Ask HN: Created a PHP Debugger. Would you use it? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Created a PHP Debugger. Would you use it?

10 pointsphatbyte11 comments

For the past months I have been working on what's going to be a stand-alone PHP xdebug debugger app, the first one to actually implement pretty much all the features that an IDE debugger has but without the heavy resources usage, and actually fun to use.

Here's a screenshot of the work so far: http://imgur.com/hP9pF bare in mind that this is still a work in progress and I have yet to finish some features and interface design.

What it currently does:

- You can use it by just enter "xdebug_break()" in your code. It will automatically get your source code and stack, and u are ready to go.

- OR you can just Set/remove breakpoints like a regular debugger

- Change variables at runtime

- Eval

- File map to your local folders in case you don't want it to download the remote source code

- Editor with themes

So what do you think guys ? Is this something you would like to use instead of an IDE debugger ? I know this is just a screenshot but it's no ready for sale yet.

I'm expecting to have RC by the end of the month, with a new polished layout (working on it atm) and bug free.

I also need some beta testers in case anyone is interested. I will offer a free license when V1 is released to anyone who helped me out.

You can contact me @: henrique [at] 3heap.com

This actually sounds quite interesting. Usually I print out the variables I need, but this could actually be useful if I want to change some variables when I am debugging and force a specific case. I would certainly love to give this a try.

This app is a front end for Xdebug(http://xdebug.org/), and with it you can easily trace your code, follow your triggered functions, see the variables changing as you run the debugger.

The available tools for the mac don't work well enough for for a reason or another and I created this as a personal tool, but it started to grow into something that I can show and let other use it. Hopefully :)

100% interested. Is there a github repo I can watch?

Edit: or a site I can bookmark? Is this going to be a paid product? Still interested!

No, but there will be a website very soon. Meanwhile you can be first one to put it's hand on, drop a line @ henrique [at] 3heap.com , I'll make sure you receive a beta version while it's being completed for final launch.

Absolutely! MacGDBp is pretty much useless and full blown IDEs are overkill (plus I prefer a lightweight editor like ST2). Email sent.

I believe we have the same setup, ST2 user here as well. Hope to hear from you

Interested in beta testing - MacGDBp isn't fun to use, would love something better/more stable. How do I contact you?

henrique [at] 3heap.com . Thanks ;)

Looks very interesting. Is it Mac only? If it'll run on Linux I'll give it a spin.

Mac only for now, sorry :(

No problems, if that ever changes be sure to let HN know!

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