sc_tracediff

Show the difference between traceroutes in two warts files

$ sc_tracediff [path/to/file1.warts] [path/to/file2.warts]

$ sc_tracediff -a [path/to/file1.warts] [path/to/file2.warts]

$ sc_tracediff -n [path/to/file1.warts] [path/to/file2.warts]

sc_tracediff <trace_file1> <trace_file2>

<trace_file1>
    The path to the first system call trace file to be compared.

<trace_file2>
    The path to the second system call trace file to be compared.

The sc_tracediff command is a specialized utility designed to compare two system call trace files, typically generated by the sc_trace tool. It highlights the differences between the system call sequences, arguments, and return values recorded in the two input files. This command is particularly useful in embedded Linux development and debugging scenarios for purposes such as regression testing, analyzing performance changes, or identifying behavioral shifts between two runs of an application or system. By providing a detailed comparison of system call interactions, sc_tracediff helps developers quickly pinpoint discrepancies that might indicate bugs, unexpected behavior, or changes in execution flow.

sc_tracediff is not a standard, universally available Linux command. It is typically part of specific SDKs and toolchains, such as those provided by Renesas for embedded Linux development.
Its functionality is dependent on the format of trace files generated by the sc_trace utility.
Command-line options for sc_tracediff are not widely documented and may be limited or specific to particular versions of the sc_trace utility suite.

Primarily utilized in development workflows involving embedded Linux systems, sc_tracediff assists in ensuring software consistency. Developers capture traces before and after code changes or system updates, then use this command to verify that system call interactions remain as expected or to identify the root cause of observed regressions.

The input files (<trace_file1> and <trace_file2>) are expected to be in the specific format produced by the sc_trace utility. This format typically includes detailed information about each system call, such as its sequence number, timestamp, process ID, thread ID, system call name, arguments, and return value.

sc_tracediff emerged as part of the sc_trace utility suite, developed primarily for deep debugging and analysis in embedded Linux environments. Its development focuses on providing detailed insights into system call interactions on target hardware, facilitating comparison and regression analysis for software development and validation on platforms where traditional debugging tools might be limited.

sc_trace, diff(1), strace(1)