# Ruby Debugger **URL:** \ **Category:** Ruby\ **Created:** [April 9, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-debugger/134218 "2008-04-09T01:03:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samrus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-debugger/134218/1 "2008-04-09T01:03:31Z")
Before I start I’d like to say how happy I am for finding this forum, and the mailing list. I’m very glad to find like-minded Ruby enthusiasts like you guys! Right, as you can see from the link below, I have a custom-made IDE, but it’s got a blank box that I’d like to fill with a debugging tool, but I can’t find one. I’ve searched google, but still can’t find one that provides debugging and a runtime debug log. Does anyone know of/use such a tool, and can provide me a link? Thanks. [http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7837/screenshot1pd2.png](http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/7837/screenshot1pd2.png) ---
**Author:** ![samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samrus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-debugger/134218/2 "2008-04-09T01:26:16Z")
Thank you, I’m now looking into ZenTest. On Wed, Apr 9, 2008 at 12:14 AM, Phillip G. \< ---
**Author:** ![samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samrus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 1:15am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-debugger/134218/3 "2008-04-09T01:15:10Z")
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Sam Rudd wrote: | Before I start I’d like to say how happy I am for finding this forum, | and the mailing list. I’m very glad to find like-minded Ruby enthusiasts | like you guys! | | Right, as you can see from the link below, I have a custom-made IDE, but | it’s got a blank box that I’d like to fill with a debugging tool, but I | can’t find one. I’ve searched google, but still can’t find one that | provides debugging and a runtime debug log. Does anyone know of/use such | a tool, and can provide me a link? While not technically a debugger, you could run autotest in that spot. (ZenTest is the gem providing it, IIRC). IME, tests and the Ruby stack trace (once you know where to look at), together with liberally sprinkled puts statements is more useful than a debugger. YMMV, though. * * * Phillip G. Twitter: [twitter.com/cynicalryan](http://twitter.com/cynicalryan) ~ My behaviour is addictive functioning in a disease process of toxic co-dependency. I need holistic healing and wellness before I’ll accept any responsibility for my actions. – Calvin -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.8 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - [http://enigmail.mozdev.org](http://enigmail.mozdev.org) iEYEARECAAYFAkf7/HQACgkQbtAgaoJTgL9TgACfZjkPVFddZN0i/FeNw7n+o90f 4X0An2rD5xbyKNUQWTrqwv4mKp71Pdf5 =hiJA -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ---
**Author:** ![samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samrus)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 7:27pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-debugger/134218/4 "2008-04-10T19:27:30Z")
I’m looking into ruby-debug, thanks. I’ll keep the debug window open, but once I get good enough at Ruby to make decent programs, I’ll test as I go using the built in tests. Sorry if this posts twice, it keeps doing that for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samrus)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-debugger/134218/5 "2008-04-09T22:40:42Z")
Sam Rudd wrote: > > | Before I start I’d like to say how happy I am for finding this forum, > > While not technically a debugger, you could run autotest in that spot. > > Twitter: [twitter.com/cynicalryan](http://twitter.com/cynicalryan) > > =hiJA > > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- I think you really also ought to look hard at ruby-debug. It’s extremely useful, in my estimation. Zentest isn’t quite the same approach to coding errors, of course, but is still outstanding. Finally, as a third, and possibly best approach of all, do check out [rspec.rubyforge.org](http://rspec.rubyforge.org). I’m exploring all of these currently, and finding them all very much worth my time. Tom – ```auto Tom C., MS MA, LMHC Private practice Psychotherapist Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A: (360) 920-1226 << removed_email_address@domain.invalid >> (email) << TomCloyd.com >> (website & psychotherapy weblog) << sleightmind.wordpress.com >> (mental health issues weblog) << directpathdesign.com >> (web site design & consultation) ``` ---
**Author:** ![samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samrus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2008, 5:46am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-debugger/134218/6 "2008-04-11T05:46:23Z")
Phillip G. wrote: > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- > Hash: SHA1 > > Sam Rudd wrote: > | I’m looking into ruby-debug, thanks. I’ll keep the debug window open, but > | once I get good enough at Ruby to make decent programs, I’ll test as I go > | using the built in tests. > > You should use TDD from the start. It is a good habit to get into, and > it helps thinking about what you want to do, too. > > I used to work without tests, and quickly learned my lesson. Now, if I > change something in my code base, errors get caught before I embarrass > myself in public. 😛 > > I think that a debugger, for a languages like Ruby, is not really > useful. YMMV, though. > > * * * > > Phillip G. > Twitter: [twitter.com/cynicalryan](http://twitter.com/cynicalryan) > > ~ I’m killing time while I wait for life to shower me with meaning and > happiness. – Calvin > -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- > Version: GnuPG v1.4.8 (MingW32) > Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - [http://enigmail.mozdev.org](http://enigmail.mozdev.org) > > iEYEARECAAYFAkf+UEUACgkQbtAgaoJTgL+64wCbBmdUVM9xaVKzzchvvhkIGNhM > 93UAn01wiVpy/1tziG0gQ0VuMePSZyCC > =aS+v > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- up visit a rubyonrails website :[http://www.rorchina.net](http://www.rorchina.net) wolf union program club :[http://wolf.rorchina.net](http://wolf.rorchina.net) China Rubyonrails club: [http://bbs.rorchina.net](http://bbs.rorchina.net) ---
**Author:** ![samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samrus)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2008, 7:37pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-debugger/134218/7 "2008-04-10T19:37:37Z")
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1 Sam Rudd wrote: | I’m looking into ruby-debug, thanks. I’ll keep the debug window open, but | once I get good enough at Ruby to make decent programs, I’ll test as I go | using the built in tests. You should use TDD from the start. It is a good habit to get into, and it helps thinking about what you want to do, too. I used to work without tests, and quickly learned my lesson. Now, if I change something in my code base, errors get caught before I embarrass myself in public. 😛 I think that a debugger, for a languages like Ruby, is not really useful. YMMV, though. * * * Phillip G. Twitter: [twitter.com/cynicalryan](http://twitter.com/cynicalryan) ~ I’m killing time while I wait for life to shower me with meaning and happiness. – Calvin -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: GnuPG v1.4.8 (MingW32) Comment: Using GnuPG with Mozilla - [http://enigmail.mozdev.org](http://enigmail.mozdev.org) iEYEARECAAYFAkf+UEUACgkQbtAgaoJTgL+64wCbBmdUVM9xaVKzzchvvhkIGNhM 93UAn01wiVpy/1tziG0gQ0VuMePSZyCC =aS+v -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- ---
**Author:** ![samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@samrus](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/samrus)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2008, 6:24am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/ruby-debugger/134218/8 "2008-04-12T06:24:50Z")
Phillip G. wrote: > You should use TDD from the start. It is a good habit to get into, and > Phillip G. > =aS+v > -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- I appreciate your point of view, Phillip. I was excited to work with ruby-debug, and I’m moving rapidly on to look at ZenTest and especially at rspec. I’m predicting to myself that I’m going to end up with the point of view you’ve just expressed. We’ll see. t. – ```auto Tom C., MS MA, LMHC Private practice Psychotherapist Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A: (360) 920-1226 << removed_email_address@domain.invalid >> (email) << TomCloyd.com >> (website & psychotherapy weblog) << sleightmind.wordpress.com >> (mental health issues weblog) << directpathdesign.com >> (web site design & consultation) ```