Try Out the Source Browser

Use the source browser to develop and maintain software systems, especially large ones. During the course of a programming project, you might join a new programming team to enhance, maintain, or port code. Before you become a productive team member, you must fully understand the code that you will modify. The source browser is a powerful tool for browsing large programs.

The source browser uses a "What you see is what you browse" paradigm. The source code you edit is the same source code the source browser uses in its searches.

Search by Pattern

You can use the source browser in pattern search mode to search for regular expressions or simple text strings. Pattern searching uses standard grep syntax to find all source lines that match the source string.

Search by Query

You can use the source browser in source browsing mode to issue queries. A query instructs the source browser to locate all occurrences of, definitions of, uses of, or assignments to the symbol, string, or search pattern you specify. You then view the occurrences and surrounding source code.

Search Local or Network Files

You can search and browse source files residing locally or on the network. You can make global changes and pinpoint problem spots, even on large, distributed development projects.

Search Multiple-Language Programs

When you browse a program that uses more than one language in the implementation, the source browser automatically determines the language in which each source file is written. The browsing operations do not change from one language to another.

Experience Flexible Browsing

You can use the source browser in either the Sun WorkShop Browsing window or a command-line environment.

You can edit source code with your favorite editor from within the source browser.

Use Static Analysis to Examine Source Code

Use the source browser to examine your source code in an organized fashion. You can gain better understanding of a piece of software by:

• Observing the structure of a program, as defined by its source code

• Identifying:

  • Called and calling functions

  • Graphs of class genealogy

  • Organization of header files and defining statements