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Debugging Best Practices

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Advice

  • Reproduce the problem. This allows you to go through each step to try and recreate the problem
  • Use in-line comments. This will allow you and others to understand what was coded in non-technical terms
  • Check the line the error shows and check the lines above it to ensure that proper syntax is there. Sometimes, it can be as small as a semi-colon missing
  • As you code, save your work often. This ensures that no bits of code that was previously put in is gone

Helpful articles for various languages

Debugging Best Practices

Topic Description Link (if applicable)
Advice; Reproducing the problem Reproduce the problem. This allows you to go through each step to try and recreate the problem. N/A
Advice; Comments Use in-line comments. This will allow you and others to understand what was coded in non-technical terms. N/A
Advice; Lines Check the line the error shows and check the lines above it to ensure that proper syntax is there. Sometimes it can be as small as a semi-colon missing. N/A
Advice; Saving As you code, save your work often. This ensures that no bits of code that was previously put in is gone. N/A
Debugging for C# This article gives examples and best practices for debugging within C#. https://blog.airbrake.io/blog/debugging/debug-best-practices
Debugging in C++ This article gives examples and best practices for debugging within C++. https://visualstudiomagazine.com/articles/2016/10/20/cpp-combine-debugging-strategies.aspx
Debugging in JavaScript This article gives examples and best practices for debugging within JavaScript. https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/js-debugging-js-best-practices
Debugging in HTML/CSS This article gives examples and best practices for debugging within HTML/CSS. https://blog.pragmatists.com/how-to-debug-front-end-elements-d97da4cbc3ea

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