Databricks Community

carl24k · ‎07-01-2025

I'm trying to use the debugger on python scripts that I'm running in my databricks workspace. The first few times i used it, it worked and stopped at my breakpoints. Since then, it just won't stop. I'm sure they are valid lines for breakpoints, but it just won't stop. Is there any trick to getting the debugger to work?

Thanks!

Carl

TheOC · ‎07-01-2025

Are you able to share any of the detail of the code you are running (and where you are applying breakpoints)?

Cheers,
TheOC

nayan_wylde · ‎07-01-2025

Here are the list of things you can try.

1. Restart your Python kernel.

2. Re-enable the Debugger Feature

Go to your username (upper-right) → Settings → Developer → Toggle "Python Notebook Interactive Debugger" off and back on

3. Restart cluster.

4. Confirm that your notebook is attached to a compatible cluster. The debugger requires a cluster with:

• Databricks Runtime 13.3 LTS or above.

• Access mode set to Dedicated (Single User) or No Isolation Shared. Shared access mode clusters are not supported for debugging.

5. You can also try alternate debugger like pdb.

import pdb

def my_function():
    x = 10
    pdb.set_trace()  # This will always stop
    y = x * 2
    return y

my_function()

carl24k · ‎07-03-2025

Thanks for the tips! This is a new cluster with DB rutime 16.4 LTS, access mode is "Dedicated". I have stopped and restarted the cluster several times and the same behavior persists. Does restarting the cluster not restart the Python kernel? If not then I need to figure out restarting the kernel. I also tried turning off and back on the debugger feature. It still won't stop at a breakpoint.

Does this really work for other people??? Or is the script debugger in the workspace a beta feature?

I appreciate the pdb suggestion, but I'm more likely to start doing my development locally in an full IDE with a real debugger that works (even though that would enatil setting up Spark locally which will take some effort)