debug library code in python

Debugging library code is important when you are trying to figure out why a library is not working the way you expect. Here are some steps to guide you through the process:

  1. First, check the library documentation to see if there are any built-in debugging tools available. Some libraries may have an option to enable verbose output or provide logging functionality that can help you identify the issue.

  2. If the library doesn't provide built-in debugging tools, try using Python's built-in trace module. This module allows you to trace the execution of a program and see what functions are being called, what arguments are being passed, and what values are being returned. Here's an example of how to use the trace module to debug a library:

main.py
import trace

tracer = trace.Trace(
    ignoredirs=[sys.prefix, sys.exec_prefix],
    trace=1,
    count=0
)

# call the library code you want to debug here
# ...

# stop the tracer and print the results
results = tracer.results()
results.write_results(show_missing=True, coverdir='/tmp')
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This will print out a report of all the functions that were called during the execution of the library code, as well as any lines of code that were not executed. You can use this information to identify potential issues in the library.

  1. If neither of these options work, you may need to manually step through the library code using a debugger like pdb or ipdb. This can be time-consuming and requires a good understanding of the library code, but it can be a powerful tool for identifying complex issues.

Overall, debugging library code in Python can be challenging, but with a bit of patience and the right tools, you can identify and fix issues and get your code working as expected.

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