How can I use debugging macros in C++?

How can I use debugging macros in C++?

You can define debugging macros using the #define directive. For example, you can create a macro that logs messages only in debug mode.

Can you show me an example of such a macro?

Sure! Here's a simple example:

#ifdef DEBUG
#define DEBUG_LOG(msg) std::cout << "DEBUG: " << msg << std::endl;
#else
#define DEBUG_LOG(msg)
#endif

This will log messages when DEBUG is defined.

What if I want to include the file name and line number in the log?

You can modify the macro like this:

#ifdef DEBUG
#define DEBUG_LOG(msg) std::cout << "DEBUG: " << __FILE__ << ":" << __LINE__ << " - " << msg << std::endl;
#else
#define DEBUG_LOG(msg)
#endif

That’s really helpful! Are there any best practices for using these macros?

Yes, it's best to keep your macros simple, avoid side effects, and ensure they are easy to disable in production builds.