Basic Debugging Tools Overview
Get acquainted with a range of foundational tools and techniques used for initial diagnosis in production.
Basic Debugging Tools Overview is a free Production Debugging & Incident Response Playbook lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Production Debugging & Incident Response Playbook learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
First Steps in Production Debugging
In production you rarely get a full debugger on live systems. Instead you lean on basic tools and techniques to gather clues without disrupting users.
Logs: Your System's Diary
Logs are your most fundamental tool — a detailed diary of events, operations, and errors. When something breaks, checking logs is almost always step one.
Following Logs with `tail -f`
tail -f streams new log lines in real time, so you can watch issues unfold as they happen. Point it at your app or system log and observe.
Monitoring Basic System Health
Before diving into code, check overall system health — CPU, memory, and disk. A maxed-out server alone can make any app sluggish or crash.
Identifying Resource-Hungry Processes (`top`)
top is a live task manager for your server, ranking processes by CPU and memory. It's the fastest way to spot a resource hog. Run it and watch.
Verifying Network Connectivity (`ping`)
Network trouble is a common culprit. ping checks whether your server can reach another machine and how fast it replies — no replies usually means a network problem.
Inspecting Active Network Connections (`netstat`)
netstat (or ss) shows active connections and listening ports, so you can confirm your service is actually open for business on its port.
Testing Application Endpoints with `curl`
curl hits HTTP endpoints straight from the terminal to confirm your service is responding. Add -v to inspect the full request and response headers.
Connecting the Dots: Initial Hypothesis
Now connect the clues into an initial hypothesis. High CPU plus out-of-memory logs? Likely a memory leak. Failed ping to the DB? A connectivity issue.
Quick Check on Basic Tools
Let's test your understanding of these initial diagnostic tools.
Recap: Your Debugging Starter Kit
Recap: your debugging starter kit — logs, tail -f, top, ping, netstat, and curl. Master these basics to diagnose production incidents fast.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Basic Debugging Tools Overview” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Basic Debugging Tools Overview” is free to read here on the web, and the Production Debugging & Incident Response Playbook course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Production Debugging & Incident Response Playbook course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Basic Debugging Tools Overview”?
Get acquainted with a range of foundational tools and techniques used for initial diagnosis in production. You practise Production Debugging & Incident Response Playbook with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Production Debugging & Incident Response Playbook?
No prior experience is required. Production Debugging & Incident Response Playbook on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Basic Debugging Tools Overview” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Production Debugging & Incident Response Playbook lesson?
Yes. Every Production Debugging & Incident Response Playbook lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Understanding Production Environments
- The 'Why' of Production Debugging
- Basic Debugging Tools Overview
- Reproducing Production Issues Safely