Debugging a Program

The IDE supports two multithreaded debuggers: the JDK 1.1 debugger and the Java Platform Debugger Architecture (JPDA). The JDK 1.1 debugger provides the ability to set breakpoints and watches, to step through code, to examine and modify variables, and to follow threads. The JPDA enhances the JDK 1.1 debugger by enabling you to set breakpoints on classes, threads, and variables; to set conditional breakpoints; and to examine the value of an expression. The JPDA is the default debugger if you are running the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE), SDK 1.3.

The Debugging workspace automatically loads when you start a debugging session. By default, this workspace includes three windows:

The Debug menu and toolbar in the main window provide access to the debugging commands you need. The commands are also available from contextual menus in the Debugger window. (Right-click anywhere in the window to display a menu.)

For more information, see:

The Debugging Environment
Running Your Program in the Debugger
Stepping Through Your Program
Setting Breakpoints
Examining Variables
Watching Variables and Expressions
Examining Threads
Configuring the Debugger
The Java Platform Debugger Architecture

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