Ruby Academy · Lesson

Debugging Techniques

Use puts, pry, and byebug to debug Ruby programs and fix issues efficiently.

Lesson 3 of 310 steps

Debugging Techniques is a free Ruby Academy lesson on CoddyKit. This is lesson 3 of 3. Any 3 lessons of this learning path are free to read in full — after that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus hands-on practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Ruby Academy learning path, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app. The Ruby Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

Debugging Techniques

Finding and fixing errors is an essential skill in programming.

In this lesson, you will learn how to debug Ruby code using puts, pry, and byebug.

Using puts for Debugging

Use puts to print variable values and track program flow.

name = 'Alice'
puts "Debug: name is #{name}"

Using inspect

Use inspect to view detailed object properties.

arr = [1, 2, 3]
puts arr.inspect

Using raise for Debugging

Use raise to stop execution and display a message.

x = 10
raise 'Unexpected value' if x > 5

Using pry

pry is an interactive debugger for Ruby.

Install it using gem install pry and require it in your code.

require 'pry'
def test_method
  x = 10
  binding.pry # Debugger stops here
  puts x
end
test_method

Using byebug

byebug is another debugging tool for Ruby.

Install it using gem install byebug and require it in your code.

require 'byebug'
def test_method
  x = 10
  byebug # Debugger stops here
  puts x
end
test_method

Reading Error Messages

Error messages provide clues about what went wrong and where.

begin
  num = Integer('abc')
rescue ArgumentError => e
  puts "Error message: #{e.message}"
end

Comparing puts and inspect

puts is best for simple output, while inspect is useful for debugging complex objects.

hash = { name: 'Alice', age: 25 }
puts hash
puts hash.inspect

Congratulations!

You have learned various debugging techniques in Ruby.

Next, you will explore the basics of Ruby on Rails.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the “Debugging Techniques” lesson free?

Yes — any 3 lessons of the Ruby Academy learning path, including “Debugging Techniques”, are free to read in full here on the web. After that, CoddyKit PRO unlocks every lesson, plus interactive practice with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. The Ruby Academy course includes 3 lessons in total.

What will I learn in “Debugging Techniques”?

Use puts, pry, and byebug to debug Ruby programs and fix issues efficiently. You practise Ruby Academy 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 Ruby Academy?

No prior experience is required. Ruby Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace. This is lesson 3 of 3.

How long does the “Debugging Techniques” 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 Ruby Academy lesson?

Yes. Every Ruby Academy 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.

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