Debugging Techniques Used by Experienced Programmers to Debug Their Own Code.

摘要

The present research examines professional programmers' attitudes toward interactive debuggers and studies the techniques they use in debugging their own code. Professional programmers were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their use and evaluation of debuggers. The programmers were then asked to code and debug three programming tasks. Protocol data, videotapes, and intermediate versions of the source code were used to analyze debugging techniques. The results suggest that available debuggers meet programmers' functional requirements, but the presentation of the debuggers needs to be improved. Implications for future debugger development are discussed. (KR)