Tonya Mork

<p>Debug Toolkit makes debugging your code easier and more enjoyable.  It provides you with interactive and helpful tools:</p>
<ul>
<li>Better PHP error interface from (<a href="http://filp.github.io/whoops/" rel="nofollow ugc">Whoops</a>)</li>
<li>Better variable inspection – no need to use <code>var_dump</code>, <code>print_r</code>, or X-debug</li>
<li>An interactive way to back trace the program’s execution order</li>
</ul>
<h3>Better PHP Error Interface from Whoops</h3>
<p>The built-in PHP error container is basic and not as helpful as it could be.  On top of that, it’s rather ugly. Wouldn’t you agree?</p>
<p>Whoops gives you a cool interface that is helpful, interactive, and quite nice to look at.  Some features:</p>
<ul>
<li>Provides the error message and links to search Google, DuckDuckGo, and Stack Overflow.</li>
<li>Shows the actual code where the error occurred.</li>
<li>Provides an interactive call stack.  Click each and the actual code appears in the viewer panel.</li>
<li>Environment and details including GET Data, POST Data, Files, Cookie, Session, Server/Request Data, Environment Variables, and Registered Handlers.</li>
</ul>
<p>See the tools in action in this video</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Introducing the Debug Toolkit Plugin for WordPress" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/322351688?dnt=1&app_id=122963" width="750" height="422" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write"></iframe></p>
<h3>Better Variable Inspection</h3>
<p>Though X-debug is powerful, it can be difficult to set up and run.  For that reason, it’s common to dump or print out the variable to browser.  But the built-in display for the PHP <code>var_dump</code> and <code>print_r</code> is basic.</p>
<p>This plugin includes both two very popular variable dumper tools:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://symfony.com/doc/current/components/var_dumper.html" rel="nofollow ugc">VarDumper from Symfony</a></li>
<li><a href="https://kint-php.github.io/kint/" rel="nofollow ugc">Kint – a modern and powerful PHP debugging helper</a></li>
</ul>
<p>VarDumper provides a simple container that displays where you place it.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Kint provides a more powerful interface that gives you more information such as printing out the expression that was passed into it, the data type, memory size, and the value.</p>
<p>To make it even easier, the following utility functions are available for you to use in your code:</p>
<h4>Available Functions for Inspecting Variable Values</h4>
<p>Let’s explore the functions that are available for you through this plugin.  We’ll use the variable inspectors to dump <code>global $post</code>.</p>
<p>Note: You can pass in any variable or function that returns a value.</p>
<p>Dumps the given variable(s):</p>
<pre><code>global $post;

// VarDumper
vdump( $post );

// Kint
dump( $post );
</code></pre>
<p>Dumps the given variable(s) and then exits the program’s execution:</p>
<pre><code>global $post;

// VarDumper
vdump_and_die( $post );

// Kint
dump_and_die( $post );
</code></pre>
<p>In addition, there are alias (shorthand) functions available for you if you prefer shorter function names:</p>
<ul>
<li><code>vd()</code> is an alias for <code>vdump()</code></li>
<li><code>vdd()</code> and <code>vdd()</code> are aliases for <code>vdump_and_die()</code></li>
<li><code>d()</code> is an alias for <code>dump()</code></li>
<li><code>dd()</code> and <code>ddd()</code> are aliases for <code>dump_and_die()</code></li>
</ul>
<h3>Tracing Call Stack</h3>
<p>When debugging, there are times when you need to see the order in which functions were called that lead to a certain point in the program.  PHP offers a backtrace that traces back the execution order from the point when the function is invoked.</p>
<p>To make backtracing easier, this plugin provides you with a <code>trace()</code> function and combines it with the variable inspect functions.</p>
<p>For example, if you wanted to trace the call stack to the start of the loop in your theme’s <code>functions.php</code> file, you could use this code:</p>
<pre><code>add_action( 'loop_start', function() {
    trace();
} );
</code></pre>
<h4>Available Trace Functions</h4>
<p>Place these functions at the point where you want to trace the call stack.</p>
<ul>
<li><code>trace();</code></li>
<li><code>trace_vdump();</code> – Combines <code>trace()</code> and <code>vdump()</code></li>
<li><code>trace_dump();</code> – Combines <code>trace()</code> and <code>dump()</code></li>
<li><code>trace_vdump_and_die();</code> – Combines <code>trace()</code> and <code>vdump_and_die()</code></li>
<li><code>trace_dump_and_die();</code> – Combines <code>trace()</code> and <code>dump_and_die()</code></li>
</ul>
<p>In addition, there are alias (shorthand) functions available for you if you prefer shorter function names:</p>
<ul>
<li><code>tracevd();</code> – Combines <code>trace()</code> and <code>vd()</code></li>
<li><code>traced();</code> – Combines <code>trace()</code> and <code>d()</code></li>
<li><code>tracevdd();</code> – Combines <code>trace()</code> and <code>vdd()</code></li>
<li><code>tracedd();</code> – Combines <code>trace()</code> and <code>dd()</code></li>
<li><code>tracevddd();</code> – Combines <code>trace()</code> and <code>vddd()</code></li>
<li><code>traceddd();</code> – Combines <code>trace()</code> and <code>ddd()</code></li>
</ul>
<h3>Admin Bar</h3>
<p>“DEBUG ACTIVE” indicator displays in the WordPress admin bar to alert you when the plugin is active.</p>


Debug Toolkit

This is a must have plugin if you do any kind of PHP coding for WordPress. It makes the difficult aspects of debugging code easy. You'll spend less time debugging and more time writing great functionality.

Very Nice!! A must have...

Thanks for creating this. Another must have in my plugin development workflow!

Another must have!

I've just discovered this plugin after years of WP development and it's super useful! I'm not a fan of xDebugging variables; debugging big objects and arrays with dump() or vdump() is very cool, as you can easily open up and close the tree to navigate through it more easily.
Nice work!

Excellent developer companion plugin

Wonderful plugin to debug errors. A feature request would be to dump the variable in debug.log file as well when define( 'WP_DEBUG_LOG', true ); is set in config file.

Wonderful Plugin

This is a great new plugin, and I love having the option to use Kint or VarDumper, they're invaluable. Having Whoops in there is a major plus. Tonya rocks!

Part of my build setup on every site now.

A must have!

This plugin is amazing, Highly recommended for developers. 

Really worth it !

One of my favourite plugin. Helps a lot with development and debugging. Please keep it update or if we could get a chance to contribute we would love that.

Best Plugin For Devs


This is a must have developers tool. Can't work without it. Highly recommend it.


Saved me many times

Code debug made easier and more enjoyable.

bobbingwide

vsgloik

<ul>
<li>The primary purpose of debug trace is to help in the development of PHP code: plugins or themes.</li>
<li>The primary purpose of action trace is to help you understand the sequence of events in the server.</li>
<li>The primary purpose of ad hoc tracing is to let you see what’s happening without changing any code.</li>
<li>The primary purpose of ‘string watch’ is to track the source of some output.</li>
<li>This plugin provides the admin interface to trace functions and methods and action and filter tracing.</li>
</ul>
<p>oik bwtrace does not alter the output of your web pages though there are options<br />
which cause some output to be written to the browser during ‘shutdown’ processing.</p>
<p>You can also use the oik trace facilities to assist in problem determination in a live site.<br />
Output is written to files on the server in a user defined trace files directory.<br />
When tracing a live or staging site you should ensure that the trace files directory is not publicly accessible.</p>
<p>Features:</p>
<ul>
<li>Traces to a defined Trace files directory</li>
<li>Traces ALL server functionality, including AJAX, REST and other background requests</li>
<li>Writes summary trace record for each transaction into Daily Trace summary files</li>
<li>Traces browser transactions separately, if required</li>
<li>Traces AJAX transactions separately, if required </li>
<li>Traces REST requests separately, if required</li>
<li>Traces CLI requests separately, if required</li>
<li>Ability to choose the IP address to trace, defaults to ALL requests</li>
<li>Supports ad hoc tracing of user defined hooks</li>
<li>Action trace counts help you understand the sequence of actions and filters</li>
<li>Provides contextual information</li>
<li>Minimum performance overhead when tracing is not enabled</li>
<li>Tracing can be enabled programmatically</li>
<li>Traces and backtraces PHP Error, Warning and Notice messages</li>
<li>Backtraces deprecated logic messages</li>
<li>Does not require WP_DEBUG to be defined</li>
<li>Does not require SAVEQUERIES to be defined</li>
<li>Dynamically activates trace functions</li>
<li>Implemented as lazy just-in-time code</li>
<li>Can be used during regression testing</li>
<li>Can be activated in wp-config.php and db.php to trace code before WordPress is fully loaded</li>
<li>Plugin does not need to be activated if started programmatically or from wp-config.php</li>
<li>Operates as a standalone plugin</li>
<li>Integrated with oik-lib shared library management</li>
<li>Easy to code APIs: bw_trace2(), bw_backtrace().</li>
<li>API supports multiple trace levels</li>
</ul>
<p>Ad hoc tracing allows you to:</p>
<ul>
<li>trace parameters</li>
<li>trace results</li>
<li>trace registered functions</li>
<li>trace the global post</li>
<li>set the priority for the trace hook</li>
<li>debug backtrace hook invocation</li>
<li>perform ‘string watch’ to watch for a particular string</li>
</ul>
<p>The trace record output can include:</p>
<ul>
<li>Fully qualified source file name</li>
<li>Trace record count and trace error count</li>
<li>Time stamp</li>
<li>Current filter information</li>
<li>Hook count</li>
<li>Number of database queries that have been performed.</li>
<li>Current post ID</li>
<li>Current and peak memory usage (in bytes)</li>
<li>Files loaded count</li>
<li>Contextual information</li>
</ul>
<p>The output for action tracing can include trace records showing:</p>
<ul>
<li>Count of action hooks and filters</li>
<li>Invocation of the ‘wp’ actions</li>
<li>Contents of the global wp_rewrite for the ‘wp’ action</li>
<li>Summary reports at ‘shutdown’</li>
<li>Information about deprecated logic</li>
<li>Information related to Errors, Warnings and Notices</li>
</ul>
<p>New in v3.4.0</p>
<ul>
<li>Experimental Performance trace option</li>
<li>Experimental front end links to trace file and daily trace summary</li>
</ul>
<h3>Is there a tutorial?</h3>
<p>See this page and short video<br />
<a href="https://www.oik-plugins.com/wordpress-plugins-from-oik-plugins/free-oik-plugins/oik-trace-plugin/an-introduction-to-problem-determination-with-oik-bwtrace-debug-trace-for-wordpress" rel="nofollow ugc">Introduction to oik-bwtrace</a></p>
<h4>Can I get support?</h4>
<p>Use the contact form on the oik-plugins website.</p>
<h4>How can I contribute?</h4>
<p>[github bobbingwide oik-bwtrace]</p>
<h3>Further reading</h3>
<p>If you want to read more about the oik plugins then please visit the<br />
<a href="https://www.oik-plugins.com/oik" rel="nofollow ugc">oik plugin</a><br />
<strong>“the oik plugin – for often included key-information”</strong></p>


oik bwtrace

With the addition of Ad hoc tracing and the fact that oik-bwtrace doesn't affect what's displayed on the front end(*) oik-bwtrace is my GO TO plugin for problem determination... finding out what's really going on.
Most of the other debugging plugins only work on the front end and alter what's sent to the browser.
(*) With some minor exceptions.



Comes into its own when tracing back end activity

Debug trace for WordPress, including ad hoc action hook and filter tracing.

Debug Toolkit vs oik bwtrace