Software Engineering basics - Debugging

1. Debugging

Definition:
Debugging is the process of identifying, analyzing, and fixing bugs (errors) in software code. It’s a developer-focused activity.

Steps in Debugging:

1. Identify the bug – Recognize there’s a problem (like a crash or incorrect output).

2. Reproduce the bug – Make the issue happen consistently to understand it.

3. Analyze the cause – Check the code, logs, or use debugging tools.

4. Fix the bug – Modify the code to correct the problem.

5. Test the fix – Ensure the bug is resolved and no new issues are introduced.

Tools for Debugging:

• IDE debuggers (e.g., Visual Studio, PyCharm)

• Logging (print statements, log files)

• Profilers

• Unit tests

Example:
If a program crashes when dividing numbers, debugging might reveal a “division by zero” error, and the fix would be adding a check for zero before dividing.

2. Troubleshooting

Definition:
Troubleshooting is the process of diagnosing and resolving operational problems in a system, which may not always be code-related. It’s broader than debugging and often user-focused.

Steps in Troubleshooting:

1. Identify the problem – Detect symptoms like slow performance or system errors.

2. Gather information – Logs, configurations, user reports, system behavior.

3. Isolate the cause – Determine if it’s hardware, software, network, or configuration-related.

4. Resolve the issue – Apply a solution (patch, restart, configuration change).

5. Verify resolution – Ensure the system works correctly after the fix.

Tools for Troubleshooting:

• System logs

• Monitoring tools (e.g., New Relic, Nagios)

• Network analyzers

• Support tickets / error reports

Example:
If users cannot log into an application, troubleshooting may reveal a misconfigured authentication server, network outage, or expired certificate, not necessarily a coding bug.

Key Differences

In short:

• Debugging = fixing the code

• Troubleshooting = fixing the system