What is the right way to debug in iPython notebook?

Question

You can use ipdb inside jupyter with:

from IPython.core.debugger import Tracer; Tracer()()

---

Edit: the functions above are deprecated since IPython 5.1. This is the new approach:

from IPython.core.debugger import set_trace

Add set_trace() where you need a breakpoint. Type help for ipdb commands when the input field appears.

Use ipdb

Install it via

pip install ipdb

Usage:

In[1]: def fun1(a):
   def fun2(a):
       import ipdb; ipdb.set_trace() # debugging starts here
       return do_some_thing_about(b)
   return fun2(a)
In[2]: fun1(1)

For executing line by line use n and for step into a function use s and to exit from debugging prompt use c.

For complete list of available commands: https://appletree.or.kr/quick_reference_cards/Python/Python%20Debugger%20Cheatsheet.pdf

In Python 3.7 you can use breakpoint() function. Just enter

breakpoint()

wherever you would like runtime to stop and from there you can use the same pdb commands (r, c, n, ...) or evaluate your variables.

Your return function is in line of def function(main function), you must give one tab to it. And Use

%%debug 

instead of

%debug 

to debug the whole cell not only line. Hope, maybe this will help you.

You can always add this in any cell:

import pdb; pdb.set_trace()

and the debugger will stop on that line. For example:

In[1]: def fun1(a):
           def fun2(a):
               import pdb; pdb.set_trace() # debugging starts here
           return fun2(a)

In[2]: fun1(1)

After you get an error, in the next cell just run %debug and that's it.

Just type import pdb in jupyter notebook, and then use this cheatsheet to debug. It's very convenient.

c --> continue, s --> step, b 12 --> set break point at line 12 and so on.

Some useful links: Python Official Document on pdb, Python pdb debugger examples for better understanding how to use the debugger commands.

Some useful screenshots: