LaraDumps really changed how I debug Laravel framework.
I spent years using dd() and dump() like everyone else. Sprinkle them around, refresh the browser, stare at the output, delete them, repeat. It works, but it's not exactly elegant.
Then I found LaraDumps.
It's a desktop app that catches all your dumps, queries, logs, and pretty much anything you throw at it - in real time. No more refreshing. No more losing your dump output because you accidentally clicked somewhere else. Everything just shows up in a nice window on your second monitor.
What I actually use it for:
- Query debugging - seeing exactly what SQL is running and how long it takes, without digging through logs
- Livewire debugging - if you've ever tried to debug Livewire components, you know the pain. This makes it bearable
- Mailable preview - quickly see how your email templates render with
ds()->mailable($mail)
The setup is dead simple - install the desktop app, add the package to your project, and you're done. Works on Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Is it necessary? No. You can absolutely survive with the built-in tools. But after using it for a few weeks, going back to plain dd() feels like switching from an IDE to Notepad.
Check it out at laradumps.dev - it's free and open source.