Build practical programming and technology skills

Debugging and Problem Solving

Reproduce failures, collect evidence, isolate causes, test hypotheses, apply minimal fixes, and prevent regressions across common environments.

View curriculum

PractitionerDifficulty

40 hoursEstimated time

7 modules28 lessons

5 guided labsKnowledge check

Plan your learning

Path Brief

Skills you will practice

Core · Debugging Problem Solving
Core · Define The Problem
Core · Reproduce And Reduce
Core · Read The Evidence
Core · Test Hypotheses
Core · Use Debugging Tools

Prerequisites

Programming Foundations

Tools

A current web browser
A code editor or terminal appropriate to the path
A safe local or virtual lab environment

Before you begin

What you need

Programming Foundations

Step-by-step curriculum

Learning modules

Complete lessons in order or open the module that matches your current goal. Your lesson progress is saved on this device.

01Define the ProblemBuild practical skill in define the problem and connect it to the outcomes of Debugging and Problem Solving.4 lessons · 1 lab

Lesson 1

Define the Problem: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Understand the concepts, decisions, and vocabulary you need before applying Define the Problem in Debugging and Problem Solving.

25 min

Lesson 2

Set Up and Explore Define the Problem in Debugging and Problem Solving

Prepare the tools, data, project state, or test environment needed to explore Define the Problem safely and repeatably.

25 min

Lesson 3

Build a Practical Define the Problem Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Take a small failing program or command, write exact reproduction steps, reduce it to the smallest failing case, then test one hypothesis at a time.

30 min

Lesson 4

Debug Common Define the Problem Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Recognize common failure modes in Define the Problem, use the relevant diagnostics, and verify the correction.

25 min

Guided lab · 55 min · Safe

Guided Lab: Define the Problem in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debugging and Problem Solving — Define the Problem lab: Take a small failing program or command, write exact reproduction steps, reduce it to the smallest failing case, then test one hypothesis at a time.

Not started

02Reproduce and ReduceBuild practical skill in reproduce and reduce and connect it to the outcomes of Debugging and Problem Solving.4 lessons · 1 lab

Lesson 1

Reproduce and Reduce: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Understand the concepts, decisions, and vocabulary you need before applying Reproduce and Reduce in Debugging and Problem Solving.

25 min

Lesson 2

Set Up and Explore Reproduce and Reduce in Debugging and Problem Solving

Prepare the tools, data, project state, or test environment needed to explore Reproduce and Reduce safely and repeatably.

25 min

Lesson 3

Build a Practical Reproduce and Reduce Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Take a small failing program or command, write exact reproduction steps, reduce it to the smallest failing case, then test one hypothesis at a time.

30 min

Lesson 4

Debug Common Reproduce and Reduce Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Recognize common failure modes in Reproduce and Reduce, use the relevant diagnostics, and verify the correction.

25 min

Guided lab · 55 min · Moderate

Guided Lab: Reproduce and Reduce in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debugging and Problem Solving — Reproduce and Reduce lab: Take a small failing program or command, write exact reproduction steps, reduce it to the smallest failing case, then test one hypothesis at a time.

Not started

03Read the EvidenceBuild practical skill in read the evidence and connect it to the outcomes of Debugging and Problem Solving.4 lessons · 1 lab

Lesson 1

Read the Evidence: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Understand the concepts, decisions, and vocabulary you need before applying Read the Evidence in Debugging and Problem Solving.

25 min

Lesson 2

Set Up and Explore Read the Evidence in Debugging and Problem Solving

Prepare the tools, data, project state, or test environment needed to explore Read the Evidence safely and repeatably.

25 min

Lesson 3

Build a Practical Read the Evidence Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Create or use a controlled failure, capture the error, identify the failing boundary, fix one cause, and rerun the original reproduction.

30 min

Lesson 4

Debug Common Read the Evidence Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Recognize common failure modes in Read the Evidence, use the relevant diagnostics, and verify the correction.

25 min

Guided lab · 55 min · Moderate

Guided Lab: Read the Evidence in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debugging and Problem Solving — Read the Evidence lab: Create or use a controlled failure, capture the error, identify the failing boundary, fix one cause, and rerun the original reproduction.

Not started

04Test HypothesesBuild practical skill in test hypotheses and connect it to the outcomes of Debugging and Problem Solving.4 lessons · 1 lab

Lesson 1

Test Hypotheses: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Understand the concepts, decisions, and vocabulary you need before applying Test Hypotheses in Debugging and Problem Solving.

25 min

Lesson 2

Set Up and Explore Test Hypotheses in Debugging and Problem Solving

Prepare the tools, data, project state, or test environment needed to explore Test Hypotheses safely and repeatably.

25 min

Lesson 3

Build a Practical Test Hypotheses Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Create or use a controlled failure, capture the error, identify the failing boundary, fix one cause, and rerun the original reproduction.

30 min

Lesson 4

Debug Common Test Hypotheses Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Recognize common failure modes in Test Hypotheses, use the relevant diagnostics, and verify the correction.

25 min

Guided lab · 55 min · Moderate

Guided Lab: Test Hypotheses in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debugging and Problem Solving — Test Hypotheses lab: Create or use a controlled failure, capture the error, identify the failing boundary, fix one cause, and rerun the original reproduction.

Not started

05Use Debugging ToolsBuild practical skill in use debugging tools and connect it to the outcomes of Debugging and Problem Solving.4 lessons · 1 lab

Lesson 1

Use Debugging Tools: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Understand the concepts, decisions, and vocabulary you need before applying Use Debugging Tools in Debugging and Problem Solving.

25 min

Lesson 2

Set Up and Explore Use Debugging Tools in Debugging and Problem Solving

Prepare the tools, data, project state, or test environment needed to explore Use Debugging Tools safely and repeatably.

25 min

Lesson 3

Build a Practical Use Debugging Tools Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Create or use a controlled failure, capture the error, identify the failing boundary, fix one cause, and rerun the original reproduction.

30 min

Lesson 4

Debug Common Use Debugging Tools Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Recognize common failure modes in Use Debugging Tools, use the relevant diagnostics, and verify the correction.

25 min

Guided lab · 55 min · Moderate

Guided Lab: Use Debugging Tools in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debugging and Problem Solving — Use Debugging Tools lab: Create or use a controlled failure, capture the error, identify the failing boundary, fix one cause, and rerun the original reproduction.

Not started

06Fix and VerifyBuild practical skill in fix and verify and connect it to the outcomes of Debugging and Problem Solving.4 lessons

Lesson 1

Fix and Verify: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Understand the concepts, decisions, and vocabulary you need before applying Fix and Verify in Debugging and Problem Solving.

25 min

Lesson 2

Set Up and Explore Fix and Verify in Debugging and Problem Solving

Prepare the tools, data, project state, or test environment needed to explore Fix and Verify safely and repeatably.

25 min

Lesson 3

Build a Practical Fix and Verify Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Create or use a controlled failure, capture the error, identify the failing boundary, fix one cause, and rerun the original reproduction.

30 min

Lesson 4

Debug Common Fix and Verify Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Recognize common failure modes in Fix and Verify, use the relevant diagnostics, and verify the correction.

25 min

07Debug Production-Like SystemsBuild practical skill in debug production-like systems and connect it to the outcomes of Debugging and Problem Solving.4 lessons

Lesson 1

Debug Production-Like Systems: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Understand the concepts, decisions, and vocabulary you need before applying Debug Production-Like Systems in Debugging and Problem Solving.

25 min

Lesson 2

Set Up and Explore Debug Production-Like Systems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Prepare the tools, data, project state, or test environment needed to explore Debug Production-Like Systems safely and repeatably.

25 min

Lesson 3

Build a Practical Debug Production-Like Systems Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Deploy a small version change to a disposable environment, verify health, then practice a rollback.

30 min

Lesson 4

Debug Common Debug Production-Like Systems Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Recognize common failure modes in Debug Production-Like Systems, use the relevant diagnostics, and verify the correction.

25 min

Portfolio integration

Capstone Project

Investigate a Multi-Layer Application Failure

Combine the path skills in a portfolio-ready project with clear functional requirements, tests, verification evidence, and operating notes.

GuidedIndependentPortfolio

Acceptance criteria

The core workflow works from start to finish.
Invalid input or failure states are handled clearly.
The result is tested and documented.
A reviewer can reproduce the setup and verification.

Continue in Programming

Related Programming

Skill assessment

Debugging and Problem Solving

Path Brief

Skills you will practice

Prerequisites

Tools

What you need

Learning modules

Define the Problem: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Set Up and Explore Define the Problem in Debugging and Problem Solving

Build a Practical Define the Problem Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debug Common Define the Problem Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Guided Lab: Define the Problem in Debugging and Problem Solving

Reproduce and Reduce: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Set Up and Explore Reproduce and Reduce in Debugging and Problem Solving

Build a Practical Reproduce and Reduce Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debug Common Reproduce and Reduce Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Guided Lab: Reproduce and Reduce in Debugging and Problem Solving

Read the Evidence: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Set Up and Explore Read the Evidence in Debugging and Problem Solving

Build a Practical Read the Evidence Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debug Common Read the Evidence Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Guided Lab: Read the Evidence in Debugging and Problem Solving

Test Hypotheses: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Set Up and Explore Test Hypotheses in Debugging and Problem Solving

Build a Practical Test Hypotheses Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debug Common Test Hypotheses Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Guided Lab: Test Hypotheses in Debugging and Problem Solving

Use Debugging Tools: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Set Up and Explore Use Debugging Tools in Debugging and Problem Solving

Build a Practical Use Debugging Tools Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debug Common Use Debugging Tools Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Guided Lab: Use Debugging Tools in Debugging and Problem Solving

Fix and Verify: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Set Up and Explore Fix and Verify in Debugging and Problem Solving

Build a Practical Fix and Verify Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debug Common Fix and Verify Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debug Production-Like Systems: Core Concepts for Debugging and Problem Solving

Set Up and Explore Debug Production-Like Systems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Build a Practical Debug Production-Like Systems Example in Debugging and Problem Solving

Debug Common Debug Production-Like Systems Problems in Debugging and Problem Solving

Capstone Project

Investigate a Multi-Layer Application Failure

Acceptance criteria

Test your understanding

Related Programming

Check your starting point

Plan the capstone

Explore related paths