 |
VB Decompiler
Hosted by TheAutomaters.com
|
| Author |
Message |
Dr Memory
Expert
Joined: 16 Aug 2004
Posts: 147
Location: Surrey, UK
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:22 am
Post subject: VB5/6 Runtime Error Diagnostics
|
|
I've been developing this tool which, having entered beta-testing, I hope to be releasing in time for Christmas. Here's an introduction and a screenshot.
In the exe world, you are on your own!
The IDE spoils you rotten, doesn't it? Breaks on errors, shows you a nice call stack, variable contents, etc etc... lovely .... like a godmother ...
Then you make an EXE, you go outside to play with it, and it's a different story. If you get run over playing with your EXE on the road, she won't come running out with a first-kit aid kit! She's gone down to the pub!
Unless you regard Err.Description and Err.Number as the acme of runtime diagnostics, you must have felt the pain of this serious shortcoming at some time or other ..... perhaps you've encountered the interesting "fails in EXE, works in IDE" scenario .... it's not fun!
Sourcecode Butchery
How many of you have contemplated at some stage, perhaps even done so, the handing of your application over to the SS? The Sourcecode Surgery is where we apply various convoluted methods that enable us to ask those questions that the VB runtime (apparently) is unable to answer: "MasterMind" stuff like "What function am I in?" (tricky), "Where did the error occur?" (very tricky)
Note: I've just been informed I've used an incorrect term again! Instead of "surgery" or "hacking", I should, apparently, be using the term "instrumentation"!
Cut to the Chev'!
The system is called "Eureka!" - I wanted to call it EWFTMF, as in "Eureka, We've finally ***ing Found the god****ed, ******-****ing error location!", but it got rejected ........ too long, or something like that.
I'm working on a "Pro" system, a "full monty" VB6 runtime debugger, that's not news, others have and are building similar things...
But I have a little trick which I am hoping will appeal to a wider audience, and does something that I believe is quite novel:
Eureka "Lite".
The screenshot shows a standard VB6 application, some simple code to make a chain of function calls and generate a choice of VB or GPF error.
The program has NO error handlers - it differs from an "unprotected EXE" by just ONE line of code at startup:
[code=text:i7335hju]-
- Form_Load
- Eureka ' watch my back, please
- End Sub
-
|
The only other difference is that, if the project does not have the "Generate Symbolic Debug Info" compile option turned on, that needs to be done (it persists with the project).
When you fall over, we drag Godmother away from the pub long enough to add a little useful information to the Err.Description object. Then we let her go back to the Bingo session. Her default handler then is a little more responsive, as hopefully the screenshot will demonstrate.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
|
Dr Memory
Expert
Joined: 16 Aug 2004
Posts: 147
Location: Surrey, UK
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 11:48 am
Post subject:
|
|
Did we say ONE line?
Sorry, that should have read: at most, one line
We can actually do all this without recompilation, really. Just attach us with the tool provided and continue normal processing - when it falls over, we'll be there!
One rider on that (interesting) feature is that the Lite version will only work if the target app has a PDB file. The "Pro" version can do quite a lot without the PDB! If it was compiled with VB5 or VB6, we've basically (groan) got it covered....
Cheers
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
vbgamer45
Regular user
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 93
Location: 127.0.0.1
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 1:39 pm
Post subject:
|
|
This sounds pretty cool.
Can't wait till it gets released.
Keep us up to date.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Dr Memory
Expert
Joined: 16 Aug 2004
Posts: 147
Location: Surrey, UK
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 5:17 pm
Post subject:
|
|
Thanks!
It's already giving me great support in-house, dll debugging is not easy at the nbest of times .... anything that saves time is time to do other things...
Like relax here!
BTW, our intention is for "Lite", as seen in the shot, while it won't be shareware, will be shareware-priced... I promise it won't hurt!
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
_aLfa_
Site Admin
Joined: 21 Sep 2002
Posts: 233
Location: Aveiro, Portugal
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 5:41 pm
Post subject:
|
|
Three words to describe: w o w
_________________
One thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing. (Socrates)
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
Dr Memory
Expert
Joined: 16 Aug 2004
Posts: 147
Location: Surrey, UK
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 10:28 pm
Post subject:
|
|
|
Excellent, glad you approve
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
|
Memberlist