JavaScript debugging — the skill that separates kids who quit from kids who stay

Fix broken JavaScript using the same console tricks professional engineers use.

Every working programmer spends more time debugging than writing. In Debug Detective, Mira hands your child a series of broken JavaScript programs and the magnifying glass to fix them. They will use the browser console, scope, type coercion — the exact tricks of the trade.

Difficulty: Advanced   Time: 20 min   Reward: 350 XP

What your child will learn

• Use console.log to see what a program actually thinks
• Read a stack trace without freaking out
• Spot scope bugs and type coercion bugs
• Add a tiny test to prove a fix is real
• Develop the patient, methodical mindset of a real debugger

What parents should know

• Age: 13+ (most rewarding after Python or Loops)
• Time: About 20 minutes
• Difficulty: Advanced
• Prerequisites: Recommended after Python or Loops.
• Safety: All code runs in a sandbox. Mira is a fixed character.

Parent FAQ

JavaScript or Python — does it matter for debugging?

Most of the mindset transfers. We use JavaScript here because the browser console is the most accessible debugger most kids will ever meet.

Is this too hard for an 13-year-old?

It is the hardest of the early-game missions, but every step is scaffolded. Most kids who finish Loops can finish Debug.

Does it help with future maths/science homework?

Yes — debugging is structured problem-solving applied to a system that talks back. The pattern shows up everywhere.

Why is Mira the debugging tutor?

Because debugging is calm, slow, and methodical, which is exactly Mira's voice.

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