While I use ptkdb for tracing, I also use the indispensible Data::Dumper::Simple0. Combining the latter with a global $_DEBUG allows me to do this: 

use strict;
use warnings;
#... blah
if ($_DEBUG) {
   require Data::Dumper::Simple;
   Data::Dumper::Simple->import;
}

sub _explain (@_);

# ... some code

$record = $sth->fetchrow_arrayref;
_explain $record;

# ... some code

sub _explain (@_) {
   return undef unless $_DEBUG;
   local $|=1;
   my @call = caller(1);
   print '#- in ',$call[3],' ',Dumper($_),"\n" for (@_);
}

[download]
This results in: 
#- in mySub $record = [
     'aUser',
     'aPassword'
]

[download]

I usually use STDOUT so I can redirect to a log file if I wish, but sometimes I call out to a logger module, too. One of the advantages of this is that I can set $_DEBUG in-code or with a command-line option &c., thereby controlling the verbosity level on a per-run basis.

0: I use this instead of Data::Dumper simply because it automagically prints the actual name of the variable instead of $VAR1 and the like. It's possible to do that with the Data::Dumper module, too, but the ::Simple version does it anyhow, so why reinvent that wheel?

Anima Legato
.oO all things connect through the motion of the mind

In reply to Re: I usually debug via... by legato
in thread I usually debug via... by rinceWind

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