Debugger

If there is one tool I consider absolutely indispensable in my developer toolkit, it is the debugger. No matter how experienced a programmer is or how well they know the code: a debugger transforms problem-solving from a frustrating activity based on guesswork into a methodical and precise investigation.

A Cross-Cutting Passion

I use debuggers in every language that allows it, and I have invested time to master the specific tools of each ecosystem. This is not an optional preference: it is a practice I consider fundamental for writing quality code and solving problems efficiently.

My experience spans across different debugging environments, each with its own peculiarities and strengths. This cross-cutting competency allows me to be productive regardless of the project's language I am working on.

Xdebug: The PHP Companion

In the PHP world, Xdebug is the reference debugger and I use it daily. The ability to set breakpoints, inspect variables in real-time, follow the call stack, and evaluate expressions on the fly has radically transformed my approach to PHP development. Integrated with PhpStorm or VS Code, Xdebug becomes a powerful tool for understanding the execution flow of even very complex applications.

Particularly useful is remote debugging mode, which allows me to debug applications running on Docker containers or remote servers as if they were local. In Magento or Laravel projects with dozens of abstraction layers, this capability is simply essential.

Debugpy: Python Under Control

For Python I use Debugpy, the official debugger supported by Microsoft and natively integrated into VS Code. Its intuitive interface and advanced features like conditional breakpoints and logpoints make debugging Python scripts and Django or Flask applications a smooth experience.

Debugpy also excels at debugging asynchronous applications, allowing you to follow execution flow through coroutines and asyncio tasks, a critical aspect when working with concurrent code.

Delve: Go in Depth

Delve is the standard debugger for Go and represents an essential tool for anyone working seriously with this language. The ability to inspect goroutines, follow execution through channels, and understand Go runtime behavior has enormously accelerated my learning curve with this language.

I particularly appreciate the ability to attach Delve to already running processes, useful for diagnosing problems in staging environments without having to restart the application.

Node Inspector: Backend JavaScript

For Node.js applications I use the built-in debugger accessible through the --inspect flag. Connecting with Chrome DevTools or directly from VS Code, I can set breakpoints in server-side code, inspect closure context, and follow execution flow through callbacks and Promises.

The ability to debug Node.js code with the same tools I use for frontend JavaScript creates continuity in the full-stack development experience.

Chrome DevTools: Transparent Frontend

Chrome DevTools is probably the most accessible and powerful debugger for frontend development. I use it constantly to debug JavaScript in the browser, inspect the DOM, analyze rendering performance, and monitor network requests.

DevTools' JavaScript debugging features are extraordinarily complete: conditional breakpoints, watch expressions, third-party script blackboxing, and the ability to modify code on the fly during debugging. For React or Vue applications, dedicated extensions add additional component state inspection capabilities.

Why Debuggers Are Fundamental

Too many developers rely exclusively on console.log, print statements, or dd() to debug code. This approach, however familiar, has significant limitations: it requires modifying code, forces you to predict in advance what information will be useful, and produces output that must then be removed.

A debugger, on the contrary, allows you to explore application state interactively. You can stop at any point in execution and inspect everything: local variables, global state, call stack, even evaluate arbitrary expressions. You don't have to predict what you'll need to know: you can discover it the moment you need it.

This difference becomes crucial when facing complex bugs. With print statements, each iteration requires: hypothesizing the cause, adding logs, running the application, analyzing output, removing or modifying logs, repeating. With a debugger, you explore the problem in real-time, following execution flow until you identify exactly where and why something isn't working as expected.

An Investment That Pays Off

Learning to effectively use a debugger requires an initial time investment. Configuring the environment, becoming familiar with the interface, understanding advanced features: all this requires dedication. But it is an investment that pays off enormously in the long run.

I have seen colleagues spend hours searching for bugs I would have identified in minutes with a debugger. I have seen code littered with forgotten debug statements end up in production. I have seen frustrated developers give up on truly understanding their code's behavior.

My advice to anyone developing software professionally is simple: invest time in learning your language's debugger. No matter how productive you feel with print statements: you are leaving on the table a tool that can radically transform your effectiveness as a developer. The debugger is not optional: it is a fundamental skill that distinguishes those who write code from those who truly understand it.