# Should debug nodes be capable of passing the message forwards?
**URL:** https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044
**Category:** Core Development
**Created:** [1 February 2025 12:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044 "2025-02-01T12:19:20Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 14:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/21 "2025-02-01T14:07:27Z")
> [@dceejay](#):
>
> Not getting your drift with that ? Why does it need to be right click ? (bad for touch screen)
I feel a bit uneasy about changing what the flow does simply with a click (or a touch for touchscreens) _with no visual change or requiring deployment_.
Right click is just my preferred way to have a context sensitive list of actions in any program, including Node-red.
I don't currently have a touchscreen but doesn't a long touch do it?
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### Author:  [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 14:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/22 "2025-02-01T14:09:57Z")
> [@jbudd](#):
>
> _with no visual change_
I was thinking change the small dot from filled to unfilled (or fill colour change) - so yes totally expect to be a visual change on click (or hover) ... like the debug button goes from filled to grey.
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### Author:  [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 14:14 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/23 "2025-02-01T14:14:55Z")
> [@E1cid](#):
>
> disable and enable by the menu, action or editor button
- Please isolate from mains before editing this flow. π
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### Author:  [@gregorius](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/gregorius)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 14:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/24 "2025-02-01T14:19:58Z")
> [@E1cid](#):
>
> Crazy thought, how about making wires that send to debug when highlighted
I did implement [message tracing](https://flows.nodered.org/node/@gregoriusrippenstein/node-red-contrib-introspection) in the introspection node package. What you can do there is highlight a node and its messages are pushed to the debug panel. This can be done _without_ redeploying anything, so it's "always on".
I use it for finding the specific pathway a message takes (i.e. i've forgotten how my code works!).
But yes it can lead to swamping the editor, so should be used with care.
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### Author:  [@Steve-Mcl](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/Steve-Mcl)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 14:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/25 "2025-02-01T14:27:37Z")
> [@knolleary](#):
>
> Another goal is being a to "turn on" debug at any point in the flow without having to litter them with debug nodes
Ooooh. That's a curve ball and I'm liking the possibilities this approach could surface.
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### Author:  [@knolleary](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/knolleary)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 14:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/26 "2025-02-01T14:28:02Z")
And we have the Node-RED Debugger plugin which this all falls into the remit of. Not going to reinvent the wheel here. It may be we add to the Debugger plugin and consider making it install by default in NR 5
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### Author:  [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 14:52 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/27 "2025-02-01T14:52:20Z")
Always with the negative waves Moriarty.
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### Author:  [@PizzaProgram](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/PizzaProgram)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 15:05 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/28 "2025-02-01T15:05:12Z")
> [@knolleary](#):
>
> And we have the [Node-RED Debugger](https://flows.nodered.org/node/node-red-debugger) plugin ...
I agree. No need to change basic nodes which would break downgrade compatibility.
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### Author:  [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 16:09 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/29 "2025-02-01T16:09:38Z")
Sapristi Nabolas ! And thereβs more where that came from β¦
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 16:35 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/30 "2025-02-01T16:35:23Z")
> [@dceejay](#):
>
> Sapristi Nabolas
Ha! I had to look that one up!
> **[Count Jim Moriarty](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count_Jim_Moriarty)**
>
> Count Jim Moriarty (also called Count Jim Moriarty of the House of Roland) is a character from the 1950s BBC Radio comedy The Goon Show. He was voiced by Spike Milligan. In the episode "The Macreekie Rising of '74", Harry Secombe filled-in for the role in Milligan's absence.
> Moriarty is an impoverished member of the French aristocracy who has turned to crime to support his lifestyle. Despite having carried out many high-paying cons and robberies during the series, he and his criminal counterpa...
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### Author:  [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 16:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/31 "2025-02-01T16:39:34Z")
# _Sacrebleu_
[edit] my OG quote was from Sergeant Oddball ( Donald Sutherland ), not the Goon show for those that may of missed it.
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### Author:  [@jbudd](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/jbudd)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 16:41 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/32 "2025-02-01T16:41:30Z")
I figured Moriarty was the clue, so I spent the afternoon leaving through the complete works of Conan Doyle.
Dave can expect a speckled band through the post as punishment. π
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### Author:  [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 17:29 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/33 "2025-02-01T17:29:26Z")
Simple POC of @TotallyInformation thought
Happy to raise PR if requested.
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 17:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/34 "2025-02-01T17:31:45Z")
Seems nice and simple - gets the job done for minimal change and effort. π
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### Author:  [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 17:39 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/35 "2025-02-01T17:39:29Z")
Well currently it doesn't quite - as (currently implemented) there is no extra flag so the connector only appears if the sidebar output is turned off - but you still can send to console or status.
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 17:44 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/36 "2025-02-01T17:44:36Z")
Not too hard to do though right? I'd do something myself but just about to join a murder-mystery evening with friends. π€£
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### Author:  [@dceejay](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/dceejay)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 17:49 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/37 "2025-02-01T17:49:03Z")
Moriarty didi it !
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### Author:  [@greengolfer](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/greengolfer)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 18:18 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/38 "2025-02-01T18:18:27Z")
Good discussion.
I have another proposal, if I may.
The "new" debug node could always have connectors on in and out. The "tickable" button to activate/deactivate the debug would be on the debug node itself and not at the right.
We already have "tickable" boxes at the beginning (inject, cron-plus) at the end, the current debug.
Why not adding a third possible position ?
Like that, we could keep the debug node in the middle of the flows and activate it on demand without any re-wiring.
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### Author:  [@E1cid](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/E1cid)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 18:27 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/39 "2025-02-01T18:27:02Z")
Julian in the study with the keyboard.
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### Author:  [@TotallyInformation](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/TotallyInformation)
#### Post date: [1 February 2025 18:40 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/should-debug-nodes-be-capable-of-passing-the-message-forwards/95044/40 "2025-02-01T18:40:36Z")
> [@dceejay](#):
>
> Moriarty didi it !
That could only be true if he flew on Concord (which is where this is set) π
> [@E1cid](#):
>
> Julian in the study with the keyboard.
Far more likely!
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