Tips & Tricks: Debugging Techniques Every Developer Should Know

Tips & Tricks: Debugging Techniques Every Developer Should Know

Every developer faces bugs. Whether it’s a missing semicolon, a logic error, or an unexpected crash, debugging is one of the most essential skills in programming.

At AI Computer Classes – Indore, we teach students practical debugging strategies that go beyond fixing errors — helping you understand why they happen and how to prevent them.

This article walks you through powerful debugging techniques that every developer should master.

🔍 What Is Debugging?

Debugging is the process of identifying, isolating, and fixing problems in your code. It’s like detective work — you gather clues, analyze patterns, and zero in on the culprit.

🧠 A skilled developer doesn’t just fix bugs — they prevent them.

🧩 Step 1: Understand the Error

When you encounter an error message, don’t panic. Read it carefully — most of the time, the message points directly to the problem.

Example in Python:

print("Hello"

🧩 Output:

SyntaxError: unexpected EOF while parsing

💡 Tip: The error tells you exactly what’s wrong — a missing parenthesis.

Use the traceback to locate where the issue occurs and start from there.

🧠 Step 2: Use Print Statements (Strategically)

Before using advanced tools, try adding print() or log statements to check variable values and logic flow.

Example:

for i in range(5):
    print(f"Processing {i}")
    if i == 3:
        print("Error occurs here")

This helps you pinpoint where your code behaves unexpectedly.

🧩 At AI Computer Classes – Indore, you’ll learn to combine this with conditional debugging for precision.

⚙️ Step 3: Use Built-in Debuggers

Most modern IDEs include built-in debuggers — like:

• VS Code Debugger
• PyCharm Debug Tool
• Chrome DevTools for JavaScript

You can set breakpoints, inspect variables, and step through your code line by line.

Example in Python:

import pdb
pdb.set_trace()

This starts an interactive debugging session at that point in your code.

🧩 Step 4: Use ChatGPT for Debugging Support

Tools like ChatGPT can help you interpret errors and suggest fixes.

Example prompt:

“I’m getting a KeyError in my Python dictionary. Here’s the snippet…”

ChatGPT can explain the cause, provide code corrections, and suggest best practices — saving you hours of trial and error.

💡 AI Computer Classes – Indore integrates ChatGPT into debugging exercises to make learning faster and more intuitive.

🧰 Step 5: Log Everything

For large projects, logging is your best friend. Use Python’s logging module:

import logging
logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
logging.info("Program started")
logging.error("An error occurred")

Logs record what happened and when, so you can trace back issues long after they occur.

🧮 Step 6: Use Assertions

Assertions help ensure your code behaves as expected.

assert x > 0, "x must be positive"

If the condition fails, the program stops and raises an AssertionError — telling you exactly what went wrong.

🧩 Step 7: Debug in Layers

Break your code into small pieces and test each part independently.

Example:

Instead of debugging a full program, test your function logic:

def divide(a, b):
    return a / b

Test edge cases separately:

print(divide(10, 2))
print(divide(10, 0))  # Expected error

Layered debugging helps isolate the faulty section quickly.

⚡ Step 8: Visualize Logic with Tools

Use Figma or Flowcharts to visualize your logic before coding.

Mapping conditions and loops helps prevent logical bugs before they occur.

You can also use Power BI to visualize data flow and identify mismatched or missing data in scripts involving analytics or automation.

🧠 Step 9: Stay Organized

• Keep your code modular
• Write clear comments
• Maintain version control (GitHub, GitLab)
• Document common bugs and solutions for team reuse

A well-structured project is much easier to debug.

🔧 Step 10: Learn from Bugs

Every bug teaches you something — about syntax, logic, or problem-solving.

Maintain a “Bug Log” in Excel or Notion with columns like:

Bug DescriptionCauseFixLesson LearnedIndexError in loopOut-of-range indexAdjusted loopAlways check length

🧠 This habit turns debugging into continuous skill improvement.

🧩 Tools Covered

ToolPurposeBenefitChatGPTAI debugging supportFaster problem diagnosisVS Code / PyCharmInteractive debuggingStep-by-step inspectionPython LoggingError trackingPersistent error recordsPower BI / ExcelData validationIdentify inconsistencies visuallyFigmaLogic visualizationPrevent design-level errors

💡 Why Learn Debugging at AI Computer Classes – Indore?

At AI Computer Classes, we combine coding with real debugging challenges.

Students learn through guided practice sessions covering:

• Common Python and JavaScript errors
• API debugging
• Live log analysis
• Error handling in Power BI and automation scripts

🧠 Our focus: Learn once, debug smartly forever.

🏁 Conclusion

Debugging is not a chore — it’s a critical thinking exercise.

Mastering it makes you faster, more confident, and a better problem solver.

At AI Computer Classes – Indore, we help you turn errors into insights, guiding you from simple bugs to advanced debugging workflows.

📞 Contact AI Computer Classes – Indore

✉ Email: hello@aicomputerclasses.com

📱 Phone: +91 91113 33255

📍 Address: 208, Captain CS Naidu Building, near Greater Kailash Road, opposite School of Excellence For Eye, Opposite Grotto Arcade, Old Palasia, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 452018

🌐 Website: www.aicomputerclasses.com