Importance

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Abstract

A method and system for retroactive logging disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises commencing the execution of an operation of a software application. When beginning a critical operation capable of generating enormous amounts of log data, the application opens a buffer to store log information that describes the operation in detail. The buffer is flushed upon successful completion of the operation, but retained if the operation failed. The final contents of the buffer are then written to a log file at the appropriate logging level. The result is that the log file contains copious data about the failure of an operation, but little data in the event that an operation is successful. Thus the application log provides the necessary details to diagnose failures, while avoiding the recording of large quantities of unnecessary information when the operations succeed.

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First Claim