breakpoint instruction

Test Your Knowledge

Quiz: The Power of Pausing

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. What is the primary function of a breakpoint in debugging?

a) To execute a program faster. b) To halt program execution at a specific point. c) To identify the type of programming language used. d) To prevent memory leaks in a program.

2. Which of the following is NOT a tool provided by a debugger for inspecting program state at a breakpoint?

a) Registers b) Stack c) Compiler settings d) Memory

3. What does "stepping into" a function call do in a debugger?

a) Executes the next instruction in the current function. b) Skips over the function call entirely. c) Exits the current function and returns to the calling point. d) Enters the function call and begins executing its code.

4. How do breakpoints help developers identify errors in a program?

a) By automatically correcting the errors. b) By providing insights into the program's behavior at specific points. c) By analyzing the source code for potential issues. d) By generating error logs that highlight potential problems.

5. Which of the following best describes the role of breakpoints in software development?

a) A tool solely used by experienced programmers. b) A fundamental technique for debugging and understanding code. c) An advanced feature only necessary for complex projects. d) A way to prevent bugs from occurring in the first place.

Exercise: Debugging a Simple Program

Scenario: You have a program that is supposed to calculate the sum of two numbers entered by the user. However, it's not working as expected. Use the debugging steps outlined in the text to identify and fix the error.

Code:

```python def calculate_sum(num1, num2): sum = num1 * num2 # Incorrect operation: should be addition, not multiplication return sum

num1 = int(input("Enter the first number: ")) num2 = int(input("Enter the second number: "))

result = calculate_sum(num1, num2) print("The sum of", num1, "and", num2, "is:", result) ```

Instructions:

1. Set a breakpoint at the line where the calculate_sum function is called.
2. Step into the function and inspect the values of num1 and num2.
3. Inspect the result of the sum calculation.
4. Identify the error and correct it.
5. Run the program again to confirm it works correctly.

Techniques