Juliette Reinders Folmer

Ever been “greeted” when you activated a plugin with the dreaded:
<blockquote>
This plugin generated # characters of unexpected output during activation….
</blockquote>
And wondered what the unexpected output was ?
Or wondered whether a de-activation or uninstall routine was free of typical PHP errors ?
Well, no need to wonder anymore, as you can now see the output within your favorite debugging tool – the <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/debug-bar/" rel="ugc">Debug Bar</a>.
Debug Bar Plugin Activation adds a new panel to the Debug Bar which displays the output generated during plugin activation, deactivation and uninstall.
Once you’ve fixed the issues, you can remove the logged output straight from the Debug Bar panel. 
And when you uninstall a plugin, the associated logged activation and deactivation output entries will be removed automatically.
<blockquote>
This plugin was inspired by a conversation with <a href="https://profiles.wordpress.org/ipstenu" rel="nofollow ugc">Mika Epstein</a> during the <a href="https://2016.europe.wordcamp.org/introducing-the-wceu-2016-contributor-day-and-workshops/" rel="nofollow ugc">contributors day at WordCamp Europe 2016</a>.
</blockquote>
<h4>Important</h4>
This plugin requires the <a href="https://wordpress.org/plugins/debug-bar/" rel="ugc">Debug Bar</a> plugin to be installed and activated.
Also note that this plugin should be used solely for debugging and/or in a development environment and is not intended for use on a production site.
If you like this plugin, please <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/view/plugin-reviews/debug-bar-plugin-activation" rel="ugc">rate and/or review</a> it. If you have ideas on how to make the plugin even better or if you have found any bugs, please report these in the <a href="https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/debug-bar-plugin-activation" rel="ugc">Support Forum</a> or in the <a href="https://github.com/jrfnl/debug-bar-plugin-activation/issues" rel="nofollow ugc">GitHub repository</a>.

Debug Bar Plugin Activation

I know this plugin currently doesn't show any updates for several versions of WordPress.  However, it continues to work just fine.  I find it a necessary tool for plugin development.

It adds to the debug bar, and if there are any errors that occur during plugin activation, you can get them in the debug bar - an essential message if you're trying to develop a plugin and need to debug the activation process.

The plugin is an add-on to the Debug Bar plugin, so if you don't have that installed, it won't work.

Excellent tool for plugin developers


Just a note of thank you to the developer. And, a note to potential users, this still worked on my localhost dev site in helping me debug the activation error 'headers already sent'. The plugin allowed me to read the additional output to see where the error was coming from and resolve it. Thanks!


Still Working

Debug Bar Plugin Activation adds a new panel to the Debug Bar which displays plugin (de-)activation and uninstall errors.

Linkon Miyan

The Fatal Plugin Auto Deactivator plugin is a powerful tool designed to enhance the stability and reliability of your WordPress website. It automatically detects and deactivates plugins that cause fatal errors, preventing your entire site from crashing and becoming inaccessible.
<h3>Key Features</h3>
<ul>
<li>Automatic Error Detection: Monitors for fatal PHP errors in real-time using WordPress drop-in technology</li>
<li>Smart Plugin Identification: Identifies which plugin is causing the fatal error through stack trace analysis</li>
<li>Instant Deactivation: Automatically deactivates the problematic plugin during the shutdown phase</li>
<li>Detailed Admin Notifications: Provides clear notifications about which plugin was deactivated and why</li>
<li>Persistent Error Logging: Records detailed information about errors in a permanent log for troubleshooting</li>
<li>Error Log Management Page: Dedicated admin page to view, manage, and clear error logs with detailed history</li>
<li>Zero Configuration: Works right out of the box with no setup required</li>
<li>Custom Error Page: Displays a user-friendly error page with a reload button instead of the white screen of death</li>
<li>Debug-Aware Display: Shows detailed error information only when WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY is enabled for security</li>
<li>Drop-in Management: Automatically installs and manages WordPress fatal-error-handler.php drop-in</li>
</ul>
<h3>How It Works</h3>
This plugin uses WordPress’s built-in drop-in system to provide the most reliable error handling possible. When activated, it:
<ol>
<li>Installs a Drop-in: Creates a <code>fatal-error-handler.php</code> file in your wp-content directory</li>
<li>Monitors for Errors: WordPress automatically uses this drop-in when fatal errors occur</li>
<li>Captures Error Details: Records the error message, file, and line number during the shutdown phase</li>
<li>Identifies the Plugin: Analyzes the error stack trace to determine which plugin caused the issue</li>
<li>Deactivates Safely: Automatically deactivates only the problematic plugin</li>
<li>Logs Everything: Stores detailed error information in a permanent log for troubleshooting</li>
<li>Notifies Admins: Displays clear admin notices with error details when you next log in</li>
<li>Shows User-Friendly Pages: Displays a custom error page with reload button instead of the white screen of death</li>
</ol>
The drop-in approach ensures maximum reliability since it operates at the WordPress core level, even when other plugins fail.
<h3>Use Cases</h3>
<ul>
<li>Development Environments: Test new plugins without worrying about site crashes</li>
<li>Production Sites: Add an extra layer of protection against unexpected plugin conflicts</li>
<li>Managed WordPress: Essential tool for agencies and freelancers managing multiple client sites</li>
<li>WooCommerce Stores: Prevent revenue loss from site downtime due to plugin errors</li>
</ul>
<h3>Why You Need This Plugin</h3>
WordPress fatal errors can make your entire site inaccessible, requiring FTP or hosting panel access to fix. With Fatal Plugin Auto Deactivator, your site remains operational even when a plugin causes a critical error, giving you time to address the issue without emergency measures.

Fatal Plugin Auto Deactivator – Never let a plugin break your site


While testing multiple third-party addons on my site, I activated all the plugins at once to speed things up but it caused a fatal error, and I couldn’t figure out which plugin was responsible. Later, I discovered this plugin, and it really saved me by automatically deactivating the faulty one. Great work, super useful!


The Plugin Works as What it's Saying

Automatically deactivates plugins that cause fatal errors to prevent site crashes and keep your WordPress site running smoothly.

Debug Bar Plugin Activation vs Fatal Plugin Auto Deactivator – Never let a plugin break your site