1. Using the Rhino JavaScript Debugger

    2. The Mozilla Rhino JavaScript engine includes a source-level debugger for debugging JavaScript scripts. The debugger is itself a Java program which you may run as

    java org.mozilla.javascript.tools.debugger.JSDebugger [options] [filename.js] [script-arguments]

    where the options are the same as the shell.

    1. Features

      2. The Rhino JavaScript Debugger can debug scripts running in multiple threads and provides facilities to set and clear breakpoints, control execution, view variables, and evaluate arbitrary JavaScript code in the current scope of an executing script.

      1. Console Window

        2. The debugger redirects the System.out, System.in, and System.err streams to an internal Error console window which provides an editable command line for you to enter JavaScript code and view system output. The console window maintains a history of the commands you have entered. You may move backward and forward through the history list by pressing the Up/Down arrow keys on the keyboard.

      2. Opening Scripts

        3. You may select the File->Open menu item on the menu bar to load JavaScript scripts contained in files. This action will display a file-selection dialog box prompting you for the location of a script to load. The selected file will be compiled and displayed in a new window.

      3. Running Scripts

        4. You may select the File->Run menu item on the menu bar to execute JavaScript scripts contained in files. This action will display a file-selection dialog box prompting you for the location of a script to execute. The loaded script will be run in a new thread and control will be given to the debugger on its first instruction.

      4. Controlling Execution

        5. The debugger provides the following facilities for you to control the execution of scripts you are debugging:

        1. Step Into

To single step entering any function calls, you may do any of the following:

Execution will resume. If the current line in the script contains a function call control will return to the debugger upon entry into the function. Otherwise control will return to the debugger at the next line in the current function.

        1. Step Over

To single step to the next line in the current function, you may do any of the following:

Execution will resume but control will return to the debugger at the next line in the current function or top-level script.

        1. Step Out

To continue execution until the current function returns you may do any of the following:

Execution will resume until the current function returns or a breakpoint is hit.

        1. Go

To resume execution of a script you may do any of the following:

Execution will resume until a breakpoint is hit or the script completes.

 

        1. Break

To stop all running scripts and give control to the debugger you may do any of the following:

      1. Moving Up and Down the Stack

        2. The lower-left (dockable) pane in the debugger main window contains a combo-box labeled "Context:" which displays the current stack of the executing script. You may move up and down the stack by selecting an entry in the combo-box. When you select a stack frame the variables and watch windows are updated to reflect the names and values of the variables visible at that scope.

      2. Setting and Clearing Breakpoints

The main desktop of the debugger contains file windows which display the contents of each script you are debugging. You may set a breakpoint in a script by doing one of the following:

If the selected line contains executable code a red dot will appear next to the line number and a breakpoint will be set at that location.

You may set clear breakpoint in a script by doing one of the following:

The red dot will disappear and the breakpoint at that location will be cleared.

      1. Viewing Variables

        2. The lower-left (dockable) pane in the debugger main window contains a tab-pane with two tabs, labeled "this" and "Locals". Each pane contains a tree-table which displays the properties of the current object and currently visible local variables, respectively.

        1. This

        The properties of the current object are displayed in the this table. If a property is itself a JavaScript object the property may be expanded to show its sub-properties. The this table is updated each time control returns to the debugger or when you change the stack location in the Context: window.

      2. Locals

        3. The local variables of the current function are displayed in the Locals table. If a variable is itself a JavaScript object the variable may be expanded to show its sub-properties. The Locals table is updated each time control returns to the debugger or when you change the stack location in the Context: window

      3. Watch Window

        4. You may enter arbitrary JavaScript expressions in the Watch: table located in the lower-right (dockable) pane in the debugger main window. The expressions you enter are reevaluated in the current scope and their current values displayed each time control returns to the debugger or when you change the stack location in the Context: window.

      4. Evaluation Window

The Evaluate pane located in the lower-right (dockable) pane in the debugger main window contains an editable command line where you may enter arbitrary JavaScript code. The code is evaluated in the context of the current stack frame. The window maintains a history of the commands you have entered. You may move backward or forward through the history by pressing the Up/Down arrow keys on the keyboard.