Title: Method and apparatus for assisting in debugging of a digital computer program

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Abstract: The specification discloses a technique for assisting in the detection of errors and malfunctions in the operation of a digital computer program. The system includes circuitry for connection to the back plane of a digital computer for receiving representations of the program instructions executed by the computer. A memory normally connected to a first in-first out configuration includes a plurality of series connected stages connected to receive the representations, each of the representations normally being sequentially stored in successive ones of the stages and then transferred to the output of the memory and dumped. Mode selection circuitry is operable to interconnect the system in the sentinel, breakpoint or snapshot modes. In the sentinel mode, in response to a computer malfunction, the circuitry is operable to connect the memory output to the memory input to form a first in-last out memory configuration to store the instruction representations in the memory. In the breakpoint mode, circuitry is operable to terminate operation of the computer and to connect the memory output to the memory input to store the contents of the memory upon the execution of a preselected program instruction. In the snapshot mode, the circuitry is operable to connect the memory output to the memory input to store the contents of the memory upon the execution of preselected program instructions, without terminating operation of the computer. A display is provided to selectively visually display the stored contents of the memory in order to assist in detecting errors and malfunctions in the operation of the computer program.


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