ltrace vs DTrace

Struggling to choose between ltrace and DTrace? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

ltrace is a Development solution with tags like library, debugging, tracing, dynamic-linking.

It boasts features such as Intercepts and records dynamic library calls made by a process, Can trace calls made by programs to shared libraries, Helps debug issues caused by dynamic linking, Shows parameters passed to library functions and return values, Tracks time spent in each call and pros including Lightweight and easy to use for debugging, Does not require modifying or recompiling the target program, Works on most Linux distributions without special setup, Can trace proprietary programs where source code is unavailable.

On the other hand, DTrace is a Os & Utilities product tagged with tracing, troubleshooting, debugging.

Its standout features include Dynamic instrumentation of running production systems, Minimal overhead and performance impact, Support for multiple programming languages, Real-time diagnostics, Root cause analysis, and it shines with pros like Powerful troubleshooting capabilities, Low overhead, Easy to use, Integrated into Solaris and other OSes.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

ltrace

ltrace

ltrace is a debugging utility that intercepts and records dynamic library calls which are called by an executed process. It can be used to trace calls made by programs to shared libraries and helps debug issues caused by dynamic linking.

Categories:
library debugging tracing dynamic-linking

Ltrace Features

  1. Intercepts and records dynamic library calls made by a process
  2. Can trace calls made by programs to shared libraries
  3. Helps debug issues caused by dynamic linking
  4. Shows parameters passed to library functions and return values
  5. Tracks time spent in each call

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Lightweight and easy to use for debugging

Does not require modifying or recompiling the target program

Works on most Linux distributions without special setup

Can trace proprietary programs where source code is unavailable

Cons

Only works for dynamic library calls, not static linking

Can introduce some runtime overhead when tracing

Does not trace code within libraries themselves

Limited Windows support compared to Linux


DTrace

DTrace

DTrace is a dynamic tracing framework created by Sun Microsystems for troubleshooting kernel and application problems on production systems in real time. It allows administrators, developers, and service personnel to concisely answer arbitrary questions about the behavior of the operating system and user programs.

Categories:
tracing troubleshooting debugging

DTrace Features

  1. Dynamic instrumentation of running production systems
  2. Minimal overhead and performance impact
  3. Support for multiple programming languages
  4. Real-time diagnostics
  5. Root cause analysis

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Powerful troubleshooting capabilities

Low overhead

Easy to use

Integrated into Solaris and other OSes

Cons

Steep learning curve

Limited to Solaris-based systems without porting efforts

Can impact performance if misused