Debug symfony / PHP applications with Eclipse + XDebug

Never wanted a PHP debugger as you have with JS debugger firebug ?

It is possible with Eclipse and XDebug php extension... ( thanks to this article )



Stack trace,
breakpoints,
watch expressions,
variables,
...












The steps :

Install Xdebug :

sudo apt-get install php5-xdebug

Then, edit extension's php config :

sudo vi /etc/php5/conf.d/xdebug.ini

And add just after the line 'zend_extension=...' :

xdebug.remote_enable=On 
xdebug.remote_host="localhost" 
xdebug.remote_port=9000 
xdebug.remote_handler="dbgp" 
xdebug.max_nesting_level=1000
xdebug.collect_params=2
xdebug.collect_return=On

Then, restart your Apache :

sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart

It's time to configure your Eclipse :

You surely will have to configure the Browser to 'external web browser' in your Preferences->General->Web Browser configuration.

use 'Run' menu or 'Debug' toolbar icon to access 'Open Debug Dialog'.

Make a 'New' PHP Web Page configuration

- edit the first tab ( server ) :

• Choose XDebug as server debugger.
• Make a new PHP Server if you have a virtualHost ( in my example: http://symfony.me )
• Set 'File' Field to the absolute path of your front controller ( in my example: /var/www/symfony/web/frontend_dev.php )
• Uncheck 'Break at first line'
  
• Uncheck AutoGenerate URL to make it the same as when you debug your app ( in my example: http://symfony.me/frontend_dev.php/
  

- edit the second tab ( advanced ) :

• check Open in browser
• choose Start Debug from and add (in my example) : http://symfony.me/frontend_dev.php
• check 'Continue Debug from this page'

That's It !

Now start debugging :

Add a breakpoint by right clicking a line number in your file -> toggle breakpoint.

the PHP debug perspective contains an Expression View where you can add your own watch expressions.

Discover the tool as I'm actually doing :) !