# Debugging with JDE

This page explains what you need to know before debugging in JDE,TM and information on using the debugger.

## Before Debugging

To debug your applet or standalone programs with JDE, you must build your program using the `-g` option for the compiler. Before you build and compile your program, make sure these options are set by choosing Project -> Edit. In the Edit Project window's Build Tab, you can specify the `-g` option in the Javac options box.

Microsoft Windows and Microsoft NT users must install and configure TCP/IP software before using the JDE debugger.

## Using the Debugger

After you build your program inside JDE, you can use the Debug menu and the Edit/Debug Toolbar buttons to debug your program.

To examine your source code, you'll first want to set a breakpoint in your program before starting a debugging session -- the debugger does not automatically set any breakpoints in a program.

If you haven't set any breakpoints in your program before you begin a debugging session, you can do one of the following:

- Choose Debug -> Interrupt Program, to halt the execution of your program.
- Choose Debug -> Breakpoints, to set a breakpoint in your program.

Once you start debugging your project's source code in the source editor, you can examine the stack, variables and global variables using the Threads/Stack window.

While debugging your Java program, you can also:

- Evaluate expressions (local or global) within the scope of the method you are stopped in.
- Use the Exceptions Window to tell the debugger how to handle exceptions generated in your code.
- View input and output activities generated by the debugger.

See also:

  Starting a Debugging Session