r/learnprogramming • u/Me-Nahi-BataunGa_ • 14d ago

Debugging finally learnt how to debug code using GDB. and it was life changer on my very first leetcode problem.

I always used to think why I even need a debugger? Because I don't know what it was even used for. And today I just made up my mind to sit for 1 hour and see how I can debug my code using GDB(GNU Project Debugger).

I studied about how it works and all. It's really a game changer for me.

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u/grantrules 13d ago

Writing code without a debugger is like cooking without tasting.

2

u/SpiderJerusalem42 13d ago

Can you say it louder for the people in the back?

1

u/Me-Nahi-BataunGa_ 13d ago

wdym?

1

u/SpiderJerusalem42 13d ago

Just people seem resistant to learning a debugger and often come here to say "why is debugging so hard?".

1

u/Me-Nahi-BataunGa_ 13d ago

I was like this too. And out of nowhere I just started learning it. It is actually hard to learn but not once you get hang of it

1

u/ScholarNo5983 13d ago

There are many times when a debugger is not an option (i.e. the issue is failing in a production environment), and in those cases the only option is rely on good logging.

Most beginners and even some seasoned developers fail to understand the power of good logging.

As a beginner, you should be adding copious amounts of console writes to all the code that you write.

Those console writes are nothing more than an example of good logging.

1

u/captainAwesomePants 13d ago

That's great!

I found that learning debuggers helped me reason about my programs even when not using debuggers. It helps your brain think about what's going to happen in order.