Method and System for Colorizing Text and/or Background of Each Event in a Log File Based on a Timestamp

Method and System for Colorizing Text and /or Background of Each Event in a Log File Based on a Timestamp

Debugging big trace/log files can be difficult. Often times trace logs contain every event that occurs on a system. Most of the events are not important in a debugging process and may actually cause a user to overlook an error event when the user scans the trace superficially.

In a log file, a key indicator of a problematic event is when there are large gaps in time or when there is large chunk of logging occurring in a short period of time. Experienced users often look for the time gaps or concentrations as a starting point of the debugging process, but to find such events, the experienced users are obligated to examine the timestamps tediously.

Disclosed is a method and system for colorizing text and/or background of each event in a log file based on a timestamp. The method and system involves associating colors with the events in the log file depending on the timestamps associated with the events. This can be implemented via a syntax highlighter plug-in in many text viewers. The plug-in parses the log file for timestamp data, and colorizes the line text and/or background based on the previous color and the difference from the previous timestamp.

As time progresses, the colors change to create a continuous rainbow or grayscale which allows the user to superficially scan a trace file to find significant time gaps or concentrated logging.

The method involves allowing a user to open a trace file and enter the starting and ending time to apply the progressive colorization. Alternatively, the user may specify that the progressive colorization is to apply to the entire file. Additionally, the user enters the time increment (e.g.: 100 ms) for each color change. The system determines the incre...