Systematic debugging workflow Quiz

Test your knowledge of systematic debugging workflows, including reproducing issues, inspecting logs and stack traces, using breakpoints and watchpoints, and isolating bugs with techniques like binary search and git bisect. This quiz is designed to help you understand and reinforce best practices for efficient debugging.

1. Reproducing Issues

   What is the first step in a systematic debugging workflow when a bug is reported in a software project?

   1. Attempt to reproduce the issue in a controlled environment
   2. Delete the configuration files
   3. Skip to analyzing code without reproducing
   4. Apply a random fix to the codebase

2. Log Inspection

   When a program throws an unexpected error, what information do logs commonly provide to aid debugging?

   1. Only user interface colors
   2. Weather information
   3. Exact error messages and timestamps
   4. A random joke

3. Stack Traces

   How can analyzing a stack trace support debugging an application crash?

   1. By revealing the chain of function calls leading to the error
   2. By displaying the keyboard layout
   3. By listing unrelated background processes
   4. By showing all comments in the code

4. Breakpoints Usage

   What is the primary purpose of setting breakpoints in a debugger?

   1. To restart the entire operating system
   2. To delete temporary files
   3. To format code automatically
   4. To pause code execution at specific lines to inspect variables

5. Watchpoints

   When using a watchpoint, what event typically triggers the debugger to halt execution?

   1. A new user logs in
   2. A file is saved to disk
   3. A specific variable is read or modified
   4. The user minimizes the application window

6. Binary Search Bug Isolation

   How does binary search help isolate a newly introduced bug in a large codebase?

   1. By narrowing down the faulty code section through repeated halving
   2. By sorting the source code alphabetically
   3. By running every test case twice
   4. By increasing the network bandwidth

7. Git Bisect Role

   Which debugging technique automates finding the commit that introduced a bug by repeatedly testing changes?

   1. git stage
   2. git clone
   3. git bisect
   4. git merge

8. Environment Consistency

   Why is it important to reproduce a bug in the same environment where it originally occurred?

   1. To increase the font size in editors
   2. To speed up compilation time regardless of context
   3. To ensure results are relevant and reduce unrelated variables
   4. To impress coworkers

9. Effective Log Use

   If a log file is missing detailed error information, which action could improve future debugging efforts?

   1. Close the log viewer
   2. Rename the log file randomly
   3. Increase the logging level to capture more details
   4. Disable all logging features

10. Combining Debugging Techniques

    What is an advantage of combining breakpoints with stack trace analysis during debugging?

    1. It upgrades the application automatically
    2. It reduces system memory permanently
    3. It eliminates the need for testing
    4. It allows you to monitor program flow while inspecting previous call history