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DebugZen

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DebugZen

by Parag Das

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Description

DebugZen gives administrators a focused dashboard screen for managing WordPress debugging settings and inspecting the debug log.

The plugin uses the WP Config Transformer library to read, add, and update these constants in wp-config.php:

  • WP_DEBUG
  • WP_DEBUG_LOG
  • WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY

DebugZen does not use string replacement to modify those constants.

The Debug Log viewer reads only the latest 1,000 lines to avoid loading a large log into memory. Administrators can also clear the active debug log from the same screen.

Features include:

  • Toggle WordPress debugging settings from Tools > DebugZen.
  • Add missing debug constants or update existing values through WP Config Transformer.
  • View the latest 1,000 debug-log lines.
  • Clear the debug log securely.
  • Restrict every action to administrators with the manage_options capability.
  • Protect setting and log actions with WordPress nonces.
  • Display clear errors when wp-config.php or the log is not writable.

Debug settings can expose sensitive technical information. Disable on-screen error display on production sites and protect access to log files at the web-server level.

Third-party libraries

DebugZen includes WP Config Transformer by the WP-CLI Development Group. It is distributed under the MIT License. Its license is included at vendor/wp-cli/wp-config-transformer/LICENSE.

This plugin does not contact external services, collect telemetry, or load remote executable code.

  1. Upload the debugzen folder to /wp-content/plugins/, or install the plugin ZIP from Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin.
  2. If installing from source without the bundled vendor directory, run composer install --no-dev --optimize-autoloader inside the plugin directory.
  3. Activate DebugZen through the Plugins screen in WordPress.
  4. Open Tools > DebugZen.
  5. Ensure wp-config.php is writable before saving changes. Restore restrictive permissions after configuration if required by your hosting environment.
  1. The DebugZen dashboard screen under Tools > DebugZen showing WP_DEBUG toggle switches and the live debug log viewer.

    The DebugZen dashboard screen under Tools > DebugZen showing WP_DEBUG toggle switches and the live debug log viewer.

Does the plugin directly edit debug constants with string replacement?

No. It uses WP Config Transformer to locate, read, add, and update debug constants safely.

Why can I not save settings?

The plugin must be able to read and write wp-config.php. File ownership, permissions, or host-level restrictions may prevent changes.

Where is the debug log?

By default, WordPress writes the log to wp-content/debug.log. If WP_DEBUG_LOG contains a custom path, DebugZen uses that path.

Does DebugZen send data anywhere?

No. DebugZen has no telemetry, analytics, external API connection, or remote code loading.

1.0.0

  • Initial release.
  • Added secure controls for WP_DEBUG, WP_DEBUG_LOG, and WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY.
  • Added a memory-conscious debug-log viewer and secure clear-log action.
  • Added WP Config Transformer integration.
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