We know that JavaScript is used extensively by developers for web development. In fact stack overflow in its 2023 survey for developers showed it to be the most popular among engineers, making JavaScript debugging tools indispensable.
You can rely on JavaScript debugging tools to identify errors, debug, and manage them. They play a pivotal role in reducing your error resolution time, making sure your customers stay happy. In this blog we will cover some sought after JavaScript debugging tools, along with their features and pricing.
What are Javascript debugging tools
JavaScript debugging tools are must-have tools for developers. They help find and fix mistakes and glitches in your JavaScript code. JavaScript is known for its dynamic and loosely typed nature and hence it is more prone to errors (both syntactical and logical) which creates the need for debugging tools.
When working with JavaScript, you will encounter scenarios where your code doesn't behave as expected. Thankfully, a wide range of JavaScript debugging tools are at your disposal. These tools empower developers to identify, diagnose, and resolve issues promptly which makes the debugging process quicker and easier. Depending on your specific needs and project requirements you can choose from a variety of debugging tools. All of these tools offer a common benefit: saving you time during the debugging phase.
This blog discusses the top 10 javascript debugging tools available for developers helping them in the debugging process and solving errors in no time. These tools include browser DevTools for front-end development to integrated solutions like Zipy and SessionStack providing real-time error tracking and user behavior insights making debugging easier and faster.
*Benefits of using javascript debugging tools *
There are many good reasons to use JavaScript debugging tools in your development process. These tools serve as helpers which aid developers in creating error-free and robust code. Benefits of using these essential tools:
1. Swift issue detection: JavaScript debugging tools swiftly point out issues within your code. So that you can focus on resolving them, not waste time finding them.
2. Reduced error risk: By catching errors early in the development phase these tools reduce some potential bugs. This ensures that your code remains stable and works as expected.
3. Enhanced code quality: Debugging tools help create well-structured code that is easily maintainable and hence the development process is pretty efficient. [Link to code formatter article]
4. Time and effort savings: The time saved by using debugging tools is invaluable. You can focus on writing code, rather than struggling with error identification and resolution. This efficiency accelerates your development timeline.
Javascript debugging tools
1.Zipy
Zipy is a unified platform that aims to transform how developers approach debugging and monitoring. It simplifies the complicated procedure of identifying and resolving issues in your software by its debugging and monitoring tools. This all-in-one solution is the key to more efficient and productive development workflows.
Benefits and features:
- Unified platform for debugging: Try all in one debugging and monitoring tool so that you don't have to jump between different ones which ultimately saves you time and effort.
- User session recording: See how your users are behaving on your app with the session replay tool. Track how they are navigating, where they are clicking, and what blockers they are facing.
- Real user monitoring: Monitor users in real-time to identify if there is any issue that your users are facing. Zipy also gives you insights into user behavior and so that you can spot and solve issues before they put a bigger impact on your application.
- AI assistance: You can resolve JavaScript issues faster with AI assistance and ensure faster fixes, and happier customers.
- Monitor API performance: Track API performance including latency and errors and get suggestions on how to fix these issues.
- Advanced dev tools: Get access to console logs, network logs, and stack traces, and break down what’s going on at the code level.
How developers use Zipy:
Developers across the spectrum are harnessing the power of Zipy to:
- Track live users: You can see how customers are using your application in live sessions. In case of customer issues, this helps developers break down the steps a user has taken.
- Uncover JS errors: Find and fix JavaScript errors in your application code, with log details, source code, and user environment.
- Fixing API errors: Find and solve issues with 4xx and 5xx API errors within your application. Detailed network logs and error dashboards ensure that you have the information you need to resolve these problems.
- Click events: Track where users are clicking without code. This helps segment users and estimate the impact of errors.
Furthermore, if you are already using any of the JavaScript debugging tools on your site see how you can use Zipy with it to accelerate your resolution pace. Checkout Zipy integrations.
2. JS Bin
JS Bin is one of the useful JavaScript debugging tools designed for developers working with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It gives them the opportunity to test and debug their code snippets in a real-world setting. The fact that this tool is open-source is fantastic.
This tool, which you can easily access on the JS Bin website, is quite innovative as it allows you to debug and collaborate on your code in real time. JS Bin facilitates faster and more efficient work for developers with its simple interface and live code display.
Benefits and features:
1. Real-Time Collaboration: JS Bin stands out as one of the best JavaScript collaborative debugging tools, allowing developers to test and debug scripts in real time alongside others. You and your collaborators can see changes and output instantly in the output panel as you make changes in the editor.
2. JavaScript Linting: JS Bin offers JavaScript linting that helps you maintain clean and error-free code.
3. Remote Rendering: See your JS Bin's output on any platform or device, with real-time updates that increase flexibility and accessibility.
4. Custom Templates: With JS Bin's support for custom templates, developers can customize their workspace to suit their tastes.
5. Drag and Drop Editing: Simplify your workflow with the ability to drag and drop code which makes code manipulation a breeze.
6. CodeCast: With CodeCast you can allow others to see what you're typing in JS in real time.
How developers use JS Bin:
Developers use JS Bin to streamline the process of testing and debugging JavaScript, HTML, and CSS code. You can write, run, and debug your code directly in your browser so no need to set up an entire development environment. Here's how you can benefit from JS Bin:
1. Isolated testing: Before you test a piece of your JavaScript code, try it out separately in JS Bin to make sure it won't mess up the rest of your application.
2. Real-time feedback: Witness immediate results as you make changes to your JavaScript, HTML, or CSS, with real-time code visualization.
3. Collaboration: Collaborate with team members or peers in real time, allowing them to view and contribute to your coding process.
3. ESLint
ESLint is an open-source JavaScript linting utility designed to statically analyze your code and help you catch errors, bugs, stylistic issues, and suspicious constructs. Unlike other debugging tools, ESLint primarily focuses on code quality and coding style, ensuring that your codebase remains consistent and free from potential bugs. With ESLint, you can identify issues before executing your code, saving you time and effort in the debugging process.
Benefits and features:
1. Syntax error detection: ESLint analyzes your code thoroughly to detect errors in the way it is written. These errors may cause issues when your code is running.
2. Coding style violations: This ensures that your code follows the correct style rules and maintains an organized look throughout the project, in agreement with best practices.
3. Bug detection: ESLint can also spot potential issues in complicated code and provide solutions to help prevent issues in the future.
4. Auto-fixing: Most of the issues found by ESLint can be resolved automatically, saving you time and reducing the possibility of new errors.
5. Customizability: With ESLint, developers can create guidelines and plugins, tailoring the tool to their project's requirements.
6. Integration: It seamlessly integrates with popular IDEs and code editors, making it accessible to a wide range of developers.
7. Pluggable: ESLint is highly modular, allowing you to enable, disable, or configure individual rules to match your project requirements.
How developers use it:
Developers use ESLint by first integrating it into their development environment. ESLint is available as a Node package, making it easy to set up in your project. Many popular code editors, such as Sublime Text 3 and VS Code, include the ESLint plugins which offer real-time feedback on the quality of code. ESLint checks your code for errors, makes suggestions for enhancements, and even resolves certain issues.
In addition, ESLint is one of the javascript debugging tools that gives developers the freedom to customize rules and plugins according to the unique needs of the project.
4. Sentry
Sentry stands as a robust open-source tool for keeping an eye on errors in real-time and digging into issues across a range of programming languages. It's a robust platform that gathers errors and adds essential context to the stack traces, enabling developers to effectively prioritize and solve critical business issues.
Benefits and features:
1. Tracking bugs and errors: Sentry's main objective is to track and monitor errors and bugs in real-time, offering developers immediate insight into what is causing issues in their applications.
2. Performance monitoring: Sentry goes beyond error tracking by offering powerful tools to track how well things are going. Thus, developers are able to quickly detect issues which improves productivity and makes users happy.
3. Log data insights: Using Sentry, developers get a peek at log data insights, helping them spot and understand issues more effectively.
4. Breadcrumbs: Sentry follows a trail of events, just like breadcrumbs, helping developers see the path an error took through their application.
5. Integration friendly: Sentry fits seamlessly into your existing development tools which makes it a versatile and smooth addition to your workflow.
How developer use sentry:
Sentry is the good choice for developers working on complex projects that demand real-time error tracking and debugging. It's also highly beneficial for teams dealing with various programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, Java, PHP, Ruby, and more. Developers use Sentry to identify, prioritize, and resolve errors in real time. Its intuitive interfaces and integrations make it a valuable asset for both individual developers and large teams, ensuring that applications run smoothly and efficiently.
However if you want to explore Sentry alternatives there are some good tools as well, out there.
5. Raygun
Raygun is a cloud-based platform that makes sure your web and mobile applications are free of errors, as well as your users are satisfied. It specializes in JavaScript error monitoring and offers a wide range of features to help you easily detect and fix issues.
Benefits and features
1. Real-time code-level insights: Raygun offers developers real-time code-level insights, allowing them to spot errors as they occur. This feature is crucial for making sure your application runs smoothly with no difficulties.
2. Quick identification and resolution: Raygun does a lot more than just detect errors; it also assists you in fixing them very quickly. Prioritize issues as well as fix them before they impact end users to guarantee a smooth experience.
3. Full visibility into the tech stack: With Raygun, you get a comprehensive view of your entire tech stack. This means you won't need to sift through endless logs. You can quickly understand the root cause of errors and crashes.
4. Ease of use: Raygun is simple to use, and setting it up is fast. You don't need to be a debugging guru to get the most out of it.
5. Real-time deployment monitoring: Keep a close eye on your deployments with real-time monitoring. This means any errors that pop up during deployments can be fixed right away.
6. Supports integrations: Raygun cooperates smoothly with other tools like Jira and Zendesk, making your debugging process a breeze.
7. Smart filtering options: Raygun's clever filters help you concentrate on the important stuff, making debugging a more efficient task.
How developers use It:
Developers can effortlessly integrate Raygun into their workflow with just a few lines of code. Once integrated, Raygun starts providing real-time insights into your application's performance. You'll receive immediate alerts when errors are detected, allowing you to take action promptly. This is one of the javascript debugging tools that makes it easy to add contextual information, ensuring that you have all the details you need to diagnose and resolve issues effectively.
6. Rollbar
Rollbar is a real-time error tracking and monitoring tool that empowers development teams to deliver top-notch software. Its primary mission is to identify, report, and aggregate errors, exceptions, and issues in your applications as they happen, allowing developers to address them promptly. Rollbar assists developers in maintaining the best quality of software throughout the development process by offering detailed information as well as alerts.
Benefits and features:
Rollbar offers a multitude of benefits and features:
1. Real-time error reporting: JavaScript errors are tracked in real time, ensuring you're always aware of issues as they occur.
2. Fault aggregation: Rollbar gathers errors, offering users the entire picture of the current condition of your application.
3. Exception reporting: It identifies exceptions, making it easier to pinpoint the root cause of issues.
4. Continuous deployment monitoring: Rollbar carefully watches over your apps, so you can catch errors before they reach your users.
5. Telemetry for faster debugging: The tool provides data that helps fix client-side JavaScript errors quickly.
6. Discover: You receive real-time alerts and a live feed of all errors, keeping you informed about your application's health.
7. Prioritize: Detailed info helps you understand error impact and decide what to tackle first.
8. Automate error response: AI-powered workflows help deal with both new and recurring errors before they impact your users.
How developers use It:
1. Integration: Developers integrate Rollbar into their applications by adding the provided JavaScript snippet or using libraries available for various programming languages.
2. Monitoring: Rollbar keeps a real-time watch over your apps to catch errors, exceptions, and problems.
3. Alerts and prioritization: Developers get notifications if any issue occurs which helps them prioritize them based on their impact on users.
4. Resolution: Rollbar gives you all the necessary information about error including stack traces and monitoring data, to identify and fix the root issues behind errors
5. Automation: AI-assisted workflows assist in automating responses to errors, preventing known and unresolved issues from being shipped with applications.
7. Airbrake
Airbrake is another JavaScript debugging tool for developers as it lets them track app performance and errors.It gives you instant notifications on errors, a full description of mistakes made along with relevant tips on the performance of your app. Airbrake can be extremely beneficial irrespective of whether one develops in a specific software environment such as JavaScript, PHP, Python, Java, or any other language.
This puts Airbrake apart: it integrates seamlessly into your development process and helps you quickly recognize and fix problems.
Benefits and features:
1. Deployment tracking: It also helps you track what goes on with your deployment during CI/CD making it easy for you to identify patterns in the code quality through Airbrake.
2. Real-time error alerts: Airbrake will give you immediate updates on severe mistakes, enabling you to solve problems before affecting your customers.
3. Performance monitoring: Uncover the truth in the health of your whole app stack and learn to act on performance data for optimizing. Keep your software running smoothly.
4. Error monitoring: Airbrake provides round-the-clock monitoring of your entire application stack giving out real-time alerts either in your email box or connected chat messengers such as slack thereby enabling you to understand the source of errors immediately.
5. Integration with project management tools: Integrate Airbrake to Github, Trello, Slack, Bitbucket, Zapier and other systems used in streamlining your workflow. It is important in ensuring that all teams are in tune while at the same time managing all errors and performance problems.
6. Agentless and serverless: Unlike some other monitoring tools, Airbrake is agentless and serverless facilitating a light install and no effect to the app's performance. Resource overheads will be off your mind and you can concentrate on development.
How developers use It:
Developers use Airbrake to monitor, track, and resolve errors and performance issues in their applications. Here's how it fits into their workflow:
1. Error detection: With Airbrake, developers can have a look into the detailed error reports to figure out why error occurred in the first place which enables them to address problems rapidly and efficiently.
2. Diagnosis and resolution: Developers can delve into deep error reports to identify the root causes of errors, enabling them to fix issues quickly and efficiently.
3. Performance optimization: In addition, airbrake provides the developers with a lot detailing information about the proper operation of their program. This massive data enables them to make better decisions about the optimization of software, which makes their software run more efficiently.
4. Workflow integration: Airbrake makes it possible for all the important tools to work together with much ease. Through this, a developer can effectively solve issues that might interfere with his work or those affecting other members. The tools include GitHub, Trello and Slack.
8. Chrome & Firefox devtools
Chrome DevTools and Firefox Developer Tools are some popular browser devtools that give a developer the ability to take a look at the code and manipulate it as desired. Web developers are not able to do without these tools that give them the possibility to advance the process of code improvement and improve the quality of use.
Benefits and features:
1. Step-by-step debugging: It is very easy when you can run your code “line-by-line”, inspect some variables' values and put a “breakpoint” in the place where the error can be pointed out exactly.
2. Evaluate expressions: Evaluation of expressions within the environment of the running session will go a long way as far as variable and program checking are concerned.
3. Multi-browser debugging: Chrome DevTools and Firefox Developer Tools enable cross-browser debugging making it possible for the browsers to be consistent and working properly.
4. Function traversal: It allows developers to step inside and outside some functions so as to help locate where an error exists as well as trace their progress.
5. Real-time editing: Such tools such as those that edit in real time HTML, CSS, and JS help test different changes and see them immediately.
6. Network analysis: You can learn more about your website loading speed through network requests in Chrome DevTools or Firefox Developer Tools.
How developers use it:
Using Browser DevTools is as simple as pressing a few keys or navigating a menu:
- Press F12 or the shortcut key Ctrl+Shift+I for Chrome DevTools.
- To inspect in Firefox you do similar with any shortcut key combination or by right clicking on any web page element.
- They inspect, edit, analyze web pages, test their code on different browsers and even simulate several kinds of mobile devices for testing the responsive design.
9. GlitchTip
GlitchTip combines error tracking and uptime monitoring in one open-source package to keep you and your team fully up-to-date on the status of your projects, making it a valuable addition to the suite of JavaScript debugging tools.
Benefits and features of JavaScript debugging tools like GlitchTip:
- Open-Source Error Monitoring: GlitchTip, an open-source tool among JavaScript debugging tools, specializes in detecting, reporting, and handling web application errors and exceptions.
- Customization and Control: its open-source nature, a common feature in JavaScript debugging tools, allows developers to tailor GlitchTip according to their specific needs. You can host it internally or adjust its features as required.
- Error Aggregation and Reporting: As a part of JavaScript debugging tools, GlitchTip collects and consolidates errors from different applications. It provides valuable insights into patterns, frequency, and the impact on users.
- Integration and Collaboration: You can integrate GlitchTip with a variety of tools, fostering teamwork and simplifying the error resolution process.
How Developers Utilize GlitchTip:
1. Error Reporting and Management: Developers rely on GlitchTip to gather and manage error reports from various applications, all accessible via a centralized dashboard.
2. Customization and Control: Thanks to its open-source format, developers have the freedom to modify GlitchTip, ensuring it aligns with their infrastructure and requirements.
3. Collaborative Debugging: It offers a shared platform for error tracking, encouraging team collaboration for quick and efficient issue resolution.
4. Monitoring Application Health: By continuously tracking errors, developers use GlitchTip to assess their applications' health, spot recurring problems, and prioritize fixes for improved stability.
*10. TrackJS *
TrackJS provides real-time error monitoring for JavaScript applications, capturing errors, and providing detailed diagnostics to track, prioritize, and resolve issues. This makes it one of the leading JavaScript debugging tools.
Benefits and features of JavaScript debugging tools like TrackJS:
1. Real-time Error Monitoring: TrackJS stands out among JavaScript debugging tools for its ability to monitor JavaScript errors as they occur. This real-time capability is vital for immediate error detection. It captures comprehensive error details, including stack traces, browser specifics, and the sequence of user actions leading up to the error, which are crucial for JavaScript debugging tools.
2. Insightful Diagnostics: Beyond mere error capture, TrackJS, as a JavaScript debugging tool, delves into diagnostics. It helps you comprehend the frequency of errors, which users are most affected, and observe trends over time, which is instrumental for developers using JavaScript debugging tools.
3. Integration and Alerting: Integration is a key feature of TrackJS and other similar JavaScript debugging tools. It seamlessly meshes with various development tools and workflows, offering the flexibility to set up alerts via Slack, email, or other notification systems. This integration simplifies the process of staying informed about errors in real-time, enhancing responsiveness.
4. Performance Monitoring: TrackJS isn't limited to error tracking; it also encompasses performance monitoring, a feature beneficial for analyzing and improving the performance of your web applications. By monitoring resource usage and identifying bottlenecks, TrackJS aids in fine-tuning your application for optimal performance.
Ways Developers Use TrackJS and other JavaScript debugging tools:
1. Error Tracking and Prioritization: Developers rely on TrackJS for its real-time error monitoring capability. This tool enables them to spot critical issues as they occur, allowing for swift prioritization and resolution, crucial for maintaining application health and user satisfaction.
2. Debugging: TrackJS excels in providing detailed error reports, an invaluable aid in the debugging process. Developers can pinpoint the exact location of issues in their JavaScript code and understand the context in which these errors arise, making the debugging process much more efficient with JavaScript debugging tools.
3. Improving User Experience: By quickly identifying and addressing errors, developers can significantly improve the user experience. A stable and reliable application is key to user satisfaction, and TrackJS plays a vital role in achieving this.
4. Performance Optimization: TrackJS is also a tool for performance analysis. It assists in identifying and addressing performance issues, such as resource-intensive operations. This optimization is vital for ensuring that your application runs smoothly and efficiently, ultimately leading to a better end-user experience.
Wrapping up
You just looked at some of the best JavaScript debugging tools out there. If you are a developer working with JavaScript, you can go through their features and pricing and pick one that serves you the best. By going with a tool that offers a trial or free version, you would be able to test it out before making any commitment.Give these tools a shot and start using a javascript debugging tool to deliver bug resolutions faster.
Javascript debugging tools - F&Q
What are Javascript debugging tools?
JavaScript debugging tools are essential aids for developers in identifying and fixing errors in their code. These tools break down how the code is run and include features like breakpoints, console logs, network logs, stack traces and sometimes even AI assistance for debugging.
What are Javascript debugging tools chrome?
JavaScript debugging tools in Chrome are crucial for finding and fixing errors in your code. The Chrome DevTools include features like breakpoints, step-by-step execution, and real-time code inspection, making them effective Javascript debugging tools. The Console allows developers to log messages and interact with the code dynamically. To pinpoint errors, developers can go through the source code and set breakpoints. Additionally, for effective debugging, they can inspect and modify the Document Object Model (DOM) using these tools.
What are the best debugging tools for Javascript?
JavaScript debugging tools help developers to identify, track, and fix errors. Chrome DevTools, a prominent example of JavaScript debugging tools, is loved by developers for its open-source nature and great features for debugging. Zipy is also among the best JavaScript debugging tools out there. Zipy tracks errors in real time and helps developers debug them faster with console logs, network logs, stack traces, and AI assistance.
What are some common issues that JavaScript debugging tools can help with?
JavaScript debugging tools are essential for identifying and fixing various coding issues. They efficiently handle syntax errors, such as incorrect grammar or typos, and runtime errors, which occur during code execution and can include problems like accessing undefined variables. These tools, notable for their role in debugging, are also invaluable for addressing logical errors where the code behaves differently than intended, and unexpected behavior, where the code operates without errors but not as expected. By tackling these challenges, javascript debugging tools streamline the development process, ensuring smoother and more reliable application performance.
Are there any best practices for effective JavaScript debugging?
For efficient JavaScript debugging, it's recommended to use descriptive names for variables and functions, which aids in understanding the code's purpose and enhances the use of JavaScript debugging tools. Breaking down complex problems into smaller, testable parts simplifies the debugging process. Thorough documentation of your code and error messages is crucial for clarity, especially when revisiting or sharing the code. Employing version control, such as Git, helps in tracking changes and identifying when issues were introduced. Additionally, collaborating with team members on debugging with these tools can bring diverse perspectives and solutions, making the process more effective.
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