Thread

1. customguy · 1789628580 · focus · HN ↗

   I am so proud of this (I'm sure others came up with it way before me, but I still came up with it all by myself!)

       //*
           normal path
       /*/
           debug path
       //*/
   

   take away the the first slash to toggle the debug zone ON!

   1. normie3000 · 1789631353 · focus · HN ↗

      It's awesome in both senses! How readable has it become for you over time? Because on first glance and without syntax highlighting it's a head-scratcher.

      1. customguy · 1789635919 · focus · HN ↗

         With syntax highlighting I instantly know what it is :) But to be honest it's just for when I find myself toggling something a lot during development.. but still am too lazy to make a variable.
   2. penguin_booze · 1789633362 · focus · HN ↗

        #if 0
          // Normal path
        #else
          // Debug path
        #endif
      

      Only works with C and C++, though.

      1. elboru · 1789656934 · focus · HN ↗

         C#:

         #if DEBUG

             Console.WriteLine("This only compiles and runs in Debug mode.");
         

         #else

             Console.WriteLine("This only compiles and runs in Release mode.");
         

         #endif
   3. pillmillipedes · 1789643596 · focus · HN ↗

      I once took the time to figure these out for all the languages I use

      here's python:

          #'''
            normal path
          '''
            debug path
          #'''
      

      when I comment out python code I do it with ''' ... #''' so I can uncomment it with 1 keystroke
   4. elboru · 1789657152 · focus · HN ↗

      Pretty cool, I love when I catch a coworker doing small tricks like this during pairing sessions.
   5. spartanatreyu · 1789688118 · focus · HN ↗

      I always did it as:

      /**/

          Debug code to toggle on and off
      

      /**/

          Other debug code to toggle on and off
      

      /**/

      And toggled by removing the last slash on one of the comment lines.

      Having two `*` characters worked better for syntax highlighting at the time.

      Then I learned about Ctrl/Cmd + / to toggle a line or region on and off.

      But I still use the old technique when code editors can't handle where comments are supposed to start and stop and commenting out too much or breaking the indentation, typically breaking around modern CSS's newer features or languages embedded within other languages.

      1. mitxela · 1789727533 · focus · HN ↗

         /*/ is a comment "else", so you only need to change the first line to switch branches.
   6. mitxela · 1789727487 · focus · HN ↗

      I also invented this by myself.

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