Welcome to Debugging with Xdebug
Ryan says hello and shares what we'll learn in this course.
This quick-start course will move you from var_dump() and dd() to professional debugging with Xdebug. You’ll learn to set up, configure, and use Xdebug in DDEV with PhpStorm and VS Code.
My goal is simple: make Xdebug your default debugging tool. By the end of this course, you’ll be comfortable using a proper debugger instead of littering your code with dump statements.
We’ll focus on Craft CMS projects, but these debugging techniques apply to any PHP framework or CMS.
What we’ll cover:
- How Xdebug works and where it fits in your toolchain
- Setting up Xdebug in PhpStorm and VS Code
- Configuring Xdebug in DDEV, the officially supported localhosting tool for Craft CMS
- Setting and managing breakpoints
- Step debugging (into, over, out)
- Debugging Twig templates in PhpStorm
- Practical debugging exercises using our custom Buggy plugin
Let’s start by understanding what Xdebug actually is and how it works.
Ryan Irelan
I am the creator of CraftQuest, a web developer, and former software team manager. I spend most of my time improving CraftQuest with code and courses. When I'm not in front of the computer, I spend my time with my family, and running on the roads and trails of Austin, TX.