If stepping through a program line-by-line takes too long, you can use breakpoints to pause execution at a specific point. The program runs normally until it reaches a breakpoint, where it pauses and allows you to inspect the state.
Set a breakpoint near where you suspect the origin of an error.
How to Set a Breakpoint:
- Place the cursor on the line where you want the program to pause.
- Select Debug > Toggle Breakpoint from the menu or press F9.
- A breakpoint is set on the current line.
Running with Breakpoints:
- Start the program by pressing F5 (Run).
- Execution continues until the program reaches the breakpoint and pauses before executing that line.
- From this point, you can resume stepping through the code line-by-line using F8, and inspect variable values as previously described.
Managing Breakpoints:
- You can set multiple breakpoints in your code.
- To remove a breakpoint, place the cursor on its line and press F9 again.
- You can also remove all breakpoints at once via Debug > Delete All Breakpoints.
- Alternatively, click in the gray margin (gutter) to the left of the code line to toggle a breakpoint on or off.