Enhancing Debugging Skills with AI-Powered Assistance: A Real-Time Tool for Debugging Support

arXiv:2601.02504v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: Debugging is a crucial skill in programming education and software development, yet it is often overlooked in CS curricula. To address this, we introduce an AI-powered debugging assistant integrated into an IDE. It offers real-time support by analyzing code, suggesting breakpoints, and providing contextual hints. Using RAG with LLMs, program slicing, and custom heuristics, it enhances efficiency by minimizing LLM calls and improving accuracy. A three-level evaluation – technical analysis, UX study, and classroom tests – highlights its potential for teaching debugging.