/debugging-output-and-previewing-html-using-ray

name: debugging-output-and-previewing-html-using-ray
description: Use when user says "send to Ray," "show in Ray," "debug in Ray," "log to Ray," "display in Ray," or wants to visualize data, debug output, or show diagrams in the Ray desktop application.
metadata:
  author: Spatie
  tags:
    - debugging
    - logging
    - visualization
    - ray

Ray Skill

Overview

Ray is Spatie's desktop debugging application for developers. Send data directly to Ray by making HTTP requests to its local server.

This can be useful for debugging applications, or to preview design, logos, or other visual content.

This is what the `ray()` PHP function does under the hood.

Connection Details

| Setting | Default | Environment Variable | |---------|---------|---------------------| | Host | `localhost` | `RAY_HOST` | | Port | `23517` | `RAY_PORT` | | URL | `http://localhost:23517/` | - |

Request Format

**Method:** POST **Content-Type:** `application/json` **User-Agent:** `Ray 1.0`

Basic Request Structure

{
  "uuid": "unique-identifier-for-this-ray-instance",
  "payloads": [
    {
      "type": "log",
      "content": { },
      "origin": {
        "file": "/path/to/file.php",
        "line_number": 42,
        "hostname": "my-machine"
      }
    }
  ],
  "meta": {
    "ray_package_version": "1.0.0"
  }
}

Fields

| Field | Type | Description | |-------|------|-------------| | `uuid` | string | Unique identifier for this Ray instance. Reuse the same UUID to update an existing entry. | | `payloads` | array | Array of payload objects to send | | `meta` | object | Optional metadata (ray_package_version, project_name, php_version) |

Origin Object

Every payload includes origin information:

{
  "file": "/Users/dev/project/app/Controller.php",
  "line_number": 42,
  "hostname": "dev-machine"
}

Payload Types

Log (Send Values)

{
  "type": "log",
  "content": {
    "values": ["Hello World", 42, {"key": "value"}]
  },
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

Custom (HTML/Text Content)

{
  "type": "custom",
  "content": {
    "content": "<h1>HTML Content</h1><p>With formatting</p>",
    "label": "My Label"
  },
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

Table

{
  "type": "table",
  "content": {
    "values": {"name": "John", "email": "john@example.com", "age": 30},
    "label": "User Data"
  },
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

Color

Set the color of the preceding log entry:

{
  "type": "color",
  "content": {
    "color": "green"
  },
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

**Available colors:** `green`, `orange`, `red`, `purple`, `blue`, `gray`

Screen Color

Set the background color of the screen:

{
  "type": "screen_color",
  "content": {
    "color": "green"
  },
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

Label

Add a label to the entry:

{
  "type": "label",
  "content": {
    "label": "Important"
  },
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

Size

Set the size of the entry:

{
  "type": "size",
  "content": {
    "size": "lg"
  },
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

**Available sizes:** `sm`, `lg`

Notify (Desktop Notification)

{
  "type": "notify",
  "content": {
    "value": "Task completed!"
  },
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

New Screen

{
  "type": "new_screen",
  "content": {
    "name": "Debug Session"
  },
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

Measure (Timing)

{
  "type": "measure",
  "content": {
    "name": "my-timer",
    "is_new_timer": true,
    "total_time": 0,
    "time_since_last_call": 0,
    "max_memory_usage_during_total_time": 0,
    "max_memory_usage_since_last_call": 0
  },
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

For subsequent measurements, set `is_new_timer: false` and provide actual timing values.

Simple Payloads (No Content)

These payloads only need a `type` and empty `content`:

{
  "type": "separator",
  "content": {},
  "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
}

| Type | Purpose | |------|---------| | `separator` | Add visual divider | | `clear_all` | Clear all entries | | `hide` | Hide this entry | | `remove` | Remove this entry | | `confetti` | Show confetti animation | | `show_app` | Bring Ray to foreground | | `hide_app` | Hide Ray window |

Combining Multiple Payloads

Send multiple payloads in one request. Use the same `uuid` to apply modifiers (color, label, size) to a log entry:

{
  "uuid": "abc-123",
  "payloads": [
    {
      "type": "log",
      "content": { "values": ["Important message"] },
      "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
    },
    {
      "type": "color",
      "content": { "color": "red" },
      "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
    },
    {
      "type": "label",
      "content": { "label": "ERROR" },
      "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
    },
    {
      "type": "size",
      "content": { "size": "lg" },
      "origin": { "file": "test.php", "line_number": 1, "hostname": "localhost" }
    }
  ],
  "meta": {}
}

Example: Complete Request

Send a green, labeled log message:

curl -X POST http://localhost:23517/ \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "User-Agent: Ray 1.0" \
  -d '{
    "uuid": "my-unique-id-123",
    "payloads": [
      {
        "type": "log",
        "content": {
          "va