Agency Dictionary

Debugging

nounPronunciation: /diːˈbʌɡ.ɪŋ/

Technology & AI

What does “Debugging” mean?

The systematic identification, isolation, and correction of errors or faults within software or hardware systems.

Etymology

Formed from the verb debug, that is, the prefix de-, "removal", and bug in the sense of a fault in a machine. That sense of bug was engineers' slang by the late 19th century and appears in the letters of Thomas Edison. Debug is recorded in the 1940s, first in aviation and soon after in computing. The moth found in a Harvard computer in 1947 is often given as the origin, but the log entry about it already plays on a word that was in use.

Usage note

Debugging covers finding the cause of a fault as well as correcting it; testing only shows that a fault exists. A debugger is the tool that lets a programmer run code step by step.

Synonyms

troubleshooting
fault-finding
bug fixing

Often confused with

testing: Testing checks whether a program behaves as expected and reveals failures; debugging starts from a failure and looks for its cause in order to remove it.

Word family

debug
debugger
bug
buggy

Rhymes with

hugging
plugging
tugging
shrugging
mugging
lugging

Usage examples

That is how science, programming (hence, bugs and debugging), and math work because their purpose is to build scalable and long-lasting logical structures that are self-sustainable, where every dot, validates each other.
Design.0 - Beyond the Surface of Forms
That is how science, programming (hence, bugs and debugging), and math work because their purpose is to build scalable and long-lasting logical structures that are self-sustainable, where every dot, validates each other.

Concept

Trial and ErrorTrial and error is a way of solving problems by trying one option after another and keeping what works until a solution is found. In the Agency editorial it is the engine…

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Design.0 - Beyond the Surface of FormsMay 10, 2023Read the edition

Words of the same theme

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Rendernoun: A finished two-dimensional image or video generated from a three-dimensional mathematical scene by computer software. It synthesizes geometric coordinates, lighting algorithms, textures, and shading into final pixels.
syntheticadjective: Produced by artificial or chemical synthesis rather than originating from natural or organic processes.
androidnoun: A robot or synthetic organism designed to possess human form, movement, or intelligent behavior.
aqueductnoun: An engineered conduit or bridge designed to convey water from distant freshwater springs into urban centers using gravity flow.
Assistantnoun: A person or computational software program that provides aid, support, or automated services to facilitate work and handle routine tasks.
asynchronousadjective: Not occurring at the same time or coordinated simultaneously, describing workflows or interactions handled independently across time.
binaryadjective: Relating to or composed of two things, specifically a computational numbering system using base two digits.
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Consolenoun: A text-based command interface inside computer software where system operators and players enter manual code commands. In video games, opening the console allows users to modify internal variables and enter cheats.
Databasenoun: A structured, organized collection of digitized data stored electronically in a computer system and accessible through various retrieval and querying mechanisms.

Also from these editions: terms

Equationnoun: A complex statement or problem involving balancing multiple interdependent factors, variables, or meanings.
Mazenoun: A complex network of interconnected paths, passages, or obstacles designed to puzzle and challenge navigation.
Discursiveadjective: Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
vocationnoun: A strong innate inclination or sense of purpose toward a particular career, craft, or calling.
Synchronicitynoun: The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
Decompositionnoun: The natural biological or chemical process of decay, breakdown, or disintegration into constituent elements.
recipientnoun: The person who receives something. In communication, the one to whom a message is addressed and who interprets it, as opposed to the sender who composes it.
iconnoun: A simplified image that represents a thing by resembling it. In semiotics, a sign that signifies through likeness; in digital interfaces, a small picture that stands for an object or a function.
Stigmanoun: A mark of social disgrace, shame, or prejudice associated with a particular circumstance, trait, or behavior.
symbolismnoun: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, and the set of meanings that a form, an image or an object carries beyond its literal sense.
Desaturationnoun: The progressive loss or removal of chromatic intensity, rendering a color closer to a neutral gray.
Regenerativeadjective: Relating to or capable of renewing, restoring, or reforming biological vitality and structural equilibrium.