How can you improve your debugging skills?

Generally asking the question "why" 5 times will lead you to get to the root cause of the issue. Often in software it's possible to get to the root cause after 3 to 4 whys. Once you know the root cause try to see if it has violated any design philosophy. Often major issues are solved at this level. In extreme cases one has to try to solve the problem at this abstract level by adopting ways to mitigate the consequences at subsequent level. Among the mitigation measures, efficient information sharing across multiple components of the system could be a solution.

1. Practice Regularly: Regular practice with real-world scenarios sharpens your debugging skills. 2. Use Debugging Tools: Familiarize yourself with debugging tools to efficiently identify and fix issues. 3. Learn Logging: Master the art of strategic logging to trace and understand code execution. 4. Understand the System: Gain a deep understanding of the system architecture and dependencies. 5. Review Code Thoroughly: Conduct meticulous code reviews to catch potential issues early.

In my experience, to improve debugging skills, try breaking down complex issues into smaller parts, use print statements strategically, leverage debugging tools, and actively seek to understand the code flow. Additionally, practice problem-solving on coding platforms and learn from experienced developers through code reviews or collaborative projects.

Debugging requires the domain knowledge to understand the real problem and not just the problem that is presented to you. After that, depending on how straightforward the solution is, it may require grit, determination, creative thinking and proper testing so it does not end up creating new bugs

Improving debugging skills is key to becoming an effective problem-solver in programming. It”s a gradual process that comes with experience and consistent practice. It's also about developing a mindset of curiosity and persistence.

Most important skill for debugging an issue is the intricate knowledge of the code, the deployment landscape, functionality and the integrated ecosystem in which the software operates. There is no shortcut, you just have to be super curious to learn and explore until you become an expert. Then debugging and troubleshooting would come easy. You can then additionally invest in learning some debugging tips and tricks of the IDE you are using to code. In many cases, you should also be ready to prepare test data and test environment to be able to reproduce the issue you want to debug.

I think understanding the end to end code of the system and context are easier when it comes to debug. The engineers who wrote code usually are faster than the one who didn't write the code when it comes to debugging.

To tackle a problem in your code, start by visualizing how the code works in your mind. Figure out where the issue lies and focus on that part of the code. Don't rush to make quick fixes, as they might create more problems later on. Creating a simple map of the code flow in your mind can help you find and fix the bug more effectively.

Adding logs at important entry and exit points and logging the variable values at these points will help a lot during analysing issues and offering a quicker resolution. This also becomes important in understanding code written by some one else. Looking at the thread Id in the logs is also a key factor to identify issues related to multi threading....

A comprehensive understanding and control of test datasets empower developers to pinpoint and resolve issues with greater precision, ultimately optimizing the debugging process.

Debugging is always harder than coding it. So if it was hard for you to write the code, you’re too stupid to debug it later on anyways. So best is to make an effort to write very simple code.

Code that explains itself elegantly is good but the underlying architecture all too often is not designed for the varying loads, performance or for the uptime. Coding with appropriate design patterns and identifying suitable chokepoints/SPOF(single point of failure) and identifying suitable risk mitigation is a good way to build a enduring product. These days all applications have a software component which places itself to risks dealing with cybersecurity, supply chain issue. Having a robust and clear process on Unit testing, Integrating build operations and release and collecting user behaviour on failure are good practices that are needed. Isolate potential failure points in code.

Good coding standards and consistent coding structures make the code easier to read and understand. Including incode comments along with method documentation improves coding clarity. We ask the simple question, if I were reading this code for the first time what would I want to know? Then ensure that the comments appropriately outline these points. Layering the overall platform enables critical functions and risks so they are handled without compromising the application structures. Security-related processes should always be handled as a separate layer to limit the risk to the main body of the application. e.g. we have a minimum of three layers UI, transaction security and validation, and transaction execution.

Making mistakes is also important for learning, so it may not be wise to strive for perfection all the time - just reflect what you've done and how it could be done better the next time.

Developing a habit of writing neat, efficient, and clear code — which includes optimizing logic, adhering to coding standards and design principles, handling error scenarios effectively, and adding comprehensive and meaningful logs — along with crafting efficient test cases, can reduce the occurrence of bugs, enhance the effectiveness of code review sessions, and make debugging easier

I understand that not all developers enjoy documentation, but documenting and sharing your mistakes can offer multiple benefits: Feedback: People can provide valuable feedback that helps you reflect on your mistakes and suggests more effective or alternative solutions. Reference for others: Others can use your documentation to avoid similar pitfalls. Better Code Reviews: Documenting mistakes can lead to more productive code review sessions. Learning Culture: This practice creates an environment of sharing and learning, which is important if you are aiming to be among the top 1% of developers.

Not everyone has the right skills when we start debugging. Learning and documenting the serendipitous ways of solving a problem helps others understand the possible approaches that are needed to slice and dice the problem. Applications dealing with scale sometimes do not apply themselves for ease of understanding. Having documentation in multiple languages and sharing best practices in a body of knowledge helps sustain and grow the 5 pillars of CMM process model for knowledge economy.

As per my perspective, refining debugging skills is a continuous learning process rooted in both personal experiences and shared insights. Furthermore, it serves as a gateway to diverse ideas and best practices within the coding community. With a combination of practice, patience, and curiosity, one can not only boost their debugging performance but also cultivate a resilient and open-minded approach towards problem-solving in the realm of software development.

Give away the fear of reading new code, Sit and compile codes line by line. In my early career i saw a lot of tutorials to debug faster, what ultimately helped me is only practice. Example, as we learn coding from easy through hard problems, in a similar fashion debugging can be skilled. one can start from debugging easy bugs up through hard. Prepare notes of the code base while debugging, this helps to grasp the design and speed up debugging. I feel practice is the only key here.

1. You need to learn and get expertise in the debugging tools that are provided by different IDE's and browsers. 2. Explore the source code as much as possible to get the clear understanding of the system and to improve the backtracking skills. 3. Go through the available documentation before debugging from the scratch. this will save your time.

You need to be good in reading logs. This will guide you on the exact functions/lines to place your break points. Additionally one has to practice and perfect the skill to read the code. This helps one to tell exactly what is going wrong.

Improving your debugging skills involves practicing systematic problem-solving. Firstly, understand the code by reading it thoroughly to grasp its logic. Secondly, use print statements to track the flow of your program and identify specific areas causing issues. Additionally, break down the problem into smaller parts to isolate and tackle issues more effectively. Moreover, learn to use debugging tools provided by your programming environment, such as breakpoints and variable inspection. Lastly, seek guidance from others, as discussing problems with peers can offer fresh perspectives and insights.

Embracing a culture where the 'hack' solves the day is not something that can be learnt overnight. Neither was Rome build in a day, the lesson being that understanding a problem, collecting the facts, isolating the risks and having adequate mitigation solves many of the recurring issues without incurring Technical debt. a Knowledge Economy where open source is trusted and is scaled needs documentation and ease of learning.