24th May 2012

Network Dictionary – Rubber Duck Debugging

84DA4767-B85F-4BDF-BCB4-C4577125ED13.jpg

As found at http://lists.ethernal.org/oldarchives/cantlug-0211/msg00174.html

We called it the Rubber Duck method of debugging. It goes like this:

1) Beg, borrow, steal, buy, fabricate or otherwise obtain a rubber duck (bathtub variety)
2) Place rubber duck on desk and inform it you are just going to go over some code with it, if that’s all right.
3) Explain to the duck what you code is supposed to do, and then go into detail and explain things line by line
4) At some point you will tell the duck what you are doing next and then realise that that is not in fact what you are actually doing. The duck will sit there serenely, happy in the knowledge that it has helped you on your way.

Works every time. Actually, if you don’t have a rubber duck you could at a pinch ask a fellow programmer or engineer to sit in.

And don’t you feel foolish……

when, after hours or days of banging away and being completely stumped by something. Then you walk someone else through a problem, and you facepalm and realise EXACTLY WHERE the freaking problem was.

You blush, you mutter and say, thanks for the help. They look at you like you are an idiot and walk away grumbling.

AM I RIGHT ?

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About Greg Ferro

Greg Ferro is a Network Engineer/Architect, mostly focussed on Data Centre, Security Infrastructure, and recently Virtualization. He has over 20 years in IT, in wide range of employers working as a freelance consultant including Finance, Service Providers and Online Companies. He is CCIE#6920 and has a few ideas about the world, but not enough to really count.

He is a host on the Packet Pushers Podcast, blogger at EtherealMind.com and on Twitter @etherealmind and Google Plus

  • http://aconaway.com Aaron

    You are more than right. I don’t code any more, but, when I was in college, I remember having an issue with an assignment. I went to the professor, began to show him what I did, and realized about 3.5 seconds into my explanation what was happening. Of course, this followed 10 hours of troubleshooting to no avail.

    I may go get a duck just in case, though.

  • http://topologyloop.wordpress.com Ethan

    I’ve used this technique in reverse where I’m the rubber duck. When I can’t seem to communicate to someone why their idea won’t work, I say, “Well, okay. Explain it to me, using a whiteboard and small words. Perhaps I’m missing something. (Quack.)” Three boxes and few lines into the drawing, I usually witness the facepalm and a crestfallen expression. “Oh, I get what you were telling me now. It WON’T work, will it…” ;-)

    • http://etherealmind.com Greg Ferro

      Quack, quack.

      _grin_

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