yes, this is a very noobish question. I'm a .NET developer and I need to step through some java code to see *exactly* what is going on so i can port some java into some c#. So far i've not needed to do that .. until now.

So .. i have absolutely *zero knowledge* of java debugging. So can someone please explain in blond-speak how i can debug the following java program, and specifically ... this line/method in the following

=> code source [zipped, found here](http://www.julienlecomte.net/yuicompressor/yuicompressor-2.4.2.zip "YUI Compressor 2.4.2").  

=> line of code: `\src\com\yahoo\platform\yui\compressor\JavaScriptCompressor.java` :: line 550 ... `buildSymbolTree();`

Now, to add to my embarassment, I have no idea what program i need to download, what steps i need to do to add this java project, add a breakpoint, start debugger, etc.

I would appreciate it if someone could provide some steps to doing this.

Oh .. this will be all installed on a virtual pc running windows xp.
The only thing this virtual pc has installed on it (currently) is windows xp & the java runtime (jre-6u12....)

Thanks kindly!

Steps (will update when more info comes in)
-------------------------------------------

1. Grab/install NetBeans Ide from [here](http://www.netbeans.org/). (Program to debug java with).
2. (how to open an existing project?)
3. (how to make a break point?)
4. (how to start debugging .. including defining the command line args to read in the file?)
5. (how to make a watch item?)

Wiki Mode
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* Made this a wiki so other people can edit/update the steps.