Do rubber ducks really help when debugging?

Yey they do.

Nah treeson works better

Well, I don’t look like a completely nut when yelling at my computer because something won’t work.

Them: “who are you talking to”
Me: “the duck”

Yes. Absolutely yes.

you don't need a rubber duck to do rubber duck debugging, the idea is to explain your code step by step to something as stupid as a rubber duck.

putting an actual rubber duck on your desk is just an inside joke.

@balte, it doesn't really need to be something stupid. You don't even need to simplify the problem or make a ELI5-type version. You only need to try and explain it. You can just choose an actual person who doesn't know the problem, write in a text file, or a simple sheet of paper, and so on.

One way to find out... https://swag.devrant.io/collections...

Non-tech people such as your girlfriend, your mom, etc. work too, as long as they don't get annoyed by it lol

For me they do. But my rubber duck is a stuffed animal... (company mascot).

Anyways, if rubber ducks isn't your thing, just ask yourself

I explain my code to the business analyst in my team. Works quite the same.

I use my little 2y/o sister for that. And YES it DOES help. a lot.