Debugging Skills
Do you need debugging skills to function well in your job role? This article provides a guide on how you can develop the skills and include them on your resume.
What are Debugging Skills?
The ability to spot and fix issues or flaws in computer programs is referred to as debugging skills. Every software developer needs to master debugging skills because debugging can occasionally be a difficult and time-consuming task in the software development process.
Additionally, debugging skills require knowledge of sound programming principles, like writing clean code, using version control, commenting code, and avoiding common mistakes and anti-patterns.
Importance of Debugging Skills:
Debugging skills are essential because of the following reasons:
- Helps in Identifying Coding errors:
The most obvious justification for developers having debugging abilities is that it helps identify coding errors. To create dependable software that efficiently fulfills its function, you must be a skilled code debugger. This is because debugging skills enable software developers to identify and fix coding flaws. Until the errors are located and the program is debugged, error-ridden software cannot be used.
- Improves Developer’s Productivity:
Every developer wants to be productive, and excellent debugging skills are crucial. Your productivity can rise as you get better at your debugging skills. You would also be able to deliver high-caliber software to your customers or users more quickly. Debugging is a crucial step in the software development process, and it is crucial for any developer who wants to create software of a high grade.
- Increases Credibility:
Debugging skills effectively exhibit your aptitude for tackling challenging technological issues as a developer. This increases your credibility and worth as a developer because it shows you have the skills and knowledge to handle difficult circumstances.
- Saves time and effort:
Debugging can be time-consuming, but if you can do it well, you’ll save time and effort. Moreso, debugging skills allows developers to detect and fix mistakes fast rather than trying to figure out why your code isn’t working as it should for hours or days.
How to Improve your Debugging Skills
Follow the steps below to improve your debugging skills:
- Watch fellow developers while debugging:
Watching other developers work is a fascinating way to improve your debugging skills. Different debugging methods should be considered to hone your debugging skills, especially from different perspectives.
For instance, there will always be debugging tools or methods we have yet to utilize or aren’t familiar with. By observing other developers ahead of you, you can discover tools or techniques we may not know. By observing others, you become familiar with those methods and tools that could make you proficient in debugging.
- Make use of a debugger:
Many developer tools include a debugger that enables you to pause the execution of your code at a specific line and inspect the status of your variables. This can be useful for figuring out how your code behaves and finding problems hence, improving your debugging skills.
- Test your code part by part:
Instead of executing the entire program simultaneously, try running discrete pieces of your code and carrying out separate tests. You’ll be able to identify problems more quickly and determine their cause if you do this.
- Obtain commentary from mentors and experienced developers:
Mentors and experienced developers can be of help in developing your debugging skills. At some points, you can seek advice on debugging skills from a mentor or more experienced developer. They could advise on potential areas for improvement or where you should focus your efforts.
- Take breaks at regular intervals:
Another way to improve your debugging skills is by taking breaks. Taking breaks from your code occasionally makes debugging easier because you can return to it later when you have fresh insight. You can unwind and approach the problem from a fresh viewpoint by taking breaks.
- Learn from your mistakes:
Learning from your mistakes can be another way to improve your debugging skills as a developer. After successfully debugging a problem, always reflect on what you did and how you did it to learn from your mistakes. Moreso, you can use this to create a mental model of future debugging procedures.
- Develop a methodical strategy:
Make a methodical debugging plan and adhere to it. To do this, you should create a list of potential causes for the issue and test each separately until you find the root of the issue.
Jobs that Require Debugging Skills
Debugging skills are essential in many career paths, especially those requiring computer science and engineering. Some job roles that might require debugging skills include the following:
- Systems administrator:
Systems administrators are in charge of maintaining and operating computer networks and systems regularly. Moreso, they troubleshoot problems that develop with hardware or software components to ensure the systems’ seamless operation.
- Software Engineer:
As a Software engineer, you are responsible for software systems’ design, development, and upkeep. As part of this procedure, you must troubleshoot and debug software issues. Therefore having debugging abilities is a necessity.
- Quality Assurance Engineer:
Testing software to ensure it complies with specifications is the responsibility of quality assurance (QA) engineers. A step in this procedure can involve debugging issues found during testing.
- Technical support specialist:
Technical support experts assist clients using a business’s products or services. Users might run across problems they need to troubleshoot and debug to resolve.
- DevOps engineer:
DevOps engineers aim to automate and streamline the software development and deployment process. During the build, test, and deployment phases of the software development process, they might need debugging skills to resolve issues that arise.
How to Include Debugging Skills on Your Resume
Your debugging ability can demonstrate to potential employers that you possess the skills to identify problems and develop solutions. Follow the steps below to highlight your debugging skills on your resume:
- Show debugging skills in the personal/Professional statement section:
This part, typically at the top of a resume, allows you to provide a general summary of your debugging expertise and experience. In other words, you can use this section to discuss your problem-solving methods and the problems you are most comfortable with.
- Highlight debugging skills in the work experience section:
One place on a resume where you can emphasize your debugging abilities is the work experience section. This area of a resume is typically the most important because it allows you to provide specific instances of flaws you’ve discovered and repaired in the past. Make sure to include one or two bullet points describing a tough bug you ran into and how you fixed it. This will allow the business to gauge your capacity for handling different challenges and your ability to solve problems. Additionally, while discussing difficulties you encountered, be sure to use the appropriate terminology, such as “troubleshooting,” “performance optimization,” “debugging,” and “memory leaks.”
- Add debugging skills in the Education section:
It is also essential to include any relevant coursework you’ve taken, as well as any debugging-related certificates or badges, in your education section.
In addition, give a brief description of any personal or open-source projects you’ve worked on that required debugging skills. It will be an effective example of your debugging skills for the employer.
- List the tools you are proficient in within the skills section:
Listing your skills in a resume is essential because it proves to employees that you are the best fit for a job role. You can list your relevant skills, such as memory leak detection, performance optimization, and debugging, in the section on skills. Supporting this section with relevant examples from your professional experience is a good idea.
Examples of How to Include Debugging Skills on Your Resume
Follow the steps below to include debugging skills on your resume:
Example 1: Debugging skills in the professional summary section:
A software developer with a fascination for debugging and troubleshooting complex systems. Proficient in Python and C++ coding and able to use GDB, Valgrind, and other debugging tools in a Linux environment. I’ve had success locating and resolving CPU bottlenecks, memory leaks, and other performance issues.
Example 2: Debugging skills in the work experience section:
Software Developer | ABC Company | Jan 2016 – 2020
- Used GDB and Valgrind to analyze and resolve performance issues, including memory leaks and CPU bottlenecks in a Linux environment.
- Worked on large-scale, distributed systems using tracings and logging tools like Zipkin and Logstash.
- Reduced system downtime by 50% due to effective debugging techniques.
Example 3: Debugging skills in the Education section:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, XXX University (2011-2015)
- Relevant Coursework: Software Development Methodologies, Object-Oriented Programming, Data Structures, and Algorithms
- Finished software development projects with GDB, Visual Studio, and XCode.
Example 4: Debugging skills in the Skills section:
- Proficient in locating and fixing bugs in C, C++, Java, and Python programs using debugging tools like GDB, Valgrind, Visual Studio, and XCode.
- Knowledgeable about the use of Agile methodologies for software development.
- Adept at reducing errors and optimizing code using performance profiling tools like perf and Valgrind.
- Knowledge of debugging in various environments, including Linux, Windows, mobile (iOS and Android), and web.
How to Demonstrate Debugging Skills in an Interview
To demonstrate your debugging skills in an interview, follow the steps below:
- Be systematic:
In an interview, ensure you use a systematic approach in answering all the questions you may be asked. For instance, when presenting your debugging strategy, be careful to emphasize that you start with the fundamentals and work your way through a systematic process of elimination. This will prove to the interviewer that you can approach a topic methodically and systematically.
- Describe any debugging tool you are familiar with:
One of the best ways to demonstrate your debugging skills to an interviewer is by demonstrating any tool you are proficient in. Show that you are knowledgeable with the many debugging tools, such as the Visual Studio debugger and others, by demonstrating when and how to utilize them.
- Give concrete examples to illustrate your points:
While interacting with the interviewer, ensure you list a few examples of occasions when you had to solve a difficult issue. Moreso, describe how you discovered the problem, solved it, and what you learned from the experience.
- Ask reasonable Questions:
Strong communication and interrogation skills are essential in demonstrating your debugging procedure in an interview. Moreso, be ready to ask questions to further your understanding of a problem if the interviewer assigns you a bug to debug.
- Be Engaging and interactive in your discussion with the interviewer:
To practice this, if the interviewer presents you with a fictitious bug situation, don’t just tell the interviewer what you would do. Ensure you go through the debugging process with them. This shows your ability to explain and solve difficulties that may arise.
- Show that you have the ability to learn and adjust:
Describe an instance when you had to learn something new rapidly while trying to debug something. That indicates a crucial skill—your capacity to learn new things quickly and adapt to unexpected situations.
Examples of Interview Questions to Test Debugging Skills
Below are the questions Interviewers ask to test debugging skills of employees:
- Can you name the trickiest bug you’ve ever had to fix:
Interviewers ask this question to learn more about the candidate’s debugging knowledge and problem-solving abilities. To demonstrate your debugging abilities to the interviewer while answering this question, have a complete list of all the bugs you have ever encountered at your fingertips.
- Have you come across bugs that no developer could fix? What steps did you take to fix the situation?
Interviewers ask this question to determine a candidate’s debugging tenacity, creativity, and capacity to use novel problem-solving techniques.
- What actions ought to be taken to identify and remediate memory leaks?
This question is meant to test your knowledge of memory leaks, their typical causes, and how to avoid them. This question concentrates on the memory use issue.
- Which tools do you use most commonly when debugging software?
The interviewer may ask you this question to learn if you have expertise with debugging tools and which ones you like. Describe some of the standard debugging tools you use. A range of debugging tools, such as Visual Studio, must be used to ensure the code is operating correctly.
- What steps should be taken if bugs are discovered after a product has been made available?
When flaws are discovered after a release, debugging can be a challenging task. You should show the interviewer in your response that you know how to handle this situation and ensure the quality of your work to prevent client dissatisfaction.
- What actions would you take to fix a production service that isn’t working?
This question can be used to gauge the candidate’s meticulous approach to debugging and their approach to troubleshooting actual problems in a production environment.
- Please tell us about a recent debugging session you had.
Interviewers ask this question to determine how you approach debugging rather than just asking you to describe your process. The interviewer wants to know if you can use the resources at your disposal effectively and solve problems promptly.
- Why are compiler debugger results different?
The output of a debugger can vary amongst compilers due to how each one handles code. The answer to this question will reveal to interviewers how well you comprehend debugging and how it relates to other programming concepts. Your response should first address why debugger output differs amongst compilers, followed by a description of the action you would take.