How to enable Tracy for developers on a specific IP address?

Use Debugger::enable('secret_token@IP_address') with a cookie token and IP address, as described in the README, to securely activate development mode for remote teams.

Tracy vs Xdebug: which is better for PHP debugging?

Tracy excels at in-browser visual debugging and logging with minimal setup, while Xdebug is ideal for IDE-based step-by-step debugging and profiling; they can be used together for comprehensive coverage.

How to integrate Tracy with Laravel or Symfony?

Use unofficial integrations like recca0120/laravel-tracy or kutny/tracy-bundle, listed in the README, which provide framework-specific adapters for seamless incorporation.

Can Tracy log errors to a database instead of files?

Not directly; it logs to files by default, but you can implement a custom PSR-3 logger or use Monolog integration to route logs to databases or other services.

How to profile code performance with Tracy's stopwatch?

Call Debugger::timer() with optional labels for multiple measurements, then retrieve elapsed times in microseconds, as shown in the stopwatch section for precise benchmarking.

Does Tracy support debugging AJAX requests?

Yes, it handles AJAX and redirected requests using session storage (via setSessionStorage()) and manages data with cookies, ensuring debug bar and errors are captured.

What PHP versions are compatible with Tracy?

Tracy is compatible with PHP 8.2 to 8.5, ensuring support for recent releases, as stated in the installation requirements.

Open-Awesome

Tracy

NOASSERTIONPHPv2.11.4

A powerful debugging and error visualization tool for PHP developers with a friendly UI, logging, profiling, and AJAX/CLI support.

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1.8k stars221 forks0 contributors

What is Tracy?

Tracy is a debugging library for PHP that provides rich error visualization, logging, profiling, and development tools. It replaces standard PHP error messages with interactive, user-friendly displays and includes a debug bar, variable dumper, stopwatch, and support for AJAX/CLI debugging.

Target Audience

PHP developers of all levels who want a more intuitive and powerful debugging experience than PHP's native error reporting, especially those working on web applications or using frameworks like Nette, Laravel, or Symfony.

Value Proposition

Tracy stands out with its visually engaging error pages, environment-aware behavior (safe for production), and comprehensive toolset that speeds up debugging without requiring complex setup or extensions.

Overview

😎 Tracy: the addictive tool to ease debugging PHP code for cool developers. Friendly design, logging, profiler, advanced features like debugging AJAX calls or CLI support. You will love it.

Use Cases

Best For

Visualizing PHP errors and exceptions with interactive source code highlighting
Adding a persistent debug bar with runtime information to web applications
Debugging AJAX requests and command-line PHP scripts
Profiling PHP code performance with microsecond precision
Logging errors securely in production with email notifications
Dumping variables in a readable format with themes and depth control

Not Ideal For

Projects with immutable Content Security Policies that cannot accommodate 'unsafe-inline' or dynamic nonces
Headless APIs or microservices where visual error pages provide no benefit and add overhead
Environments where server configuration (e.g., nginx try_files settings) cannot be modified
Teams already using Xdebug with IDE integration for step-by-step debugging and profiling

Pros & Cons

Pros

Interactive Error Visualization

Replaces cryptic PHP errors with highlighted source code and clear explanations, making debugging intuitive, as shown in the live examples of exceptions and notices.

Environment-Aware Safety

Auto-detects development vs production modes, logging errors securely on live servers and displaying them only on localhost, preventing sensitive data exposure.

Comprehensive Dumping Tools

Offers dump(), bdump(), and dumpe() with themes, depth control, and location hints for detailed variable inspection, enhancing developer workflow.

Persistent Debug Bar

Provides a floating panel with runtime information and custom panels that remembers position across page reloads, aiding in continuous debugging sessions.

Cons

Content Security Policy Hurdles

Requires adding 'unsafe-inline' or managing nonces in CSP, which can be complex or insecure, as admitted in the README's configuration examples.

Server Configuration Dependencies

Needs specific nginx settings (e.g., try_files with args) and early session management for AJAX support, adding deployment complexity.

Setup and Initialization Overhead

Must be enabled before any output and configured with IP/cookie tokens for development mode, which can be cumbersome for quick setups.

Frequently Asked Questions

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