How to quickly debug misbehaving script in Python without pdb?

Question

I have a high level logic error deep within my Python script, and pdb doesn't help to debug it. Is there any other way to see what is being executed after I run my script?

NOTE: pdb is too slow and inconvenient for me. I wish I could grep over all cases when my function is executed, instead of inspecting manually each and every call, set/unset breakpoints. The state is lost when I exit pdb and its user interface is more confusing than helpful - requires docs at hand.

Then don't accept that answer on and/or edit [your previous question](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/20869451/how-to-quickly-debug-misbehaving-script-in-python). Please close this duplicate. — jonrsharpe, Jan 01 '14 at 14:43
@jonrsharpe, the previous question is downvoted and should be deleted, no? — anatoly techtonik, Jan 01 '14 at 14:44
It is being down voted *in current form*, even a closed question can be reopened of edited and improved. — jonrsharpe, Jan 01 '14 at 14:47
@jonrsharpe, ok, rewrote previous question. This can be removed now. — anatoly techtonik, Jan 01 '14 at 14:54

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jan 01 '14 at 14:40

I found a way to do this using excellent trace module that comes with Python.

An example how to troubleshoot module installation problem:

python -m trace -t setup.py install > execution.log

This will dump all source line of setup.py install execution to execution.log. I found this to be more useful than pdb approach.

How to quickly debug misbehaving script in Python without pdb?

1 Answers1