The free Debug Tracer scripting tool lets you debug, trace, and monitor the JVM. It lets you debug problems quickly and monitor the Java application, as well as any code in the JVM and the JVM itself.

Capabilities include conditional debugging, JVM event logging, and more. Developers get a full set of conditions and associated scripting for automating control, according to IBM, which provide a number of capabilities conventional debuggers don't have.

IBM says the tool solves a number of problems, such as the following:

• You can use it to troubleshoot and debug applications running in a JVM when human intervention isn't possible.
• You can use it to debug timing and random problems, where conventional debugging might be ineffective.
• You can reuse scripts during the lifecycle of the product, retesting debugged problems at any time, such as during regression, testing, and development. For example, after you write a script to isolate a coding problem the first time, you can use it as you enhance the code to verify that you haven't introduced a new problem with subsequent changes.