Debugging

Question 1

describe the difference between run and debug configurations

Answer 1

a run configuration will ignore any breakpoints etc.

debug will stop and open a debugging window

Question 2

what is debugging

Answer 2

the process of finding and fixing errors

Question 3

describe the steps of debugging

Answer 3

start with a problem, run the code, get to understand the expected behaviour

stabilise the problem

isolate the source

fix

test

look for similar errors

Question 4

describe how we would stabilise a problem

Answer 4

narrow it down to a precise statement

Question 5

what types of errors are there

Answer 5

compile time

run time

semantic

Question 6

describe the scientific method of debugging

Answer 6

develop general theories

make observations

think of interesting questions

create a hypothesis

develop testable prediction

get data

refine

Question 7

give some strategies to isolate the source of a problem (5)

Answer 7

brute force- walk through code

back track- start at problem and go backwards

architectural- suss out the location of the error

binary search- find the middle of the execution and work out if it was before or after that point

cause elimination- identify possibilities and rule out

Question 8

give some tactics for isolating the source of a problem (8)

Answer 8

print statements

rubber ducking

minimise execution path

common problem knowledge

online debugger

test cases

look at commits

profiling (memory management in c)