Code analysis software maker DebugLive has released what it’s calling the industry’s first Web-based environment for debugging. DebugLive supports joint debugging sessions and shared resources, and enables workers to find and fix bugs in a codebase regardless of their geographical location.
The company was founded in 2006 by Donis Marshall, who spent years developing code, consulting, and teaching at various Microsoft corporate locations around the world. The San Rafael, Calif.-based company released its first product in February. That product, also called DebugLive, provides remote access via HTTPS to a virtual room in which users can see updates to code and contribute to debugging in real time.
“You can sometimes have several people trying to solve a problem across continents,” said Scott Gagnon, director of sales for DebugLive, “and DebugLive helps everyone to stay organized and work efficiently.
“Current debugging tools are limited and client-side installed,” he added, which means you would have to be on the client’s side of the firewall to debug their applications. However, with DebugLive, multiple users (including DebugLive engineers) can log in from any computer to take part in debugging, he said.
Despite calling DebugLive the industry’s first Web-based debugging service, Forrester analyst Jeffrey Hammond said, “Firefox’s Firebug is really the first Web-based [debugging tool] that I’ve seen that has become popular with developers,” but there is certainly a place for work in the browser, he added. “As dev teams are becoming more distributed, co-bugging would make sense if you’re in a situation where you’re trying to integrate the work of several developers.”
Currently, DebugLive supports 32-bit Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 applications, whether native or managed. Plug-ins are also offered to support third-party tools and applications, as well as an add-in for Microsoft Visual Studio IDE. Future versions will support 64-bit Windows apps, as well as for the Mac OS and Linux operating systems.
A selection of purchase plans range from a DebugLive Onsite perpetual license to a utility pricing model, which is pay-as-you-go. The service can also be accessed through DebugLive’s Public Server and used by purchasing a DebugLive ticket, which allows customers to prepay for a certain amount of time.
