When I (@aman_narwariya_eb7206ce0d) started my journey as a junior developer after completing my MCA, I thought writing code was the most important skill.
I was wrong.
Very quickly, I realised something:
Writing code is easy. Debugging broken code is a real skill.
Here’s how I improved my debugging skills over time – and what actually helped me grow.
1. I Stopped Guessing and Started Reproducing the Bug
In the beginning, whenever I saw an error, I immediately started changing code randomly.
That made things worse.
Then I learned the first rule of debugging:
Always reproduce the issue consistently before fixing it.
Now I follow this process:
Understand the exact issue
Identify steps to reproduce
Check logs and error messages
Confirm the issue happens consistently
Once you can reproduce a bug, you’re halfway to solving it.
2. I Learned to Read Error Messages Properly
Earlier, I used to panic when I saw long error stacks.
Now I:
Read the error message carefully
Identify the file and line number
Trace the function call
Most bugs already tell you what’s wrong — you just need to read carefully.
3. I Used Console Logging Strategically
Instead of randomly adding logs everywhere, I learnt to log smartly.
For example:
I place logs:
Before a function runs
After receiving API responses
Before returning values
This helps me trace the exact flow of execution.
4. I Started Using Browser DevTools Effectively
For frontend debugging, browser tools became my best friend.
I use:
Network tab: to check API calls
Console → To test small snippets
Sources → To debug step by step
Application tab → To check local storage & tokens
Understanding DevTools drastically improved my debugging speed.
5. I Learned to Understand the Codebase Structure
As a junior developer, I struggled with large existing projects.
Then I started:
Mapping folder structure
Identifying entry points
Following the data flow from frontend to backend
Instead of fixing one file, I began understanding the system.
That changed everything.
6. I Used Breakpoints Instead of Guesswork
Using breakpoints helped me:
Pause execution
Inspect variable values
Step through code line by line
This reduced random fixes and improved accuracy.
7. I improved my Google & Stack Overflow skills.
Debugging is not about knowing everything.
It’s about knowing how to search effectively.
Instead of searching:
“Code not working.”
I search:
“TypeError: Cannot read property ‘map’ of undefined in React.”
Being specific saves time.
8. I Reviewed My Own Bugs
After fixing an issue, I started asking:
Why did this happen?
Could this have been avoided?
How can I prevent similar bugs?
This reflection helped me improve long-term.
The Mindset Shift That Helped Me Most
Earlier, I feared bugs.
Now I see bugs as:
Learning opportunities
Logic improvement exercises
Experience builders
Every solved bug increases confidence.
As a junior developer, improving my debugging skills gave me more confidence than learning new frameworks.
Because frameworks change.
But problem-solving and debugging stay forever.
If you're just starting out:
Don’t fear bugs.
Learn from them.
Master them.
That’s when real growth begins.
Top comments (0)