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Dev tools · July 27, 2025

Dlg – Zero-cost printf-style debugging for Go

Hey HN, I tend to use printf-style debugging as my primary troubleshooting method and only resort to gdb as a last resort. While I like its ease of use printf debugging isn't without its annoyances, namely removing the print statements once you're done. I used to use trace-level logging from proper logging libraries but adding trace calls in every corner quickly gets out of control and results in an overwhelming amount of output. To scratch my own itch I created dlg - a minimal debugging library that disappears completely from production builds. Its API exposes just a single function, Printf…

Dlg – Zero-cost printf-style debugging for Go launched on July 27, 2025 with 64 votes, #542 of 9,224 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 1 year on.

Visit github.com ↗Alternativestop 6% of July 2025

In plain words

Dlg is a Go debugging library designed for developers who prefer printf-style debugging. It provides a single Printf function that works like standard output but automatically disappears from production builds when compiled without the dlg build tag. The library includes optional stack trace generation configurable through environment variables or linker flags, eliminating the need to manually remove debug statements and reducing output clutter compared to traditional logging libraries.

written from the facts on this page · September 2026

From the sources

Printf-Style Debugging with Zero-Cost in Production Builds - vvvvv/dlg

In the maker’s words, at launch

Hey HN, I tend to use printf-style debugging as my primary troubleshooting method and only resort to gdb as a last resort. While I like its ease of use printf debugging isn't without its annoyances, namely removing the print statements once you're done. I used to use trace-level logging from proper logging libraries…

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