How do you debug web projects across multiple platforms?

1 Use cross-browser testing tools

One of the most common sources of web bugs is the inconsistency between browsers. Different browsers may render your web pages differently, or support different features and standards. To avoid unpleasant surprises, you need to test your web project on various browsers, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and Internet Explorer. However, installing and maintaining all these browsers can be cumbersome and time-consuming. That's why you can use cross-browser testing tools, such as BrowserStack, CrossBrowserTesting, or LambdaTest, to run your web project on multiple browsers in the cloud. These tools allow you to simulate different browser versions, screen sizes, and devices, and capture screenshots, videos, or logs of your web project's performance.

2 Use developer tools and extensions

Another essential tool for debugging web projects is the developer tools that are built into most browsers. These allow you to inspect and modify the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript code of your web project, as well as monitor the network activity, performance, and errors. You can also use browser extensions, such as Web Developer, Firebug, or React Developer Tools, to enhance the functionality of the developer tools and access more features and information. For example, you can use extensions to validate your code, check your accessibility, or debug specific frameworks or libraries.

3 Use remote debugging tools

Sometimes, you need to debug your web project on a device that is not connected to your development environment, such as a mobile phone, a tablet, or a smart TV. In this case, you can use remote debugging tools, such as Chrome DevTools Remote Debugging, Safari Web Inspector, or Visual Studio Code Remote Development, to connect your device to your computer and debug your web project from there. These tools allow you to use the same developer tools that you are familiar with on your computer, but on your device. You can also use remote debugging tools to debug your web project on a virtual or physical device that is hosted by a cloud service, such as AWS Device Farm or Firebase Test Lab.

5 Use testing and debugging frameworks

Finally, you can use testing and debugging frameworks, such as Jest, Mocha, or Cypress, to write and run automated tests for your web project, and to debug your code in a controlled and isolated environment. Testing and debugging frameworks allow you to verify the functionality, performance, and quality of your web project, and to detect and fix the bugs before they reach the users. Testing and debugging frameworks can help you to simulate different scenarios, conditions, and inputs for your web project, and to check how it responds to them. They can also integrate with other tools, such as code editors, browsers, or cross-browser testing tools, to enhance your debugging experience.

6 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?