🦆 The Rubber Duck Debugging Trick: A Lesson in Troubleshooting

I was struggling with an SQL query that just would not run. No matter how many times I stared at it, I couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

Frustrated, I walked over to a friend’s desk and noticed a rubber duck sitting next to his monitor. Naturally, I had to ask:

"What’s with the duck?"

He explained that whenever he ran into a tough problem, he would talk through it out loud—to the duck.

💡 The idea? By explaining the issue step by step, he would often spot the mistake himself—without needing another person to help.

At first, I thought it was a little odd. But after trying it myself, I was surprised at how well it worked. Now, when I’m stuck on an SQL query (or any problem), I take a step back and talk it through—even if it’s just to an imaginary audience.

I learned that sometimes the best troubleshooting tool isn’t more Googling or trial and error—it’s hearing yourself explain the problem.

👉 What’s a troubleshooting trick that has helped you solve tough problems? Drop your insights below! 👇