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Developer Debug Mode

Developer Debug Mode

5/5 (1 ratings) 10 active installs Updated Feb 6, 2026
debugdeveloper-toolserror logtroubleshootingwp-config
Download v1.2.5
Clean, modern settings page with real-time status indicators showing all debug constants at a glance

Clean, modern settings page with real-time status indicators showing all debug constants at a glance

Stop editing wp-config.php every time you need to debug your WordPress site.

Developer Debug Mode lets you toggle all WordPress debug constants directly from your dashboard with beautiful toggle switches. Changes save automatically — no clicking save buttons, no FTP access needed, no risk of syntax errors in your config file.

🎯 The Problem This Plugin Solves

Every WordPress developer knows the pain:

  1. Something breaks on your site
  2. You need to enable WP_DEBUG to see the error
  3. You open FTP/File Manager, find wp-config.php, edit it carefully
  4. Debug the issue
  5. Remember to turn debug off before visitors see ugly error messages
  6. Repeat next time something breaks

Developer Debug Mode eliminates steps 2-5 entirely. Toggle debug on, find the error, toggle off. Done in seconds.

✨ Key Features

One-Click Debug Toggles
Control all six WordPress debug constants from a clean, modern interface:

  • WP_DEBUG — Master switch for WordPress debugging
  • WP_DEBUG_LOG — Save errors to wp-content/debug.log
  • WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY — Show errors on screen (careful on production!)
  • SCRIPT_DEBUG — Use unminified core CSS/JS files
  • SAVEQUERIES — Log database queries for performance analysis
  • WP_DISABLE_FATAL_ERROR_HANDLER — See raw PHP fatal errors instead of recovery mode

Admin Bar Quick Toggle (New in 1.2.0!)
Toggle any debug constant directly from the WordPress admin bar — no need to visit the settings page. Perfect for quick debugging sessions.

Built-in Debug Log Viewer
View, search, download, and clear your debug.log without leaving WordPress:

  • Color-coded entries (fatal, error, warning, notice)
  • Search with highlighting
  • Auto-refresh option for real-time monitoring
  • One-click download and clear

Auto-Save Technology
Changes save instantly as you toggle. No save button, no page refresh, no waiting.

Frontend Debug Warning
A tasteful notification bar appears when WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY is active, reminding you to turn it off before visitors see error messages.

Cross-Tab Synchronization
Toggle debug in one browser tab and watch other open tabs update instantly.

Automatic Backups
Every change creates a backup of wp-config.php. The plugin keeps the 5 most recent backups, so you can always recover if something goes wrong.

🔧 Perfect For

  • Theme developers debugging template issues
  • Plugin developers testing new code
  • Site administrators troubleshooting problems
  • Agencies managing multiple client sites
  • Freelancers who need quick debugging without FTP access
  • Anyone tired of manually editing wp-config.php

💡 Why Choose Developer Debug Mode?

Unlike other debug plugins, we focus on user experience:

✅ Instant toggles — No save buttons, changes apply immediately
✅ Visual feedback — Clear status indicators show exactly what’s enabled
✅ Admin bar access — Toggle debug from anywhere in WordPress
✅ Production-safe — Frontend warnings prevent accidentally exposing errors
✅ Modern design — Beautiful UI that fits naturally in your dashboard
✅ Lightweight — No bloat, loads only where needed

🔒 Built With Security In Mind

  • Capability checks ensure only administrators can change settings
  • Nonce verification on all AJAX requests
  • Automatic wp-config.php backups before every change
  • No data sent to external servers
  • Clean uninstall removes all plugin data

📚 Debug Constants Explained

Not sure what each constant does? Here’s a quick guide:

WP_DEBUG
The master switch. When enabled, WordPress will display PHP errors, notices, and warnings. Required for the other debug constants to work.

WP_DEBUG_LOG
Saves all debug messages to /wp-content/debug.log. Essential for debugging issues that happen in the background (AJAX, cron jobs, REST API).

WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY
Shows errors directly on your web pages. Useful during development but never enable on production — it can expose sensitive information to visitors.

SCRIPT_DEBUG
Forces WordPress to use the development versions of core CSS and JavaScript files instead of minified versions. Helpful when debugging scripts.

SAVEQUERIES
Stores database queries in a global array for later analysis. Useful for identifying slow queries but adds overhead — disable when not needed.

WP_DISABLE_FATAL_ERROR_HANDLER
Disables WordPress’s “recovery mode” so you see the actual PHP fatal error instead of “There has been a critical error on this website.”

🤝 Support & Documentation

Need help? We offer:

🌐 Works Great With

  • Query Monitor — Use alongside for deeper debugging
  • Debug Bar — Compatible with Debug Bar and its add-ons
  • Any caching plugin — Clear cache after toggling debug constants
  • Managed WordPress hosts — Works on most hosts including Kinsta, WP Engine, SiteGround

Credits

Developed with ❤️ by Glimbyte — WordPress Development & Support.

Special thanks to the WordPress community for feedback and suggestions.

Privacy Policy

Developer Debug Mode does not collect, store, or transmit any personal data. All settings are stored locally in your WordPress database and wp-config.php file.

The optional support contact form (available in the plugin settings) sends data directly to Glimbyte’s support team. This data is handled according to Glimbyte’s Privacy Policy.

Additional Info

Contribute

Found a bug or have a feature request? We’d love to hear from you!

Translations

Want to help translate Developer Debug Mode into your language? Visit translate.wordpress.org to contribute.