SF-PD2 Testing, Debugging, and Deployment Practice Question
A developer is troubleshooting an Apex class that intermittently throws a System.LimitException during integration tests. The developer needs to see the exact sequence of method calls and the values of variables at each step without modifying the class. Which Salesforce feature should the developer use?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is equating detailed debug log levels with interactive step-through debugging, which only the replay tool provides.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Apex Replay Debugger
Apex Replay Debugger consumes a captured debug log and replays execution with breakpoints, variable inspection, and call-stack navigation, all without altering the class. Because the failure is intermittent and occurs during integration tests, the developer can capture a log of the failing run and replay it to find the exact point where the limit is exceeded.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The Apex Test Execution page in Setup
Why it's wrong here
The Apex Test Execution page runs tests and shows pass or fail results with coverage, but it does not offer interactive debugging of variable values or call sequences. It cannot reproduce the step-by-step execution needed to pinpoint where the limit exception originates.
- ✗
Checkpoints in the Developer Console
Why it's wrong here
Checkpoints let a developer inspect heap and variables at a specific line during a live execution, but they require the execution to pause and are limited in scope. They do not provide a full step-by-step replay of the call sequence from a captured log, so they are less suitable for post-mortem analysis of an intermittent failure.
- ✓
Apex Replay Debugger
Why this is correct
Apex Replay Debugger lets a developer download a debug log from the org and step through the execution line by line, inspecting variable values and the call stack without editing the class. It reproduces the exact run that produced the log, which is ideal for diagnosing an intermittent limit exception during integration tests.
- ✗
Debug Log levels set to FINEST for Apex Code
Why it's wrong here
FINEST log levels capture detailed events but produce a flat log rather than an interactive step-through. Reading the log manually does not give the controlled call-sequence and variable inspection that a replay provides, so it is a weaker fit for tracing an intermittent limit exception.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Salesforce exam blueprint
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