How can you debug mobile app bugs that only occur under specific conditions?

Debugging mobile app bugs can be challenging, especially when they only occur under specific conditions that are hard to reproduce. You might encounter issues related to device compatibility, network connectivity, user interactions, or external factors. How can you identify and fix these elusive bugs without wasting too much time and resources? Here are some tips and tools that can help you debug mobile app bugs that only occur under specific conditions.

1 Use logging and crash reporting

One of the most basic and essential debugging techniques is to use logging and crash reporting tools that can capture and record the app's behavior, errors, and exceptions. Logging and crash reporting can help you track down the source and cause of the bug, as well as provide useful information such as device model, OS version, app version, network status, and user actions. Some popular tools for logging and crash reporting are Firebase Crashlytics, Sentry, Bugsnag, and Logcat.

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Arash Aghelifar

Senior Android Developer @Snappfood | Transforming Vision into Mobile Reality, Crafting Apps That Inspire. | Android | Kotlin | Java | Jetpack | Mobile Application
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As a senior Android developer, in my experience, utilizing Sentry to address bugs and defining the correct log level has proven highly effective. This approach allows for the seamless gathering of logs in Sentry, proving invaluable in addressing issues across a wide range of Android devices. Additionally, working with Crashlytics has been integral to optimizing application performance.

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2 Simulate different scenarios

Another way to debug mobile app bugs that only occur under specific conditions is to simulate those conditions as much as possible using various tools and methods. For example, you can use emulators, simulators, or real devices to test your app on different screen sizes, resolutions, orientations, and hardware capabilities. You can also use tools like Network Link Conditioner, Charles Proxy, or Fiddler to simulate different network conditions, such as latency, bandwidth, or packet loss. You can also use tools like Monkey, UI Automator, or Espresso to simulate different user interactions, such as gestures, inputs, or clicks.

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Matteo C.

BLE Specialist | Expert in iOS & Flutter Development | Open Source Enthusiast | Codemotion Contributor
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Unfortunately, it's not always easy to simulate a situation, or perhaps replicating is the right word. How many times have you heard someone say, "I did this, and then this. Here's the video. Look!" and then it's an impossible mission to replicate the problem. The simplest solution that came to mind is to "record" the application during the development/debugging phase so that we can replicate the state when needed and solve the problem. This, combined with tools like Charles Proxy and a simple certificate for BLE sniffing, usually allows us to solve most of the problems we may encounter. Whether testing happens at the desk or our QA colleague is running, swimming, or skiing.

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3 Use breakpoints and debuggers

Sometimes, logging and simulation are not enough to pinpoint and fix the bug. You might need to use breakpoints and debuggers to pause the app's execution and inspect the app's state, variables, memory, and call stack. Breakpoints and debuggers can help you step through the app's code line by line and observe how the app reacts to different conditions. You can use the built-in debuggers in your IDE, such as Android Studio or Xcode, or use external debuggers, such as LLDB, GDB, or Chrome DevTools.

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4 Use remote debugging and testing

If the bug only occurs on a specific device or location that you don't have access to, you can use remote debugging and testing tools to connect to the device or location and debug the app remotely. Remote debugging and testing can help you reproduce the bug and access the device's logs, screenshots, videos, and console. Some popular tools for remote debugging and testing are Firebase Test Lab, BrowserStack, Appium, and Remote Debug.

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5 Use analytics and feedback

Finally, you can use analytics and feedback tools to collect and analyze data and feedback from your users and testers. Analytics and feedback can help you identify and prioritize the most common and critical bugs, as well as understand the user's behavior, preferences, and expectations. You can use tools like Firebase Analytics, Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Flurry to track and measure various metrics and events related to your app's performance, usability, and engagement. You can also use tools like Firebase In-App Messaging, Appcues, Instabug, or Apptentive to communicate with your users and testers, solicit feedback, and provide support.

Debugging mobile app bugs that only occur under specific conditions can be frustrating and time-consuming, but with the right tools and techniques, you can overcome these challenges and improve your app's quality and user experience.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How can you debug mobile app bugs that only occur under specific conditions?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Use logging and crash reporting

2 Simulate different scenarios

3 Use breakpoints and debuggers

4 Use remote debugging and testing

5 Use analytics and feedback

6 Here’s what else to consider

Mobile Applications

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How can you debug mobile app bugs that only occur under specific conditions?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Use logging and crash reporting

2 Simulate different scenarios

3 Use breakpoints and debuggers

4 Use remote debugging and testing

5 Use analytics and feedback

6 Here’s what else to consider

Mobile Applications

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