Debugging an SCA Java platform with SCA Tools

Introduction

When you debug an SCA Java project on an SCA platform, it is also possible to debug the platform itself. To make it possible, you should have both the binary and the source distributions of the platform.

Debugging from the main class

Find the main class file in your Eclipse.
You can find it either because you already have the source, or by using the Java search feature of Eclipse ( Java > Search Java... and search the type you gave in the master launch configuration).

Go into the debug perspective: Window > Open perspective > Debug.
We are now going to add a breakpoint somewhere in your main.

Starting from the main source file...

Open the source file.

Make a right-click somewhere on the left margin of the editor and select Toggle breakpoint.
This breakpoint may not be visible in the editor, but it will be visible in the Breakpoints view.

Now, right-click on your composite and select Debug as... > SCA application.
Select the configuration you want to debug and click OK.

If your main class is not in the workspace, the debug editor will show you an empty editor.

You will have to associate the sources manually. In this case, click Edit Source Lookup Path....
Select Default and click Add.... In the second dialog, select the appropriate choice.
For this tutorial, since I have the source of TuscanyMain1x, I can select File System Directory and give the right location.

Click OK until you get back to the source. You have your source now.

Starting from the main class file...

The editor should only show bytecode.
Click Attach Source..., select External File..., choose the source file on your disk. Then click OK until you are back to the editor. You should now see the main class code. In this source file, make a right-click somewhere on the left margin of the editor and select Toggle breakpoint (or make a double-click). This breakpoint should be visible in both the editor and the Breakpoints view.

Now, right-click on your composite and select Debug as... > SCA application. Select the configuration you want to debug and click OK.

Getting into the platform code

You are now moving into the main class code.
Use the Step Into, Step Over and Step Return buttons to navigate into the code.

You should finally arrive to a runtime class. Once again, you will most likely have to associate the source code.

Click Attach Source..., select External File.... On your disk, choose the source distribution of the platform.

Then click OK until you are back to the editor. You should now be in the platform code.

You can add breakpoints into this code, check the variables... in short, debug the platform code.

Debugging from a stack trace

Let's assume you deployed a project and that it failed.
You have a stack trace in the console, referencing some classes of the platform and lines indicating where it failed.

This case is even more simple than previously.
In the console, click the class link. It should be open in the editor and be displayed as bytecode.
Associate the source as described previously and then add breakpoints.
Run the composite once again in debug mode and check what went wrong.