Developer Debug Mode

Automatic Installation (Recommended)

1. 01Go to Plugins → Add New in your WordPress admin
2. 02Search for “Developer Debug Mode”
3. 03Click Install Now then Activate
4. 04Go to Settings → Debug Mode to start debugging

Manual Installation

1. 05Download the plugin ZIP file
2. 06Go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
3. 07Choose the ZIP file and click Install Now
4. 08Activate the plugin
5. 09Go to Settings → Debug Mode

Requirements

1. 10WordPress 5.0 or higher
2. 11PHP 7.0 or higher
3. 12Write access to wp-config.php (most hosts allow this)

After Activation

1. 13Navigate to Settings → Debug Mode
2. 14You’ll see the current status of all debug constants
3. 15Toggle any switch to enable/disable that constant
4. 16Changes save automatically — no save button needed!

Does this plugin edit my wp-config.php file?

Yes. The plugin modifies wp-config.php to add or update debug constant definitions. This is the same thing you would do manually, just automated and safer because:

• A backup is created before every change
• The plugin keeps the 5 most recent backups
• Changes are validated before saving
• No risk of syntax errors from manual editing

Is it safe to use on a production/live site?

The plugin itself is completely safe. However, be careful with WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY on production sites — it can expose sensitive error information to visitors.

That’s why the plugin shows a frontend warning bar when WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY is active. You’ll never forget to turn it off!

For production debugging, we recommend enabling only WP_DEBUG and WP_DEBUG_LOG , then checking the debug.log file.

What if wp-config.php is not writable?

The plugin will show a warning message and disable the toggle switches. You’ll need to:

1. 01Contact your hosting provider to enable write access, or
2. 02Temporarily change file permissions to 644 or 664

Some managed WordPress hosts restrict wp-config.php access for security. Contact your host’s support for help.

Can I use this with Query Monitor or Debug Bar?

Absolutely! Developer Debug Mode manages the debug constants, while Query Monitor and Debug Bar provide additional debugging interfaces. They complement each other perfectly.

Will enabling debug mode slow down my site?

WP_DEBUG and WP_DEBUG_LOG have minimal performance impact.

WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY can slightly slow page rendering if there are many errors.

SAVEQUERIES does add overhead because it stores every database query — disable it when not actively debugging database performance.

How do I view the debug.log file?

Three options:

1. 03Built-in viewer — Go to Settings → Debug Mode and scroll to the Debug Log Viewer section
2. 04Direct access — Download from /wp-content/debug.log via FTP
3. 05Admin bar — Click the debug log link in the admin bar menu

Can I toggle debug from the admin bar?

Yes! As of version 1.2.0, you can click any constant in the admin bar dropdown to toggle it on/off instantly. No need to visit the settings page.

Does it work with WordPress Multisite?

Yes! The plugin works on multisite installations. Each site administrator can manage debug settings for their site. Network-wide settings are not currently supported but planned for a future version.

What happens when I deactivate or uninstall the plugin?

Deactivation: Debug constants remain in wp-config.php at their current values.

Uninstall: Plugin options are removed from the database. Debug constants in wp-config.php are NOT removed — we don’t want to accidentally disable debugging you intentionally enabled.

Can I customize which constants are shown?

Not currently, but this is planned for a future version. All six constants are shown by default as they’re the most commonly used for debugging.

The toggles aren’t saving. What’s wrong?

This usually means one of:

1. 06wp-config.php isn’t writable — Check file permissions
2. 07JavaScript error — Check browser console for errors
3. 08Caching — Clear any caching plugins and try again
4. 09Security plugin conflict — Temporarily disable security plugins to test

Does this work with custom wp-config.php locations?

Yes! The plugin checks both the standard location (WordPress root) and one directory up (common on some hosts).

How do I get support?

Check this FAQ first Search the support forum for similar issues Create a new support topic with details about your problem For urgent issues, contact us at glimbyte.ie/support