Patent ID: 6185597
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
In a computer system comprising a processor, a stack holding stack frames and having a top, a program having a set of procedures, and a debugging facility for controlling execution of the procedures by the processor, a method of growing one of the stack frames comprising the computer-implemented steps of:commencing execution of a first of the procedures of the set of procedures on the processor;in response to commencing execution of the first procedure, placing at the top of the stack a first stack frame associated with execution of the first procedure;during execution of the first procedure,suspending execution of the first procedure;commencing execution of a second of the procedures in the set of procedures on the processor; andin response to commencing execution of the second procedure, placing at the top of the stack above the first frame a second stack frame associated with the execution of the second procedure;during execution of the second procedure,receiving in the debugging facility a request to add a local variable to the first procedure;determining an amount by which to increase the size of the first frame to provide adequate working storage for the local variable; andsaving an indication of the determined amount; andafter completing the execution of the second procedure,bringing the first frame to the top of the stack;retrieving the indication of the determined amount;with the debugging facility, adding the local variable to the first procedure by increasing the size of the first frame by the determined amount; andresuming execution of the first procedure; andduring the resumed execution of the first procedure, using the added local variable,whereby the request to add a local variable to the first procedure can be received while the second procedure is executing.