Debugging
Techniques and best practices for debugging plugins and handling errors in your language module development process.
Debugging Go plugins in Plugify involves using tools like Delve, the Go debugger, to inspect and troubleshoot your code. This guide provides an overview of how to debug Go plugins and directs you to external resources for detailed instructions.
Prerequisites
Before debugging your Go plugins, ensure you have the following:
- Go (version 1.20 or later) installed and configured.
- Delve (the Go debugger) installed. You can install it using:
- Plugify Core Library (built and available).
- Go Language Module (`plugify-module-golang`) installed and configured.
- A Go plugin to debug.
Debugging Go Plugins
Debugging Go plugins involves using Delve to attach to the running Plugify process and set breakpoints in your Go code. Below are the general steps to debug Go plugins:
Set Up Your Development Environment
- Ensure your Go plugin is built in Debug mode.
- Open your Go plugin project in your preferred IDE or text editor (e.g., VS Code).
Launch Plugify with Debugging Enabled
- Start Plugify with your Go plugin loaded.
- Ensure the Go plugin is properly initialized and running.
Attach Delve to Plugify
- Use Delve to attach to the Plugify process:
Replace<Plugify-PID>with the process ID of Plugify. - Alternatively, you can start Plugify with Delve directly:
Set Breakpoints
- Open the Go source files for your plugin.
- Set breakpoints in your code by adding the following line where you want to pause execution:
- Alternatively, use your IDE's debugging interface to set breakpoints.
Debug Your Plugin
- Trigger the functionality in your plugin that you want to debug.
- The debugger will pause execution at your breakpoints, allowing you to inspect variables, step through code, and analyze the call stack.
Detailed Debugging Guide
For a comprehensive step-by-step guide on debugging Go applications, refer to the official Go debugging documentation:
Common Debugging Scenarios
1. Plugin Crashes
- Check the Plugify logs for error messages.
- Use Delve to identify the exact line of code causing the crash.
- Inspect variables and memory to diagnose the issue.
2. Plugin Not Loading
- Verify that the plugin is compiled correctly and placed in the correct directory.
- Check for missing dependencies or incompatible versions.
- Use Delve to step through the plugin initialization code.
3. Unexpected Behavior
- Set breakpoints in the relevant functions to trace the flow of execution.
- Inspect variable values to identify discrepancies.
- Use conditional breakpoints to debug specific scenarios.
Advanced Debugging Tips
1. Use Logging
- Add logging statements to your Go plugin code to track execution flow and variable values.
- Use Plugify's built-in logging system to output messages to the console or log files.
2. Debugging Goroutines
- Use Delve's
goroutinescommand to list all active goroutines. - Inspect the state of each goroutine to identify potential issues.
3. Debugging Race Conditions
- Use the Go race detector to identify race conditions:
- Use Delve to debug the problematic sections of code.
Troubleshooting
1. Debugger Not Attaching
- Ensure Plugify is running and the plugin is loaded.
- Verify that Delve is installed and configured correctly.
2. Breakpoints Not Hit
- Ensure the Go plugin code matches the compiled binary.
- Rebuild the plugin and restart Plugify.
3. Debugger Crashes
- Update Delve to the latest version.
- Ensure all dependencies are compatible with your development environment.
For more advanced debugging techniques and tools, refer to the Delve Documentation.