The return value from the handler function is in this case ignored.

Types

This function shuts down a previously started trace client. The Pid argument is the process id returned from the trace_client/2 or trace_client/3 call.

Equivalent to get_tracer(node()).

Types

Returns the process, port or tracer module to which all trace messages are sent.

Stops the dbg server, clears all trace flags for all processes, clears all trace patterns for all functions, clears trace patterns for send/receive, shuts down all trace clients, and closes all trace ports.