Debugging parallel programs with visual patterns

Abstract

Debugging parallel programs challenges users due to the high complexity established by multiple, concurrently executing and communicating tasks. While error detection is still mainly based on textual representations, only graphical displays provide capabilities for managing the complexity. With the event graph model, investigations about occurring events and their connections can be performed. In addition, users can specify expected program behavior by graphically defining communication patterns. These assertions can be checked automatically and deliver valuable information about a program's correctness.