Jérôme Gamez 🐘5d ago
Garvin Hicking

@derickr https://www.linkedin.com/posts/pronskiy_github-pronskiyphp-debugger-lightweight-activity-7438244638664196096-nUtg

This is a painful read.

GitHub - pronskiy/php-debugger: Lightweight PHP debugger extension (forked from Xdebug, stripped to debug-only and optimized) | Roman Pronskiy | 11 comments

I forked Xdebug – stripped to debug-only and optimised to reduce overhead of enabled debugger in PHP from 300% to 5%. All (almost) done by feeding the Xdebug source code into OpenClaw and tinkering with it. What does this mean? PHP devs can keep this debugger running all the time and it won’t slow down the code. No need for all that fuss of turning the debugger on and off. On the other hand, is a step debugger even necessary in the world of AI agents? https://lnkd.in/egb83Tzw | 11 comments on LinkedIn

LinkedIn
Mar 14 at 7:46amWeb
Show threadDaniel Siepmann5d ago

@derickr @supergarv I like some of the comments. I've xdebug always on and also never experienced any performance issues.

I'm really thankfull for xdebug and all its features, including step debugging and the profiler.

Show threadGarvin Hicking5d ago

@danielsiepmann @derickr Multiple thoughts:

- why fork instead of contributing?
- why disrespect the author by feeding all of his work intentionally through a stealing machine
- why not rather create your own debugger then

Show threadSephster5d ago
@supergarv @danielsiepmann @derickr it's also so depressing that this is apparently from the executive director of the PHP foundation and someone with a public outreach at Jetbrains. With great power comes great responsibility... Apparently
Show threadSebastian Bergmann 5d ago
@sephster Roman is no longer the Executive Director of the PHP Foundation, see https://thephp.foundation/structure/ for our current structure.
Structure

The PHP Foundation — Supporting, Advancing, and Developing the PHP Language

Show threadSephster5d ago
@sebastian I don't think he has updated all his profiles but good to know
Show threadDerick Rethans5d ago
@supergarv @danielsiepmann I haven't looked at it yet. I might not either.
Show threadDaniel Siepmann5d ago

@derickr @supergarv Yeah I didn't like anything about the post, just some of the comments.

I align with all your questions which I think are also disguised critics which I fully agree with.

Show threadAlexander Schnitzler5d ago

@supergarv @danielsiepmann @derickr To me those are legal and ethical questions that are hard to answer.

What I am interested in is if the base claim is actually true. By using a specific xdebug mode, all claimed overhead of the other modes should be inactive, right?

I do see a difference in speed between the modes though and I wonder what the original intention was to strip down xdebug. Smells like clickfarming and gaining public attention with a controversial move.

Better ignore that dude.

Show threadGarvin Hicking5d ago
@alexanderschnitzler @danielsiepmann @derickr That dude powers PHPStorm / JetBrains - hard to ignore🙃
Show threadweph5d ago
@supergarv @derickr "... is a step debugger even necessary in the world of AI agents?"
Show threadJulian Hofmann5d ago
I’m wondering why someone who has AI coding for them would need a debugger? Is the AI perhaps not that intelligent after all??? 🤔😨
@supergarv @derickr