Debugging Node.js Applications

README.md

Packages reviewed

1. node-inspector
2. node-webkit-agent
3. node-codein

node-inspector

Setup

1. npm install -g node-inspector
2. node --debug server.js
3. node-inspector
4. Navigate to http://localhost:8080/debug?port=5858

Thoughts

• Surprisingly slow
• Full Chrome debugger (breakpoints, inspecting on hover, watching, call stacks, etc).

node-webkit-agent

Setup

1. { devDependencies: "node-webkit-agent": 0.0.4 }
2. npm install
3. require("node-webkit-agent");
4. node server.js
5. kill -SIGUSR2 <node pid>
6. Navigate to http://c4milo.github.com/node-webkit-agent/19.0.1084.46/inspector.html?host=localhost:1337&page=0 (0.6.x) or http://c4milo.github.com/node-webkit-agent/21.0.1180.57/inspector.html?host=localhost:8080&page=0 (0.8.x)

Thoughts

• Implements the webkit developer tools protocol
• Author of node-inspector (Danny Coates) wants you to use it
• Not fully implemented (by far). Implements CPU and Heap profiling, but not "normal" debugging tools.

node-codein

Setup

1. { devDependencies: "node-codein": "1.0.1" }
2. npm install
3. require("node-codein");
4. node server.js
5. Navigate to http://localhost:55281

Thoughts

• That's it? Only a console.
• Slow.