Just realized how much time I wasted not using a debugger

I was stuck on a loop in my Python script for like two hours last night, just staring at the code. I finally tried the debugger in VS Code, setting a breakpoint on line 15 where the loop started. Watching the variable values change step by step showed me my counter was resetting wrong. Has anyone else had that 'aha' moment with a debugger, or is there a better tool for beginners?

4 comments

4 Comments

cole_baker3mo ago

Saw a tweet from avery_jackson about print statements.

kelly38519d ago

Print statements have their place, but a proper debugger shows you things print statements just can't catch, like variable state at the exact moment something breaks. That two-hour loop issue wouldve taken ten minutes with a breakpoint and a watch window. You made the right move picking up the debugger early instead of fighting through another year of guesswork like some of us did lol.

marywilson3mo ago

Print statements were my debugger for years, honestly.

avery_jackson3mo ago

Yeah, the "for years" part hits. I still drop a print in new languages before I even look up their proper debugger. It's like a universal first step, you know? Lets you see the raw flow before you get into fancy tools.