An approach to feature location in distributed systems

13 years 4 months ago

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This paper describes an approach to the feature location problem for distributed systems, that is, to the problem of locating which code components are important in providing a particular feature for an end user. A feature is located by observing system execution and noting time intervals in which it active. Traces of execution in intervals with and without the feature are compared. Earlier experience has shown that this analysis is difficult because distributed systems often exhibit stochastic behavior and because time intervals are hard to identify with precision. To get around these difficulties, the paper proposes a definition of time interval based on the causality analysis introduced by Lamport and others. A strict causal interval may be defined, but it must often be extended to capture latent events and to represent the inherent imprecison in time measurement. This extension is modeled using a weighting function which may be customized to the specific circumstances of each stud...

Dennis Edwards, Sharon Simmons, Norman Wilde

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