disable xdebug without uninstall

[rick645]

$ apt show php-xdebug | head -n 2
Package: php-xdebug
Version: 3.1.2+2.9.8+2.8.1+2.5.5-4

OK, xdebug is installed.

But

$ php -d xdebug.mode=off -r "xdebug_var_dump(123);"
int(123)

Strange that it works (to notice xdebug.mode=off). I was expecting something like this

Call to undefined function xdebug_var_dump()

 

[requinix]

The extension still gets loaded and functions will still exist. Changing the xdebug.mode merely tells Xdebug not to do anything.

https://xdebug.org/docs/all_settings#mode

[rick645]

And to avoid loading the extension?

There are those who suggest giving the command

$ phpdismod xdebug
	

There are those who suggest (for those like me who have Ubuntu 22.04.4) to open the file /etc/php/8.1/cli/conf.d/20-xdebug.ini and comment the line

;zend_extension=xdebug.so
	

 

inserting ';' at the beginning

And there are those who suggest other oddities, that I don't want to implement so as not to cause damage.

Everyone has their say, but what is the correct, safe and official method?
 

Edited May 27 by rick645

[requinix]

If you don't want to use the extension then don't install it 😕

[rick645]

For certain needs I want to use it; for others not. Instead of uninstalling and reinstalling it, I wanted to know if there is a way to turn it off, or rather, among those I proposed, which is the most correct one (or if both are equivalent).

Nothing more, nothing lessexit!!!

[requinix]

Yes: xdebug.mode = off.