Abstract: When an expression is first entered into a debugger, the expression may be automatically evaluated. Later, when the debugger detects an action that causes the value of the expression to become stale, the expression may be reevaluated with a setting to disable the automatic reevaluation of certain designated disabled expressions. The disabled expressions may be expressions such as, for example, explicit expressions, which are more likely to result in side effects. Alternatively, for even greater protection against side effects, the disabled expressions may include both explicit and implicit expressions.

Abstract: Displaying data sub-items corresponding to a cursor-selected object displayed on a computer screen involves determining that a cursor is positioned to point at an object on the computer screen, loading the cursor-selected object, evaluating the cursor-selected object to determine it has a fixed value, has related data sub-items or if the related data sub-items are capable of expansion into lower-tier sub-items. The values for the object and the related data sub-items are assembled and displayed in a window that indicates the values of the object and the related data sub-items along with an indication of a presence of lower-tier sub-items which can in turn be further examined.