Do you know how to debug in JS?

At React Summit 2023, Mark Erikson delivered an insightful presentation on debugging JavaScript, highlighting essential principles and strategies for effective problem-solving in programming.

Erikson, a seasoned developer and Redux maintainer, emphasized that debugging is a crucial skill often overlooked in formal education but is essential for successful software development.

Erikson began by describing debugging as the process of identifying and resolving issues within a program.

He stressed the importance of understanding the intended functionality of a system to recognize deviations and errors accurately.

Erikson pointed out that most developers spend significant time debugging, yet many lack confidence in their debugging skills due to insufficient training.

Throughout his talk, Erikson shared universal debugging principles applicable across programming languages.

These include recognizing that every problem has a cause, the necessity of reproducing issues reliably, and the value of methodically narrowing down the potential causes through a process akin to a binary search.

He also highlighted the importance of understanding error messages and using them as guides to trace back to the root causes of problems.

Erikson encouraged developers to use all available tools, including both print statements and graphical debuggers, to gain a comprehensive view of where and how errors occur.

He also introduced an innovative tool developed by his team at Replay, which enables time-travel debugging, allowing developers to record sessions and revisit the exact moment when an issue occurred to understand the context better.

How have you approached debugging in your projects?

Are there particular strategies or tools you have found especially useful?