Quickies: Six Pieces of Debugging Advice

Abstract

Some aspects of debugging can be learned by reading Microsoft’s product documentation. Study http://msdn.microsoft.com closely enough and you’ll learn all about the latest technological advances in debugging. But some aspects of debugging can be learned only through experience, or at least by listening to an experienced colleague. That’s where you learn the principles that help you approach debugging problems more efficiently from the very start.

There was a writer who wanted to create important literature. He wanted to write words that would be read by many people. He wanted to write words that would make people laugh, words that would make them cry, words that would make them angry, words that would make them shake their heads in sorrow. He found the job he was looking for. He now writes error messages for Microsoft. —E-mail forward, circa 2001