Interactive notebook interface that connects to your debug sessions - Debug your code like never before with the power of notebooks!
What is Debug Notebook?
Debug Notebook brings the interactive power of notebooks to your debugging workflow. Instead of just using the debug console, you can now use a full notebook interface that connects automatically to any active debug session.
🚀 Key Features
Automatic Debug Connection: Start debugging and open a notebook - it connects automatically!
Interactive Exploration: Use cells to inspect variables, test fixes, and call functions
Persistent Sessions: Save your debugging sessions for future reference
Multi-Language Support: Works with Python and JavaScript debugging
Familiar Interface: If you've used Jupyter notebooks, you'll feel right at home
Getting Started
Installation
Install from VS Code Marketplace (search for "Debug Notebook")
Make sure you have the Python extension installed (for Python debugging)
That's it! You're ready to start debugging with notebooks
Quick Tutorial
Start Debugging
Set a breakpoint in your code
Press F5 to start debugging
When paused at the breakpoint, create a new Debug Notebook
Create a Debug Notebook
Use Command Palette: Debug Notebook: New Debug Notebook
Or create a file with .dnb extension
Write and Run Cells
# Inspect the current state
print(locals()) # See all variables
# Modify variables
x = x * 2
# Test functions
result = problematic_function(x, y)
# Experiment with fixes
data = clean_data(data)
Save Your Work
Save the notebook to document your debugging process
Share with teammates to explain issues and solutions
Why Debug Notebook?
Traditional Debugging vs Debug Notebook
Traditional Debug Console
Debug Notebook
One command at a time
Multiple cells with persistent output
No history after closing
Save debugging sessions
Hard to document process
Built-in documentation
Limited experimentation
Easy to test multiple approaches
Perfect For:
Complex Debugging: Test multiple hypotheses without changing source code
Teaching: Document debugging techniques for education
Team Collaboration: Share debugging sessions with teammates
Bug Investigation: Keep a record of what you tried and what worked
Learning: See how variables change in real-time
Usage Examples
Python Debugging Session
# Cell 1: Inspect the bug
print(f"Current value of user_data: {user_data}")
print(f"Exception occurred at: {e}")
# Cell 2: Test a fix
try:
fixed_data = clean_user_data(user_data)
process_user(fixed_data)
print("Fix works!")
except Exception as e:
print(f"Still failing: {e}")
# Cell 3: Explore alternative approach
from alternative_lib import better_processor
result = better_processor(user_data)
print(f"Alternative result: {result}")
JavaScript Debugging Session
// Cell 1: Check current state
console.log('Current array:', problematicArray);
console.log('Item count:', problematicArray.length);
// Cell 2: Test array manipulation
const filtered = problematicArray.filter(item => item.valid);
console.log('Filtered items:', filtered);
// Cell 3: Fix and verify
problematicArray = filtered;
processArray(problematicArray);
console.log('Processing successful!');
Tips and Tricks
Use Markdown Cells: Document your investigation process
Save Frequently: Keep your debugging sessions for future reference
Keyboard Shortcuts: Shift+Enter to run cell and move to next
Clear Output: Use "Clear All Outputs" to clean up
Multiple Sessions: Run separate debug sessions for different issues
Troubleshooting
Common Issues
"No active debug session"
Make sure you've started debugging first (F5)
Check that the debugger is paused at a breakpoint
Cells not running
Verify the kernel is selected (Debug Console Kernel)
Check that appropriate debug extension is installed
