Letting LLMs Run a Debugger
Hey HN, I just built an experimental VSCode extension called LLM Debugger. It’s a proof-of-concept that lets a large language model take charge of debugging. Instead of only looking at the static code, the LLM also gets to see the live runtime state—actual variable values, function calls, branch decisions, and more. The idea is to give it enough context to help diagnose issues faster and even generate synthetic data from running programs. Here’s what it does: * Active Debugging: It integrates with Node.js debug sessions to gather runtime info (like variable states and stack traces). *…
Letting LLMs Run a Debugger launched on February 12, 2025 with 147 votes, #271 of 5,999 launches that month and more than 95% of that year's launches. The site was still online in September 2026, 1 year on.
In plain words
LLM Debugger is a VSCode extension that allows large language models to assist with debugging by accessing live runtime information from Node.js debug sessions. Rather than analyzing only static code, the tool provides LLMs with actual variable values, stack traces, and execution flow data. It automatically sets breakpoints based on code analysis and LLM suggestions, enabling the model to guide developers through debugging steps in real time. The extension is designed for developers using Node.js who want to explore AI-assisted debugging workflows.
written from the facts on this page · September 2026
From the sources
VSCode extension that demonstrates the use of large language models (LLMs) for active debugging of programs - mohsen1/llm-debugger-vscode-extension
LLM Debugger is a VSCode extension that demonstrates the use of large language models (LLMs) for active debugging of programs. This project is a proof of concept developed as a research experiment and will not be actively maintained or further developed. Traditional LLM-based debugging approaches analyze only static source code. With LLM Debugger, the LLM is provided with real-time runtime context including: This enriched context allows the LLM to diagnose bugs faster and more accurately. The extension also has the capability to generate synthetic data by running code and capturing execution details beyond the static source, offering unique insights into program behavior. graph TB subgraph…from github.com
In the maker’s words, at launch
Hey HN, I just built an experimental VSCode extension called LLM Debugger. It’s a proof-of-concept that lets a large language model take charge of debugging. Instead of only looking at the static code, the LLM also gets to see the live runtime state—actual variable values, function calls, branch decisions, and more.…
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