avoiding browser calls in R

Question

I have an elaborate script that spans multiple functions (and files). For debugging purposes I need to embed browser calls into all sorts of nooks and crannies. When I presumably fix something, I want to run the whole thing without debugging, ergo avoiding browser calls because commenting out all browser calls would mean a considerable effort from my part. @mdsumner on R chat suggested running the script in non-interactive mode (i.e. using Rscript.exe on Windows) but I would benefit from having that done in my console, to be able to access for instance traceback. I have gone through browser docs and I can find no option that would come close to what I'm trying to achieve. Any suggestions?

Draughtsman

Have a look at the answers to this very similar question that was posted recently: https://mcmap.net/q/111600/-what-39-s-similar-to-an-ifdef-debug-in-r/602276 – Unwilling

I will use options(debug = "FALSE") and inside a function: if (options("debug")) browser(). Thanks! – Insanity

wrap that inside a function definition called 'dbrowser' and replace all your browser() calls with dbrowser() - instead of replacing them with an if(options)-browser two-liner. – Pineal

Good advice, @Spacedman. Care to write that down in a form of an answer so I can upvote you? – Insanity

@Pineal Isn't this make browser to browse dbrowser function? – Lode

Yes it will. And @Roman I think it should be getOption("debug") cause options("debug") returns list and is not interpreted as logical condition. – Lode

ouch yes. is there some way of telling browser to knock it up a level? I can't seem to get skipCalls to do what I think it should... Ah, it just changes the report, not the environment context... – Pineal

Would sure love to hear what caused the downvote on this one. – Insanity

Answer 1

Here are three possibliities:

1) Overwrite browser command. Add this command to your global workspace to turn the browser commands off:

browser <- list

and to turn it back on

rm(browser)

This is probably the easiest but is a bit ugly due to the browser variable being left in the global environment.

The next two solutions are slightly longer but use options instead so that no new variables are introduced into the global environment. Also they are such that if no options are set then no debugging is done so you only have to set an option if you want debugging. The if solution may be faster than the expr solution although its likely not material.

2) Use expr= argument with option. Replace each browser command with:

browser(expr = isTRUE(getOption("Debug")))

and then define the "Debug" option to be TRUE to turn debugging on.

options(Debug = TRUE)

or set it to something else or remove it to turn debugging off:

options(Debug = NULL)

3) Use if with an option. Replace each browser command with:

if (isTRUE(getOption("Debug"))) browser()

and then set the Debug option or not as in the prior point.

Audette

All good comments from Michael and Marek, but I'm choosing this one as the correct one as it has an overview of three methods. – Insanity

Answer 2

Define global logical value

debug_mode <- TRUE

and then instead of browser() use

if (debug_mode) browser()

Lode

Answer 3

I think this just comes down to nuanced use of a debugging function. If you want to selectively control the use of browser(), put it inside an if that lets you enable or disable debugging for the function. When you want browser to be called, make that explicit like

myfun(x, debug =  TRUE)

Untinged