Re: [Flashcoders] Flash Debugger's not up to it.
variables A and B. How is the debugger going to populate a tree view of the parent object if it does NOT call that getter? Got it. However, to display a variable I would have expected the debugger to just read the memory. In my view, it's a self-evidently poor programming practice to write a property getter which makes changes to the property. Agreed. I am also puzzled as to why some of the variables are not shown, even though they are within scope. Any thoughts? Thanks. John ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
Re: [Flashcoders] Flash Debugger's not up to it.
Flashsavvy, John and Laurie,
I somehow missed your responses but picked them up today. Thank you. Food for
thought! I'm using AS2. I can't imagine the AS3 debugger being any better. I
came back to the subject to let you know how I got on since I found something
of interest.
I was trying to understand someone else's code and finally cornered the bug to
this...
class Point
{
var m_x:Number=0, m_y:Number=0;
var my_Length:Number=0;
var Changed:Boolean=true;
function Point (x, y) { // this calls x() and y()
m_x = Number(x);
m_y = Number(y);
// Two lines added later to fix the problem...
// Changed= true;
// this.length();
}
function get x() {
return(m_x);
}
function set x(n) {
m_x = Number(n);
Changed= true;
}
function get y() {
return(m_y);
}
function set y(n) {
m_y = Number(n);
Changed= true;
}
function get length() {
var len:Number=0;
if (Changed== true) {
Changed= false;
my_Length = Math.sqrt((x * x) + (y * y)); // calls: x(), x(), y(), y()
len=my_Length;// saved
}
return len;
}
etc
Consider a Point variable pt:Point(100,200). This generates calls to x() and
y() as expected. But the debugger intialisation of pt causes an uneccessary
call to pt.length() and this inappropriately reset the variable Changed. Why
are getters and setters called uneccessarily by the debugger?
John
- Original Message -
From: Laurie Jensen [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Sent: Monday, July 02, 2007 11:58 PM
Subject: RE: [Flashcoders] Flash Debugger's not up to it.
I use the Flash CS3 debugger a lot, second only to trace statements for
debugging. I set breakpoints and view variables (including the hierarchy)
and their properties and I can step through code. It's a valuable tool.
Laurie Jensen
Ross Learning Media
-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Grden
Sent: Tuesday, 3 July 2007 7:00 AM
To: flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com
Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Flash Debugger's not up to it.
well, I have yet to see any properties show up in the debugger (well, I
did
see it once, but haven't since then). I'm not an authority on the flash
debugger by any means. In fact, I wrote Xray without even touching the
IDE
debugger. Only later did I go back to see what it was capable of when
someone asked for a comparison.
looking over the article, I skimmed it really, but I saw alot of info
about
step in/out/over and breakpoints in general, then something about changing
properties at runtime. Xray's never been able to do breakpoints, but it's
been dynamically executing actionscript since MX days (IE: you could
change
ringo starr to ozzy osbourne back then at runtime with Xray).
But I have nothing against the IDE debugger by any means, and since Peter
wrote the article, I'm more inclined to think there's something
substantial
there that wasn't there before.
Xray's focus, too, hasn't really been logging, though it started out as a
logger that recursed my objects :) it's more of a tool for flashers in
general to find out what in the world their visual application is doing
and
why. So, when you get into creating grid lines, controlling sound/video,
filters and executing actionscript at runtime that's not compiled with the
swf, Xray is in a different category altogether (IE: not only changing
properties, but calling methods, reflection etc).
Now, going into AS3 is really a different ball game for Xray. It's not
going to try and shove an AS2 expectation into an AS3 world, and that's
why
I'm not just throwing out a connector right away (actually, I'm thinking
of
releasing what I do have since it works and I've been using it since last
year).
anyway, that's my 2 cents :)
I'll definitely try and use the new debugger though - if it's good and
it's
easier to use than Xray, Amen.
On 7/2/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
john,
just curious, in this case are you using as3 in cs3?
i ask because the flash cs3 promo material touts a new advanced
debugger consistent with the flex builder 2 debugger.
personally, i never found any use for the debugger in flash 8
or earlier. i do find useful the debugger in flex builder 2. i have
not yet tried the debugger for as3 in cs3.
i do see this article up on devnet regarding the as3 debugger in cs3:
introducing the actionscript 3.0 debugger
by peter elst
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/as3_debugger.html
has anyone here tried out the cs3 as3 debugger? can anyone
offer feedback whether you have find the cs3 as3 debugger of any use?
p
John McCormack [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am getting increasingly
frustrated trying to debug in the Flash IDE.
I see some
Re: [Flashcoders] Flash Debugger's not up to it.
In my view, it's a self-evidently poor programming practice to write a property getter which makes changes to the property. Absolutely right. It's like the difference between GET and POST. You should never change anything on a server with a GET call, only with POST. ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
Re: [Flashcoders] Flash Debugger's not up to it.
john, just curious, in this case are you using as3 in cs3? i ask because the flash cs3 promo material touts a new advanced debugger consistent with the flex builder 2 debugger. personally, i never found any use for the debugger in flash 8 or earlier. i do find useful the debugger in flex builder 2. i have not yet tried the debugger for as3 in cs3. i do see this article up on devnet regarding the as3 debugger in cs3: introducing the actionscript 3.0 debugger by peter elst http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/as3_debugger.html has anyone here tried out the cs3 as3 debugger? can anyone offer feedback whether you have find the cs3 as3 debugger of any use? p John McCormack [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am getting increasingly frustrated trying to debug in the Flash IDE. I see some, but not all of the variables I expect to see as I step through code. Also, when I step to the next line I step to some unexpected line. A google search throws up: trace(), step over/into/outof and our wonderful Xray but nothing on making the Flash debugger do a proper job. Perhaps I am missing something. Can anyone throw any light on this inadequate behaviour? In desperation. John - Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
Re: [Flashcoders] Flash Debugger's not up to it.
well, I have yet to see any properties show up in the debugger (well, I did see it once, but haven't since then). I'm not an authority on the flash debugger by any means. In fact, I wrote Xray without even touching the IDE debugger. Only later did I go back to see what it was capable of when someone asked for a comparison. looking over the article, I skimmed it really, but I saw alot of info about step in/out/over and breakpoints in general, then something about changing properties at runtime. Xray's never been able to do breakpoints, but it's been dynamically executing actionscript since MX days (IE: you could change ringo starr to ozzy osbourne back then at runtime with Xray). But I have nothing against the IDE debugger by any means, and since Peter wrote the article, I'm more inclined to think there's something substantial there that wasn't there before. Xray's focus, too, hasn't really been logging, though it started out as a logger that recursed my objects :) it's more of a tool for flashers in general to find out what in the world their visual application is doing and why. So, when you get into creating grid lines, controlling sound/video, filters and executing actionscript at runtime that's not compiled with the swf, Xray is in a different category altogether (IE: not only changing properties, but calling methods, reflection etc). Now, going into AS3 is really a different ball game for Xray. It's not going to try and shove an AS2 expectation into an AS3 world, and that's why I'm not just throwing out a connector right away (actually, I'm thinking of releasing what I do have since it works and I've been using it since last year). anyway, that's my 2 cents :) I'll definitely try and use the new debugger though - if it's good and it's easier to use than Xray, Amen. On 7/2/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: john, just curious, in this case are you using as3 in cs3? i ask because the flash cs3 promo material touts a new advanced debugger consistent with the flex builder 2 debugger. personally, i never found any use for the debugger in flash 8 or earlier. i do find useful the debugger in flex builder 2. i have not yet tried the debugger for as3 in cs3. i do see this article up on devnet regarding the as3 debugger in cs3: introducing the actionscript 3.0 debugger by peter elst http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/as3_debugger.html has anyone here tried out the cs3 as3 debugger? can anyone offer feedback whether you have find the cs3 as3 debugger of any use? p John McCormack [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am getting increasingly frustrated trying to debug in the Flash IDE. I see some, but not all of the variables I expect to see as I step through code. Also, when I step to the next line I step to some unexpected line. A google search throws up: trace(), step over/into/outof and our wonderful Xray but nothing on making the Flash debugger do a proper job. Perhaps I am missing something. Can anyone throw any light on this inadequate behaviour? In desperation. John - Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com -- [ JPG ] ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
RE: [Flashcoders] Flash Debugger's not up to it.
I use the Flash CS3 debugger a lot, second only to trace statements for debugging. I set breakpoints and view variables (including the hierarchy) and their properties and I can step through code. It's a valuable tool. Laurie Jensen Ross Learning Media -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Grden Sent: Tuesday, 3 July 2007 7:00 AM To: flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com Subject: Re: [Flashcoders] Flash Debugger's not up to it. well, I have yet to see any properties show up in the debugger (well, I did see it once, but haven't since then). I'm not an authority on the flash debugger by any means. In fact, I wrote Xray without even touching the IDE debugger. Only later did I go back to see what it was capable of when someone asked for a comparison. looking over the article, I skimmed it really, but I saw alot of info about step in/out/over and breakpoints in general, then something about changing properties at runtime. Xray's never been able to do breakpoints, but it's been dynamically executing actionscript since MX days (IE: you could change ringo starr to ozzy osbourne back then at runtime with Xray). But I have nothing against the IDE debugger by any means, and since Peter wrote the article, I'm more inclined to think there's something substantial there that wasn't there before. Xray's focus, too, hasn't really been logging, though it started out as a logger that recursed my objects :) it's more of a tool for flashers in general to find out what in the world their visual application is doing and why. So, when you get into creating grid lines, controlling sound/video, filters and executing actionscript at runtime that's not compiled with the swf, Xray is in a different category altogether (IE: not only changing properties, but calling methods, reflection etc). Now, going into AS3 is really a different ball game for Xray. It's not going to try and shove an AS2 expectation into an AS3 world, and that's why I'm not just throwing out a connector right away (actually, I'm thinking of releasing what I do have since it works and I've been using it since last year). anyway, that's my 2 cents :) I'll definitely try and use the new debugger though - if it's good and it's easier to use than Xray, Amen. On 7/2/07, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: john, just curious, in this case are you using as3 in cs3? i ask because the flash cs3 promo material touts a new advanced debugger consistent with the flex builder 2 debugger. personally, i never found any use for the debugger in flash 8 or earlier. i do find useful the debugger in flex builder 2. i have not yet tried the debugger for as3 in cs3. i do see this article up on devnet regarding the as3 debugger in cs3: introducing the actionscript 3.0 debugger by peter elst http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flash/articles/as3_debugger.html has anyone here tried out the cs3 as3 debugger? can anyone offer feedback whether you have find the cs3 as3 debugger of any use? p John McCormack [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I am getting increasingly frustrated trying to debug in the Flash IDE. I see some, but not all of the variables I expect to see as I step through code. Also, when I step to the next line I step to some unexpected line. A google search throws up: trace(), step over/into/outof and our wonderful Xray but nothing on making the Flash debugger do a proper job. Perhaps I am missing something. Can anyone throw any light on this inadequate behaviour? In desperation. John - Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com -- [ JPG ] ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
Re: [Flashcoders] Flash Debugger's not up to it.
Heh. Nothing to do now but get old school and trace out the values you want to see. I personally never use the Flash Debugger for reasons like the one you're talking about. I find it a lot faster to just spit out the variables I want to see and debug that way. Xray is the bomb dot com. _global.tt() ftw! ___ Flashcoders@chattyfig.figleaf.com To change your subscription options or search the archive: http://chattyfig.figleaf.com/mailman/listinfo/flashcoders Brought to you by Fig Leaf Software Premier Authorized Adobe Consulting and Training http://www.figleaf.com http://training.figleaf.com
