{{QBDLDATE:05-20-2022}}
{{QBDLTIME:23:06:28}}
This metacommand enables debug tests with the [[_ASSERT]] statement.


{{PageSyntax}}
:[[$ASSERTS]][:CONSOLE]


{{PageDescription}}
* The metacommand does not require a comment or [[REM]] before it. There is no space after the colon.
* If this metacommand is used in a program and any of the set [[_ASSERT]] checkpoints will fail, then the program will stop with an '''{{Text|_ASSERT failed|#fc5454}}''' error.
* Detailed error messages passed to the [[_ASSERT]] statement will be displayed in the console window, but only if [[$ASSERTS|$ASSERTS:CONSOLE]] is used.

;Note: This metacommand is the main switch to enable debug tests during development. Later just remove this metacommand to compile the program without debugging code, all the [[_ASSERT]] statements may remain in the code for later debugging sessions, they are simply ignored without this metacommand.


{{PageAvailability}}
* '''QB64 1.4 and up''' (QB64 Team)
* '''QBPE 0.5 and up''' (QB64 Phoenix Edition)


{{PageExamples}}
;Example:Adding test checks for parameter inputs in a function.
{{CodeStart}}
{{Cl|$ASSERTS}}:CONSOLE

{{Cl|DO}}
    a = {{Cl|INT}}({{Cl|RND}} * 10)
    b$ = myFunc$(a)
    {{Cl|PRINT}} a, , b$
    {{Cl|_LIMIT}} 3
{{Cl|LOOP}} {{Cl|UNTIL}} {{Cl|_KEYHIT}}

{{Cl|FUNCTION}} myFunc$ (value {{Cl|AS}} {{Cl|SINGLE}})
    {{Cl|_ASSERT}} value > 0, "Value cannot be zero"
    {{Cl|_ASSERT}} value <= 10, "Value cannot exceed 10"

    {{Cl|IF}} value > 1 {{Cl|THEN}} plural$ = "s"
    myFunc$ = {{Cl|STRING$}}(value, "*") + {{Cl|STR$}}(value) + " star" + plural$ + " :-)"
{{Cl|END}} {{Cl|FUNCTION}}
{{CodeEnd}}


{{PageSeeAlso}}
* [[_ASSERT]]
* [[$CHECKING]]
* [[Relational Operations]]
* [[ERROR Codes]]


{{PageNavigation}}