Debugging is the process of identifying, analyzing, and resolving bugs or defects in software while Testing. It is a critical part of the Software Development Life Cycle, ensuring that applications function correctly and efficiently. Debugging involves several techniques and tools to pinpoint the source of errors and fix them.
In ML_Tools see:
Key Concepts in Debugging
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Types of Computational Bugs: Understanding the types of bugs, such as cumulative rounding errors, integer overflow, and race conditions, is essential for effective debugging.
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How to Manage/View Bugs:
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Console Log/Dir: Use console logging to output variable values and program states to the console, helping to trace the flow of execution.
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Availability in VSCode: Visual Studio Code provides powerful debugging features like breakpoints, watch expressions, and call stacks to help developers inspect and modify code execution.
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Sample Script: Creating a minimal script that reproduces the bug can simplify the debugging process by isolating the problem.
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Logging in Python: Python’s logging module allows developers to record events, errors, and informational messages, which can be crucial for diagnosing issues.
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Run and Debug: Step through code execution using debugging tools to observe the program’s behavior and identify where it deviates from expected results.
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Log Point/Break Point: Set breakpoints to pause execution at specific lines of code, allowing inspection of variables and program state at that moment.
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Solution Attempts
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Reproduce the Bug: Simplifying the code to reproduce the bug helps in understanding its cause and facilitates easier sharing with others for collaborative debugging. Sharing on platforms like StackBiz can help others contribute to the solution.
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Automated Testing: Implementing automated tests ensures that code changes do not introduce new bugs and that existing functionality remains intact.
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Test-Driven Development (TDD): Writing tests before the actual code helps define expected behavior and ensures that the code meets these expectations.
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Static Analysis: Tools like TypeScript and ESLint analyze code for potential errors without executing it, helping to catch issues early in the development process.
Debugging Tools and Techniques
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Integrated Development Environments (IDEs): IDEs like Visual Studio Code, IntelliJ IDEA, and Eclipse offer built-in debugging tools that streamline the debugging process.
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Version Control Systems: Tools like Git allow developers to track changes and revert to previous versions if a bug is introduced.
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Profilers: These tools analyze program performance and help identify bottlenecks or inefficient code paths.
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Memory Analyzers: Tools like Valgrind help detect memory leaks and other memory-related issues.