Viewing complete strings while debugging in Eclipse

Efficient debugging setup

The key to extracting value and saving time while debugging in Eclipse is efficiency. Here are a few time-saving debugging tips you may find useful:

• Do a quick check of any value in the console using System.out.println(variable); or hit the Execute button (because who doesn’t love shortcuts).
• Brevity is the soul of log. Avoid excessive log entries by leveraging Detail Formatters in Eclipse when dealing with large outputs.
• Sometimes, long strings need some real estate. Oversized strings can be dumped into a file using FileUtils.writeStringToFile(file, data) utilizing Apache Commons IO. Don't forget to have the Commons IO JAR in your classpath.
• No Apache Commons IO? No worries. JDK's good old Files.write(path, bytes) can save the day.

Mastering Eclipse Display view

Eclipse's Display view is like that secret tool that’s always right in front of you but never used. It enables you to evaluate expressions on the fly. Simply write down a thin line of code to print the string in the Display view, select it, and hit the Execute button.

Handling large data? Configure it right!

While dealing with extremely large variables, data loading can take a while. A few pointers to ensure smooth debugging with considerable data:

• Amp up the allocated heap size in the debug configuration to give more chow for the debugger (because a hungry debugger is a slow debugger).
• For time-consuming variables, opt for the file-based inspection or (if you're feeling adventurous) try remote debugging.

Partial strings in complex scenarios

Fully viewing partial strings can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Here are a few strategies to help you find that needle:

• Use detail formatters to change the way variables are displayed while debugging.
• Don't sweat the string manipulations; watch expressions have you covered.
• Using breakpoints with conditions can help. The time saved is proportional to the specificity of your string content.

Visual aids for the win

Here are a few visual aids that can come to your rescue:

• UML diagrams to better understand where a string might change.
• A cheat-sheet or a quick screenshot of important debug configurations (like adjusting max string length).