PhpUnit overwrite server variables from XML

Question

I have following server variable in phpunit.xml:

<php>
    <server name="APP_DEBUG" value="false"/>
</php>

Sometimes while developing, I want have APP_DEBUG enabled. What I usually do is add it into CLI command:

APP_DEBUG=true phpunit -c phpunit.xml

and in PHP:

$appDebug = $_SERVER['APP_DEBUG'] ?? $_ENV['APP_DEBUG'] ?? null;

But this does not set $_SERVER['APP_DEBUG] to true, but leaves value from XML.

Is there any way to overwrite it from CLI?

Abdulla Nilam · Accepted Answer · 2025-10-21 11:48:05Z

3

don't use <server> for this. Use <env> and read it via getenv().

APP_DEBUG=true phpunit sets an environment variable, which is visible via getenv() / $_ENV, not $_SERVER.

In phpunit.xml

<php>
  <!-- default off -->
  <env name="APP_DEBUG" value="false" force="false"/>
</php>

In PHP

$appDebug = getenv('APP_DEBUG') ?? ($_ENV['APP_DEBUG'] ?? null);

// if you want a real boolean:
$debug = filter_var($appDebug, FILTER_VALIDATE_BOOLEAN);

Now in CLI

APP_DEBUG=true vendor/bin/phpunit -c phpunit.xml

answered Oct 21 at 11:48

Abdulla Nilam

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