Object introspection for first failure data capture

1. A method for handling errors in a computer system, said method comprising:

transferring control to at least one data-capture component when an error occurs in a production environment;

performing introspection upon an object associated with said error; and

capturing data from said object, wherein said data is associated with said error, and wherein said capturing is performed at least partially through said introspection.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

recursively utilizing said performing introspection and said capturing data, for objects imbedded in said object associated with said error.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

recursively utilizing said performing introspection and said capturing data, for at least one additional object, wherein said at least one additional object is associated with said object associated with said error.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said object contains code that is executed when said error occurs.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing runtime features for data capture;

providing an introspection service; and

making said object available to said introspection service.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said providing runtime features further comprises:

utilizing at least one catch statement; and

adding to said at least one catch statement a call to said introspection service.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said providing runtime features further comprises:

minimizing in-line code for said data capture.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said captured data is selected from the group consisting of the state of said object, at least one instance field in said object, an exception, and a call sequence.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said performing introspection and said capturing data are accomplished immediately after said error occurs; and

said performing introspection and said capturing data are accomplished even if said error produces a failure.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one action chosen from:

utilizing said data for problem-solving:

identifying an opportunity to improve the performance of an application, based on said data; and

taking corrective action in response to said error, based on said data.

11. A system for handling errors, said system comprising:

means for transferring control to at least one data-capture component when an error occurs in a production environment;

means for performing introspection upon an object associated with said error; and

means for capturing data from said object, wherein said data is associated with said error, and said capturing is performed at least partially through said introspection.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

means for recursively utilizing said means for performing introspection and said means for capturing data, for at least one additional object, wherein said at least one additional object is associated with said object associated with said error.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein said means for capturing data is selected from the group consisting of means for capturing the state of said object, means for capturing data from at lest one instance field in said object, means for capturing an exception, and means for capturing a call sequence.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein:

said means for performing introspection and said means for operate immediately after said error occurs; and

said means for performing introspection and said means for capturing data operate if said error produces a failure.

15. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:

means for taking corrective action in response to said error, based on said data.

16. A computer-usable medium having computer-executable instructions for handling errors, said computer-executable instructions comprising:

means for transferring control to at least one data-capture component when an error occurs in a production environment;

means for performing introspection upon an object associated with said error; and

means for capturing data from said object, wherein said data is associated with said error, and wherein said capturing is performed at least partially through said introspection.

17. The computer-usable medium of claim 16 , further comprising:

means for recursively utilizing said means for performing introspection and said means for capturing data, for at least one additional object, wherein said at least one additional object is associated with said object associated with said error.

18. The computer-usable medium of claim 16 , wherein said means for capturing data is selected from the group consisting of means for capturing the state of said object, means for capturing data from at lest one instance field in said object, means for capturing an exception, and means for capturing a call sequence.

19. The computer-usable medium of claim 16 , wherein:

said means for performing introspection and said means for operate immediately after said error occurs; and

said means for performing introspection and said means for capturing data operate if said error produces a failure.

20. The computer-usable medium of claim 16 , further comprising:

means for taking corrective action in response to said error, based on said data.