Stage 6 · Lesson 5 of 6
Using the real debugger
The model predicts what your code probably does; the debugger shows what it actually does. Learn your editor's debugger properly: set a , run to it, step over and into calls, inspect variables and watch expressions. For code you cannot pause, such as a server in production, add targeted log lines with the values you need and remove them afterwards.
When the tool's explanation and the debugger disagree, the debugger is right. A good pattern is to let the tool suggest where to put breakpoints or logs, then look yourself. This skill also keeps you independent: you can still fix things when the tool is unavailable or stuck.
Common trapgoing back and forth with the tool for an hour when five minutes with a breakpoint would have shown the wrong value.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come when you add the roadmap to your account. Add it
Resources for this stage
Start with
- CourseFreeThe Missing Semester of Your CS Education
MIT · Beginner
MIT's free lecture on debugging and profiling covers logging, debuggers and tools you will use for years