Java Access to Local Variable Names

Question

I'm currently writing a program in which I would like to access the variable names of local variables during execution of a program and pass them off externally. I'm aware that Java will dump local variable names during compilation unless compiled in debug mode.

After looking around some, it seems that JDI/JPDA is the way to go for this kind of work. Assuming ref refers to a ThreadReference, the following is what I have thus far:

ref.suspend();
StackFrame currentFrame = ref.frame(0);
List<LocalVariable> vars = currentFrame.visibleVariables();
ref.resume();

Two questions:

1. Am I on the right track, or is there a better way to do this?
2. How do I acquire the ThreadReference to set to ref? LocatableEvent seems to be what I need, but can anyone provide an example on how to use it?

Many thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Not a lot of people have experience with this stuff.

Look elsewhere for an answer. I had links to code but they are no longer. Cannot delete this answer because it was accepted answer.

Answer 2

Yes, you are on the right track!

For anyone who wants to try to get started with the JDI, the "Trace" example is invaluable:

http://www.docjar.com/docs/api/com/sun/tools/example/trace/package-index.html

It's a usable backbone. It shows you how to use events, which indeed will give you a ThreadReference. It also shows you how to start up the second JVM programmatically.