Using the New Xano Debugger

Hey everybody, Chris from Xano here! I'm super excited to showcase our brand new debugger. It's received a comprehensive overhaul, enhancing your API debugging and testing experience within Xano. Let's delve into the functionality of this revamped tool.

What’s New in the Xano Debugger:

The Xano debugger now sports a sleek interface with enriched features aimed at providing a more intuitive and detailed debugging process. Here's a walkthrough:

• Enhanced Function Stack Analysis: Our simple function stack involves creating and updating variables, running custom functions, and ultimately returning the processed variable. The revamped debugger allows for a more granular inspection of each step.
• Execution Timing Details: Just like before, you can access the timing details for each function during execution, providing insights into performance and potential bottlenecks.
• Real-Time Variable Tracking: Previously, tracking variable changes through execution required enabling variable details post-run. The new debugger introduces live debugging, displaying variable changes as they happen in real-time. This means you can track how inputs and variables evolve at each step directly within the function stack during execution.
• Breakpoints and Step Navigation: Implement breakpoints at crucial steps to pause execution, allowing for focused analysis. Navigate through your function stack using the debugger's step forward or backward functionality, providing unparalleled control over execution flow.
• Custom Functions and Middleware Inspection: The debugger seamlessly integrates with custom functions and middleware, allowing you to step inside these components and continue debugging without breaking your workflow.
• Keyboard Shortcuts: Enhance your debugging speed with keyboard shortcuts for stepping through functions, enabling a faster and more efficient debugging process.
• Watches Feature: The watches functionality utilizes custom JavaScript expressions, enabling on-the-fly data viewing, manipulation, or calculation. This advanced feature allows for a deeper understanding and testing of data within your API logic. Even if you're new to JavaScript, this feature opens up possibilities for enhanced data visibility and debugging precision.

Practical Debugger Use Cases:

• Understanding Function Execution: Use the debugger to meticulously follow the logic and variable changes, ensuring your API behaves as intended.
• Breakpoints for Logic Testing: Insert breakpoints to test specific parts of your logic under various conditions without needing to execute the entire function stack.
• In-depth Custom Function Analysis: Delve into custom functions to understand their internal workings and impact on your overall API logic.
• Data Manipulation Insights: Utilize watches to convert raw data into a more understandable format or to check how different data manipulations affect your outputs.

Getting Started with the Debugger:

1. Prepare Your Function Stack: Set up a basic or complex function stack in Xano.
2. Launch the Debugger: Initiate the debugger and familiarize yourself with its layout and features.
3. Set Breakpoints and Inspect Variables: Apply breakpoints strategically and observe how variables and logic unfold at each stage.
4. Use Watches for Advanced Insights: Implement watches to monitor specific variables or expressions, enhancing your debugging capabilities.

Conclusion:

The new Xano debugger is designed to streamline and simplify the API debugging process. Whether you're a seasoned developer or new to backend logic, this tool is crafted to enhance your understanding and efficiency in building flawless APIs.

I hope this tutorial helps you maximize the benefits of Xano's new debugging features. Please share your thoughts in the comments below, join the Xano community for more discussions, or reach out through our support chat.

Happy debugging, and see you in the next video!