Java compilers such as the Sun Microsystems javac compiler can compile Java classes at different levels of optimization. You can opt to compile Java code so that information used by debuggers is retained in the compiled class files.
If you compile your source code without using switches for debugging, you can still step through code and use breakpoints. However, you cannot inspect the values of local variables.
To compile classes for debugging using the javac compiler, use the -g option:
javac -g ClassName.java
