These two modules, ch_debugger and ch_nodeapi_preexec, are hook debuggers, used for collecting arrays and objects and store the data in a table for later analysis.
As the module is now, it's made for listening on
- nodeapi
- user
- form_alter
- views_pre_view
- views_pre_build
- views_pre_execute
If you want to create other/different hooks, please follow the logic's of the existing six hooks in this module. it's not that hard ;)
You can by advance install 'Xdebug' from xdebug.org, which this module will be using, if present.
If you do so, the debugger will be storing the call line in the table, which can be pretty help full, when debugging.
Getting started:
Install both modules, and set the permission for 'administer site configuration'
Now enter /admin/settings/ch_debugger and set your needs and role permissions.
By role, I mean a role that may trig a hook.
All the output goes to /admin/reports/ch_debugger, where you can see all the collected data, grouped in php instances.
In the case of following a nodeapi, you can enable the 'ch_nodeapi_preexec' module and get a hook running time on every nodeapi hooks.
This module places a time stamp inside the nodeapi object, to follow.
This can be very help full when working with performance issues.