Found a game changer for debugging my Python loops

I was spending like 20 minutes every session trying to figure out why my for loops broke, then I started using print statements inside the loop to track each variable's value step by step. It showed me exactly where my logic was off within 5 minutes last night on a simple sorting project. Has anyone else found a better trick for catching loop errors fast?

2 comments

2 Comments

river_allen5d ago

My last debug session I had 17 print statements inside a nested loop before I realized I was comparing the wrong two variables the whole time. Felt like a real genius when I finally saw "oh wait that's the index not the value" printed out 50 times in a row. Print debugging is basically my safety blanket at this point, duct tape and a prayer for the win.

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anthony4245d ago

@river_allen I have to push back a little here. Print statements are fine when you're just starting out, but they're a crutch that'll slow you down in the long run. Figuring out how to use a proper debugger is worth the headache upfront - it'll save you from those 50 lines of "wait that's the index" real quick. You're better than duct tape and prayers, I promise.