PART 8: Software Diagnostics, Troubleshooting, and Debugging

A Pattern Language for Performance Analysis

We introduce a new software diagnostics pattern sub-catalogue based on trace and log analysis patterns. It now includes the following performance analysis patterns (with more patterns added soon):

•    Counter Value (Volume 7, page 288)

•    Global Monotonicity

•    Constant Value

Many general log analysis patterns based on software narratology are applicable to performance monitoring logs because they structure analysis data and corresponding thought process:

•    Adjoint Thread (Volume 5, page 283, can be visualized via different colors on a graph)

•    Focus of Tracing (Volume 6, page 243)

•    Characteristic Message Block (Volume 4, page 345, for graphs)

•    Activity Region (Volume 4, page 348)

•    Significant Event (Volume 5, page 281) and many others

The goal is to discern, describe, and classify general regularities and their interactions in captured performance data including analysis approaches reused across different operating systems, products, and their performance monitoring and analysis tools. Such Pattern-Oriented Performance Analysis as a part of Pattern-Oriented Software Diagnostics includes pattern-driven, pattern-based, and systemic parts.