The New Debug Bar is my cleaner take on a familiar Laravel tool. I did not build it to reinvent debugging. I built it because I was tired of using the old debug bar’s dated interface every day.
It is also built for the way I work now. I can inspect a request in the browser, while a coding agent can read the same saved request through the built-in, local, read-only Model Context Protocol (MCP) server. The agent gets the exact context instead of guessing from a screenshot or searching through a large log file.
Why I built it
The old debug bar still did useful work, but its interface felt crowded and dated. Most of the feedback I received came back to the same point: developers liked having a debug bar, but wanted one that looked and felt better.
I first wanted to build the New Debug Bar about a year and a half ago. I knew what I wanted it to be, but I did not have enough time to give the project the attention it needed.
When I finally found the time, the goal was simple: build the Laravel debug bar I wanted to use every day. I wanted the useful information to stay, but inside an interface that was cleaner, easier to read, and easier to navigate.
What it does
The interface is not an afterthought. The compact bar feels sleek, shows the key facts, and opens into a full inspector. I can drag it to the top, bottom, or any corner of the screen, and switch between light and dark modes.
Inside, I have put real thought into what appears first, what stays out of the way, and how each detail leads back to the code behind it.
Still early
The New Debug Bar is not at version 1.0 yet, but it is ready to try. The website and documentation explain how to install it and cover the inspectors in more detail.
I want the project to stay free and open source. If you find it useful, you can sponsor my work on GitHub. You can also support the project by hiring me as a freelance Laravel developer.
Give the New Debug Bar a try. If you find a bug, spot something that needs work, or have feedback, please open an issue on GitHub.
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