TPersistent: Using CodeSite to Spot Peformance Optimization Opportunities

I have been using CodeSite for a long time now (since v2 days), but I am still continually impressed by the product and it’s capabilities.  If you want to do something with your log data, chances are CodeSite has you covered, you just need to figure out how it is implemented.

Today, I wanted to see if I could filter on the TimeStamp column shown as a TimeDifference in order to only see log entries where the difference between one line and the next was over a second.  I figured this would show me potential opportunities for code optimization.  Initially I thought I would have to write some sort of log mining tool since there didn’t seem to be any capability to filter the log in this manner.  Developers often immediately jump to “I can solve this by writing some code”, but instead I asked my trusted friend Google.

Google showed me some release notes from a few versions back that documented a new feature in 4.62.  I hadn’t used this version so I had no idea the following was possible:

5. The CodeSite Viewers now support Time Difference Navigation. Specifically, a
   new mode has been added to the Message Navigation buttons (First, Previous,
   Next, and Last) to allow navigating to a message where the amount of time
   that has passed since the previously logged message exceeds some threshold.
   This new navigation mode is extremely helpful is locating time gaps in a
   message log.

   To use Time Difference Navigation, simply click on the "Browse for ..."
   drop-down button located between the Previous and Next navigation buttons.
   At the end of the popup menu, a new Time Difference menu item is available.
   Clicking the Time Difference menu item results in a dialog box asking for a
   threshold value (in milliseconds). Clicking OK closes the dialog box and
   puts the Viewer into Time Difference Navigation mode.  You can then use the
   First, Previous, Next, and Last navigation buttons to locate messages where
   the Time Difference of that message exceeds the specified threshold.

   To toggle back into normal Message Navigation mode, simply select the Time
   Difference menu item again from the drop down list of message types. The
   previous Message Navigation settings will be restored.

This is a sweet suite feature….thanks Ray!