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Textual

debugger, a Python TUI debugger with power features

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What is Textual?

Textual is a Python debugger that runs in the terminal, giving you a graphical interface without leaving your command line. It's built on the Textual framework and uses debugpy for the actual debugging work, so it integrates cleanly with your existing Python environment. This is useful if you spend most of your time in the terminal or prefer not to switch between different tools. The debugger shows you variables, stack traces, and breakpoints in an organised visual layout rather than requiring you to type commands repeatedly.

Key features

Terminal-based interface

Run the debugger directly in your terminal without opening a separate application

Variable inspection

View and monitor local and global variables as your code executes

Breakpoint management

Set, remove, and manage breakpoints through the visual interface

Stack trace navigation

Examine the call stack and move between frames to understand code flow

Integration with debugpy

Uses the standard Python debugpy protocol for reliable debugging support

Pros & cons

Advantages

  • No context switching if you work in the terminal most of the time
  • Free to use with optional premium features available
  • Works with standard Python debugging tools and protocols
  • Lightweight compared to full-featured IDEs

Limitations

  • Limited to terminal environment, which may feel cramped for complex debugging sessions
  • Smaller community and ecosystem compared to established IDE debuggers
  • Requires familiarity with terminal-based interfaces

Use cases

Debugging Python scripts on remote servers where you only have terminal access

Developers who prefer terminal-based workflows and want to avoid switching applications

Quick debugging sessions during development without launching a heavy IDE

Automating debug workflows in scripts or CI/CD pipelines

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Pricing

Free

Free

Core debugging functionality including breakpoints, variable inspection, and stack trace navigation

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Try Textual free
  • Free plan available
  • No credit card