2024-08-11T12:36:20 Status: #blog #moc Tags: #altova #mobiletogether #development #softwaredevelopment #xquery #xpath Links: [[Altova]] | [[MobileTogether]] | [[Mobile App Development]] | [[Software Development]] | [[XQuery]] | [[Standards]] | [[ActionTrees Visual Programming Language]] | [[App Simulator]] | [[App Tester]] # App Debugger To create reliable and high-quality [[Mobile App Development|mobile apps]] and [[enterprise solutions|Enterprise Solutions]], you need the right tools for debugging your application code as well as automating the testing process as part of your QA lifecycle. MobileTogether provides an integrated [[App Tester]] and Debugger right in the MobileTogether Designer app development environment working hand-in-hand with the [[App Simulator]]. ## MT Debugger Feature in MobileTogether The [MT Debugger](https://www.altova.com/manual/MobileTogether/mobiletogetherdesigner/mtddebugger.html) feature in MobileTogether is an essential tool designed to enhance the development process by providing powerful debugging capabilities. This feature allows developers to debug both actions and [[XQuery]]/[[XPath]] expressions within their mobile solutions, enabling precise identification and resolution of issues. MT Debugger integrates seamlessly into the MobileTogether Designer, providing a robust environment for stepping through code, setting breakpoints, and analyzing application behavior in real-time. MT Debugger is equipped with multiple debugging modes and specialized tools such as the Actions Debugger and XPath Debugger. These tools cater to different aspects of the debugging process, allowing for a comprehensive approach to identifying and fixing bugs. Whether you're stepping through an action sequence or evaluating complex XPath expressions, MT Debugger offers the flexibility and control needed to ensure your mobile solutions perform flawlessly. ### Debugger Modes [MT Debugger](https://www.altova.com/manual/MobileTogether/mobiletogetherdesigner/mtddebugger.html) offers [three distinct modes](https://www.altova.com/manual/MobileTogether/mobiletogetherdesigner/mtddebugger_mode.html) that allow developers to control how the debugging process is conducted: 1. **Breakpoints Mode**: In this mode, the debugger stops at pre-defined breakpoints set on actions or XPath expressions. This allows for in-depth analysis of specific points in the application’s workflow, making it easier to identify the exact location of an issue. 2. **Actions Mode**: This mode stops the debugger at the next action triggered in the simulation. It is particularly useful for stepping through a sequence of actions to ensure each one performs as expected. 3. **Errors Mode**: In this mode, the debugger halts execution when it encounters an error, such as an issue within an XPath expression. This mode is ideal for quickly identifying and addressing errors that might disrupt the application’s functionality. These modes can be selected either before starting a simulation or during the simulation, providing flexibility depending on the debugging needs at any given time . ### Actions Debugger The Actions Debugger is a specialized tool within MT Debugger that focuses on the debugging of [[ActionTrees Visual Programming Language|ActionTrees]] triggered by control or page events. It provides detailed insights into the sequence of actions and how variables are updated throughout their execution. This tool is essential for ensuring that complex workflows behave as expected in real-world scenarios. ![[ActionsDebugger.png]] 1. **Setting Up**: Before running a simulation, you can set breakpoints on actions that you want to debug. Alternatively, you can [select an action for debugging](https://www.altova.com/manual/MobileTogether/mobiletogetherdesigner/mtddebugger_actions.html#selectactions) directly during the simulation using the Actions Mode. 2. **[Running the Debugger](https://www.altova.com/manual/MobileTogether/mobiletogetherdesigner/mtdxpxq_xpxqwin_debugger.html#runningdebugger)**: Once the simulation reaches an action selected for debugging, the Actions Debugger opens automatically. The debugger displays the action sequence in an upper pane, while a lower pane shows the call stack, watch expressions, and variables. 3. **Stepping Through Actions**: You can step through each action individually using the Step Into, Step Over, and Step Out functionalities. This allows you to observe the flow of execution and the changes to variables in real-time. 4. **Analyzing Results**: The debugger provides detailed insights into the call stack, the values of variables at different steps, and the results of any watch expressions set up for the session. This helps in pinpointing the exact location and cause of any issues within the action sequence. ![[ActionsDebuggerCallstack.png]] ### XPath Debugger The XPath Debugger is another powerful tool within the MT Debugger, specifically designed for evaluating and debugging XPath expressions used throughout the mobile solution. XPath is integral to many mobile applications for querying and manipulating XML data, making this debugger an essential tool for ensuring the accuracy of these expressions. ![[XPathDebugger.png]] 1. **Accessing the XPath Debugger**: The XPath Debugger can be accessed in several ways—when editing an XPath expression within the design, from the simulator during a simulation, or via the Actions Debugger if an action's XPath expression is being evaluated. 2. **Setting Up**: Similar to the Actions Debugger, breakpoints can be set on specific XPath expressions. These breakpoints allow the debugger to pause and provide insight into the evaluation process at critical points. 3. **Stepping Through Expressions**: You can step through the evaluation of an XPath expression using the Step Into, Step Over, and Step Out functions. Each step highlights the part of the expression currently being evaluated, and the corresponding result is displayed in a results pane. 4. **Evaluating Results**: The XPath Debugger includes a Results pane where the outcomes of each evaluation step are displayed. Additional panes show variables in scope, the call stack, and any watch expressions you’ve set up. Tracepoints can also be set to record evaluation results at specific steps, providing a traceable path through the expression’s evaluation process. With the MT Debugger in MobileTogether, you have a comprehensive suite of debugging tools that enable precise control and analysis over both actions and XPath expressions within your mobile applications. These features ensure that your applications are not only functional but also optimized for performance and reliability. --- # References - [[MobileTogether]] - [[Mobile App Development]] - [[ActionTrees Visual Programming Language]] - [[App Simulator]] - [[App Tester]] - https://www.altova.com/mobiletogether/app-development#test-app - https://www.altova.com/manual/MobileTogether/mobiletogetherdesigner/mtddebugger.html