clockwork
Clockwork is a browser-based PHP development tool that surfaces real-time insights into application runtime: HTTP requests, database queries, cache/Redis operations, logs, events, queue jobs, and performance metrics. Installed via Composer, it integrates with Laravel and collects data only in debug mode by default, with configurable capture filters and a web UI or browser extension for inspection.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | itsgoingd/clockwork |
| Owner | itsgoingd |
| Primary language | PHP |
| License | MIT — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 5.9k |
| Forks | 335 |
| Open issues | 37 |
| Latest release | v5.2.0 (2024-02-24) |
| Last updated | 2026-06-23 |
| Source | https://github.com/itsgoingd/clockwork |
What clockwork is
Server-side PHP component that instruments request/command/queue-job execution, capturing stack traces, query performance, log entries, and timeline events. Data is exposed via REST endpoint (`/clockwork` route) and filtered by request type, debug mode, and optional on-demand/error-only collection modes. Requires Laravel's Artisan for config publishing and route cache refresh.
Get the clockwork source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/itsgoingd/clockwork.gitcd clockwork# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Composer install is straightforward; however, Laravel's `vendor:publish` command is required to configure features (commands, queue jobs profiling) and route cache must be refreshed if enabled.
- Clockwork is debug-mode-only by default; explicitly configure collection mode (on-demand, error-only, slow-only) and optional secret-based gating to prevent unintended data exposure in shared environments.
- Stack trace collection (default 10 frames) and database query logging incur overhead—review config for capture scope (e.g., disable in high-volume API endpoints) to avoid performance degradation.
- Browser extension or toolbar JavaScript library installation is separate from server-side component; ensure front-end build and CSP policies align with injected client-side code.
- No built-in data retention or archival—collected requests are ephemeral by default; implement custom storage (database, Redis) if request history is required for auditing or replay.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Non-Laravel PHP Projects — While Clockwork supports vanilla PHP, the installation and feature set are optimized for Laravel. Integration depth and documentation examples are Laravel-centric.
- Production Monitoring & Long-Term Metrics Storage — Clockwork is a development tool; it does not provide persistent data warehousing, alerting, trend analysis, or distributed tracing suitable for production observability.
- Multi-Team Shared Debugging Infrastructure — Clockwork stores collected data locally or in-memory by default; scaling to shared staging/QA environments with multiple concurrent developers requires custom configuration and data persistence logic.
- Highly Sensitive Data Environments — Clockwork captures full request payloads, query strings, and log output. In PCI/HIPAA/SOC2 contexts, exposed credentials or PHI in logs require careful filtering and secure data handling—not a default feature.
License & commercial use
MIT License (permissive, OSI-approved). Allows commercial use, modification, distribution, and private use with no warranty.
MIT is a permissive OSI license that permits unrestricted commercial use (including proprietary modification and resale of integrated products). No license cost or attribution requirement beyond license notice inclusion. Verify vendor terms (e.g., any cloud hosting or SaaS integration) for additional restrictions.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Low |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Clockwork captures full request payloads, query data, and log output—sensitive data (credentials, PII, API keys) may be exposed if not filtered. Debug-mode-only activation mitigates production exposure, but on-demand or always-collect modes require explicit filtering logic. No built-in encryption or access control for collected data; implement reverse-proxy authentication or IP whitelisting if shared. Stack traces may leak code paths and internal architecture details.
Alternatives to consider
Laravel Telescope
First-party Laravel observability tool with similar request/query/event inspection but tighter framework integration, built-in database storage, and official support (though heavier footprint and production-use design).
Xdebug + IDE Integration
Low-level step debugger with breakpoint-based inspection; more powerful for source-code debugging but requires IDE setup and interactive sessions (not suitable for async jobs or production debugging).
Datadog / New Relic / Elastic APM
Enterprise observability platforms with persistent metrics, alerting, distributed tracing, and production-safe data redaction; significantly higher cost and operational overhead than Clockwork, but production-grade.
Build on clockwork with DEV.co software developers
Our engineers can help you integrate Clockwork into your development workflow, optimize query capture, and layer observability across your Laravel stack. Contact us to discuss your debugging and performance requirements.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
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clockwork FAQ
Does Clockwork work outside Laravel?
Is Clockwork safe for production use?
Where is collected data stored?
Can I use Clockwork to profile queue jobs and artisan commands?
Custom software development services
Adopting clockwork is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source observability software in production.
Need Expert Guidance on Laravel Tooling & Performance?
Our engineers can help you integrate Clockwork into your development workflow, optimize query capture, and layer observability across your Laravel stack. Contact us to discuss your debugging and performance requirements.