JpyDbg Multithreaded Python debugger integrated in Nbpython

In August 2008 Allan Davis and Ted Leung got in touch with me and just asked if I was interested to integrate my previous JpyDbg python debugger work in nbpython project. At that time I felt that interest of Python in Netbeans community had increased and it was a good time to replace the old 'JpyDbg for netbeans' with a full support of Python in Netbeans IDE.

For sure I was enthusiastic ... So I joined the nbpython project at that time since I saw that with people like Allan, Ted and Tor Norbye and many other contributors Nbpython was starting in good shape to make Python become fully supported by the Netbeans IDE as other core languages like Java,C/C++ Php and Ruby. Those multiple language integration as core features make Netbeans becoming the IDE with the best language coverage in Core features now.

Having all languages supported as Core for an IDE is a killer feature compared to other IDE where Java and C/C++ are the only languages usually integrated as core features other languages being delivered as plugins becoming then second class citizens that may suffer quality and stability/compatibility problems as new version of the IDE are coming out.

Do not misunderstand : plugins are greatfor small or medium features inside an IDE ... But for big structural features like new language support, having a modular core integration is far better , more robust and easier to maintain closely with IDE life cycle

So I started this great venture by first providing a Quick and dirty integration of the old JpyDbg backend for the 6.5 python ea just in order for developpers to be able to play with a first version nbpython debugger in mid september 2008

Next I have been reworking the backend of the debugger to provide a robust multithreaded Python And Jython compliant backend debugger kernel 100% written in Python derived from the standard bdb.py python native debugger Kernel.

This new reworked debugger version is now out by beginning of year 2009 on Netbeans 7.0 trunk starting with nbpython build #513

bellow is a screenshot a a Netbeans nbpython jython/swing debugging session running inside an Ubuntu box :




And I also decided that it was a good time to restart my bloging here in order to provide extra informations about new available features and infos around nbpython debugger ... So stay tuned ;=)