How do you add breakpoints to a Python program in IDLE?
Solution 1
There is an open Python issue about the lack of documentation for IDLE breakpoints. Contributions welcome!
Update: The on-line documentation and the IDLE help files (for 2.7.4, 3.2.4, and 3.3.0) have been updated, with Nick's help.
Solution 2
You can set breakpoint before it is run.
- Set the breakpoint by right clicking on the relevant line of your program
- On your python shell, look for Debug - [Debug On] will be shown in your IDLE Python shell
- Go back to your program and press F5(hotkey) to run the program, it will stop in the relevant break line(s)
- If you want to look at some global variables or line of codes, you can check the box in the debugger
Solution 3
Just adding to this answer (would've commented but for the rules that say I don't have enough reputation to do so): On the Mac you must control-click. The normal "right-click" at least for the trackpad does not work to bring up the contextual menu with the option to set a breakpoint.
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Nick ODell
"If finance isn't boring, you're doing it wrong." My favorite sci-fi book is Ethan of Athos, and my favorite fantasy book is Going Postal.
Updated on April 15, 2020Comments
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Nick ODell about 4 years
I solved this already, I'm just posting it here because I couldn't figure it out with google, or by reading the docs. I only found it by accident.
To add a breakpoint, right-click on the line that you want to add a breakpoint on and select "Set Breakpoint". The line will become highlighted. (Note that this only works when you are editing a file; it does not work at the interpreter.)
This site has a detailed tutorial about using the IDLE debugger.
On Mac, you need to Control-click instead of right clicking.
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Nick ODell about 13 yearsWhere do you submit a patch to documentation? I looked on the IDLE page, but there's no edit button. I looked at the sourceforge page, but it says they moved to python.org. I looked at the main page (and several subpages) but didn't see anything. What am I missing?
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Ned Deily about 13 yearsIf you login to the Python bug tracker and then view the linked issue (bugs.python.org/issue10405), you should see a "Comment" text field and a "Choose file" button to select a file to upload.
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Grezzo over 7 yearsThat's not true
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Jeffrey Ng over 7 years@Grezzo, I have updated my comment, was not very proficient back then. thanks for the feedback. hope now it is better. i m trying to help
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Grezzo over 7 yearsI appreciate you trying to help :-)
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Jeffrey Ng over 7 yearsThanks! can you please amend the usefulness of my answer?