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How can you use a debugger in your IDE effectively?

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Debugging is an essential skill for any programmer, but it can also be frustrating and time-consuming if you don't know how to use the tools and techniques available in your integrated development environment (IDE). A debugger is a software tool that allows you to inspect and modify the state of your program while it is running, as well as to set breakpoints, watch variables, and step through the code line by line. In this article, you will learn how to use a debugger in your IDE effectively and efficiently, by following some best practices and tips.

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Eitan Kats

Senior Software Engineer at Sightfull
Tristan Mahinay

Leading and designing applications for the success of the client using Java and Red Hat OpenShift, Innovator and…
Sayed Ali Alkamel

Google Developer Expert (GDE) | Software Engineer

1 Choose the right debugger for your project

Different IDEs may have different debuggers, or support multiple debuggers for different languages and frameworks. For example, Visual Studio Code has a built-in debugger that works with many languages, such as JavaScript, Python, and C#, but you can also install extensions for other debuggers, such as gdb for C and C++, or pdb for Python. You should choose the debugger that suits your project's needs, and that is compatible with your IDE's features and settings. You can also configure your debugger's options, such as the level of detail, the output format, and the keyboard shortcuts, to make it more convenient and user-friendly.

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2 Set breakpoints strategically

Breakpoints are locations in your code where you want the debugger to pause the execution of your program, so that you can examine the state of the variables, the stack, and the memory. You can set breakpoints manually, by clicking on the margin of the code editor, or by using a keyboard shortcut, or automatically, by using conditional expressions, function names, or exception types. You should set breakpoints strategically, by identifying the most likely sources of errors, such as loops, conditional statements, function calls, and user inputs. You should also avoid setting too many breakpoints, as this can slow down your debugging process and clutter your code.

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Tristan Mahinay

Leading and designing applications for the success of the client using Java and Red Hat OpenShift, Innovator and Open-source contributor
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The placement of the breakpoint is obvious. It would help if you started in the line of your code where the error is found. Most developers first check the output in the console/logs and then specifically set the breakpoint upon debug mode. The confusing part is the value stored in the object and variables. Some developers are stuck to a specific line because they didn't check carefully if the value stored is what they're expecting.

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3 Watch and modify variables

One of the most useful features of a debugger is the ability to watch and modify the values of the variables in your program. You can use the watch window, or the hover tooltip, to see the current value and type of a variable, as well as its scope and address. You can also use the immediate window, or the console, to evaluate expressions, assign new values to variables, or execute commands. This can help you to test your assumptions, verify your logic, and fix your errors. You should watch and modify variables carefully, by choosing the relevant ones, and by keeping track of the changes you make.

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Eitan Kats

Senior Software Engineer at Sightfull
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I find it helpful to use this feature to modify certain variables while debugging to see whether I can reproduce certain behavior. learning how to use the console can even help defining new variables and using them as well One pitfall that might happen is that you change an object and it can affect the flow afterwards, keep that in mind!

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4 Step through the code

Another powerful feature of a debugger is the ability to step through the code, line by line, or by skipping or entering functions and loops. You can use the step over, step into, step out, and continue commands, or their corresponding keyboard shortcuts, to control the flow of your program. This can help you to understand how your code works, how it interacts with other modules or libraries, and how it handles different scenarios and inputs. You should step through the code wisely, by following the critical paths, and by avoiding unnecessary or repetitive steps.

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5 Use breakpoints and watchpoints

Breakpoints and watchpoints are special types of breakpoints that trigger when a certain condition is met, or when a certain variable changes its value. You can use breakpoints and watchpoints to debug complex or dynamic problems, such as race conditions, memory leaks, or data corruption. You can set breakpoints and watchpoints by using expressions, function names, or exception types, or by using the watch window or the console. You should use breakpoints and watchpoints sparingly, by selecting the most relevant and specific conditions and variables, and by disabling or deleting them when they are no longer needed.

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Eitan Kats

Senior Software Engineer at Sightfull
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One of the best features that can be used on breakpoints is adding conditions to them, if you have a bug that is produces in a certain scenario and you know which specific value for a specific variable causes it then using the conditional breakpoint can save a lot of time

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6 Review and test your code

After you have used the debugger to find and fix the errors in your code, you should review and test your code to make sure that it works as expected, and that it does not introduce new bugs or side effects. You should review your code by using the diff tool, or the version control system, to compare the changes you have made, and to check for any typos, syntax errors, or logical flaws. You should test your code by using the run or debug mode, or by using unit tests, integration tests, or end-to-end tests, to verify the functionality, performance, and reliability of your code. You should review and test your code thoroughly, by covering all the possible cases, inputs, and outputs, and by documenting your results and findings.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Eitan Kats

Senior Software Engineer at Sightfull
(已编辑)
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Backtracking with the call stack: One of the things that can be used is to debug the flow of a certain exception that is thrown using the call stack. while debugging you can see the call stack and use the call stack to backtrack the flow that caused the error.

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Sayed Ali Alkamel

Google Developer Expert (GDE) | Software Engineer
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In my experince, having the mindset of reducing the time I need to debug can help a lot in finding the issues much faster. This will happen gradually and you will be able to feel the difference. One of the ways to do it is through exploring features in the IDE you used for example in Intelij the evaluate expression feature allows you to test the fix you have in your mind once you find it with the debugger. This can reduce the number of rebuild cycles

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How can you use a debugger in your IDE effectively?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Choose the right debugger for your project

2 Set breakpoints strategically

3 Watch and modify variables

4 Step through the code

5 Use breakpoints and watchpoints

6 Review and test your code

7 Here’s what else to consider

Programming

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How can you use a debugger in your IDE effectively?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Choose the right debugger for your project

2 Set breakpoints strategically

3 Watch and modify variables

4 Step through the code

5 Use breakpoints and watchpoints

6 Review and test your code

7 Here’s what else to consider

Programming

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