I Don't Like Debuggers (2000)

I loved what Rob Pike had to say about what he learnt from Ken Thompson: ```A year or two after I'd joined the Labs, I was pair programming with Ken Thompson on an on-the-fly compiler for a little interactive graphics language designed by Gerard Holzmann. I was the faster typist, so I was at the keyboard and Ken was standing behind me as we programmed. We were working fast, and things broke, often visibly—it was a graphics language, after all…

It's possible that it might be appropriate for the leader of the Linux kernel but for other programmers and leaders - don't model your own behaviour after this. You're not Linus. You're not Steve Jobs either - also known for his abrasive style. Firm but fair kindness, diplomacy and a lead-by-example approach are the keys to leading a technical development effort over the long term. Do make tough decisions, do hold people to account, do work hard, do expect the…

Personally, I find arguments against using debuggers to be absurd. More importantly, I think they tend to promote ponitification over science. Using a debugger is, effectively, taking a scientific approach to understanding a software system. It's similar to using a microscope to examine bacteria. The programmer sets up an experiment, and then uses the debugger to observe the software system and learn about how it works. The approach Linus advocates is one of "ponitification", where the wise pontif examines his…