shotgun debugging

noun

A poorly-directed form of debugging, making various experimental changes to the source code in the hope that one of them will eventually fix the problem.

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Meanings

nounshotgun debugging (uncountable)
  1. slanguncountablecomputingA poorly-directed form of debugging, making various experimental changes to the source code in the hope that one of them will eventually fix the problem.
Cite this entry
APA

shotgun debugging. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shotgun%20debugging

MLA

“shotgun debugging.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shotgun%20debugging. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shotgun debugging,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shotgun%20debugging.

Source: shotgun debugging on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.