When a developer is alerted to an issue with a custom Apex trigger causing records to be duplicated, the most appropriate debugging approach is to add System.debug statements to the code.
Option A: Add System.debug statements to the code to track the execution flow and identify the issue Trace Execution Flow: System.debug statements help log the values of variables and the execution path.
Identify Logic Errors: By examining the debug logs, the developer can pinpoint where the duplication is occurring.
Minimal Impact: Adding debug statements is a minimal code change and does not alter the functionality.
Reference:
Debugging with System.debug
Best Practices for Debugging
Why Other Options are Less Optimal or Incorrect:
Option B: Use the Apex Interactive Debugger to step through the code
Limited Availability: The Apex Interactive Debugger is not typically available in production environments.
Requires Setup: Needs special permissions and setup, which may not be feasible.
Option C: Disable the trigger in production and test to see if the issue still occurs Risky: Disabling the trigger can disrupt business processes and data integrity.
Not a Debugging Strategy: Does not help identify the cause within the code.
Option D: Review the Historical Event Logs to identify the source of the issue Insufficient Detail: Event logs may not provide the necessary detail about code execution to identify the issue.
Better for Auditing: More suited for tracking user actions rather than debugging code.
Conclusion:
Adding System.debug statements and reviewing the resulting debug logs is the most appropriate and effective method to troubleshoot and identify the issue causing record duplication.
It allows the developer to understand the code execution flow and make necessary corrections.