Re: RFC: debugger_trainer

[roboticus]

ww:

That's a great idea. I would've loved something like that when I started. I like the idea of having print statements suggesting debugging operations to try, too. It would be interesting to guide a user through some basic debugging operations. It would also be nifty if it was extensible, so when someone has a debug trick they like, they could add a small script showing how to perform the trick.

...roboticus

When your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like your thumb.

[ww]

"it was extensible...."

Extensible, as in a suite of scripts -- each focusing on a few areas? I'm not sure that's what you had in mind, but if so, sounds like a very good idea.

FOSS lives!

[roboticus]

ww:

Yep. I was thinking that there might be a set of functions that many/most debug trainer scripts might want. Hopefully it would then be possible to do include it, set up a data structure or two and a few print statements or something. I was thinking it would be nice if you'd run a script, and it would start out telling you what it was going to show you, do a little setup and then present the debug prompt. (Perhaps using the @DB::typeahead buffer to get the program running before the user had to guess what to do.)

Of course, I may be over-thinking it, too. It might just be as simple as a few print statements containing instructions and a CPAN bundle and/or namespace to put 'em.

I don't use the debugger much, and when I do, it's just for a few simple things. I don't know everything it's capable of. I used to use Microsoft's CodeView, and learned a lot about it. It was surprisingly capable. It will be interesting to see what techniques might get published.

...roboticus

When your only tool is a hammer, all problems look like your thumb.