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Version: 2024.4

Debugging Pimcore

In this chapter, a few insights, tips and tricks for debugging Pimcore are shown. This should give you a head start when developing with Pimcore.

Debug Mode​

In order to include some specific debugging tools (profiler, toolbar, ...), Pimcore relies on environment variable APP_ENV in .env file in your project root directory. APP_ENV=dev Additionally you can set the debug flag on the kernel by using APP_DEBUG=1. More details on that see Symfony docs

Dev Mode​

The development mode enables some debugging features. This is useful if you're developing on the core of Pimcore or when creating a bundle. Please don't activate it in production systems!

What exactly does the dev mode:

  • Loading the source javascript files (uncompressed & commented)
  • Disables some caches (Cache, ...)
  • extensive logging into log files
  • ... and some more little things

Add the following line to your .env file to enable dev mode. PIMCORE_DEV_MODE=true

Server-Side Debugging​

For server side debugging, standard php and Symfony framework debugging tools like the following can be used.

  • Reading log files as described here
  • Using Symfony profiler console depending on the active environment. Details see Symfony docs
  • Using Xdebug and a proper IDE for stepwise debugging, more information see Xdebug docs

Client-Side Debugging​

For proper debugging of Pimcore backend UI activate the DEV-Mode in system settings. By doing so, all javascript files are delivered uncompressed and commented. Thus debugging tools provided by browsers (like actual error lines, debugger, stack trace, etc.) can be used.

HTTP Headers​

Pimcore might add following headers to its responses to provide additional debug information, especially concerning full page cache:

If response is delivered directly from full page cache:

  • X-Pimcore-Output-Cache-Tag:output_<SOME_HASH>: Cache tag of delivered information.
  • X-Pimcore-Cache-Date:<CACHE_DATE>: Date when information was stored to cache.

If response could be delivered from full page cache, but is not:

  • X-Pimcore-Output-Cache-Disable-Reason:<SOME REASON>: Describes reason why response is not delivered directly from full page cache. Reasons can be in debug mode, backend user is logged in, exclude path patter in system-settings matches, exclude cookie in system-setings matches, etc.

One additional header to identify that response is sent by Pimcore.

  • X-Powered-By:pimcore: Added to every request.