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.

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.

strace

strace

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.

Categories:
debugging monitoring linux

Strace Features

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

Pricing

  • Open Source

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

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