Programming debugging hacks that work when you're stuck

[Mia95]

We've all been there - staring at code for hours trying to find a bug. What programming debugging hacks do you use when you're completely stuck? I'm looking for those unconventional approaches that often reveal the problem when traditional debugging fails.

[Anthony.J]

When I'm stuck debugging, I use the binary search" method. Comment out half the code. If the bug disappears, it's in that half. If not, it's in the other half. Keep halving until you find it. Sounds simple but it's incredibly effective for isolating weird bugs. Another programming debugging hack: add logging that shows the actual data flow, not just "got here" messages.

[Joseph.J]

Teach someone else. Seriously, when I'm completely stuck, I'll message a colleague and say hey, can I explain this problem to you?" 80% of the time, I figure it out while explaining. The other 20%, they spot something obvious I missed. If no one's available, write an email or forum post explaining the issue in detail - same effect.

[Amelia73]

Change your environment. If you've been staring at the same code for hours, go for a walk, take a shower, work on something else. Your subconscious keeps working on the problem. I've solved more bugs in the shower than at my desk. Also, try explaining the problem to a non-programmer using simple analogies - forces you to strip away technical details.