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USENIX 2001 Abstract
An Embedded Error Recovery and Debugging Mechanism for Scripting Language Extensions
David M. Beazley, University of Chicago
Abstract
In recent years, scripting languages such as Perl, Python, and Tcl
have become popular development tools for the creation of
sophisticated application software. One of the most useful features
of these languages is their ability to easily interact with compiled
languages such as C and C++. Although this mixed language approach
has many benefits, one of the greatest drawbacks is the complexity of
debugging that results from using interpreted and compiled code in the
same application. In part, this is due to the fact that scripting
language interpreters are unable to recover from catastrophic errors
in compiled extension code. Moreover, traditional C/C++ debuggers
do not provide a satisfactory degree of integration with interpreted
languages. This paper describes an experimental system in which fatal
extension errors such as segmentation faults, bus errors, and failed
assertions are handled as scripting language exceptions. This system,
which has been implemented as a general purpose shared library,
requires no modifications to the target scripting language, introduces
no performance penalty, and simplifies the debugging of mixed
interpreted-compiled application software.
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