What are some effective debugging tips for Python?

What are some effective debugging tips for Python?

Here are a few effective debugging tips for Python:

1. Use print statements to track variable values.
2. Utilize Python's built-in debugger, pdb.
3. Leverage IDE features like breakpoints and step execution.
4. Check for common syntax errors and typos.
5. Write unit tests to catch bugs early.

Can you explain how to use pdb?

Sure! To use pdb, you can insert import pdb; pdb.set_trace() in your code where you want to start debugging. This will pause execution and allow you to inspect variables, step through code, and evaluate expressions.

What are some common mistakes to look for?

Common mistakes include:

• Forgetting to initialize variables.
• Misusing data types (e.g., mixing strings and integers).
• Incorrectly handling exceptions.
• Off-by-one errors in loops.

How can I debug a specific function?

To debug a specific function, you can:

1. Add print statements inside the function to check inputs and outputs.
2. Use pdb to step through the function line by line.
3. Write test cases that isolate the function to see how it behaves with different inputs.