How do I debug my Python code?
Use print statements for simple debugging. For more complex issues, use a debugger like `pdb` to set breakpoints and step through your code interactively.
Debugging Python code is a critical skill for identifying and resolving issues in your applications. For simple problems, inserting print statements at various points in your code can help you track variable values and the flow of execution. However, for more complex issues, using a debugger is more effective. The built-in pdb
module provides an interactive debugging environment. You can invoke pdb
by inserting import pdb; pdb.set_trace()
at the point where you want to start debugging:
import pdb
def faulty_function(x):
pdb.set_trace() # Start debugging here
return x / 0
When you run your script, execution will pause at the breakpoint, allowing you to inspect variables and execute commands to step through your code. Additionally, IDEs like PyCharm or Visual Studio Code offer graphical debugging tools that provide breakpoints, call stacks, and variable inspection. By mastering debugging techniques, you can streamline your development process and resolve issues more efficiently.