js/src/doc/Debugger/Conventions.md

Wed, 31 Dec 2014 06:09:35 +0100

author
Michael Schloh von Bennewitz <michael@schloh.com>
date
Wed, 31 Dec 2014 06:09:35 +0100
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michael@0 1 # General Conventions
michael@0 2
michael@0 3 This page describes general conventions used in the [`Debugger`][debugger] API,
michael@0 4 and defines some terminology used throughout the specification.
michael@0 5
michael@0 6
michael@0 7 ## Properties
michael@0 8
michael@0 9 Properties of objects that comprise the `Debugger` interface, and those
michael@0 10 that the interface creates, follow some general conventions:
michael@0 11
michael@0 12 - Instances and prototypes are extensible; you can add your own properties
michael@0 13 and methods to them.
michael@0 14
michael@0 15 - Properties are configurable. This applies to both "own" and prototype
michael@0 16 properties, and to both methods and data properties. (Leaving these
michael@0 17 properties open to redefinition will hopefully make it easier for
michael@0 18 JavaScript debugger code to cope with bugs, bug fixes, and changes in the
michael@0 19 interface over time.)
michael@0 20
michael@0 21 - Method properties are writable.
michael@0 22
michael@0 23 - We prefer inherited accessor properties to own data properties. Both are
michael@0 24 read using the same syntax, but inherited accessors seem like a more
michael@0 25 accurate reflection of what's going on. Unless otherwise noted, these
michael@0 26 properties have getters but no setters, as they cannot meaningfully be
michael@0 27 assigned to.
michael@0 28
michael@0 29
michael@0 30 ## Debuggee Values
michael@0 31
michael@0 32 The `Debugger` interface follows some conventions to help debuggers safely
michael@0 33 inspect and modify the debuggee's objects and values. Primitive values are
michael@0 34 passed freely between debugger and debuggee; copying or wrapping is handled
michael@0 35 transparently. Objects received from the debuggee (including host objects
michael@0 36 like DOM elements) are fronted in the debugger by `Debugger.Object`
michael@0 37 instances, which provide reflection-oriented methods for inspecting their
michael@0 38 referents; see `Debugger.Object`, below.
michael@0 39
michael@0 40 Of the debugger's objects, only `Debugger.Object` instances may be passed
michael@0 41 to the debuggee: when this occurs, the debuggee receives the
michael@0 42 `Debugger.Object`'s referent, not the `Debugger.Object` instance itself.
michael@0 43
michael@0 44 In the descriptions below, the term "debuggee value" means either a
michael@0 45 primitive value or a `Debugger.Object` instance; it is a value that might
michael@0 46 be received from the debuggee, or that could be passed to the debuggee.
michael@0 47
michael@0 48
michael@0 49 ## Debuggee Code
michael@0 50
michael@0 51 Each `Debugger` instance maintains a set of global objects that, taken
michael@0 52 together, comprise the debuggee. Code evaluated in the scope of a debuggee
michael@0 53 global object, directly or indirectly, is considered *debuggee code*.
michael@0 54 Similarly:
michael@0 55
michael@0 56 - a *debuggee frame* is a frame running debuggee code;
michael@0 57
michael@0 58 - a *debuggee function* is a function that closes over a debuggee
michael@0 59 global object (and thus the function's code is debuggee code);
michael@0 60
michael@0 61 - a *debuggee environment* is an environment whose outermost
michael@0 62 enclosing environment is a debuggee global object; and
michael@0 63
michael@0 64 - a *debuggee script* is a script containing debuggee code.
michael@0 65
michael@0 66
michael@0 67 ## Completion Values
michael@0 68
michael@0 69 When a debuggee stack frame completes its execution, or when some sort
michael@0 70 of debuggee call initiated by the debugger finishes, the `Debugger`
michael@0 71 interface provides a value describing how the code completed; these are
michael@0 72 called *completion values*. A completion value has one of the
michael@0 73 following forms:
michael@0 74
michael@0 75 <code>{ return: <i>value</i> }</code>
michael@0 76 : The code completed normally, returning <i>value</i>. <i>Value</i> is a
michael@0 77 debuggee value.
michael@0 78
michael@0 79 <code>{ yield: <i>value</i> }</code>
michael@0 80 : <i>(Not yet implemented.)</i> The running code is a generator frame
michael@0 81 which has yielded <i>value</i>. <i>Value</i> is a debuggee value.
michael@0 82
michael@0 83 <code>{ throw: <i>value</i> }</code>
michael@0 84 : The code threw <i>value</i> as an exception. <i>Value</i> is a debuggee
michael@0 85 value.
michael@0 86
michael@0 87 `null`
michael@0 88 : The code was terminated, as if by the "slow script" dialog box.
michael@0 89
michael@0 90 If control reaches the end of a generator frame, the completion value is
michael@0 91 <code>{ throw: <i>stop</i> }</code> where <i>stop</i> is a
michael@0 92 `Debugger.Object` object representing the `StopIteration` object being
michael@0 93 thrown.
michael@0 94
michael@0 95
michael@0 96 ## Resumption Values
michael@0 97
michael@0 98 As the debuggee runs, the `Debugger` interface calls various
michael@0 99 debugger-provided handler functions to report the debuggee's behavior.
michael@0 100 Some of these calls can return a value indicating how the debuggee's
michael@0 101 execution should continue; these are called *resumption values*. A
michael@0 102 resumption value has one of the following forms:
michael@0 103
michael@0 104 `undefined`
michael@0 105 : The debuggee should continue execution normally.
michael@0 106
michael@0 107 <code>{ return: <i>value</i> }</code>
michael@0 108 : Return <i>value</i> immediately as the current value of the function.
michael@0 109 <i>Value</i> must be a debuggee value. (Most handler functions support
michael@0 110 this, except those whose descriptions say otherwise.) If the function
michael@0 111 was called as a constructor (that is, via a `new` expression), then
michael@0 112 <i>value</i> serves as the value returned by the function's body, not
michael@0 113 that produced by the `new` expression: if the value is not an object,
michael@0 114 the `new` expression returns the frame's `this` value.
michael@0 115
michael@0 116 <code>{ yield: <i>value</i> }</code>
michael@0 117 : <i>(Not yet implemented.)</i> Yield <i>value</i> immediately as the
michael@0 118 next value of the current frame, which must be a generator frame.
michael@0 119 <i>Value</i> is a debuggee value. The current frame must be a generator
michael@0 120 frame that has not yet completed in some other way. You may use `yield`
michael@0 121 resumption values to substitute a new value or one already yielded by a
michael@0 122 generator, or to make a generator yield additional values.
michael@0 123
michael@0 124 <code>{ throw: <i>value</i> }</code>
michael@0 125 : Throw <i>value</i> as an exception from the current bytecode
michael@0 126 instruction. <i>Value</i> must be a debuggee value.
michael@0 127
michael@0 128 `null`
michael@0 129 : Terminate the debuggee, as if it had been cancelled by the "slow script"
michael@0 130 dialog box.
michael@0 131
michael@0 132 If a function that would normally return a resumption value to indicate
michael@0 133 how the debuggee should continue instead throws an exception, we never
michael@0 134 propagate such an exception to the debuggee; instead, we call the
michael@0 135 associated `Debugger` instance's `uncaughtExceptionHook` property, as
michael@0 136 described below.
michael@0 137
michael@0 138
michael@0 139 ## The `Debugger.DebuggeeWouldRun` Exception
michael@0 140
michael@0 141 Some debugger operations that appear to simply inspect the debuggee's state
michael@0 142 may actually cause debuggee code to run. For example, reading a variable
michael@0 143 might run a getter function on the global or on a `with` expression's
michael@0 144 operand; and getting an object's property descriptor will run a handler
michael@0 145 trap if the object is a proxy. To protect the debugger's integrity, only
michael@0 146 methods whose stated purpose is to run debuggee code can do so. These
michael@0 147 methods are called [invocation functions][inv fr], and they follow certain
michael@0 148 common conventions to report the debuggee's behavior safely. For other
michael@0 149 methods, if their normal operation would cause debuggee code to run, they
michael@0 150 throw an instance of the `Debugger.DebuggeeWouldRun` exception.
michael@0 151
michael@0 152 A `Debugger.DebuggeeWouldRun` exception may have a `cause` property,
michael@0 153 providing more detailed information on why the debuggee would have run. The
michael@0 154 `cause` property's value is one of the following strings:
michael@0 155
michael@0 156 <i>cause</i> value meaning
michael@0 157 -------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
michael@0 158 "proxy" Carrying out the operation would have caused a proxy handler to run.
michael@0 159 "getter" Carrying out the operation would have caused an object property getter to run.
michael@0 160 "setter" Carrying out the operation would have caused an object property setter to run.
michael@0 161
michael@0 162 If the system can't determine why control attempted to enter the debuggee,
michael@0 163 it will leave the exception's `cause` property undefined.

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