METHOD AND APPARATUS USING VARIABLE RANGES TO SUPPORT SYMBOLIC DEBUGGING OF OPTIMIZED CODE

A system uses variable ranges to support symbolic debugging of optimized code. A debug symbol table is constructed which includes descriptions of each user resource in source code. Additionally, a range table is constructed. The range table contains, for each user resource which is stored in numerous locations during execution of the code, a list of ranges and a description of where the user resource may be found during each range. If the user resource is stored as a constant during a particular range, the value of the constant may be stored in the range table. The description of each user resource in the debug symbol table includes a flag which indicates whether there is a list of ranges in the range table for a particular user resource. If there is, the description of the particular user resource will include a pointer to the list of ranges for that user resource.