# Debugging Scripts

> Learn how to debug GenAIScript files using Visual Studio Code Debugger to efficiently troubleshoot and enhance your JavaScript automation scripts.

The GenAIScript script files are executable JavaScript and can be debugged using the [Visual Studio Code Debugger](https://code.visualstudio.com/Docs/editor/debugging), just like any other JavaScript program.

![A screenshot of a debugging session in a code editor with a breakpoint set on a line of code. The editor is displaying several panels including the watch variables, call stack, and a terminal output. The code is partially visible with a function definition and JSON configuration data.
](/genaiscript/_astro/debugger.VhgOO6-1_ZMKDkn.webp)

Tip

GenAIScript also provides [builtin lightweight logging](/genaiscript/reference/scripts/logging) to help you troubleshoot your scripts without a debugger.

## Starting a debugging session

[Section titled “Starting a debugging session”](#starting-a-debugging-session)

* Open the `.genai.mjs` file to debug and add breakpoints.

### From the env files

[Section titled “From the env files”](#from-the-env-files)

* Right click in the editor of the file you want in `env.files`.
* Select the GenAIScript from the picker.

#### From the script itself

[Section titled “From the script itself”](#from-the-script-itself)

* Add a `files` field in the `script` function

```js
script({
    ...,
    files: "*.md"
})
```

* Click on the **Debug** icon button on the editor menu (hidden under the run button).

The debugger will launch the [cli](/genaiscript/reference/cli) and run the script in debug mode. The debugger will stop at the breakpoints you set.

## Limitations

[Section titled “Limitations”](#limitations)

The JavaScript executes in an external node process. Therefore,

* The trace preview and output is not supported while debugging.

## Next steps

[Section titled “Next steps”](#next-steps)

Keep iterating the script or [add tests](/genaiscript/getting-started/testing-scripts).