Eqatec has announced a free tool that automates the task of adding trace instructions to any .NET or .NET Compact Framework (.NET CF) executable. Eqatec Tracer adds tracing straight to an application, imposes minimal overhead, and can trace any or all defined methods, the company says.
Earlier this year, Eqatec released Eqatec Profiler, a free tool that operates by injecting extra code into existing .NET CF files after they have been compiled. At runtime, the extra code measures the performance of every method, providing a performance report either while a program is running or after it stops. (For further details, and comparisons to other profiling methods, see our earlier coverage, here.)
Eqatec CEO Eigil Poulsen writes, "The programming community has been very positive towards the Eqatec Profiler, which we appreciate a lot." Turning back to the massive .NET Compact Framework (.NET CF) application that inspired the Profiler in the first place, he adds, "We spent lots of time manually adding trace instructions to the project, and thought 'this can be done smarter!'. The Eqatec Tracer is the result."
Equatec Tracer works with the full .NET Framework (2.0 and above) and with .NET CF, automatically injecting trace instructions into a previously compiled application, rather than into its source code. Among other benefits, the tool is said to:
Impose zero overhead for non-traced apps
To provide tracing only when needed
To spy on third-party as well as homegrown applications
According to the company, Eqatec Tracer works by injecting tracing code into every function and property in an application. Every time a function is called, this piece of code checks to see if the trace is enabled. If so, says Eqatec, a trace is generated that contains information on the functions called, and the result of ToString() on every parameter.
Finally, an application being traced communicates with Eqatec Tracer's viewing utility via TCP/IP, according to the company. Therefore, users can trace programs running on their own computers, on another computer, on a PDA connected via ActiveSync, or on an embedded device via a network connection, says Eqatec.
The above video provides a quick demonstration of Eqatec Tracer Source: Eqatec
Further information
Eqatec Viewer, now in version 1.1 (its "first official release"), supports programs written for NEF or .NET CF 2.0 and above using C#, VB .NET, managed C++, and J#. It supports Windows CE, Windows Mobile, Windows XP and XP Embedded, and Windows Vista.
The program can be downloaded free from the Eqatec website, here.
