Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for inserting one or more global breakpoints for debugging computer software are disclosed. A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for removing one or more global breakpoints for debugging computer software are also disclosed. The inserting method includes the steps of: inserting a global breakpoint in a page containing software code if the page is present in memory; reading the page into memory if not present in memory, and inserting a global breakpoint in the page immediately after being read into memory; and detecting a private copy of the page if present, and inserting a global breakpoint in the private copy.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for detecting one or more zombie global breakpoints for debugging computer software are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: checking a breakpoint data structure to determine if a breakpoint known to a debugging process is at an address where a breakpoint fired; if a known breakpoint cannot be determined at the address, verifying if a breakpoint condition continues to exist at the address where the breakpoint fired; and if the breakpoint condition does not exist, identifying the breakpoint as a zombie breakpoint.