Can I access the function call stack in Chrome or Puppeteer without using exceptions?

Other Questions Puppeteer
1

I’m trying to figure out how to get the function call stack in Chrome or Puppeteer without relying on exceptions. Here’s what I’m trying to achieve:

Imagine I have a function named myClickHandler that runs when a user clicks a button. Inside myClickHandler, there’s another function called processData defined in a separate JavaScript file. For example:

function myClickHandler() {
  // Some code here
  processData();
  // More code
}

My questions are:

  1. Is there a way to determine the file where processData is defined?
  2. Can I retrieve the line number where processData is called?
  3. Is there a built-in Chrome or Puppeteer function that provides this information?

I’ve explored Chrome’s DevTools but haven’t found a solution yet. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

2

As someone who’s dealt with similar challenges, I’d recommend exploring the Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) in conjunction with Puppeteer. It’s a powerful tool that can give you the granular control you’re after.

I’ve found that using CDP’s Debugger domain allows you to pause execution at specific points and retrieve detailed stack information. This includes file paths and line numbers, which sounds like exactly what you’re looking for.

To implement this, you’d need to enable the debugger in Puppeteer, set a breakpoint in your target function, and then analyze the call stack when the breakpoint is hit. It’s a bit more involved than using console.trace(), but it provides much more detailed and reliable information.

One caveat: this approach does require some setup and can impact performance if not used judiciously. But for debugging and development purposes, it’s been invaluable in my experience.

3

hey dave, have u tried using the console.trace() method? it prints the current stack trace to the console without throwing an exception. u could also look into the Error.captureStackTrace() function, which allows u to create a stack trace object without actually throwing an error. might be worth checkin out!

4

While console.trace() and Error.captureStackTrace() are useful, they might not provide the specific file and line information you’re seeking. For a more robust solution, consider using the Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) with Puppeteer. This allows you to set breakpoints programmatically and inspect the call stack at runtime. You can use the Debugger domain to pause execution and retrieve detailed stack information, including file paths and line numbers. It’s a bit more complex to set up, but it offers precise control over debugging and stack inspection without relying on exceptions or altering your code significantly.