node-inspect-debugger

Debug Node.js applications with Chrome DevTools Protocol by leveraging the built-in inspector. You launch your program with --inspect-brk to pause execution, then attach a debugger to set breakpoints, walk the call stack, and inspect local scopes programmatically.

Node inspect is a built-in, zero-install CLI REPL best for quick interactive poking, whereas chrome-remote-interface enables scriptable, automated debugging sessions to set many breakpoints and collect state across non-interactive runs.

Set breakpoints and inspect scopes in a running Node.js process by attaching to it with --inspect or --inspect-brk. The built-in V8 inspector allows step-through execution, closure scope dumps, and arbitrary expression evaluation in the paused frame.

You can automate Node.js debugging sessions programmatically by accessing the Chrome DevTools Protocol via chrome-remote-interface. This allows you to script multiple breakpoints, collect state across runs, and debug non-interactively from an agent loop.

Use the built-in Node.js inspector when you need zero-install, fast CLI REPL access for quick poking. Prefer it first before external tools, as it is always available and provides immediate breakpoints, step-through debugging, and scope inspection.