Micro Focus Enterprise Developer 3.0 for Eclipse > Programming > Mainframe Programming > PL/I Programming > Open PL/I User's Guide > Using Open PL/I > Running a Program > Using CodeWatch

Using CodeWatch

CodeWatch is a powerful software development tool that can help you locate bugs in your Open PL/I programs. There are two versions of CodeWatch available with Open PL/I:

a command-line interface
a Windows interface

The command-line version offers a traditional line-oriented interface allowing you to interactively enter commands from the keyboard. The Windows interface offers at least two main windows: one that allows you to enter commands and one that allows you to view your source code. You access CodeWatch commands through pulldown menus and dialogs. The Windows interface runs on a graphical workstation running X-Windows.

CodeWatch enables you to control program execution to set breakpoints, monitor what is happening, examine static type data, and evaluate results. CodeWatch keeps track of variables, subroutines, and data types in terms of the symbols used in the source language. You can reference these items without having to consider the underlying machine language or architecture. You can use CodeWatch to access the source text of the program, to identify and reference program entities, and to detect errors in the program's algorithms and logic.

Note: Your programs must be compiled using the -deb option before they can be run under the control of the debugger. (Every module need not be compiled in -deb mode, but at least one must be; CodeWatch debugs only the modules compiled in -deb mode.) When executed with the -deb option, the Compiler generates a separate symbol table file, filename.stb, in the current directory. filename.stb contains symbolic information that the debugger uses to reference and manipulate source program symbols and entities; set breakpoints, tracepoints, and watchpoints; and control program execution.

See the CodeWatch User's Guide for detailed information on CodeWatch.