Essential DebuggingPHP Debugging techniques, tips & tricks

Kaloyan RaevZend / Rogue Wave

$ whoamiZend Studio Team Lead

Eclipse Committer

Live in Sofia, Bulgaria

Skier

Why Debugging?

Because we make bugs

Because we want to fix them!

Debugging in PHP 101

echo $myvar;

var_dump ( $myvar );

die ( "Unexpected value in myvar: $myvar" );

error_reporting ( E_ALL );

Better Way?

Use a debugger!

Breakpoints

$left == 10

Stack Traces

Variables Overview

Fine Execution Control

Changes in Last Step

In-Editor Inspections

Shift + Ctrl + I

Watched Expressions

Multiple Sessions

PHP Debugger Engines

Xdebug

Zend Debugger

phpdbg

Xdebug Zend Debugger phpdbg

Built-in PHP ✅

Communication protocol DBGpXML-based

binaryPHP-specific

ownXML-based

Available in PHP 7 (as of today) ✅

IDE Support ✅ ✅

Remote Debugging ✅ ✅ ✅

Profiling ✅ ✅

The Easiest Way for Setting Up PHP with Debugger

Out of the box!

v8.5 provides both Xdebug and Zend Debugger

Docker Containers

tommylau/xdebug - Apache + PHP + Xdebug

Tutorial: Debugging PHP Web Apps in a Docker Container

Just CLI Scripts

Zend Studio bundles PHP binaries with Zend Debugger included

No IDEs Pleasephpdbg is for you

Built-in PHP since 5.6 as SAPI module

CLI user interface

Do It Yourself Stack

Instructions for Zend Debugger

Instructions for Xdebug

Instructions for phpdbg

Browser Toolbars

Xdebug

Zend Debugger

Browser Toolbar

Debug Engine

IDE

1. Request with debug cookie

1. Request broadcast port

2. Ope

n deb

ug se

ssion

4. Ope

n deb

ug se

ssion

2. Response with debug info

3. Request

Xdebug Toolbars

Chrome

➢ Xdebug helper

➢ Xdebug enabler

Firefox

➢ The easiest Xdebug

➢ easy Xdebug

Opera

➢ Xdebug

➢ Xdebug launcher

Safari

➢ Xdebug Toggler

Zend Debugger ToolbarsChrome

➢ zDebug

Firefox

➢ Zend Firefox Toolbar

Internet Explorer

➢ Zend Internet Explorer Toolbar

Z-Ray

Z-Ray Live!

Remote DebuggingIntranet

Direct Internet Connection

Firewall / Proxy

➢ SSH Tunneling - works for both Xdebug and Zend Debugger

➢ Zend Debugger Tunneling - easier to setup, does not require Zend Server

Debug Mode

Every request to server triggers a new debug session in IDE

Useful for debugging requests from mobile apps

Available only for Zend Debugger in Zend Server

Thank you!

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