strace vs DTrace

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

strace is a Os & Utilities solution with tags like debugging, monitoring, linux.

It boasts features such as Traces system calls and signals, Intercepts and prints the system calls executed by a program, Displays the values of parameters passed to and returned from system calls, Can attach to an already running process or start a process and trace it, Can trace child processes spawned by a traced process and pros including Useful for debugging and troubleshooting programs, Helps identify performance bottlenecks, Lightweight and easy to use, Works on most Linux distributions without needing compilation.

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.

Feature	strace	DTrace
Overall Score	N/A	N/A
Primary Category	Os & Utilities	Os & Utilities

Product Overview

strace

Description: strace is a diagnostic, debugging and instructional userspace utility for Linux. It is used to monitor and tamper with interactions between processes and the Linux kernel, including system calls, signal deliveries, and changes of process state.

DTrace

Description: 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.

Key Features Comparison

strace Features

• Traces system calls and signals
• Intercepts and prints the system calls executed by a program
• Displays the values of parameters passed to and returned from system calls
• Can attach to an already running process or start a process and trace it
• Can trace child processes spawned by a traced process

DTrace Features

• Dynamic instrumentation of running production systems
• Minimal overhead and performance impact
• Support for multiple programming languages
• Real-time diagnostics
• Root cause analysis

Pros & Cons Analysis

strace

Pros

• Useful for debugging and troubleshooting programs
• Helps identify performance bottlenecks
• Lightweight and easy to use
• Works on most Linux distributions without needing compilation

Cons

• Can slow down execution of traced programs significantly
• Generates large trace files quickly
• Requires understanding of system calls and signals
• Does not work on statically linked programs

DTrace

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

Pricing Comparison

strace

• Open Source

DTrace

• Open Source
• Free