The slides from Software Diagnostics Services seminar (17th of September, 2012) about how to apply systems theory and systems thinking for effective and efficient abnormal software behavior diagnostics: the foundation of software troubleshooting and debugging. Topics include: Software Diagnostics vs. Software Problem Solving, General Systems-Theory, Software System and Environment, Using Humanities, Isomorphic Systems, Isomorphic Patterns, Isomorphic Diagnostics, Isomorphic Disciplines, Metaphorical Bijection, Complementarity (Artifacts, Reports, Analysis), Decomposition of Behavior, Holistic Approach, Diagnostics Complexity, First Fault Diagnosis, Software Diagnostics Tools.

1. Systemic
Software Diagnostics
Dmitry Vostokov
Software Diagnostics Services
Version 1.0

2. Prerequisites
Interest in software diagnostics and
in general systems theory
© 2012 Software Diagnostics Services

3. Software Diagnostics
© 2012 Software Diagnostics Services
Software
Diagnostics
Software
Problem Solving
Problem
Problem1 Problem2 Problem3

4. General Systems-Theory
© 2012 Software Diagnostics Services
Memory
System
World
Narrative

5. Why?
 Organized Complexity of Software
 Software as Human Artifact
 Problem Solving
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6. Goals
 Ideas from General Systems-Theory
 Applications to Software Diagnostics
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7. Software Diagnostics
 Pattern-driven
 Systems approach
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8. System and Environment
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 Not My Version
 Changed Environment
 Hooksware

9. Using Humanities (Past)
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System HumansModeling

10. Using Humanities (Now)
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Software
System
HumansModeling

11. Using Humanities (Example)
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Software
Narratology
Literature,
Communication
F

12. Isomorphic Systems
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System A System B
f
f-1

13. Isomorphic Patterns
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Software
Traces
Narrative Story
f
f-1
Windows
Patterns
Mac OS X
Patterns
g
g-1

14. Isomorphic Diagnostics
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Software
Traces
Memory Dumps
f
f-1

15. Isomorphic Diagnostics 2
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Software
Traces
Network Traces
f
f-1
Network Trace Analysis Patterns

16. Isomorphic Disciplines
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Discipline A Discipline B
f
f-1
Metaphorical Bijection

17. Metaphorical Bijection
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Software
Narratology
Narratology
f
f-1
Software Narratology

18. Complementarity (Artifacts)
© 2012 Software Diagnostics Services
Software
Trace
Memory
Dump
Quantum Mechanics
and observables: x / px

19. Complementarity (Reports)
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Software Log
Observer A
Observer B
Solution: Pattern Checklists

20. Complementarity (Analysis)
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Malware
Victimware

21. Decomposition of Behavior
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 GUI state changes
 GUI messages
 Product specific messages
 System messages
 Memory dumps
 Network traces
 Screenshots

22. Holistic Approach
© 2012 Software Diagnostics Services
 Complete (or fiber bundled) dump
 All processes and threads
 Full trace
 All modules

23. Diagnostics Complexity
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Memory Dump Analysis
C ~ F (CMem, C-1
Tool, C-1
Pat)
CMem structural complexity
CTool the number of commands
CPat the number of patterns in a catalog

24. First Fault Diagnosis
 Most diagnostic patterns are first fault
 First fault vs. second fault tools
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25. Software Diagnostics Tools
Software Diagnostics Workbench
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26. Diagnostics by Mhole 
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In a
HUMINT and SIGINT approach to software diagnostics
(moles or memory holes)

27. Further Reading
Systems Thinking and Science
 An Introduction to General Systems Thinking (by Weinberg)
 Facets of Systems Science (by Klir)
Software Diagnostics
 Software Diagnostics Institute
 Memory Dump Analysis Anthology: Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, …
Volume 6 is in preparation (September, 2012)
Volume 7 is planned for the end of 2012
 Software Trace and Memory Dump Analysis: Patterns, Tools, Processes and
Best Practices
 Introduction to Pattern-Driven Software Problem Solving
 Introduction to Software Narratology
 Introduction to Pattern-Driven Software Diagnostics
 Victimware
© 2012 Software Diagnostics Services

28. Next Webinar
Abductive Reasoning in Software Diagnostics
December, 2012
© 2012 Software Diagnostics Services
Patterns Explanations

29. Q&A
Please send your feedback using the contact
form on DumpAnalysis.com
© 2012 Software Diagnostics Services

30. Thank you for attendance!
© 2012 Software Diagnostics Services