Techniques for debugging an application are provided. In some examples, a user interface (such as a graphical user interface) is provided for a user to specify a breakpoint associated with a breakpoint location in an application and a message flow direction associated with the breakpoint. The message flow direction may be selected from one or more message flow directions associated with the breakpoint location. For example, a message flow direction may be a request message flow direction or a reply message flow direction. The breakpoint location may be a logical breakpoint location associated with a component in a component-based application such as an application based on Service Component Architecture (SOA). In an embodiment, an execution of the application is suspended when the breakpoint is reached in connection with the specified message flow direction.