Debugging Best Practices

Systematic Approach to Debugging

1. Understand the Problem

• Gather information about the issue
• Reproduce the problem consistently
• Identify the scope of the issue
• Document the expected behavior

2. Isolate the Problem

• Create a minimal test case
• Remove unnecessary code
• Check for dependencies
• Verify environment setup

3. Formulate Hypotheses

• List possible causes
• Prioritize based on likelihood
• Plan investigation steps
• Set up test cases

Code Organization for Debugging

Logging Strategy

// Use appropriate log levels
logger.debug("Detailed debugging information");
logger.info("General information about program execution");
logger.warn("Warning messages for potential problems");
logger.error("Error messages for serious issues");

// Include context in log messages
logger.debug("Processing user request: userId={}, action={}", userId, action);

// Use structured logging
logger.info("Operation completed", Map.of(
    "operation", "userLogin",
    "userId", userId,
    "duration", duration
));

Exception Handling

try {
    // Risky operation
} catch (SpecificException e) {
    logger.error("Failed to process request", e);
    throw new BusinessException("User-friendly message", e);
} catch (Exception e) {
    logger.error("Unexpected error occurred", e);
    throw new SystemException("Internal server error", e);
}

Debugging Tools and Techniques

Using Breakpoints Effectively

• Set breakpoints at key points in the code
• Use conditional breakpoints for specific scenarios
• Remove breakpoints when no longer needed
• Group related breakpoints

Variable Inspection

• Watch important variables
• Use the evaluate expression feature
• Inspect object state
• Monitor variable changes

Performance Considerations

Debugging Impact

• Minimize logging overhead
• Use appropriate log levels
• Limit breakpoint usage
• Monitor system resources

Production Debugging

• Enable debug mode only when needed
• Use sampling instead of full profiling
• Implement circuit breakers
• Monitor performance impact

Documentation and Knowledge Sharing

Debugging Documentation

• Document common issues and solutions
• Maintain a debugging checklist
• Share debugging experiences
• Update troubleshooting guides

Team Collaboration

• Share debugging strategies
• Document resolved issues
• Maintain a knowledge base
• Regular debugging reviews

Common Anti-patterns to Avoid

• Excessive logging without purpose
• Leaving debug code in production
• Ignoring warning messages
• Making assumptions without verification
• Not documenting debugging steps
• Using print statements instead of proper logging
• Not cleaning up debugging code
• Ignoring performance impact