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cloud.google.com·7h ago
Software Engineering
Rust Blog·Sep 7·5 min read
Rust debugging survey 2026 results
TL;DR
The 2026 Rust Debugging Survey revealed that over half of Rust developers do not currently use debuggers, highlighting significant challenges in the debugging experience. With over 2,300 responses, the survey aimed to understand how developers engage with debugging tools and the issues they face.
✦ Why It Matters
Consider exploring and integrating debugging tools to enhance your Rust development workflow today.
Key Takeaways
- Explore alternatives to print debugging for complex issues.
- Address poor data representation in your debugging tools.
- Enhance your understanding of async debugging challenges.
- Consider using the debugger_visualizer attribute for better value display.
Full Summary
In February 2026, the Rust community conducted its first Debugging Survey, gathering over 2,300 responses to understand how developers use debuggers and the challenges they face. The survey found that while 46% of respondents currently use debuggers, more than half do not, with many preferring print debugging for its simplicity.
Notably, 74% reported issues with poor value representation in debuggers, particularly with enums and collections like HashMap. Additionally, 51% of users experienced problems when stepping through code, especially with async functions and macros.
The survey highlights a significant opportunity for improving the debugging experience in Rust, particularly in enhancing the representation of data types and async debugging capabilities.