Debugging is an essential skill for any Python developer. Here are some practical tips to help you troubleshoot code effectively:
1. Use print()
Statements
Insert print()
statements to log variable values and program flow.
👉 Example:
print(f"Value of x: {x}") # 🩺
2. Leverage pdb
(Python Debugger)
Use pdb
for interactive debugging.
- Start with
import pdb; pdb.set_trace()
- Common commands:
n
(next),s
(step),p
(print),q
(quit)
3. Enable Logging
Use logging
module for structured debug output.
import logging
logging.basicConfig(level=logging.DEBUG)
logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
logger.debug("Debug message here") # 📄
4. Write Unit Tests
Automate testing with unittest
or pytest
.
- Tests isolate issues and validate fixes
- Example:
def test_addition():
assert 2 + 2 == 4
5. Check for Common Errors
- TypeErrors: Ensure correct data types
- IndexErrors: Verify list/string indices
- KeyErrors: Confirm dictionary keys exist
- ValueErrors: Handle invalid inputs gracefully
For deeper insights, explore our guide on Python Best Practices. 🚀