Breakpoint setting/deleting system using a symbolic debugger in a digital data processing system

摘要

A breakpoint setting/deleting system is disclosed. Encoded function names are first retrieved from a given executable file which has been stored in a memory. A decoder is supplied with the retrieved encoded function names and then decodes same into corresponding source- level function names and signatures thereof. Subsequently, a function name lookup table is generated which shows a relationship between the encoded function names and the decoded source-level function names and signature thereof. A breakpoint setting/deleting instruction, which is applied to the system, includes a source-level function name and a signature thereof to which a breakpoint is to be set. A set of the source-level function name and the signature thereof, which are included in the breakpoint setting/deleting instruction, is used to retrieve the corresponding encoded function name from the function name lookup table. Thereafter, a breakpoint in set to the encoded function name obtained from the lookup table.