Interrupting or observing
Breakpoints are useful, but they are not always the best first option. Pausing execution often breaks the natural reading of what is happening.
The console allows another approach: observing without interrupting.
Following the real execution flow
With well placed logs, it becomes possible to follow the actual call sequence without freezing state.
This is especially helpful when multiple events fire quickly or when order matters more than exact values.
When to avoid breakpoints
- complex asynchronous logic
- shared state that is hard to freeze
- timing-dependent bugs
In these cases, the console often provides a more faithful picture.
A natural extension of console usage
As mentioned in the article about console.log usage, intention matters more than the tool.
Debugging without breakpoints is not a rule, but a valuable option to stay in the flow 🙂