Best PHP IDEs for Developers to Explore in 2021
PHP scripting language is synonymous with competitive, scalable, and robust website, mobile application, web app, and software development. For years, PHP is an ideal choice to build profit-oriented platforms for enterprises meeting their diverse requirements. There are numerous PHP Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) available for skilled developers to get a comprehensive set of tools and functionalities for developing customized websites and applications.
In this blog, we will be looking at a few handpicked PHP IDEs having advanced features and functionalities to speed up the development. Once looking at different levels of IDEs, you can hire PHP developers of extensive experience and technical superiority.
What is PHP Integrated Development Environment?
PHP Integrated Development Environment is a software platform for PHP developers to lay their hands on a comprehensive set of tools and that too in the PHP language. Such PHP IDEs work with specific applications removing the barriers of the software development lifecycle. Development teams make the best use of IDEs to build result-oriented web pages, apps, and software using a single tool and reducing the overall development time.
List of Top 5 PHP IDE’s
1.PHP Storm
PHP Storm is one of the best IDE for PHP developers that comes packed with a fresh set of features for swift web development. Originally developed and promoted by JetBrains company, it is one of the most accepted IDEs from the last 15 to 16 years. Not just this only, it is well-adopted by reputed brands like Yahoo, Expedia, Cisco, Wikipedia, and Salesforce.
Features of PHP Storm
A. This IDE works well with different sets of frameworks like Zend, Symfony, CakePHP, and Laravel.
B. It completely supports Drupal, Magento, and WordPress.
C. It enables live-editing technologies including TypeScript, HTML5, JavaScript, CSS, Sass, Stylus, Less, etc.
D. Easy integration of version control systems, PHP MySQL development tool, vagrant, composer, remote deployment, rest client, and command-line tools.
2. Eclipse DDT
Eclipse DDT is a highly used Open Source PHP Development tool that is accessible free of cost by developers. It has a massive community of developers working on all sorts of plugins.
This IDE saves a lot of licenses, especially for the evaluation of Eclipse PDT and PHPStorm. Some of the prominent features of Eclipse DDT include refactoring, code assist, code formatting, navigation, PHP debugging, code templates, syntax validation, and more.
3. NetBeans
NetBeans is a feature-rich, free, and technically advanced IDE for PHP developers. It supports manifold languages including English, Russian, Japanese, Brazilian, Portuguese, and basic Chinese. Out of all, it is the most acquired open-source IDE that has an extensive range of developer’s community.
It has the best support of a different range of PHP frameworks like Smarty Doctrine, Zend, and Symfony 2. It even supports Laravel, Yii, FuelPHP, CakePHP, and WordPress CMS.
Features of NetBeans
1. It comprises code generation tools like smart code completion, getter setter generation, code templates, quick fixes, hints, and refactoring.
2. NetBeans supports JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
3. It also supports code folding, try/catch code completion, formatting, and rectangular selection.
4. Zend Studio
Zend Studio is one of the best commercial PHP IDE from the house of PHP development. Zend as a company offers manifold functionalities for the successful development of PHP applications. Some of the top clients have incorporated the same including BNP Paribas Credit Suisse, DHL, and Agilent Technologies.
Zend Studio works well with Windows, OS X, and Linux and most recently works best with PHP 7. Look at some of the best features of this PHP IDE:
a. Seamless performance in indexing, validation, and searching PHP code.
b. It can hold up the Eclipse plugin ecosystem, Docker, and Git Flow support.
c. Sharp code editor that supports JavaScript, PHP, CSS, and HTML.
d. It provides the backing for PHP 7 migration and flawless integration with the Zend Server.
5. Atom
Atom is another best PHP development IDE. It offers the functionality of updating the text editor. This IDE was built by GitHub folks which is available free of cost under the MIT license.
This IDE has a vast set of communities and an ecosystem of its own along with tons of plugins and packages. Developers can swiftly turn Atom into the required PHP online editor as scalable and extremely customizable. Also, it offers an accurate cross-platform alternative with having the support of Windows, Red Hat Linux, Debian Linux, and Fedora 22+.
Final Note
PHP is an all-inclusive programming language for upscale web and mobile application development. The scripting language features a long list of the integrated development environment (IDE) helping developers to access advanced functionalities. Take a closer look at the best five IDEs mentioned here and then avail the support of a pioneer PHP development company OrangeMantra.
