# Create Sample Traces from TLA+
## Metadata
**Status**:: #x
**Zettel**:: #zettel/fleeting
**Created**:: [[2026-01-13]]
## Simulation Mode
`-simulate num=5,file=traces.txt -depth 20`
## Dump
```
-dump trace.txt
-dump dot,colorize,actionlabels trace.dot
```
## Error Trace
Trigger errors using tools like `TLCGet("level") # 10`:
- `"generated"` The number of states generated.
- `"distinct"` The number of distinct states found.
- `"queue"` The number of states waiting in the queue to be processed.
- `"duration"` The number of seconds elapsed since model checking began.
- `"level"` The length of the path in the state graph from an initial state to
the current state.
- `"diameter"` The maximum value of `TLCGet("level")` of all states examined thus far.
It's better to use together with depth-first model checking via the command line flag `-dfid num`
## Trace Pattern
[TLA⁺ Trace Validation Manual for Simple Systems (JSON Format)](https://github.com/tlaplus/vscode-tlaplus/blob/master/resources/knowledgebase/tlc-trace-validation.md)