Abandon the Print function, shift to Debugging instead
In the world of programming, finding and fixing errors, or bugs, is a common challenge, especially in complex projects. One tool that aids in this task is the debugger, and today we're going to explore how the debugger in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) can help.
VSCode's debugger is an integrated part of the code editor, offering features such as breakpoints, step-by-step execution, variable inspection, call stack analysis, and task or thread visualization. These tools make debugging interactive, visual, and seamlessly integrated within the development workflow.
One key way VSCode's debugger aids debugging is through the use of breakpoints. By pausing execution at specific lines, you can inspect how the program state changes and efficiently isolate the exact location and cause of errors. Clicking the debug icon in VSCode starts the code run but stops immediately at the Breakpoint. The yellow line with a symbol next to it indicates where the code stopped.
Another useful feature is step-by-step execution. VSCode lets you step into, over, or out of functions to closely follow program flow and understand the behavior and impact of each line of code. This can help you understand what's happening in the code and find potential errors.
Variable inspection is another powerful tool. During pauses, variables and their values can be examined in real-time, helping identify incorrect states or unexpected data affecting the program. For instance, in a given example, a bug exists where the function returns one extra, preventing the desired condition from occurring. Printing the variable helped identify the issue, but it's not the best method for finding bugs in complex projects.
For complex or asynchronous code, VSCode (and related Microsoft tools) provide detailed call stack windows and parallel stack views showing multiple threads or async task call histories. This clarifies what led to a particular execution point, which is crucial for debugging concurrency and async bugs.
VSCode also uses configuration files, known as launch.json, to automate launching debugging sessions with the proper runtime environment and parameters. This simplifies repeatable debugging setups for diverse projects and languages.
In the upper left corner, you'll find the contents of variables within the code, including the User variable. Clicking forward will stop the code at the next Breakpoint or at the error location.
While data scientists often use tools like Jupyter Notebooks or Google Colab for coding, debugging is not as convenient. VSCode's integrated debugger makes it a valuable tool for these users as well, offering a more efficient and streamlined debugging experience.
In summary, VSCode's debugger is a powerful tool that helps find and fix errors in complex programming projects by providing breakpoints, step-by-step execution, variable inspection, call stack and task views, and launch configurations, all integrated within the code editor for real-time interaction and control during program runs.
The integrated debugger in Visual Studio Code (VSCode) makes use of technology like breakpoints, step-by-step execution, and variable inspection to assist in debugging complex programming projects, offering a more efficient and streamlined experience compared to other tools often used by data scientists.
Furthermore, VSCode's debugger provides call stack and task views, which are essential for debugging concurrency and asynchronous bugs in complex projects, demonstrating its significant role in overcoming common debugging challenges in the programming world.
