pdb_tornado.py

class BaseHandler(RequestHandler):

    # .... other stuff ....

    def _handle_request_exception(self, e):
        RequestHandler._handle_request_exception(self,e)
        import pdb
        pdb.post_mortem()

def bp():
    import pdb
    pdb.set_trace()


"""
The above allows you to drop into an interactive pdb 
session upon exception or at any point where bp() is reached.

"""