Method for debugging applications for a GUI.

摘要

A first method manages a display screen window of an application program that is halted and includes the following steps: in responsive to an application program being halted, (a) copying the informational content of a window of the halted application program; (b) creating a second window, referred to as a shadow window, to be in registration with the window of the halted application program such that the window of the halted application program is hidden from the view of an observer of the display screen; (c) painting the second window with the copy of the informational content of the halted application program; and (d) in response to a message to re-paint the second window, re-painting the second window with the copy of the informational content of the halted application program. A second method is responsive to an application program being halted for (a) copying the window or windows of the halted application program; (b) intercepting a window re-paint message that is directed to the halted application program; and (c) re-painting the display screen window of the halted application program with that portion of the copy that corresponds to the window of the halted application program. Both methods may also invalidate obscured portions of the application window, such as by setting the corresponding portion of the copy to some predetermined color. <IMAGE>