debugging and testing

IBM RAD

Section - 6) Debugging and Testing

Vikas Manoria
IT Specialist – IBM Academic Initiative
vmanoria@in.ibm.com

© 2008 IBM Corporation

IBM AI - RAD

Section 6 - Debugging and Testing (18%)
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Manage breakpoints
Step through and examine Java code
View variables and execute, display and inspect
expressions
Create and run code in Scrapbook page
Perform JSP debugging
Use step-by-step debugging
Locate and view WebSphere application server logs
Perform unit testing using JUnit

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Debug Tooling
 Rational Application Developer supports debugging in
several programming languages and environments
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Java
Active Script (client-side JavaScript or Visual Basic script)
SQL Stored Procedures, SQLJ
EGL, XSL Transformations
Mixed language
WebSphere Application Server environment (includes
servlets, JSPs, and EJBs)

 It is opened under the following conditions
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Execution hits a breakpoint that you inserted
An uncaught exception occurs
You select the debug button (
) on any tool bar

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Debugger Capabilities

Modify
- Code

while in the debugger
- Data values while stepping through code

While in the debugger
- Set

breakpoints
- No unnecessary editions are created
- Multithreading support

To debug your code you do not have to
- Recompile

in the Java editor, or
- Add source code, such as System.out.println(...)
into the code

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Debugger Perspective

Execution
Stack Frame

Debugger can
be used to inspect,
change, and step
through code

The source can
be changed,saved,
and resumed from
within the debugger

Source

Variables Pane

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Stack Frames
The debugger displays lists of stack frames before exception or
breakpoint occur
Stack frames
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Correspond to a called method
Are in reverse chronological order -- Last one executed is first

Any stack frame can be selected and “dropped to.” The code is then
re-executed
Choose a frame and
select the Relaunch
option defined in the
pop-up
- Variable values are
not reset when a
stack frame is
dropped
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Stepping Through Code Commands
1. Resume - Continues execution until breakpoint or thread ends
2. Suspend - Interrupts a running thread
3. Terminate - Ends the execution of the selected thread
4. Step Into – Steps into a method call and executes the first line of
code in that method
5. Step Over - Executes the next line of code in the current method
6. Step Return - Continues execution until the end of the current
method (until a return)
7. Step with Filters – Continues execution until the next line of code
which is not filtered out

1 2 3

4 5

6

7

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Step Filtering: Java
 Used to avoid stepping into specified packages and classes
while debugging
 Affects Step Into and Step Return while debugging
-

Specified packages and classes will be stepped over

 Is set in the Preferences dialog
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Window > Preferences > Java > Debug > Step Filtering

 They are independent of the Step Filters, which are used during
step-by-step debugging of J2EE and Web Objects

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Configuring Step Filtering: Java
 Toggle the Use Step Filters button in the Debug view toolbar
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Each of the step actions (over, into, return) will then apply to the set
of step filters which are defined in the preferences

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Breakpoints View

Lists all the breakpoints you have set in the
workbench, as well as Java Exception breakpoints
Double-click a breakpoint to display its location
- Enable or disable breakpoints, add or delete them
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Add Java Exception breakpoint
Skip all breakpoints
Show Breakpoints Supported by Selected Target
Remove All Breakpoints
Remove Selected Breakpoints

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Exception Breakpoints
Exception can be enabled as breakpoints in the Breakpoint
view
Execution will suspend wherever the exception is raised
- Can specify “caught”, “uncaught” or both.
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Where Are You Allowed to Enter Breakpoints?
 Breakpoints are set on an executable line of a program
 If you try to add a breakpoint on a line where there is no
executable code, Rational Application Developer will either:
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Add one at the next possible location (in Java code)
Display a red error message in the status bar

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Configuring Breakpoint Properties
 You can enable or disable breakpoints
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Newly added breakpoints are enabled by default

 Hit count breakpoints
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The thread execution suspends when the breakpoint is hit for the nth time
The breakpoint is disabled until either it is re-enabled or its hit count is
changed

 Conditional breakpoints
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Must evaluate to a boolean
Only invoked if condition
evaluates to true or value
changes

 Filtering: filter per thread
 Method breakpoints suspend
method Entry or Exit

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The Variables View
 Examine the contents of variables when a thread suspends
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Top stack frame of the thread is automatically selected
Visible variables of the selected stack frame are displayed

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Viewing and Changing Variables During Debugging
 Change a value by selecting Change Variable Value from the
context pop-up menu on a particular variable
1. Show type names adds the type before variable identifiers
2.Other options can be set using the toolbar menu
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For example: Detail Pane > the number of lines shown
1

2

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Data in the Expressions View
 In the Expressions view, you can inspect data from a
scrapbook page or a stack frame of a suspended thread
 The view is not initially open in the debug perspective
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It opens automatically when an item is added to the view

 To inspect data in this view, select a variable in the code and
press Ctrl-Shift-i twice
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The first time opens a window with the expression
The second time moves the contents of the window to the Expressions
view

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Run Sample Code with Scrapbook Pages
 Scrapbook pages allow you to evaluate and test a
small section of code without creating an entire class.
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To evaluate a code fragment in the scrapbook page, highlight
an expression and select Display from the pop-up menu.
Add other classes or packages using Set Imports.

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Create a New Java Scrapbook Page
 Start the New Java Scrapbook
wizard.
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In the Java perspective, select File >New
>Other.

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Expand Java -> Java Run/Debug and
select Scrapbook Page.

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Click Next.

 Specify the name and location for the
new Java scrapbook page.
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Specify a location for the scrapbook page.

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Choose a name for the scrapbook page.

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Click Finish.

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Debugging JavaServer Pages
You cannot set breakpoints on lines that only contain HTML
You can set breakpoints in:
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Java code
JSP, Struts, and JSF tags
JavaScript

Select the JSP file and click Debug As > Debug on Server
from the context pop-up menu
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The server automatically starts in debug mode
The debugger stops at the breakpoint and displays the JSP

Step through the JSP file, examine and change variable values
Refresh the JSP in the Web browser to view changes made
while debugging
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The state of the application is not lost, and the server recognizes your
changes
You do not need to republish to see JSP changes

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What Is Remote Debugging?

 The application to be debugged is on a different
machine than the workstation running Rational
Application Developer

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Configuring a Remote Server for Debugging

Turn on debug
information
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Window > Preferences
> Java > Compiler

Start the debugger
using a remote launch
configuration
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Specify the connection
properties

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Step-By-Step Debugging: J2EE and Web Objects
Works at a much higher level and stops on entry to every Web
object loaded by the server
Use the step-by-step mode to get to the Web object you want to
debug
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Then use traditional stepping to control debugging at the statement level
Step into, step over, step return

When entering a Web object, you decide whether to Skip or
Step Into the object
You can apply filters to further define which Web objects to
automatically skip
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Run/Debug > Java and Mixed Language Debug > Step Filters

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Eclipse Test and Performance Tools Platform (TPTP)
Open-source project for creating extensible testing, tracing,
profiling, and monitoring tools on the Eclipse platform.
Provides the following test suites:
-TPTP

JUnit Plug-in Test
-TPTP JUnit Test
-TPTP Manual Test
-TPTP URL Test

You can add a Test Case to an existing test suite
Records HTTP Interactions using HTTP Recording
-Can

create a test suite from an existing recording

Can create the following assets
-Artifact
-Datapool
-Deployment
-Location

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Integrated Rational Agent Controller
 In the past, you needed the services of the standalone Rational
Agent Controller before they could test an application.
- Even when you tried to test an application locally, including
the local WebSphere Test Environment, the Rational Agent
Controller would have to be installed on the local machine.
 The Integrated Rational Agent Controller is a new feature in
workbench that allows you to test an application locally without
needing the standalone Rational Agent Controller on the local
machine.
- If you test on a remote machine, you still need the Rational
Agent Controller on that remote machine.
- There is no need to install and configure on a local copy of
Rational Agent Controller when you are testing locally.

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Steps to Create and Run Tests

 Create a Test Project (Java Project) in the workspace.
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A Test Project stores tests and results.

 Create sub-folders to organize your code, for example:
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tests folder for test suites
assets folder for artifacts, deployments, and datapools
 Can be further broken down into sub-folders for each asset type

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results folder for test results

 Create Test Suites and Test Cases.
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A Test Suite defines a scenario through a collection of test
cases.
A Test Case specifies what to do during the test.

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Create a TPTP Test Suite
1.In Test Navigator, right-click your test project and select
New  Test Element.
2.Choose one of the three indicated test suite types:

a.
b.

c.

TPTP JUnit Test suite definition to test Java classes.
TPTP Manual Test suite to direct a user to perform steps and
enter verdicts.
TPTP URL Test suite to test Web applications.

3.Click Next.

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Create a Test Project
 Switch to the Test perspective
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Window > Open Perspective > Other > Test
You will need to select the Show All check box in the Open Perspective
dialog, and then Confirm enablement.

 From the main menu bar, select File > New > Project > Java
Project.
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Enter a Project name
Click Next
On the Java Settings page, click the Projects tab and add any projects
that you will be testing classes in
 For example, the LibraryTest project needs access to the classes in the
LibraryUtility project so that test suites can see the classes

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Click Finish

 In the Test Navigator, add folders to organize the different test
items you are going to create
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Test Suites, test cases, recording, and artifacts

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Create a TPTP JUnit Test (1 of 2)
1.Switch to the Test
perspective.
2.From the Test Navigator
view, bring up the popup menu and select New
> Test Element > TPTP
JUnit Test.
3.Click Next.
4.Select a Package and
name the test suite.
5.Click Next.

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Create a TPTP JUnit Test (2 of 2)

6.Specify the folder for
the Test.
7.Click Finish.

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TPTP JUnit Test Editor
 Use the Test Methods tab to add methods to the underlying
JUnit Test case.
 Use the Behavior tab to add loops and invoke test methods.
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The test methods can be from the underlying JUnit Test case, or from
other Tests.

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Editing the Underlying Test Case

 In the Test Navigator, right-click the Test suite and
select Open Source Code.
 Add test code to the methods that you defined in the
Test editor.
 Save your changes.

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Running the TPTP JUnit Test

 In the Test Navigator, right-click the
Test and select Run As > Test
 Examine the results in the Test Log
on the following page
-

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In the Test Navigator, double-click the
execution
Red X’s = failure

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Create a TPTP Manual Test
1.Switch to the Test
perspective.
2.From the Test Navigator
view, bring up the pop-up
menu, right-click and
select New >Test
Element >TPTP Manual
Test.
3.Click Next.
4.Select a folder and name
the test suite.
5.Click Finish.

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TPTP Manual Test Editor
 Use the Test Cases tab to add Test case instructions.
 Use the Behavior tab to add loops and invoke test methods.
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The test methods can be from the underlying local Test, or from other
Manual Tests.

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Running the TPTP Manual Test

 In the Test Navigator, right-click the Test and select Run As >
Test.
 The Manual Test View window opens.
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Follow the instructions for each task.
Enter detailed information.
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Verdict: Error, Fail, Inconclusive, or Pass
Enter a text description
Reason: None, See description, Success, Unknown, or User Intervention
Attach any required files

Click Next for the next task.

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Manual Test View

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Unit Test Web Application Components

Steps to create a URL Test Case for Web
applications:
1. Record

HTTP request and response using the URL
Recording Test Element.
2. Create a TPTP URL Test based on the HTTP request and
response messages.
3. Customize the Test Cases by editing the HTTP request and
response messages.
4. Generate an executable test based on the URL Test Suite.
5. Execute the test against the Web application.
6. Analyze the results from running the URL Test Case.

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Record an URL Test Case
1. Switch to the Test perspective.
2. In Test Navigator view, right-click the test project and select
New > Test Element > Recording > HTTP Recording.
3. Click Next.
4. When prompted, select a folder in the previously created Test
project.
5. Provide an unique name for the new HTTP Recording and
click Finish.
6. Wait for the Recorder Control to
start the external Web browser.

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Create URL Test Cases

 Interact with your Web application through the external
Web browser.
 Either close the Web browser or click Stop Recording
in the Recorder Control view.
 A new Test Suite and a series of Test Cases are
automatically created.
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One Test Case appears for each HTTP request
HTTP response messages are not captured

 Open the URL Test Suite to customize the individual
HTTP requests.

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Customize URL Test Cases

1

2

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Configure the Sequence of URL Test Cases

2
1

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Generate an Executable URL Test

 In the Test Navigator,
right-click the TPTP URL
Test Suite and select
Generate.
 At this point, you have a
single Java class that
executes a series of
HTTP requests according
to your settings in the
URL Test Suite.

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Run the URL Test and Examine the Result
 In the Navigator view, right-click the URL Test and select Run >
Run Test
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Double-click the execution to examine the results

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Create Graphical URL Test Reports

 Right-click a URL Hyades Test Suite and select
Report.
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Page Hit Rate measures the average number of hits per
second for every URL resource
Page Response Time measures the average number of
seconds needed by the Web application to return a response
Test Pass Report creates a report with presenting only the
most recent execution results for each selected test within a
specified period of time
Time Frame Historic creates a report with presenting all of
the executions run within a finite period of time

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Checkpoint
1.In the middle of debugging a method, you decide you
want to skip ahead to the point where control is handed
back to the caller. What can you do?
2.What information is shown in the debug view?
3.How do you know that a breakpoint has some condition
set?
4.On what lines of code are you able to enter a breakpoint?
5.A step filter is set for java.io.* and java.util.*. Would the
same result be achieved by simply setting java.*?
6.What is step-by-step debugging?

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Checkpoint answers
1.Click the Step return button, or press F7.
2.Stack frames, process threads, terminated
launches.
3.There is a question mark overlay on the icon.
4.Executable lines.
5.Yes and no. It would certainly cover the two
packages, but it would also cover all other java.
Packages, and this may not be what is required.
6.Step-by-step debugging an application running on a
Server will stop at entry to every object loaded by
the JVM or server.

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Checkpoint
1.What type of test do you create in order to unit test:
a.
b.
c.

A Java class?
A JavaServer Page (JSP)?
A Servlet?

2.How do you edit the test case of JUnit Test?
3.How do you check the test result for a Java class?

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Checkpoint answers
1. a) TPTP JUnit Test, b) and c) TPTP URL Test
2.In the Navigator view, right-click on the Test and
select Open Source Code.
3.In the Navigator view either
•
•

Expand the test execution
Double-click the test execution to view the Test Log

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Lab
 Debug Java application
 Breakpoints and debug views
 Step through code
 Variables and examine views
 Debug Web application
 Start server in debug mode
 Step-by-step debugging
 Create a Test project
 Create JUnit test cases
 Run and analyse test cases

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debugging and testing

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