"A systematic approach to debugging can save hours of frustration."
— Diomidis Spinellis

The Author

Diomidis Spinellis is a Greek computer science academic renowned for his contributions to software engineering, particularly in code quality and debugging. He serves as a Professor of Software Engineering at the Athens University of Economics and Business and holds a part-time position as Professor of Software Analytics at Delft University of Technology. Spinellis earned both his MEng in Software Engineering and PhD in Computer Science from Imperial College London.

The Book

Effective Debugging: 66 Specific Ways to Debug Software and Systems is a practical guide aimed at enhancing the debugging skills of software developers and IT professionals. Drawing from over 35 years of experience, Spinellis presents 66 actionable techniques that span from high-level strategies to specific tools and practices.

The book is organized into thematic sections, including:

  • High-Level Strategies: Approaches for systematically identifying and isolating bugs.
  • General-Purpose Methods and Practices: Techniques to set up effective debugging environments and workflows.
  • General-Purpose Tools and Techniques: Utilization of tools like version control systems and command-line utilities to aid debugging.
  • Debugger Techniques: Guidance on effectively using debuggers, including setting breakpoints and navigating code execution.
  • Programming Techniques: Best practices in writing code that is easier to debug, such as incorporating assertions and unit tests.
  • Build and Execution Techniques: Strategies for compiling and running code in ways that facilitate debugging.

Each technique is accompanied by real-world examples and step-by-step instructions, making the book a valuable resource for both novice and experienced developers seeking to improve their debugging proficiency.

What I liked

🔍
Practical and actionable advice
Offers 66 clearly defined, hands-on techniques that can be applied immediately.
🧰
Covers a wide range of tools and techniques
Includes guidance on general-purpose tools (like grep, diff, and gdb) as well as best practices in writing, building, and testing code.
🎯
Focus on root-cause analysis
Helps readers move beyond superficial fixes to truly understand and eliminate bugs.
📈
Boosts developer productivity
Teaches time-saving habits that reduce frustration and improve code quality.

What I disliked

🧱
Dense structure for casual reading
The format—66 standalone tips—can feel more like a reference manual than a cohesive narrative, making it harder to read cover-to-cover.
📉
Lack of prioritization or hierarchy
The book presents all 66 techniques with equal weight, without indicating which ones are more fundamental or broadly applicable.

What to expect?

✅
66 Practical, Actionable Tips
A well-organized list of hands-on debugging techniques, each with clear objectives and guidance.
🧠
Mindset and Strategy
Insights on developing the right mindset for debugging: curiosity, patience, and analytical thinking.
⏱️
Time-Saving Habits
Tips that help reduce time spent on bugs through prevention, tooling, and workflow improvements.

Conclusion

Effective Debugging is a valuable resource for any developer looking to sharpen their problem-solving skills and improve software reliability. With 66 clear, actionable techniques, Diomidis Spinellis presents a practical toolkit rooted in decades of real-world experience. The book’s strength lies in its systematic approach, language-agnostic advice, and emphasis on thoughtful, reproducible debugging. Whether you're a beginner seeking guidance or a seasoned engineer looking to refine your process, this book offers timeless strategies to help you find and fix bugs with greater confidence and efficiency.