Profiling Javascript

Why in the world would someone want to profile Javascript? For goodness sake, it’s hard enough trying to debug it. Well, Brendan Gregg gives compelling reason:

But now JavaScript, as part ofAJAX, isdriving new and serious Web 2.0 applications.Google Maps is one of what may be many new (and very cool) applications to embrace these technologies.

Ways already exist to fetch debug information from JavaScript, such as running adebug build of the browser. However with DTrace people can run a normal browser build, with USDTprobes, and dynamically enable debug information as needed. Without stopping or starting thebrowser. The following demonstrations should convey some of the advantages of DTracing JavaScript.

Check out how Brendan makes DTrace work with Javascript. It’s so totally cool.

Via Monkchips (James Governor)

technorati tags:javascript, debugging, profiling, dtrace