Algokit AVM Debugger is an open-source debugging tool for developers who write smart contracts on Algorand. It is a standalone implementation of the AVM Debug Adapter Protocol, the component that lets a compatible client pause, step through and inspect a contract while it runs. The project is free, written in JavaScript and TypeScript, and currently released as a beta.
The tool is aimed at people who need more than log messages when a contract misbehaves. Its latest code update is dated March 23, 2026, so the project has been recently worked on. Expect a focused component rather than a complete development toolkit, and plan your setup with that scope in mind.
What the AVM Is and Why Contracts Need Debugging
The AVM, or Algorand Virtual Machine, is the execution environment that runs smart contracts on the Algorand network. Programs for it are compiled into a low-level form, and a bug in that form can be hard to spot from source code alone. A contract that passes a quick review may still fail under specific inputs, timing or account states.
Debugging helps you see what a contract actually does, step by step. For example, if a payment check rejects a transaction you expected to succeed, a debugger lets you pause at the comparison and read the values in front of you. That direct view is the core value of a tool like this.
Who Would Use Algokit AVM Debugger?
The most obvious users are developers writing and testing Algorand smart contracts who have reached the limits of logging and test output. Teams preparing a contract for review may also use a debugger to walk through edge cases before making a deployment decision.
- Developers reproducing a failed transaction on a local test setup
- Engineers who need to understand a contract written by someone else
- Reviewers tracing unexpected branches before sign-off
If you only deploy finished applications and never touch their code, you will probably not need this tool day to day.
How a Debug Adapter Connects Your Tools
The Debug Adapter Protocol, or DAP, is a common message format between a development client and a debugger. The client sends requests such as set a breakpoint or step over, and the adapter translates them into operations on the running program. Because the format is shared, one adapter can serve any client that speaks it.
This separation is why a standalone adapter matters. You can test its behavior independently of any editor, and you can change clients without rewriting the contract logic you are debugging.
Key features
Standalone Debug Adapter
Focused Contract Debugging
Open Source and JavaScript Based
Supported coins
The project documentation names Algorand as the network it targets, so the debugger is focused on Algorand smart contracts.
How to install Algokit AVM Debugger on Windows
- 1
Get the Software from GitHub
Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository at github.com/algorandfoundation/algokit-avm-debugger. Open the Releases page to find the latest version, currently v1.0.3-beta.1, and check whether a Windows build is attached. Avoid third-party download sites and forum file shares.
- 2
Verify the File
If the release lists a SHA-256 checksum or a signature, compare it before you run anything. In PowerShell, run Get-FileHash on the downloaded file and match the output against the published value. A mismatch means you should not run the file.
-
Install or Build
If a Windows build is attached, run the installer or extract the archive as the release notes describe. If no Windows build is present, follow the project's build instructions instead. Building from source needs developer tools such as Node.js, which are build-time dependencies rather than requirements for the finished program.
How to use Algokit AVM Debugger
Start with a contract you already understand, such as a small test application you wrote yourself. Debugging is easiest when you can predict what the program should do, so you can tell when it deviates.
- Install the debugger and confirm that it starts from a terminal.
- Compile the Algorand contract you want to inspect.
- Start the debug adapter as its documentation describes.
- Connect a DAP-compatible client to the running adapter.
- Set a breakpoint on the line or instruction you want to examine.
- Step through execution and check the values the program holds at each point.
- Change the input or the logic, then run the session again.
Run your first sessions on a local or test setup. Keep short notes on which input produced each behavior, because a debug session is only useful if you can reproduce it later.
Pros & cons
- Free to use and open source
- Standalone adapter that works with DAP-compatible clients
- Focused on Algorand contract debugging
- Source code is public for review
- Labeled as a beta release, so expect rough edges
- Windows support depends on the release you find, so confirm it first
- Narrow scope: Algorand only
- Most useful to people who already understand Algorand contracts
Is Algokit AVM Debugger safe?
The adapter is a developer tool rather than a wallet, but it still runs on your machine and works with contract code you may not have written. Download only from the official website or the project's GitHub repository, and avoid mirrors or files shared in forums. Compare the SHA-256 checksum or signature against the published value before running anything, and keep your antivirus active. The last code update is dated March 23, 2026, which is recent, but the beta label means you should review release notes before relying on it for anything critical. Never enter a seed phrase into any debugging tool or third-party website. Check the latest version on the official website before installing.
- Official source only. Download from github.com/algorandfoundation/algokit-avm-debugger. Ignore ads and lookalike domains.
- Check the SHA-256. Compare the installer hash with the value the developer publishes before running it.
- Never share your seed phrase. No developer, support agent or website — including CryptApps — will ever ask for it.
Alternatives
Most tools in the similar-programs list handle different jobs. Algorand Node UI is a terminal interface for managing a remote node, and GO Algorand is node software that runs the chain client. Algorand Windows Node and GO Algorand both belong to the node side of the category. Algokit AVM Debugger sits elsewhere because it does not run or manage a node. Its job is stepping through contract execution during development. If you need to run infrastructure, choose a node tool. If a contract behaves unexpectedly, this is the tool that matches the problem. Geth, Bitcoin Core, Aptos and Ledger Flutter serve other networks or purposes, so they are not direct replacements.
Specifications
- Price
- Free
- Type
- Open source
- License
- —
- Latest version
- v1.0.3-beta.1
- Last update
- 23 Mar 2026
- Windows support
- Likely (builds for Windows; check releases)
- Source code
- github.com/algorandfoundation/algokit-avm-debugger
Frequently asked questions
Algokit AVM Debugger is a debugging tool for Algorand smart contracts. It implements the AVM Debug Adapter Protocol, which lets a compatible client pause, step through and inspect a contract as it executes. It is aimed at developers who need more than logs to understand why a contract behaves as it does.
Yes. The program is listed as free and open source, and its code is published on GitHub. The tool itself costs nothing. Costs for interacting with a live network are separate from the program and are not part of this download.
The project is listed as building for Windows, but the Releases page is the place to confirm whether a Windows build is available for the version you want. If none is attached, you can follow the project's build instructions. Check this before starting a longer setup.
Download the release from the official GitHub repository and check the SHA-256 checksum or signature if one is published. Then install or extract the package as the release notes describe. Never enter a seed phrase into a debugging tool, and keep your antivirus running while you install.
The documentation names Algorand as the network it targets. The debugger is built around the AVM, so it is intended for Algorand smart contracts rather than for contracts on other chains. For those networks, look at the tools listed in the alternatives section.
Beta software is still changing, so it is better suited to development and testing than to critical production work. The latest version listed is v1.0.3-beta.1, with its last code update dated March 23, 2026. Test it on a separate setup before relying on it for anything important.
Verdict
Algokit AVM Debugger is a focused, free tool for developers who write Algorand smart contracts and need to see how they execute. It suits people who are comfortable with a beta release and who already understand the contracts they are working on. If you run nodes or manage infrastructure, look at the node tools in the list instead. If you are debugging contract logic, it is worth trying on a test setup first. Confirm Windows availability on the Releases page before you commit to it.