# How to debug a specific collection/stage/game configuration? **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions\ **Created:** [December 22, 2024, 12:47pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/how-to-debug-a-specific-collection-stage-game-configuration/79230 "2024-12-22T12:47:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ramoneur](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/ramoneur/32/30878_2.png) [@ramoneur](https://forum.defold.com/u/ramoneur)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 12:47pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/how-to-debug-a-specific-collection-stage-game-configuration/79230/1 "2024-12-22T12:47:26Z")
Hello folks, If I was to try making a pretty big game with Defold how would I proceed to launch debug not at the beginning of the game ? For example, to launch a specific level/stage, to launch with a specific inventory, or to launch after some specific random results. Is it a better way than changing the main collection in project configuration ? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![iotaHum](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/977dab/32.png) [@iotaHum](https://forum.defold.com/u/iotaHum)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 3:13pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/how-to-debug-a-specific-collection-stage-game-configuration/79230/2 "2024-12-22T15:13:46Z")
A way is to add some code like: ```lua if some_thing then print " break point line" end ``` > **[Debugging in Defold](https://defold.com/manuals/debugging-game-logic/?q=debugger)** > > This manual explains the debugging facilities present in Defold. ---
**Author:** ![Mathias\_Westerdahl](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/mathias_westerdahl/32/228_2.png) [@Mathias\_Westerdahl](https://forum.defold.com/u/Mathias_Westerdahl)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 3:41pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/how-to-debug-a-specific-collection-stage-game-configuration/79230/3 "2024-12-22T15:41:57Z")
It solely depends on what you want to do. Such mechanics take multiple iterations until you have something you like. - Setting the level collection as the bootstrap collection is one way. - Having a debug button in a corner of the screen is another, allowing you to access a debug menu where you can send the appropriate messages (load level, assign health, deal damage, spawn enemies etc) - Also, once could use the config system if you’re launching from command line, using the `--config=...` option to configure the game. ---
**Author:** ![ramoneur](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/ramoneur/32/30878_2.png) [@ramoneur](https://forum.defold.com/u/ramoneur)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/how-to-debug-a-specific-collection-stage-game-configuration/79230/4 "2024-12-22T15:42:53Z")
sorry, I don’t see how this is supposed to answer my question I wonder how to _launch_ debugging in some gamestate, not how to pause it in some gamestate ---
**Author:** ![iotaHum](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/i/977dab/32.png) [@iotaHum](https://forum.defold.com/u/iotaHum)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 3:55pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/how-to-debug-a-specific-collection-stage-game-configuration/79230/5 "2024-12-22T15:55:16Z")
If you don’t want to launch the game with debugging and then stop on a break point you can attach to your running game instead; I have not done the latter, you have not been able to work this out from the manual, is it not helpful? ---
**Author:** ![ramoneur](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/ramoneur/32/30878_2.png) [@ramoneur](https://forum.defold.com/u/ramoneur)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 4:23pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/how-to-debug-a-specific-collection-stage-game-configuration/79230/6 "2024-12-22T16:23:55Z")
Oh sorry I get why my post wasn’t clear : I meant “run the game in debugging mode with a specific game configuration”, for example if you code a Mario and you want to launch the game in the middle of some stage with a specific Mario transformation and a specific coins number. ---
**Author:** ![britzl](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/britzl/32/23_2.png) [@britzl](https://forum.defold.com/u/britzl)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/how-to-debug-a-specific-collection-stage-game-configuration/79230/7 "2024-12-22T21:27:36Z")
> [@ramoneur](#): > > I meant “run the game in debugging mode with a specific game configuration”, for example if you code a Mario and you want to launch the game in the middle of some stage with a specific Mario transformation and a specific coins number. I think Mathias accurately answered your question. Adding a debug menu with “cheat” options is definitely a good solution. You can check if the game is running in debug mode using `sys.get_engine_info().is_debug` > **[sys.get\_engine\_info() - API reference (System)](https://defold.com/ref/sys/#sys.get_engine_info:)** > > sys.get\_engine\_info() | Defold is a free and open game engine used for development of console, desktop, mobile and web games. ---
**Author:** ![ramoneur](https://forum-defold.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/forum.defold.com/ramoneur/32/30878_2.png) [@ramoneur](https://forum.defold.com/u/ramoneur)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2024, 9:30pm UTC](https://forum.defold.com/t/how-to-debug-a-specific-collection-stage-game-configuration/79230/8 "2024-12-22T21:30:44Z")
Oh I haven’t seen the Mathias’ reply yes it’s accurate thank you