debugging osgi classloader issues

Question

Is there some tool or recipes for debugging osgi classloading issues ? Specifically interaction of osgi classloaders with java ee container classloaders and versions. I looked into the spec- a little too complicated for me, prefer some real life examples.

Answer 1

As Angelo already stated, there is no silver bullet but getting familiar with the domain. I am also a practical guy, the OSGi Spec is one of the better specs out there and is actually quite readable. What i did when learning the nuts and bolts of OSGi, i wrote a Test Framework for OSGi Bundles and Frameworks. Its Pax Exam, no shameless plug here ;) Its the way i learned it and i can only give you this hint: Read the spec, and play with Pax Exam. Even if you don't understand every detail of what Exam is doing, its a playful way to dive into OSGi.

Please understand that this is not about debugging. In general, you should prefer writing tests over increasing your debugger skills. It gives you much better understanding and has long term value. Maybe this helps? Let me know if i can help with a particular issue.

Toni