Crash reporter
Encyclopedia
A crash reporter is an application
whose function is to report crash
data to a third party, usually to the party responsible for the crashed program. Crash reports often include data such as stack traces, type of crash, and version of software. This information helps software developers to diagnose and fix the underlying problem causing the crash.
there is a standard crash reporter in /System/Library/CoreServices/Crash Reporter.app. Crash Reporter.app sends the Unix
crash logs to Apple Computer
for their engineer
s to look at. The top text field of the window has the crash log, while the bottom field is for user comments. Users may also copy and paste the log in their email client to send to the application vendor for them to use. Crash Reporter.app has 3 main modes: display nothing on crash, display "Application has crashed" dialog box
or display Crash Report window.
Windows XP
includes a crash reporting service called Windows Error Reporting
(formerly Online Crash Analysis) that prompts users to send crash reports to Microsoft for online analysis. The information goes to a central database run by Microsoft. It consists of diagnostic information that helps the company or development team responsible for the crash to debug and resolve the issue if they choose to do so.
Windows probably contains the most sophisticated form of OCA to date where the central database can be set up to gather additional information from users that are experiencing a particular type of crash (through user approval). The system considers all parts of the debug and release process, such that targeted bug fixes can be applied through Windows Update
. In other words, only people experiencing a particular type of crash can be offered the bug fix, thus limiting exposure to an issue.
Bug Buddy is the crash reporting tool used by the GNOME
platform. When an application using the GNOME libraries crashes, Bug Buddy generates a stack trace using gdb and invites the user to submit the report to the GNOME bugzilla
. The user can add comments and view the details of the crash report.
is called Dr. Konqi. The user can also get a backtrace using gdb.
software up to version 1.8.1 to report crashes of its products to a centralized server
for aggregation or case-by-case analysis. Talkback is proprietary software
licensed to the Mozilla Corporation by SupportSoft. If a Mozilla product (e.g. Mozilla Firefox
, Mozilla Thunderbird
) were to crash with Talkback enabled, the Talkback agent would appear, prompting the user to provide optional information regarding the crash. Talkback does not replace the native OS crash reporter which, if enabled, will appear along with the Talkback agent.
Talkback has been replaced by Breakpad in Firefox
since version 3
.
Breakpad (previously called Airbag) is an open-source replacement for Talkback. It is being developed by Google
and Mozilla, and used in current Mozilla-based products such as Firefox and Thunderbird. Its significance is being the first open source multi-platform crash reporting system.
Since May 27, 2007, Breakpad is now included in Firefox 3 trunk builds on Windows NT and Mac OS X, and, a few weeks later, on Linux.
Apport works by installing a userspace helper which intercepts user processes when they would usually dump core
, and writes crash reports to a staging location. A user daemon then invites the user to submit new crash reports to Ubuntu for analysis.
Apport is disabled by default on official end-user-facing releases of Ubuntu.
is another program to use its own crash reporter, "Error Reporter". The error reporter may not detect crashes all the time; sometimes the OS crash reporter is invoked instead. Error Reporter has even been known to crash while reporting errors.
error handling framework for applications created in Microsoft Visual C++ and running under Windows. The library is distributed under New BSD License.
CrashRpt intercepts unhandled exceptions, creates a crash minidump file, builds a crash descriptor in XML
format, presents an interface to allow user to review the crash report, and finally it compresses and sends the crash report to the software support team.
Application software
Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with...
whose function is to report crash
Crash (computing)
A crash in computing is a condition where a computer or a program, either an application or part of the operating system, ceases to function properly, often exiting after encountering errors. Often the offending program may appear to freeze or hang until a crash reporting service documents...
data to a third party, usually to the party responsible for the crashed program. Crash reports often include data such as stack traces, type of crash, and version of software. This information helps software developers to diagnose and fix the underlying problem causing the crash.
Mac OS X
In Mac OS XMac OS X
Mac OS X is a series of Unix-based operating systems and graphical user interfaces developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. Since 2002, has been included with all new Macintosh computer systems...
there is a standard crash reporter in /System/Library/CoreServices/Crash Reporter.app. Crash Reporter.app sends the Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
crash logs to Apple Computer
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
for their engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s to look at. The top text field of the window has the crash log, while the bottom field is for user comments. Users may also copy and paste the log in their email client to send to the application vendor for them to use. Crash Reporter.app has 3 main modes: display nothing on crash, display "Application has crashed" dialog box
Dialog box
In a graphical user interface of computers, a dialog box is a type of window used to enable reciprocal communication or "dialog" between a computer and its user. It may communicate information to the user, prompt the user for a response, or both...
or display Crash Report window.
Windows
MicrosoftMicrosoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
Windows XP
Windows XP
Windows XP is an operating system produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops and media centers. First released to computer manufacturers on August 24, 2001, it is the second most popular version of Windows, based on installed user base...
includes a crash reporting service called Windows Error Reporting
Windows Error Reporting
Windows Error Reporting is a crash reporting technology introduced by Microsoft with Windows XP and included in later Windows versions and Windows Mobile 5.0 and 6.0. Not to be confused with the Dr...
(formerly Online Crash Analysis) that prompts users to send crash reports to Microsoft for online analysis. The information goes to a central database run by Microsoft. It consists of diagnostic information that helps the company or development team responsible for the crash to debug and resolve the issue if they choose to do so.
Windows probably contains the most sophisticated form of OCA to date where the central database can be set up to gather additional information from users that are experiencing a particular type of crash (through user approval). The system considers all parts of the debug and release process, such that targeted bug fixes can be applied through Windows Update
Windows Update
Windows Update is a service provided by Microsoft that provides updates for the Microsoft Windows operating system and its installed components, including Internet Explorer...
. In other words, only people experiencing a particular type of crash can be offered the bug fix, thus limiting exposure to an issue.
GNOME
GNOME
GNOME is a desktop environment and graphical user interface that runs on top of a computer operating system. It is composed entirely of free and open source software...
platform. When an application using the GNOME libraries crashes, Bug Buddy generates a stack trace using gdb and invites the user to submit the report to the GNOME bugzilla
Bugzilla
Bugzilla is a Web-based general-purpose bugtracker and testing tool originally developed and used by the Mozilla project, and licensed under the Mozilla Public License....
. The user can add comments and view the details of the crash report.
KDE
The crash reporting tool used by KDEKDE
KDE is an international free software community producing an integrated set of cross-platform applications designed to run on Linux, FreeBSD, Microsoft Windows, Solaris and Mac OS X systems...
is called Dr. Konqi. The user can also get a backtrace using gdb.
Talkback
(also known as the Quality Feedback Agent) was the crash reporter used by MozillaMozilla
Mozilla is a term used in a number of ways in relation to the Mozilla.org project and the Mozilla Foundation, their defunct commercial predecessor Netscape Communications Corporation, and their related application software....
software up to version 1.8.1 to report crashes of its products to a centralized server
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
for aggregation or case-by-case analysis. Talkback is proprietary software
Proprietary software
Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...
licensed to the Mozilla Corporation by SupportSoft. If a Mozilla product (e.g. Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
, Mozilla Thunderbird
Mozilla Thunderbird
Mozilla Thunderbird is a free, open source, cross-platform e-mail and news client developed by the Mozilla Foundation. The project strategy is modeled after Mozilla Firefox, a project aimed at creating a web browser...
) were to crash with Talkback enabled, the Talkback agent would appear, prompting the user to provide optional information regarding the crash. Talkback does not replace the native OS crash reporter which, if enabled, will appear along with the Talkback agent.
Talkback has been replaced by Breakpad in Firefox
Mozilla Firefox
Mozilla Firefox is a free and open source web browser descended from the Mozilla Application Suite and managed by Mozilla Corporation. , Firefox is the second most widely used browser, with approximately 25% of worldwide usage share of web browsers...
since version 3
Mozilla Firefox 3
Mozilla Firefox 3.0 is a version of the Firefox web browser released on June 17, 2008 by the Mozilla Corporation.Firefox 3.0 uses version 1.9 of the Gecko layout engine for displaying web pages. This version fixes many bugs, improves standard compliance, and implements many new web APIs compared to...
.
Breakpad
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
and Mozilla, and used in current Mozilla-based products such as Firefox and Thunderbird. Its significance is being the first open source multi-platform crash reporting system.
Since May 27, 2007, Breakpad is now included in Firefox 3 trunk builds on Windows NT and Mac OS X, and, a few weeks later, on Linux.
Ubuntu
With the release of Ubuntu 6.10, Ubuntu includes Apport.Apport works by installing a userspace helper which intercepts user processes when they would usually dump core
Core dump
In computing, a core dump consists of the recorded state of the working memory of a computer program at a specific time, generally when the program has terminated abnormally...
, and writes crash reports to a staging location. A user daemon then invites the user to submit new crash reports to Ubuntu for analysis.
Apport is disabled by default on official end-user-facing releases of Ubuntu.
World of Warcraft
World of WarcraftWorld of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...
is another program to use its own crash reporter, "Error Reporter". The error reporter may not detect crashes all the time; sometimes the OS crash reporter is invoked instead. Error Reporter has even been known to crash while reporting errors.
CrashRpt
Another error reporting library for Windows is CrashRpt. CrashRpt library is a light-weight open sourceOpen source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
error handling framework for applications created in Microsoft Visual C++ and running under Windows. The library is distributed under New BSD License.
CrashRpt intercepts unhandled exceptions, creates a crash minidump file, builds a crash descriptor in XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
format, presents an interface to allow user to review the crash report, and finally it compresses and sends the crash report to the software support team.