JS: debugger keyword removed

[jpodeszfa]

Using minify v2.9.11, code:

function assert(assertion) {
  if (!assertion) {
    debugger;
  }
}

is minified to:

function assert(a){if(!a)}

Uncaught SyntaxError: expected expression, got '}'

[tdewolff]

I've fixed the syntax error it generated, but still using the original assumption that debugger statements are not desired in final production code (and you shouldn't minify non-production code I think!). Do you think people want to keep debugger symbols for some reason?

[jpodeszfa]

I agree that debugger statement is not desired in final production code but I think that minifiers should not change the logic of code, and in this example the function assert stops working as intended.

Google closure compiler does not remove debugger (with --compilation_level=SIMPLE):

function assert(a){if(!a)debugger}

[tdewolff]

Good point, debugger statements are now kept!