Blocks Explorer

Database Blocks Explorer for InterSystems IRIS/Caché

Key features

Tree explorer

Shows tree of database blocks;
Export tree as SVG or PNG image;
Shows every node in the block;
Open any block just by clicking on node in parent block;
Reload block info by clicking at the same node second time;
Zoom in and out, fit and navigator;
Easy way to switch between view modes (tree/map);

Fragmentation map

Shows every block with the same colour for every globals;
Legend for globals;

Run with Docker

You need license key for Caché or IRIS on RedHat systems.

Caché

docker run -d --name blocksexplorer --rm \
       -p 57772:57772 \
       -v /opt/some/database/for/test:/opt/blocks/db/test \
       -v ~/cache.key:/usr/cachesys/mgr/cache.key \
       daimor/blocksexplorer:cache

Generate blocks map as image file in out directory

docker run -it --rm \
       -v /opt/some/database/for/test:/opt/blocks/db/test \
       -v `pwd`/out:/opt/blocks/out \
       daimor/blocksexplorer:cache generate

IRIS

docker run -d --name blocksexplorer --rm \
       -p 52773:52773 \
       -v /opt/some/database/for/test:/opt/blocks/db/test \
       daimor/blocksexplorer:iris

Generate blocks map as image file in out directory

docker run -it --rm \
       -v /opt/some/database/for/test:/opt/blocks/db/test \
       -v `pwd`/out:/opt/blocks/out \
       daimor/blocksexplorer:iris generate

Development mode

Run with docker-compose, will start web part with hot reloading.

docker-compose up -d --build

It will start server base on IRIS
To start on Caché use this command

MODE=cache docker-compose up -d --build

By default running on 80 port. To start using it, just open http://localhost/

Screenshots

Tree
Map

CLI mode

Using prebuild docker image gives a way to generate a picture for any IRIS or Caché database.
Use docker image daimor/blocksexplorer:iris for IRIS or daimor/blocksexplorer:cache for Caché Databases.
Those images accepts command generate with arguments

path to the tested databases inside a container, by default /db, can be omited
cellSize - size of the cell in pixels, where each cell represents particular database’s block, by default 1
cellSpace - sorrounding space between cell, by default 0
showFill - sign to show how much block fill by data, by default 0

This tool generates a square picture in folder /out inside a container in formats BMP and PNG.

So, with command like this

docker run -v `pwd`/out:/out daimor/blocksexplorer:iris generate 20 1 1

It will generate this picture for an empty database.

TESTDB
With a lighter color visible that most of the blocks just empty.

The same test empty database, but with showFill=0

docker run -v `pwd`/out:/out daimor/blocksexplorer:iris generate 20 1 0

Blocks have different colors but just for globals, and does not show how much it fill.

TESTDB

More examples
ENSLIB

docker run -v `pwd`/out:/out daimor/blocksexplorer:iris generate /usr/irissys/mgr/enslib 5 1

ENSLIB

IRISSYS

docker run -v `pwd`/out:/out daimor/blocksexplorer:iris generate /usr/irissys/mgr/ 5 1 1

IRISSYS

For large databases, would not recommend to use have too big cellSize.

Useful Links

There you can find more about database internals, and how to use this tool.

Internal Structure of Caché Database Blocks, Part 1
Internal Structure of Caché Database Blocks, Part 2
Internal Structure of Caché Database Blocks, Part 3

BlocksExplorer

InterSystems IRIS, Docker and ObjectScript

Experts nomination

InterSystems IRIS, Docker and ObjectScript

Community nomination