Best Debugging Tools for JavaScript/xulrunner Development

Question

In the past few months I began my first serious JavaScript development, as I began developing XUL applications. I use Notepad++ as my editor, but I was pretty appalled to find (as far as I can tell) that Venkman/Javascript Debugger is the tool for debugging. It seems like a poor replacement to Visual Studio for .Net languages.

Am I missing something? What are the best tools and best practices for JavaScript development? Is there some killer IDE/debugger/editor combination I'm not aware of?

It has to be easier than this, though.

I've heard some mention of Eclipse - is it a good choice here? I know very little about it.

Edit: Some of you have pointed out Firebug - I guess my problem was that I'm not actually using JavaScript for web development for which Firebug seems to be the tool -- instead I'm using it for XUL development in xulrunner. Which may simply be a weakness or immaturity of xulrunner.

Answer 1

Firebug is pretty well unbeatable for JavaScript development in a browser.

Answer 2

'alert(x);' was the primary technique for too long.

FireBug, as others have said, is the way to go in FireFox debugging.

the Aptana IDE (based on eclipse) made a bit of a splash in the javascript IDE region recently.

Visual Studio 2008 contains much improved javascript debugging capabilities over the previous versions.

Answer 3

Try a combination of Script# (http://www.nikhilk.net/ScriptSharpIntro.aspx)

and

Firebug (http://getfirebug.com/)

Cheers

1:

Answer 4

The nightly builds of WebKit have some great new debugging tools:

http://nightly.webkit.org/

Answer 5

Yeah, there's no decent debugger for XUL+JS development currently. But in my several-year experience I could do well without it. Here's how:

• Use logging. Either implement your own logging utilities, or a common one (e.g. https://wiki.mozilla.org/Labs/JS_Modules#Logging although I haven't used that one yet; see also http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/Using_JavaScript_code_modules)
• When writing your code, use the JS Shell and the Live XUL Editor (from the Extension developer's extension) along with the DOM inspector for prototyping.
• Set up a profile for development, then debug by tweaking the source code (adding logging and alert()s :) and reloading the affected window.
• When possible, write unit tests using the available frameworks (they're not widely used with code outside the Mozilla tree currently)

Hopefully Komodo (Mozilla-based editor/IDE, went open-source last year) will grow tools for debugging Mozilla code eventually.

Nickolay

Answer 6

@Nickolay, thanks for the good word on XUL development.

Answer 7

I did a Google search for (Xul IDE) and the first hit was a listing on the Mozilla wiki of different XUL IDE.s I also found an app called XULU studio in the results.

https://wiki.mozilla.org/XUL:IDE

Answer 8

I do a lot of XUL/JS development, and I use a combination of Eclipse and JSEclipse for code editing and Venkman for debugging. It can be tricky to get Venkman working with your XUL app, but it's worth the effort.

http://developer.mozilla.org/en/Debugging_a_XULRunner_Application has the information on enabling Venkman in your app. Check it out; I assure you it's worth the time you spend on it.

Answer 9

If your using SQLite at all, especially for FireFox development then i would suggest the Firefox Addon "SQLite Manager". Not only does it easily enable you to see profile informations stored by Firefox in user profiles but you can also open up other SQLite databases. Very useful.

Answer 10

As I said in another post, to me the most convenient debugging tool for JavaScript is Mozrepl. It is a Firefox/XULRunner extension that accesses the browser/application instance using telnet, and you can observe and manipulate everything in your application remotely; even the framework itself.

It is incredibly useful as a debugger (on standalone XUL applications it is the only bearable way to do real debugging) and as a tool to play around and understand the guts of your application, it speeds up your XUL Javascript development time tenfold.

For an impressive demo of is possibilities, check out this video.

Answer 11

Debug and Profile JavaScripts – JavaScript debugger and profile tool. http://www.globinch.com/2010/05/04/debug-and-profile-javascripts-using-venkman-javascript-debugger-and-profile-tool/