# Breakpoint prefered way to debug? **URL:** \ **Category:** Rails\ **Created:** [December 15, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/breakpoint-prefered-way-to-debug/79489 "2006-12-15T16:59:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![raphael\_b](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7c8e57/32.png) [@raphael\_b](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raphael_b)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/breakpoint-prefered-way-to-debug/79489/1 "2006-12-15T16:59:17Z")
Hi, I am using rails 1.1.6 and ruby 1.8.4 (on ubuntu). In my unit test, I have this code: def test\_add\_translations maison = Term.find\_by\_term(‘maison’) breakpoint “maison” end and when I get to the breakpoint session, I have no access to the local variable. I know there’s a problem with breakpoint and ruby 1.8.5, but it should work with 1.8.4 (from my understanding). So, is there a workaround? I’d prefer to continue working with my distribution’s ruby. Or should I use another debugging method like ruby-debug? Raph ---
**Author:** ![raphael\_b](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7c8e57/32.png) [@raphael\_b](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raphael_b)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/breakpoint-prefered-way-to-debug/79489/2 "2006-12-15T17:05:18Z")
Honestly, for unit testing, I just use puts def test\_add\_translations maison = Term.find\_by\_term(‘maison’) puts maison end It will appear in my test window. To speed the process, I use ZenTest so my tests run when I save them ---
**Author:** ![raphael\_b](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7c8e57/32.png) [@raphael\_b](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raphael_b)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/breakpoint-prefered-way-to-debug/79489/3 "2006-12-15T19:35:45Z")
On 12/15/06, Raphael B. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > Hi, > > I am using rails 1.1.6 and ruby 1.8.4 (on ubuntu). In my unit test, I I’ve installed ruby1.8.5 and get the same problem: irb(test\_add\_translations(TermTest)):001:0\> maison NameError: undefined local variable or method `maison' for # from /home/xx/rails/config/../vendor/rails/actionpack/lib/action_controller/test_process.rb:432:in `method\_missing’ from (irb):1:in `breakpoint' from /home/xx/rails/config/../vendor/rails/railties/lib/breakpoint.rb:512:in `breakpoint’ from /home/xx/rails/config/…/vendor/rails/railties/lib/breakpoint.rb:512:in `breakpoint' from term_test.rb:48:in `test\_add\_translations’ from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/testcase.rb:78:in ` __send__' from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/testcase.rb:78:in `run’ from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/testsuite.rb:34:in `run' from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/testsuite.rb:33:in `each’ from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/testsuite.rb:33:in `run' from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/testsuite.rb:34:in `run’ from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/testsuite.rb:33:in `each' from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/testsuite.rb:33:in `run’ from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/ui/testrunnermediator.rb:46:in `run_suite' from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/ui/console/testrunner.rb:67:in `start\_mediator’ from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/ui/console/testrunner.rb:41:in `start' from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/ui/testrunnerutilities.rb:29:in `run’ from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/autorunner.rb:200:in `run' from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/autorunner.rb:13:in `run’ from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit.rb:278 from term\_test.rb:46irb(test\_add\_translations(TermTest)):002:0\> Raph > So, is there a workaround? I’d prefer to continue working with my > distribution’s ruby. Or should I use another debugging method like > ruby-debug? > > Raph – Web database: [http://www.myowndb.com](http://www.myowndb.com) Free Software Developers Meeting: [http://www.fosdem.org](http://www.fosdem.org) ---
**Author:** ![raphael\_b](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7c8e57/32.png) [@raphael\_b](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raphael_b)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/breakpoint-prefered-way-to-debug/79489/4 "2006-12-15T21:04:03Z")
my work around for the error is to change the variable type (temporarily): def test\_add\_translations maison = Term.find\_by\_term(‘maison’) @m = maison breakpoint end then, when the test hits the breakpoint, you should be able to just type @m to see the value… dumb, but it works. i only do this if i need to _do_ something with the variable other than see it’s value. otherwise, a puts works ok. Ed Hickey Developer Litmus Media 816-533-0409 removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid A Member of Think Partnership, Inc [www.ThinkPartnership.com](http://www.ThinkPartnership.com) Amex ticker symbol: THK On 12/15/06, Raphael B. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > #TermTest:0xb75a11f0 > from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/testsuite.rb:34:in `run' from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/ui/testrunnerutilities.rb:29:in `run’ > > > ``` > > maison = Term.find_by_term('maison') > > > > ``` > > > > Raph > > – > Web database: [http://www.myowndb.com](http://www.myowndb.com) > Free Software Developers Meeting: [http://www.fosdem.org](http://www.fosdem.org) > > > – ---
**Author:** ![raphael\_b](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/r/7c8e57/32.png) [@raphael\_b](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/raphael_b)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/breakpoint-prefered-way-to-debug/79489/5 "2006-12-16T16:53:44Z")
On 12/15/06, Ed Hickey [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote: > type @m to see the value… > dumb, but it works. i only do this if i need to _do_ something with > the variable other than see it’s value. otherwise, a puts works ok. I’ll do that too then. I hoped there was a way to have access to local variables. Is there a reason why it has no more access to local variables? Thanks Raph > > NameError: undefined local variable or method `maison' for from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/testcase.rb:78:in `run’ > > from /usr/lib/ruby/1.8/test/unit/ui/console/testrunner.rb:41:in `start’ > > > > > def test\_add\_translations > > > ruby-debug? > > – > > > – Web database: [http://www.myowndb.com](http://www.myowndb.com) Free Software Developers Meeting: [http://www.fosdem.org](http://www.fosdem.org)