Developer Debug Mode
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:
- Something breaks on your site
- You need to enable WP_DEBUG to see the error
- You open FTP/File Manager, find wp-config.php, edit it carefully
- Debug the issue
- Remember to turn debug off before visitors see ugly error messages
- 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:
- Free Support — Post in the WordPress.org support forum
- Documentation — Visit glimbyte.ie for guides and tutorials
- Express Support — Fast turnaround for urgent issues via glimbyte.ie/support
🌐 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!
- Support Forum: wordpress.org/support/plugin/developer-debug-mode
- Website: glimbyte.ie
Translations
Want to help translate Developer Debug Mode into your language? Visit translate.wordpress.org to contribute.