debugging messy code?

[Bjoern]

I currently have to debug (somebody elses) very messy code, and instead
of bemoaning my fate, I decided I should wonder if there actually are
some common wisdoms as to how to approach such a problem? I've read a
lot about common software engineering tasks (design patterns etc), but
what about this everyday problem? Is there a debugging pattern?

Since it's J2ME projects, I am also very limited in the logging or
debugging capabilities. Often I don't have an emulator for a particular
device, so I can't print many logging statements. The debugger also
crashes many emulators.

So I am curious if there is a proper way to approach this, or is trial
and error all I can do?

Even 'binary search' (my first thought) is difficult to do, since code
doesn't always execute in a linear way.

Many thanks in advance!


Bjoern

--


Let's not weep for their evil deeds,
but for their lack of imagination
(Nick Cave)

 

[David Postill]

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Bjoern

| I currently have to debug (somebody elses) very messy code, and instead
| of bemoaning my fate, I decided I should wonder if there actually are
| some common wisdoms as to how to approach such a problem? I've read a
| lot about common software engineering tasks (design patterns etc), but
| what about this everyday problem? Is there a debugging pattern?
|
| Since it's J2ME projects, I am also very limited in the logging or
| debugging capabilities. Often I don't have an emulator for a particular
| device, so I can't print many logging statements. The debugger also
| crashes many emulators.
|
| So I am curious if there is a proper way to approach this, or is trial
| and error all I can do?
|
| Even 'binary search' (my first thought) is difficult to do, since code
| doesn't always execute in a linear way.
|
| Many thanks in advance!

"Java debugging tutorial"
<http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/edu/j-dw-javadebug-i.html>

"IBM bug patterns series"
<http://www-106.ibm.com/search/searc...&query=bug+patterns&searchScope=dW&Search.x=0
&Search.y=0&Search=Search>

<davidp />

- --
David Postill

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