[DOCS] Document that `DEBUG` environment variable enables debug mode
Resolved 💬 1 comment Opened May 14, 2026 by tevansuk Closed Jun 12, 2026
Documentation Type
Missing documentation (feature not documented)
Documentation Location
https://code.claude.com/docs/en/env-vars.md
Section/Topic
Env variables
Current Documentation
The docs list a few flags that control debug:
|CLAUDE_CODE_DEBUG_LOGS_DIR| Override the debug log file path. Despite the name, this is a file path, not a directory. Requires debug mode to be enabled separately via--debugor/debug: setting this variable alone does not enable logging. The [--debug-file](/en/cli-reference#cli-flags) flag does both at once. Defaults to~/.claude/debug/<session-id>.txt|
| CLAUDE_CODE_DEBUG_LOG_LEVEL | Minimum log level written to the debug log file. Values: verbose, debug (default), info, warn, error. Set to verbose to include high-volume diagnostics like full status line command output, or raise to error to reduce noise
What's Wrong or Missing?
It is not documented that DEBUG=1 enables debug mode
Suggested Improvement
- Add
DEBUGto the list of documented environment variables - Add _Requires debug mode to be enabled separately via
--debugor/debugor theDEBUGenvironment variable:_ to the description ofCLAUDE_CODE_DEBUG_LOGS_DIR
Impact
Low - Minor confusion or inconvenience
Additional Context
_No response_
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