𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝘂𝗴 𝗔𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴
Debugging separates productive engineers from the rest.
Follow this process:
- Reproduce the issue.
- Narrow the search space.
- Form a hypothesis.
- Verify the fix.
Step 1: Reproduce. You must reproduce the bug to fix it. Document your steps, environment, and inputs. If the bug is flaky, look for patterns.
Step 2: Narrow the search. Use binary search. Disable half the system to see if the bug stays. Use git bisect or add early returns to isolate the path.
Step 3: Form a hypothesis. Write your theory down first. Use logs or tests to prove it. Avoid random trial and error.
Step 4: Fix and verify. Use the smallest change possible. Test the fix. Add a regression test. Ensure you did not break other parts.
Top engineers debug less. They build easy systems. They use good logging and clear tests.
Source: https://dev.to/therizwansaleem/how-to-debug-anything-a-systematic-tutorial-for-software-engineers-1o7d Optional learning community: https://t.me/GyaanSetuAi