How to Use the Command 'blackfire' (with Examples)

Blackfire is a powerful tool designed for developers to monitor, profile, and test PHP applications. With it, developers can optimize the performance of their applications by identifying bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the code. Blackfire provides several commands to help manage its functionalities, allowing developers to configure settings, profile code, and interact with the Blackfire web service for more in-depth analysis.

Initialize and Configure the Blackfire Client

Code:

blackfire config

Motivation:
Initializing and configuring the Blackfire client is the first step in preparing to use Blackfire for profiling a PHP application. This command sets up the local client with necessary configurations which include authentication and environment-specific settings. Proper configuration ensures that the Blackfire client can communicate effectively with the Blackfire web service and the agent.

Explanation:
The command blackfire config is executed without any additional arguments. It prompts you to provide necessary authentication details and allows you to configure other client-specific settings. This setup process is crucial for ensuring that profiling data can be correctly uploaded and analyzed.

Example Output:

Please provide the following information:
- Server ID:
- Server Token:
Configuration saved successfully.

Launch the Blackfire Agent

Code:

blackfire agent

Motivation:
Launching the Blackfire agent is essential for intercepting and managing profiling requests sent by the Blackfire client. The agent acts as an intermediary between the client and the Blackfire servers, facilitating the flow of profiling data. Running the agent ensures that your profiling data is processed and displayed accurately.

Explanation:
The command blackfire agent initializes the Blackfire agent on the default socket. This means it doesn’t require any specific configuration and will just start running with standard settings, waiting for profiling requests.

Example Output:

Blackfire agent started. Information:
- Agent version: x.y.z
- Listening on socket: /var/run/blackfire/agent.sock

Launch the Blackfire Agent on a Specific Socket

Code:

blackfire agent --socket="tcp://127.0.0.1:8307"

Motivation:
In some cases, you may want to run the Blackfire agent on a specific network socket, especially in diverse server environments or when dealing with network configurations that require explicit socket addresses. This command allows precise control over the communication endpoints.

Explanation:
The --socket argument specifies the exact socket for the agent to listen on. Here, tcp://127.0.0.1:8307 indicates a TCP socket on the local machine (127.0.0.1) at port 8307. This setup helps resolve potential conflicts with other services or settings that influence network communications.

Example Output:

Blackfire agent started on socket tcp://127.0.0.1:8307.

Run the Profiler on a Specific Program

Code:

blackfire run php path/to/file.php

Motivation:
Running the profiler on a specified PHP script allows developers to collect performance data directly related to that code. This is especially useful during the development phase when testing the behavior of new functionalities or analyzing resource-intensive operations.

Explanation:
This command runs the Blackfire profiler using the run argument. It specifically profiles a PHP script (path/to/file.php), gathering data on execution time, memory usage, and other performance indicators.

Example Output:

Profile data collected for path/to/file.php:
- Execution time: 250ms
- Memory Usage: 10MB
Data uploaded to Blackfire web service.

Run the Profiler and Collect 10 Samples

Code:

blackfire --samples 10 run php path/to/file.php

Motivation:
Collecting multiple samples provides a more comprehensive view of an application’s performance, allowing for statistical analysis and variance checking. This approach is beneficial in understanding the fluctuations in resource consumption and pinpointing outliers.

Explanation:
The --samples argument specifies the number of profiling samples to be collected. In this case, 10 samples are collected by executing the same script multiple times. This provides better accuracy in the performance data by minimizing errors caused by one-off anomalies.

Example Output:

Profile data collected with 10 samples for path/to/file.php
- Median Execution time: 245ms
- Median Memory Usage: 9.8MB
Data uploaded to Blackfire web service.

Run the Profiler and Output Results as JSON

Code:

blackfire --json run php path/to/file.php

Motivation:
Generating output in JSON format is suitable for automated processes, integration with other tools, or when developing custom scripts to parse profiling data programmatically. It is especially useful if you’re embedding Blackfire into continuous integration systems or in other software that requires machine-readable formats.

Explanation:
The --json argument directs the profiler to output its results in JSON format. This is an advantage when you need the results in a structured format for further analysis or troubleshooting.

Example Output:

{
  "script": "path/to/file.php",
  "execution_time": 250,
  "memory_usage": 10,
  "samples": 1
}

Upload a Profiler File to the Blackfire Web Service

Code:

blackfire upload path/to/file

Motivation:
Uploading pre-collected profiling data to the Blackfire web service allows developers to view detailed analytics and visualizations that aren’t available locally. This functionality is particularly important for collaborative environments where team members need to share and discuss profiling results.

Explanation:
The upload command requires a path to the profiler file that contains the collected data. By specifying path/to/file, the command uploads this data to the Blackfire web service where it can be further analyzed and visualized.

Example Output:

Profile data uploaded. Visit https://blackfire.io/profiles/12345 to view details.

View the Status of Profiles on the Blackfire Web Service

Code:

blackfire status

Motivation:
Checking the status of profiles on the Blackfire web service is crucial for tracking ongoing analysis and ensuring all collected data has been processed. It helps in managing multiple profiling activities and keeping track of performance optimizations over time.

Explanation:
The status command queries the current status of profiler data on the Blackfire web service. This can include information about pending analyses, completed profiles, and their outcomes.

Example Output:

Profile status:
- 5 completed profiles
- 1 profile in progress
- No errors detected

Conclusion

Blackfire provides a comprehensive set of tools to monitor, profile, and optimize PHP applications. Each use case shown here demonstrates how to harness different functionalities of the Blackfire command, from initiating configurations to performing in-depth analysis through the Blackfire web service. By understanding these commands and their applications, developers can efficiently improve the performance and reliability of their PHP applications.