Best Tools for Debugging Flash ActionScript 3 (AS3)

actionscript-3 actionscript flash-cs5

Simon East · Feb 14, 2011 · Viewed 26.4k times · Source

Does anyone want to share the best debugging tools they have found for Actionscript 3 (AS3) and Flash CS5?

I've just done a search and found a few, but would love to hear from people who've actually used any of them. (In order of 'most promising')

Adobe Scout - Adobe Scout is the next-generation profiling tool for Adobe Flash Player and AIR
De MonsterDebugger - open source AIR app that allows introspection and live tweaking
Thunderbold AS3 Console - AIR app that allows introspection of SWFs via Flash Debugger logfile
Arthropod - another AIR app that can inspect SWFs
Luminic Box Flash Inspector (example online, but can't seem to find source code)
DPanel - simple, built-in to but good features to do live tracking of variables
Alcon - looks to have some good timing and profiling features
Print_R Inspector - supports older FlashMX, not sure about AS3
Tracer - Better debugging in AS3 - enhanced trace() functions
Debugging AS3 with Firebug
Flash CS5 built-in debugger - works only on breakpoints, unable to track variables live without using trace()
Output panel from Senocular
Xray (The AdminTool) - AS1+AS2 only