Home > Articles > Programming > Java

Debugging Java Applications

The Java NetBeans IDE has plenty of support for troubleshooting and optimizing applications. Its built-in debugging support allows you to step through your code incrementally and monitor aspects of the running application, such as values of variables, the current sequence of method calls, the status of different threads, and the creation of objects. In this sample book chapter, you'll learn about NetBeans debugging features, so you can get your code working right as fast as possible.
This chapter is from the book
  • Starting a Debugging Session
  • Attaching the Debugger to a Running Application
  • Starting the Debugger Outside of the Project's Main Class
  • Stepping Through Code
  • Setting Breakpoints
  • Managing Breakpoints
  • Customizing Breakpoint Behavior
  • Monitoring Variables and Expressions
  • Backing Up from a Method to Its Call
  • Monitoring and Controlling Execution of Threads
  • Fixing Code During a Debugging Session
  • Viewing Multiple Debugger Windows Simultaneously

NETBEANS IDE PROVIDES A RICH ENVIRONMENT for troubleshooting and optimizing your applications. Built-in debugging support allows you to step through your code incrementally and monitor aspects of the running application, such as values of variables, the current sequence of method calls, the status of different threads, and the creation of objects.

When using the IDE's debugger, there is no reason for you to litter your code with System.out.println statements to diagnose any problems that occur in your application. Instead, you can use the debugger to designate points of interest in your code with breakpoints (which are stored in the IDE, not in your code), pause your program at those breakpoints, and use the various debugging windows to evaluate the state of the running program.

In addition, you can change code while debugging and dynamically reload the class in the debugger without having to restart the debugging session.

Following are some of the things that you can do within the IDE's debugger:

  • Step through application code line by line.
  • Step through JDK source code.
  • Execute specific chunks of code (using breakpoints as delimiters).
  • Suspend execution when a condition that you have specified is met (such as when an iterator reaches a certain value).
  • Suspend execution at an exception, either at the line of code that causes the exception or in the exception itself.
  • Track the value of a variable or expression.
  • Track the object referenced by a variable (fixed watch).
  • Fix code on the fly and continue the debugging session with the Apply Code Changes command.
  • Suspend threads individually or collectively.
  • Step back to the beginning of a previously called method (pop a call) in the current call stack.
  • Run multiple debugging sessions at the same time. For example, you might need this capability to debug a client-server application.

Starting a Debugging Session

The simplest way to start using the debugger is to choose Run | Step Into. The program counter (marked by green background highlighting and the arrowkey.gif icon, as shown in Figure 5-1) stops one line into the main method of your main project.

05fig01.gif

Figure 5-1 A suspended program with the green program counter showing the next line to be executed

You can then step through your code incrementally with any of the Step commands to observe the program flow and monitor the evolving values of variables in the Local Variables window. See Stepping Through Code later in this chapter for a description of all of the Step commands and the ensuing topics for information on how to take advantage of the debugger's capabilities.

More likely, you will want to start stepping through code at some point after the start of the main method. In this case, you can specify some point in the program where you want to suspend the debugged execution initially and then start the debugger. To do this:

  1. Set a line breakpoint in your main project by opening a class in the Source Editor and clicking in the left margin next to the line where you want to set the breakpoint (or by pressing Ctrl-F8).

    You know that the breakpoint has been set when the pink breakpoint.gif glyph appears in the margin and the line has pink background highlighting (as shown in Figure 5-2).

    05fig02.gif

    Figure 5-2 Code in the Source Editor with a debugger breakpoint set

  2. Press F5 to start debugging the main project.

When the execution of the program stops at the breakpoint (which you can see when the pink breakpoint highlight is replaced by the green highlight of the program counter), you can step through the code line by line while viewing the status of variables, threads, and other information.

See the ensuing topics for details on stepping and viewing program information.

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Overview


Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information


To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information


Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security


Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children


This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing


Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

  • Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
  • Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
  • Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
  • Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information


If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out


Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information


Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents


California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure


Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

  • As required by law.
  • With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
  • In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
  • To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
  • In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
  • To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
  • To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
  • To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
  • To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links


This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact


Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice


We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020