Runtime Flow blog (Understanding a control flow in a running .NET application)

Runtime Flow v2.1.0 released:

• Added the new timeline window.

Download links: Visual Studio edition, Portable edition.

Runtime Flow v2.0.1 released:

• Fixed empty Flow and Summary windows in Visual Studio 2019.
• Stopped support for Visual Studio 2010/2012/2013.

Download links: Visual Studio edition, Portable edition.

Runtime Flow v2.0.0 released:

• Added integration with Visual Studio 2019.

Download link: Visual Studio edition.

To monitor a .NET Core application, use C:\Program Files\dotnet\dotnet.exe as a runner for your application dll:

I’ve created a new sample extension that shows time stamps for method calls:

Please, have a look.

I’ve created a new sample, demonstrating Runtime Flow API usage. The RFDtoTXT command line utility extract the full method calls sequence from a .rfd file and saves it in a plaint text file.

Usage: RFDtoTXT.exe log.rfd log.txt

Thread 12372
 void App.Main()
  void App..ctor()
  void App.InitializeComponent()
  void MainWindow..ctor()
   void MainWindow.InitializeComponent()
    void MainWindow.System.Windows.Markup.IComponentConnector.Connect(0, MainWindow{_contentLoaded=true})...(2, Button) (dup=3)
  void MainWindow.System.Windows.Markup.IComponentConnector.Connect(0, MainWindow{_contentLoaded=true})
  void MainWindow.Button_Click(Button, RoutedEventArgs)
  void MainWindow.Button_Click_1(Button, RoutedEventArgs)

Main sample code is shown below:

public void Convert()
{
    foreach (RuntimeFlowExt.ThreadNode t in flow.flow)
    {
        outputFile.WriteLine(formatter.ThreadName(t));
        foreach (RuntimeFlowExt.FlowNode f in t.children)
            ConvertFlow(f, 1);
    }
}

private void ConvertFlow(RuntimeFlowExt.FlowNode node, int offset)
{
    outputFile.WriteLine(new string(' ', offset) + formatter.FunctionCall(node));
    foreach (RuntimeFlowExt.FlowNode f in node.children)
        ConvertFlow(f, offset + 1);
}

Download sample code: RFDtoTXT_10.zip.

Runtime Flow v1.8.0 released:

• Added the VS 2017 integration module to the main installer.
• Created the RFShortcuts extension to resume and pause monitoring with global Windows keyboard shortcuts Win+F11 and Win+F12.
• Added the RFShortcuts extension to the portable installer.
• Added commands, previously accessible only from the Runtime Flow toolbar, for VS keyboard bindings.
• Added support for non-English characters in the monitoring filter.
• Fixed a rare exception when copying to the clipboard.

Download links: Visual Studio edition, Portable edition.

Monitoring a web application in IIS 10.

I’ve created a Visual Studio 2017 integration module for Runtime Flow that should be installed along with the main installer.

Download link: RuntimeFlow2017.vsix.

Runtime Flow v1.6.0 released:

• Added the ability to save and open monitoring results.
• Created an API for programmatic access to saved and real time monitoring data.
• Improved monitoring performance up to 30%.
• Added the parent class name to internal classes.
• Stopped support for Visual Studio 2008/2005.
• Stopped support for the portable edition running with .NET 3.5.

Download links: Visual Studio edition, Portable edition.