The hottest Debugging Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Technology Topics

Softcore Debugging

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 2405 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Development Debugging Tools Programming
  1. Xcode has many built-in debugging tools that can help developers troubleshoot their apps. It's helpful to explore these tools to find new ways to fix issues.
  2. Conditional breakpoints can make debugging more efficient by allowing developers to stop the app under specific conditions. This saves time during the debugging process.
  3. Learning faster LLDB commands and memory graph traversal techniques can enhance a developer's ability to diagnose issues quickly. Familiarizing yourself with these options can improve coding skills.

Hardcore Debugging

Jacob’s Tech Tavern • 2842 implied HN points • 13 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Software Debugging Development Engineering Programming
  1. Bugs in apps can sometimes be easy to fix, but some problems are hidden deep in the system and harder to find. These serious issues can cause crashes that are tricky to solve.
  2. When dealing with a crash, you can use tools like Git Bisect to look back in time or symbolicate crash logs to find out what went wrong. These methods help narrow down the problem.
  3. Understanding how crashes occur in the kernel memory management can take time, but specific techniques exist to make debugging easier and faster. It's all about using the right tools at the right time.

What's up Python: MOAR uv, flask-like Django, debugging live processes...

Bite code! • 1590 implied HN points • 29 Dec 24
🕹 Technology Programming Software Web Development Community Debugging
  1. Astral is expanding its projects and has taken control of python-build-standalone, making it easier to install Python on different systems without complicated setups.
  2. PEP 768 is a new proposal that will allow easier and safer debugging for live Python processes, improving how we can fix issues in running applications.
  3. The Django community is updating their framework to be more user-friendly by replacing old commands with simpler ones, while keeping the framework modern and relevant.

Expansion hack: Power Stone, Power Stone 2 (Dreamcast)

Rings of Saturn • 58 implied HN points • 05 Feb 25
🕹 Technology Gaming Software Hardware Development Debugging
  1. Power Stone for Dreamcast has a hidden debug menu for testing different features like sound and animations.
  2. Power Stone 2 also includes a debug menu that offers similar testing capabilities and extra features to explore character moves.
  3. Patches are available to access these hidden menus, enhancing the gaming experience for players who want to dive deeper into the games.

Under the microscope: Segagaga (Dreamcast)

Rings of Saturn • 43 implied HN points • 08 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Video Games Game design Debugging Hacking Software Development
  1. Segagaga, a Sega RPG, has two hidden debug menus that can be accessed using cheat codes or patches. This makes the game more interactive for players who enjoy exploring its features.
  2. The first debug menu allows players to adjust game statistics, view sprites, and test sound and movie clips. It provides a way to experiment with different elements of the game.
  3. The second debug menu lets players access various game functions directly, including scenarios and mini-games. This menu simplifies navigation and enhances the gaming experience.
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Saturn RPG hacking roundup: Grandia Digital Museum, Samurai Spirits Bushido Retsuden, & Marica: The Real World

Rings of Saturn • 43 implied HN points • 04 Jan 25
🕹 Technology Gaming Software Development Hacking Debugging
  1. Games like Grandia Digital Museum have hidden debug modes that let players access special features. You can enable these modes by changing settings in the game's files.
  2. Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits Bushido Retsuden allows players to activate a debug menu with a patch. This lets them test backgrounds and other game elements easily.
  3. In Marica: Shinjitsu no Sekai, players can unlock a debug screen using a specific cheat code. This screen offers more control and allows visiting different game locations.

Use interpretability to improve and debug your ML model

Mindful Modeler • 279 implied HN points • 05 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Machine Learning Interpretability Debugging
  1. Identify target leakage using feature importance to prevent accidental data pre-processing errors that leak target information into features.
  2. Debug your model by utilizing ML interpretability to spot errors in feature coding, such as incorrect signs on feature effects.
  3. Gain insights for feature engineering by understanding important features, and know which ones to focus on for creating new informative features.

Console #189 - Interview with Elia of Opal - a Ruby to JavaScript source-to-source compiler

Console • 413 implied HN points • 24 Dec 23
🕹 Technology Programming Open Source Web Development Software Tools Debugging
  1. Opal is a source-to-source compiler that converts Ruby to JavaScript.
  2. Opal leverages the underlying JavaScript engine for speed, size, and debugging benefits.
  3. The project Opal aims to continue improving by exploring features like dead-code-elimination and better module support.

Comprehension of Concurrency is a Lifelong Journey

Push to Prod • 19 implied HN points • 23 Jul 24
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Concurrency Debugging Systems
  1. Understanding concurrency is a long-term process that requires ongoing learning. It's normal to feel confused, but every experience adds to your knowledge.
  2. It's important to be open about your knowledge gaps. Accepting that you don't know everything helps you grow and learn from others.
  3. Mistakes and misunderstandings are part of the journey. Embracing these moments can lead to valuable insights and a deeper comprehension.

Intro to PDB, the Python Debugger

Bite code! • 733 implied HN points • 09 May 23
🕹 Technology Programming Debugging Commands Tips Python
  1. PDB is a basic but useful debugger that comes with Python by default, allowing you to pause programs, enter a debugging shell, and analyze program states.
  2. Learning to use PDB is valuable because it helps you understand debugging fundamentals, and knowing PDB can translate to using other debuggers as well.
  3. PDB offers various helpful commands like 'help', 'quit', 'list', 'next', 'continue', 'until line', 'jump line', 'display', 'step', 'return', 'up', and 'down' for effective debugging in Python.

The Messy Page

Register Spill • 216 implied HN points • 07 May 23
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Programming Debugging AI
  1. The author prefers messy projects over greenfield projects because they provide more certainty and direction.
  2. Having clear product-market fit and defined requirements make a project enjoyable to work on.
  3. The author finds debugging appealing due to its clear requirements and the assurance that efforts won't be wasted.

Some ways Software Engineers can 10x results with Bayesian Thinking [Math Mondays]

Technology Made Simple • 199 implied HN points • 13 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Software Engineering Machine Learning Inference Debugging Decision-making
  1. Bayesian Thinking can improve software engineering productivity by updating beliefs with new knowledge.
  2. Bayesian methods help in tasks like prioritizing, A/B testing, bug fixing, risk assessment, and machine learning.
  3. Using Bayesian Thinking in software engineering can lead to more efficient and effective decision-making.

Swift Tooling: Windows Edition

Speaking in Swift by The Browser Company • 166 HN points • 07 Mar 24
🕹 Technology Development Tooling IDE Debugging Extensions
  1. Swift development on Windows is productive and ready for industry use, with a mature environment for writing code and continuous improvements to the developer experience.
  2. Visual Studio Code is the preferred development environment, offering essential features like building, debugging, auto-complete, error reporting, and more for Swift programming on Windows.
  3. Swift developers on Windows have access to a range of tools like SPM, CMake, LLDB, and Windows-specific debugging tools like WinDbg and Windows Performance Analyzer for efficient building, testing, and debugging of Swift code.

Daily bit(e) of C++ | Hardened mode of standard library implementations

Daily bit(e) of C++ • 78 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Security Debugging
  1. Dealing with assumptions in programming can be risky, especially in C++ where a violated assumption can lead to undefined behavior.
  2. Proper engineering practices like good unit test coverage and sanitizers can help catch bugs, but sanitizers may not detect all issues, particularly at the library level.
  3. Using the hardened mode of standard library implementations like stdlibc++ and libc++ can provide safety features against specific attacks and checks without affecting ABI, enhancing development experience.

GPT-4o mini and prompt caching, a turning point in debugging?

Matthew’s Substack • 2 HN points • 21 Aug 24
🕹 Technology AI Software Debugging Development Automation
  1. Prompt caching and the new GPT-4o mini make it cheaper to explore and solve bugs efficiently. This means developers can now recreate and fix issues more easily.
  2. Current debugging tools focus more on understanding the context of a bug than on testing hypotheses about what caused it. There's a real need for better tools to improve the testing phase.
  3. Using LLMs can help generate scripts to recreate complex bugs, offering a fresh approach to understanding and fixing problems in software development.

Lab notebooks

Only Wonder Knows • 58 implied HN points • 01 Sep 23
🕹 Technology Electronics Note Taking Debugging Tools
  1. Recording funny things in lab notebooks can save time and provide valuable insights for future work.
  2. Using a notebook for design work, organizing content, and including references can help centralize information.
  3. Taking oscilloscope captures, naming signals, and recording measurement values are important steps for effective debugging.

Column level lineage is out: AI is in

The Orchestra Data Leadership Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 19 Dec 23
🕹 Technology AI Data Debugging Metadata Automation
  1. Column-level lineage tools were popular in 2021 but might be replaced by AI for debugging data pipelines more efficiently.
  2. AI models like GPT can quickly pinpoint reasons for test failures and offer actionable insights beyond what traditional lineage tools provide.
  3. Services integrating AI with metadata can give better visibility and accurate debugging solutions for data and analytics engineers compared to column-level lineage tools.

Top 10 Signs of an Inexperienced Programmer and How to Avoid Them

Brain Bytes • 39 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🕹 Technology Programming Software Development Debugging Libraries
  1. Always prioritize the user in programming. User feedback is essential for creating successful products.
  2. Plan before you code. Having a clear plan and design prevents bugs and ensures your code aligns with your goals.
  3. Keep your code organized and clean to work efficiently. Avoid overcomplicating solutions and remember to follow best coding practices.

Quality Engineering Basics: Debugging

QUALITY BOSS • 19 implied HN points • 12 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Software Testing Quality Assurance Debugging Development Tools User Experience
  1. Debugging is like being a detective; you need to find clues to solve the problem in the software. Understanding how or when a bug happens can help get it fixed faster.
  2. A good bug report includes details like when the bug occurs and what steps to reproduce it. The more information you provide, the easier it is for developers to understand and fix the issue.
  3. Trying different methods and tools can help uncover more about the bug. For example, using different browsers or versions of software can help pinpoint what's causing the problem.

GitLab CI/CD vs. GitHub Actions: A Comprehensive Comparison

realkinetic • 3 HN points • 09 Jul 24
🕹 Technology CI/CD Debugging Configuration Organization
  1. CI/CD is crucial for software projects, impacting features deployment, issue resolution speed, team iteration, and developer experience. GitLab CI/CD and GitHub Actions are popular choices for managing these workflows.
  2. GitLab offers robust code reuse options through hidden jobs, anchors, references, and includes, allowing for easy structuring and maintenance of CI pipelines across repositories.
  3. When it comes to pipeline debugging, GitLab provides a superior toolset with a Pipeline Editor for linting, validating, and selecting pipeline versions, while GitHub Actions lacks built-in editing capabilities.

The Rubber Duck Method for Debugging [Technique Tuesdays]

Technology Made Simple • 59 implied HN points • 13 Sep 22
🕹 Technology Programming Debugging Interviews Learning Career
  1. The Rubber Duck Method is a powerful tool for debugging code, helping identify both logical and runtime errors as you explain your code to a rubber duck.
  2. Speaking out loud while explaining your thought process can help you make connections and insights, preventing your brain from skipping steps and making more errors.
  3. In interviews, treating your interviewer as a rubber duck by verbalizing your thoughts can improve your problem-solving skills and communication, impressing the interviewer.

8 Brilliant Debugging Ways to Quickly Identify the Problem

Weekend Developer • 19 implied HN points • 26 Aug 23
🕹 Technology Programming Debugging Coding IDE Documentation
  1. Reproduce the issue: To effectively debug, you must replicate the problem on your own laptop to utilize your IDE for quick debugging.
  2. Isolate the problem: It's crucial to narrow down the issue's location by understanding when the code stops working correctly.
  3. Use breakpoints: Employ breakpoints to stop code execution at specific points, making debugging more efficient.

TIL 1: Running coqui-ai/TTS on my M2

Omar’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 18 May 23
🕹 Technology Programming Python Debugging
  1. The user successfully ran Coqui-ai's TTS library on their M2 MacBook after debugging some Python code.
  2. The issue was related to the M2 chip on the laptop, causing a memory error and program crash.
  3. By using Python's built-in debugger and modifying a specific line of code, the user was able to fix the error and run the program successfully.

MSP430 I2C, and Trusting ChatGPT Wasted Weeks of My Life

Saying Less • 19 implied HN points • 28 Jun 23
🕹 Technology Microcontrollers Debugging
  1. Hardware communication involves protocols like I2C, UART, and SPI for connecting microcontrollers with peripherals.
  2. In I2C communication, there are master and slave devices, and the correct implementation details are crucial for success.
  3. Consulting the manufacturer's datasheet is essential for troubleshooting hardware issues, despite guidance from tools like ChatGPT.

💎Crystal the language for humans💎

Deus In Machina • 36 implied HN points • 27 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Programming Documentation Community Debugging
  1. Crystal programming language aims to be a 'batteries included language' with a rich standard library that mimics Ruby behavior.
  2. Crystal has good cross-platform support, with macOS and Linux well-supported and Windows improving.
  3. Crystal makes documentation and testing easy, using markdown for comments and providing a built-in testing framework.

Making a Rider plugin, because JetBrains won't

Dennis’s Substack • 1 HN point • 12 May 24
🕹 Technology Debugging Software Development
  1. Debugger in JetBrains Rider has limitations like not being able to attach to multiple processes easily through the UI.
  2. Extending JetBrains IDEs' functionality with plugins can help users address software limitations and improve their workflow.
  3. Developing plugins for JetBrains IDEs, like Rider, involves challenges such as lack of documentation, UI implementation, and handling concurrency.

Debug Manual (for non technicals)

Marcio Klepacz • 5 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🕹 Technology Troubleshooting Software Hardware Connections Debugging
  1. Knowing how to debug is essential in a software-driven world, and it's a skill accessible to everyone.
  2. When troubleshooting, changing the environment, variables, or connections can lead to identifying and fixing issues.
  3. Resetting the environment, variables, or connections is a fundamental step in troubleshooting, and providing detailed information to technical support can be helpful.

Making software user-extendable

How Software "Sells Itself" • 2 HN points • 18 Feb 23
🕹 Technology Software Development User Interface Debugging Serverless Computing
  1. Enterprise software often lacks user-extendability, leading to workarounds or completely custom tools.
  2. Having a user-friendly code editor can simplify adding custom functionality to software.
  3. Modern technologies like Monaco and serverless platforms make it feasible to achieve user-extendability and advanced debugging features.

Local first development

Hasen Judi • 2 HN points • 29 Apr 23
🕹 Technology Development Tools Debugging
  1. Local development should be seamless with quick edit/run cycles and interactive debugging.
  2. Start with the development experience you want and work backwards to the technology, don't just follow common trends blindly.
  3. Prioritize what you want in a development experience, like quick startup time, minimal commands, and effective type checking.