sharing is caring, so here is the solution: after installing everything like it should

hostnamectl; # tested on very latest Debian :)
Static hostname: debian13
Virtualization: kvm
Operating System: Debian GNU/Linux trixie/sid 
Kernel: Linux 6.12.12-amd64
Architecture: x86-64

cat /etc/php/8.4/cli/conf.d/20-xdebug.ini
zend_extension="/usr/lib/php/20240924/xdebug.so"
xdebug.remote_enable=1
xdebug.remote_autostart=on
xdebug.client_port=9003
xdebug.log=/var/log/xdebug.log
xdebug.client_host=localhost
xdebug.discover_client_host = true
xdebug.mode = debug,develop

 

two pitfalls:

this is because eclipse pdt opens a default port 9000 for xdebug to connect

xdebug default port is 9003

so 1. need to tell eclipse to listen on 9003 port

2. now the magic trick that ChatGPT will not be able to tell the developer: xdebug jumps into action only if eclipse calls browser with specific “trigger” parameter-argument-input

==> /var/log/xdebug.log <==

[6104] Log opened at 2025-03-08 13:39:08.469054
[6104] [Config] WARN: Not setting up control socket with default value due to unavailable 'tsc' clock
[6104] [Config] INFO: Trigger value for 'XDEBUG_TRIGGER' not found, falling back to 'XDEBUG_SESSION'
[6104] [Config] INFO: Trigger value for 'XDEBUG_SESSION' not found, so not activating
[6104] Log closed at 2025-03-08 13:39:08.469383

so modify how eclipse is starting the browser, to trigger xdebug start

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