Automatically Launch the Python Debugger on Errors: Boost Your Debugging Efficiency

ipdb is an enhanced version of the built-in debugger pdb that offers additional features. To use it:

• Install: pip install ipdb
• Run with debugging: python -m ipdb your_script.py

If your script encounters an error, it will automatically drop you into the ipdb interface, allowing you to inspect variables and step through the code.

Example:

def divide(a, b):
  return a / b

try:
  result = divide(10, 0)
except ZeroDivisionError:
  pass  # Intentionally omitting handling for demonstration

# Running: python -m ipdb your_script.py

In this example, the script will raise a ZeroDivisionError, and ipdb will launch, allowing you to examine the variables and understand the cause of the error.

The pdb module provides a function called post_mortem that can be used to launch the debugger after an error has occurred. You can use this within your except block:

import pdb

def divide(a, b):
  return a / b

try:
  result = divide(10, 0)
except ZeroDivisionError:
  pdb.post_mortem()  # Launch debugger on error

This approach is useful if you want to handle specific errors gracefully but still want to debug unexpected errors.

Note: These methods only work when running your script from the command line. For interactive debugging within an IDE like PyCharm or Visual Studio Code, refer to their specific documentation.

• Stepping over exceptions: If you want to automatically continue execution after encountering an error without entering the debugger, you can use the c (continue) command in pdb.
• Conditional debugging: You can use pdb.set_trace() to set breakpoints at specific points in your code, allowing you to launch the debugger only when that line is reached.

By understanding these methods, you can streamline your debugging process and efficiently identify and resolve errors in your Python code.