Re: [Caml-list] Do you use a debugger with OCaml? If not, why not?

["David MENTRÉ" <dmentre@linux-france.org>]

Hello,

Le 2015-11-25 13:49, John Whitington a écrit :
> What do you use for debugging small and large OCaml programs?

Mostly Printf and exception backtraces.

> If not a debugger, why not? What problems prevent it? 

Mainly for following reasons:

 1. No support for native code;

 2. UI was unclear to me: difficult to see where I was and where was set
a breakpoint;

 3. Going in the past is a nice idea but does not interact well with I/O
code like networking;

 4. Inability to print immediately your own defined types;

 5. Lack of use vicious circle: when you really need a debugger, your
are not willing to learn a new tool. When your are willing to learn a
new tool, you don't really want to learn a debugger. ;-)

It's a long time that I haven't used the debugger so those reasons might
be not accurate or outdated. :-)


> How does your debugging
> process differ when writing OCaml compared with other languages you use?

I'm using a lot printfs and backtraces in other languages. Probably to
much. :-)

I systematically use the debugger for C language for segfault related
issues, you can hardly use another tool.

Best regards,
david