path: root/erts/doc/src/erl_tracer.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<!DOCTYPE erlref SYSTEM "erlref.dtd">

<erlref>
  <header>
    <copyright>
      <year>2016</year><year>2016</year>
      <holder>Ericsson AB. All Rights Reserved.</holder>
    </copyright>
    <legalnotice>
      Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
      you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
      You may obtain a copy of the License at

          http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0

      Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
      distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
      WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
      See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
      limitations under the License.

    </legalnotice>

    <title>erl_tracer</title>
    <prepared></prepared>
    <docno></docno>
    <date></date>
    <rev></rev>
  </header>
  <module>erl_tracer</module>
  <modulesummary>Erlang Tracer Behaviour</modulesummary>
  <description>
    <p>A behaviour module for implementing the back end of the erlang
    tracing system. The functions in this module will be called whenever
    a trace probe is triggered. Both the <c>enabled</c> and <c>trace</c>
    functions are called in the context of the entity that triggered the
    trace probe.
    This means that the overhead by having the tracing enabled will be
    greatly effected by how much time is spent in these functions. So do as
    little work as possible in these functions.</p>
    <note>
      <p>All functions in this behaviour have to be implemented as NIF's.
      This is a limitation that may the lifted in the future.
      There is an <seealso marker="#example">example tracer module nif</seealso>
      implementation at the end of this page.</p>
    </note>
    <warning>
      <p>Do not send messages or issue port commands to the <c>Tracee</c>
      in any of the callbacks. Doing so is not allowed and can cause all
      sorts of strange behaviour, including but not limited to infinite
      recursions.</p>
    </warning>
  </description>

  <datatypes>
      <datatype> <name name="trace_tag_send" /> </datatype>
      <datatype> <name name="trace_tag_receive" /> </datatype>
      <datatype> <name name="trace_tag_call" /> </datatype>
      <datatype> <name name="trace_tag_procs" /> </datatype>
      <datatype> <name name="trace_tag_ports" /> </datatype>
      <datatype> <name name="trace_tag_running_procs" /> </datatype>
      <datatype> <name name="trace_tag_running_ports" /> </datatype>
      <datatype> <name name="trace_tag_gc" /> </datatype>
    <datatype>
      <name name="trace_tag" />
      <desc>
	<p>The different trace tags that the tracer will be called with.
        Each trace tag is described in greater detail in
        <seealso marker="#Module:trace/6">Module:trace/6</seealso>
        </p>
      </desc>
    </datatype>
    <datatype>
      <name name="tracee" />
      <desc>
	<p>The process or port that the trace belongs to.
        </p>
      </desc>
    </datatype>
    <datatype>
      <name name="trace_opts" />
      <desc>
	<p>The options for the tracee.</p>
        <taglist>
          <tag><c>timestamp</c></tag>
          <item>If not set to <c>undefined</c>, the tracer has been requested to
          include a timestamp.</item>
          <tag><c>match_spec_result</c></tag>
          <item>If not set to <c>true</c>, the tracer has been requested to
          include the output of a match specification that was run.</item>
          <tag><c>scheduler_id</c></tag>
          <item>Set to a number if the scheduler id is to be included by the tracer.
          Otherwise it is set to <c>undefined</c>.</item>
        </taglist>
      </desc>
    </datatype>
    <datatype>
      <name name="tracer_state" />
      <desc>
        <p>
          The state which is given when calling
          <seealso marker="erlang#trace-3"><c>erlang:trace(PidPortSpec,true,[{tracer,Module,TracerState}])</c></seealso>.
          The tracer state is an immutable value that is passed to erl_tracer callbacks and should
          contain all the data that is needed to generate the trace event.
        </p>
      </desc>
    </datatype>
  </datatypes>

  <section>
    <title>CALLBACK FUNCTIONS</title>
    <p>The following functions
      should be exported from a <c>erl_tracer</c> callback module.</p>
   <taglist>
       <tag><seealso marker="#Module:enabled/3"><c>Module:enabled/3</c></seealso></tag>
       <item>Mandatory</item>
       <tag><seealso marker="#Module:trace/6"><c>Module:trace/6</c></seealso></tag>
       <item>Mandatory</item>
       <tag><seealso marker="#Module:enabled_procs/3"><c>Module:enabled_procs/3</c></seealso></tag>
       <item>Optional</item>
       <tag><seealso marker="#Module:trace_procs/6"><c>Module:trace_procs/6</c></seealso></tag>
       <item>Optional</item>
       <tag><seealso marker="#Module:enabled_ports/3"><c>Module:enabled_ports/3</c></seealso></tag>
       <item>Optional</item>
       <tag><seealso marker="#Module:trace_ports/6"><c>Module:trace_ports/6</c></seealso></tag>
       <item>Optional</item>
       <tag><seealso marker="#Module:enabled_running_ports/3"><c>Module:enabled_running_ports/3</c></seealso></tag>
       <item>Optional</item>
       <tag><seealso marker="#Module:trace_running_ports/6"><c>Module:trace_running_ports/6</c></seealso></tag>
       <item>Optional</item>
       <tag><seealso marker="#Module:enabled_running_procs/3"><c>Module:enabled_running_procs/3</c></seealso></tag>
       <item>Optional</item>
       <tag><seealso marker="#Module:trace_running_procs/6"><c>Module:trace_running_procs/6</c></seealso></tag>
       <item>Optional</item>
   </taglist>

  </section>

  <funcs>
    <func>
      <name>Module:enabled(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee) -> Result</name>
      <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
      <type>
        <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag">trace_tag()</seealso> | trace_status</v>
        <v>TracerState = term()</v>
        <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
        <v>Result =  trace | discard | remove</v>
      </type>
      <desc>
        <p>This callback will be called whenever a tracepoint is triggered. It
        allows the tracer to decide whether a trace should be generated or not.
        This check is made as early as possible in order to limit the amount of
        overhead associated with tracing. If <c>trace</c> is returned the
        necessary trace data will be created and the trace call-back of the tracer
        will be called. If <c>discard</c> is returned, this trace call
        will be discarded and no call to trace will be done.
        </p>
        <p><c>trace_status</c> is a special type of <c>TraceTag</c> which is used
        to check if the tracer should still be active. It is called in multiple
        scenarios, but most significantly it is used when tracing is started
        using this tracer. If <c>remove</c> is returned when the <c>trace_status</c>
        is checked, the tracer will be removed from the tracee.</p>
        <p>This function may be called multiple times per tracepoint, so it
        is important that it is both fast and side effect free.</p>
      </desc>
    </func>
    <func>
      <name>Module:trace(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee, FirstTraceTerm, SecondTraceTerm, Opts) -> Result</name>
      <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
      <type>
        <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag">trace_tag()</seealso></v>
        <v>TracerState = term()</v>
        <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
        <v>FirstTraceTerm = term()</v>
        <v>SecondTraceTerm = term() | undefined</v>
        <v>Opts = <seealso marker="#type-trace_opts">trace_opts()</seealso></v>
        <v>Result =  ok</v>
      </type>
      <desc>
        <p>This callback will be called when a tracepoint is triggered and
        the <seealso marker="#Module:enabled/3">Module:enabled/3</seealso>
        callback returned <c>trace</c>. In it any side effects needed by
        the tracer should be done. The tracepoint payload is located in
        the <c>FirstTraceTerm</c> and <c>SecondTraceTerm</c>. The content
        of the TraceTerms depends on which <c>TraceTag</c> has been triggered.
        The <c>FirstTraceTerm</c> and <c>SecondTraceTerm</c> correspond to the
        fourth and fifth slot in the trace tuples described in
        <seealso marker="erlang#trace_3_trace_messages">erlang:trace/3</seealso>.
        If the tuple only has four elements, <c>SecondTraceTerm</c> will be
        <c>undefined</c>.</p>
      </desc>
    </func>
    <func>
      <name name="trace">Module:trace(seq_trace, TracerState, Label, SeqTraceInfo, undefined, Opts) -> Result</name>
      <fsummary>Check if a sequence trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
      <type>
        <v>TracerState = term()</v>
        <v>Label = term()</v>
        <v>SeqTraceInfo = term()</v>
        <v>Opts = <seealso marker="#type-trace_opts">trace_opts()</seealso></v>
        <v>Result =  ok</v>
      </type>
      <desc>
        <p>The <c>TraceTag</c> <c>seq_trace</c> is handled a little bit
        differently. There is not <c>Tracee</c> for seq_trace, instead the
        <c>Label</c> associated with the seq_trace event is given.
        For more info on what <c>Label</c> and <c>SeqTraceInfo</c> can be
        see the <seealso marker="kernel:seq_trace">seq_trace</seealso> manual.</p>
      </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:enabled_procs(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_procs">trace_tag_procs()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = trace | discard | remove</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called whenever a tracepoint with trace flag
                <seealso marker="erlang#trace-3"><c>procs</c></seealso>
                is triggered.</p>
            <p>If <c>enabled_procs/3</c> is not defined <c>enabled/3</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:trace_procs(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee, FirstTraceTerm, SecondTraceTerm, Opts) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_procs">trace_tag()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>FirstTraceTerm = term()</v>
            <v>SecondTraceTerm = term() | undefined</v>
            <v>Opts = <seealso marker="#type-trace_opts">trace_opts()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = ok</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called when a tracepoint is triggered and
                the <seealso marker="#Module:enabled_procs/3">Module:enabled_procs/3</seealso>
                callback returned <c>trace</c>.</p>
            <p>If <c>trace_procs/6</c> is not defined <c>trace/6</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:enabled_ports(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_ports">trace_tag_ports()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = trace | discard | remove</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called whenever a tracepoint with trace flag
                <seealso marker="erlang#trace-3"><c>ports</c></seealso>
                is triggered.</p>
            <p>If <c>enabled_ports/3</c> is not defined <c>enabled/3</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:trace_ports(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee, FirstTraceTerm, SecondTraceTerm, Opts) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_ports">trace_tag()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>FirstTraceTerm = term()</v>
            <v>SecondTraceTerm = term() | undefined</v>
            <v>Opts = <seealso marker="#type-trace_opts">trace_opts()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = ok</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called when a tracepoint is triggered and
                the <seealso marker="#Module:enabled_ports/3">Module:enabled_ports/3</seealso>
                callback returned <c>trace</c>.</p>
            <p>If <c>trace_ports/6</c> is not defined <c>trace/6</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:enabled_running_procs(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_running_procs">trace_tag_running_procs()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = trace | discard | remove</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called whenever a tracepoint with trace flag
                <seealso marker="erlang#trace-3"><c>running_procs | running</c></seealso>
                is triggered.</p>
            <p>If <c>enabled_running_procs/3</c> is not defined <c>enabled/3</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:trace_running_procs(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee, FirstTraceTerm, SecondTraceTerm, Opts) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_running_procs">trace_tag_running_procs()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>FirstTraceTerm = term()</v>
            <v>SecondTraceTerm = term() | undefined</v>
            <v>Opts = <seealso marker="#type-trace_opts">trace_opts()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = ok</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called when a tracepoint is triggered and
                the <seealso marker="#Module:enabled_running_procs/3">Module:enabled_running_procs/3</seealso>
                callback returned <c>trace</c>.</p>
            <p>If <c>trace_running_procs/6</c> is not defined <c>trace/6</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:enabled_running_ports(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_running_ports">trace_tag_running_ports()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = trace | discard | remove</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called whenever a tracepoint with trace flag
                <seealso marker="erlang#trace-3"><c>running_ports</c></seealso>
                is triggered.</p>
            <p>If <c>enabled_running_ports/3</c> is not defined <c>enabled/3</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:trace_running_ports(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee, FirstTraceTerm, SecondTraceTerm, Opts) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_running_ports">trace_tag_running_ports()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>FirstTraceTerm = term()</v>
            <v>SecondTraceTerm = term() | undefined</v>
            <v>Opts = <seealso marker="#type-trace_opts">trace_opts()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = ok</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called when a tracepoint is triggered and
                the <seealso marker="#Module:enabled_running_ports/3">Module:enabled_running_ports/3</seealso>
                callback returned <c>trace</c>.</p>
            <p>If <c>trace_running_ports/6</c> is not defined <c>trace/6</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:enabled_call(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_call">trace_tag_call()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = trace | discard | remove</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called whenever a tracepoint with trace flag
                <seealso marker="erlang#trace-3"><c>call | return_to</c></seealso>
                is triggered.</p>
            <p>If <c>enabled_call/3</c> is not defined <c>enabled/3</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:trace_call(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee, FirstTraceTerm, SecondTraceTerm, Opts) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_call">trace_tag_call()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>FirstTraceTerm = term()</v>
            <v>SecondTraceTerm = term() | undefined</v>
            <v>Opts = <seealso marker="#type-trace_opts">trace_opts()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = ok</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called when a tracepoint is triggered and
                the <seealso marker="#Module:enabled_call/3">Module:enabled_call/3</seealso>
                callback returned <c>trace</c>.</p>
            <p>If <c>trace_call/6</c> is not defined <c>trace/6</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:enabled_send(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_send">trace_tag_send()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = trace | discard | remove</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called whenever a tracepoint with trace flag
                <seealso marker="erlang#trace-3"><c>send</c></seealso>
                is triggered.</p>
            <p>If <c>enabled_send/3</c> is not defined <c>enabled/3</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:trace_send(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee, FirstTraceTerm, SecondTraceTerm, Opts) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_send">trace_tag_send()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>FirstTraceTerm = term()</v>
            <v>SecondTraceTerm = term() | undefined</v>
            <v>Opts = <seealso marker="#type-trace_opts">trace_opts()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result =  ok</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called when a tracepoint is triggered and
                the <seealso marker="#Module:enabled_send/3">Module:enabled_send/3</seealso>
                callback returned <c>trace</c>.</p>
            <p>If <c>trace_send/6</c> is not defined <c>trace/6</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:enabled_receive(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_receive">trace_tag_receive()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = trace | discard | remove</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called whenever a tracepoint with trace flag
                <seealso marker="erlang#trace-3"><c>'receive'</c></seealso>
                is triggered.</p>
            <p>If <c>enabled_receive/3</c> is not defined <c>enabled/3</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:trace_receive(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee, FirstTraceTerm, SecondTraceTerm, Opts) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_receive">trace_tag_receive()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>FirstTraceTerm = term()</v>
            <v>SecondTraceTerm = term() | undefined</v>
            <v>Opts = <seealso marker="#type-trace_opts">trace_opts()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result =  ok</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called when a tracepoint is triggered and
                the <seealso marker="#Module:enabled_receive/3">Module:enabled_receive/3</seealso>
                callback returned <c>trace</c>.</p>
            <p>If <c>trace_receive/6</c> is not defined <c>trace/6</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:enabled_garbage_collection(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_gc">trace_tag_gc()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result = trace | discard | remove</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called whenever a tracepoint with trace flag
                <seealso marker="erlang#trace-3"><c>garbage_collection</c></seealso>
                is triggered.</p>
            <p>If <c>enabled_garbage_collection/3</c> is not defined <c>enabled/3</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

    <func>
        <name>Module:trace_garbage_collection(TraceTag, TracerState, Tracee, FirstTraceTerm, SecondTraceTerm, Opts) -> Result</name>
        <fsummary>Check if a trace event should be generated.</fsummary>
        <type>
            <v>TraceTag = <seealso marker="#type-trace_tag_gc">trace_tag_gc()</seealso></v>
            <v>TracerState = term()</v>
            <v>Tracee = <seealso marker="#type-tracee">tracee()</seealso></v>
            <v>FirstTraceTerm = term()</v>
            <v>SecondTraceTerm = term() | undefined</v>
            <v>Opts = <seealso marker="#type-trace_opts">trace_opts()</seealso></v>
            <v>Result =  ok</v>
        </type>
        <desc>
            <p>This callback will be called when a tracepoint is triggered and
                the <seealso marker="#Module:enabled_garbage_collection/3">Module:enabled_garbage_collection/3</seealso>
                callback returned <c>trace</c>.</p>
            <p>If <c>trace_garbage_collection/6</c> is not defined <c>trace/6</c> will be called instead.</p>
        </desc>
    </func>

  </funcs>
  <section>
    <marker id="example"></marker>
    <title>Erl Tracer Module example</title>
    <p>In the example below a tracer module with a nif backend sends a message
    for each <c>send</c> trace tag containing only the sender and receiver.
    Using this tracer module, a much more lightweight message tracer is
    used that only records who sent messages to who.</p>
    <p>Here is an example session using it on Linux.</p>
    <pre>
$ gcc -I erts-8.0/include/ -fPIC -shared -o erl_msg_tracer.so erl_msg_tracer.c
$ erl
Erlang/OTP 19 [DEVELOPMENT] [erts-8.0] [source-ed2b56b] [64-bit] [smp:8:8] [async-threads:10] [hipe] [kernel-poll:false]

Eshell V8.0  (abort with ^G)
1&gt; c(erl_msg_tracer), erl_msg_tracer:load().
ok
2&gt; Tracer = spawn(fun F() -&gt; receive M -&gt; io:format("~p~n",[M]), F() end end).
&lt;0.37.0&gt;
3&gt; erlang:trace(new, true, [send,{tracer, erl_msg_tracer, Tracer}]).
0
{&lt;0.39.0&gt;,&lt;0.27.0&gt;}
4&gt; {ok, D} = file:open("/tmp/tmp.data",[write]).
{trace,#Port&lt;0.486&gt;,&lt;0.40.0&gt;}
{trace,&lt;0.40.0&gt;,&lt;0.21.0&gt;}
{trace,#Port&lt;0.487&gt;,&lt;0.4.0&gt;}
{trace,#Port&lt;0.488&gt;,&lt;0.4.0&gt;}
{trace,#Port&lt;0.489&gt;,&lt;0.4.0&gt;}
{trace,#Port&lt;0.490&gt;,&lt;0.4.0&gt;}
{ok,&lt;0.40.0&gt;}
{trace,&lt;0.41.0&gt;,&lt;0.27.0&gt;}
5&gt;
    </pre>
    <p>erl_msg_tracer.erl</p>
    <pre>
-module(erl_msg_tracer).

-export([enabled/3, trace/6, load/0]).

load() ->
    erlang:load_nif("erl_msg_tracer", []).

enabled(_, _, _) ->
    error.

trace(_, _, _,_, _, _) ->
    error.
    </pre>
    <p>erl_msg_tracer.c</p>
    <pre>
#include "erl_nif.h"

/* NIF interface declarations */
static int load(ErlNifEnv* env, void** priv_data, ERL_NIF_TERM load_info);
static int upgrade(ErlNifEnv* env, void** priv_data, void** old_priv_data, ERL_NIF_TERM load_info);
static void unload(ErlNifEnv* env, void* priv_data);

/* The NIFs: */
static ERL_NIF_TERM enabled(ErlNifEnv* env, int argc, const ERL_NIF_TERM argv[]);
static ERL_NIF_TERM trace(ErlNifEnv* env, int argc, const ERL_NIF_TERM argv[]);

static ErlNifFunc nif_funcs[] = {
    {"enabled", 3, enabled},
    {"trace", 6, trace}
};

ERL_NIF_INIT(erl_msg_tracer, nif_funcs, load, NULL, upgrade, unload)

static int load(ErlNifEnv* env, void** priv_data, ERL_NIF_TERM load_info)
{
    *priv_data = NULL;
    return 0;
}

static void unload(ErlNifEnv* env, void* priv_data)
{

}

static int upgrade(ErlNifEnv* env, void** priv_data, void** old_priv_data,
		   ERL_NIF_TERM load_info)
{
    if (*old_priv_data != NULL || *priv_data != NULL) {
	return -1; /* Don't know how to do that */
    }
    if (load(env, priv_data, load_info)) {
	return -1;
    }
    return 0;
}

/*
 * argv[0]: TraceTag
 * argv[1]: TracerState
 * argv[2]: Tracee
 */
static ERL_NIF_TERM enabled(ErlNifEnv* env, int argc, const ERL_NIF_TERM argv[])
{
    ErlNifPid to_pid;
    if (enif_get_local_pid(env, argv[1], &amp;to_pid))
        if (!enif_is_process_alive(env, &amp;to_pid))
            if (enif_is_identical(enif_make_atom(env, "trace_status"), argv[0]))
                /* tracer is dead so we should remove this tracepoint */
                return enif_make_atom(env, "remove");
            else
                return enif_make_atom(env, "discard");

    /* Only generate trace for when tracer != tracee */
    if (enif_is_identical(argv[1], argv[2]))
        return enif_make_atom(env, "discard");

    /* Only trigger trace messages on 'send' */
    if (enif_is_identical(enif_make_atom(env, "send"), argv[0]))
        return enif_make_atom(env, "trace");

    /* Have to answer trace_status */
    if (enif_is_identical(enif_make_atom(env, "trace_status"), argv[0]))
        return enif_make_atom(env, "trace");

    return enif_make_atom(env, "discard");
}

/*
 * argv[0]: TraceTag, should only be 'send'
 * argv[1]: TracerState, process to send {argv[2], argv[4]} to
 * argv[2]: Tracee
 * argv[3]: Message, ignored
 * argv[4]: Recipient
 * argv[5]: Options, ignored
 */
static ERL_NIF_TERM trace(ErlNifEnv* env, int argc, const ERL_NIF_TERM argv[])
{
    ErlNifPid to_pid;

    if (enif_get_local_pid(env, argv[1], &amp;to_pid)) {
        ERL_NIF_TERM msg = enif_make_tuple3(env, enif_make_atom(env, "trace"), argv[2], argv[4]);
        enif_send(env, &amp;to_pid, NULL, msg);
    }

    return enif_make_atom(env, "ok");
}
    </pre>
  </section>
</erlref>