Tools to Help Make You a Successful PHP Developer

PHP is the most widely-used and fastest server-side scripting language for creating web apps and websites. There are numerous reasons why many custom software developers prefer PHP to other languages like Ruby and Python. The language includes several ready-to-use scripts, detailed documentation, well-supported frameworks, and a big community. 

Experts have developed several PHP development tools to make it work easier, which boosts efficiency when it comes to programming. These tools are intended to account for a perfect Integrated Development Environment or IDE, in which developers can create innovative, feature-rich, and engaging PHP projects. 

Developers of PHP build applications, programs, and websites with the dynamic scripting language. The PHP platform is renowned for web development as well as business apps. The market today is saturated with a lot of PHP tools, and choosing the best among the many options is challenging. 

When it comes to custom application development service today that make use of PHP, the numerous tools help developers become truly successful. 

Tools for Successful Web Development

1. Zend Studio

Most developers opt for Zend due to its optimal speed. Writing and debugging don’t demand extra time and effort from developers. It debugs PHP scripts through integrating Xdebug, Zend Debugger, and X-ray. The extensive PHP IDE comes with great and exciting features and is powered to deploy apps on different servers, which include those in the cloud. 

Zend Features:

• faster validation performance
• searching and indexing PHP code
• Docker support
• Zend framework and tool integration
• Eclipse Plugin support

2. PHPStorm

The tool is considered the most standard choice to other tools because it’s inherently fast, smooth, and lightweight. It works with other frameworks well, such as Laravel, Symfony, CakePHP, Magento, Drupal, and WordPress among others. Moreover, it also provides live editing support for major front-end technologies, including JavaScript, HTML5, CSS, and so on while having support for unit testing, code refactoring, and debugging. 

PHPStorm Features:

• code re-arranger
• code completion
• native ZenCoding support
• zero-configuration debugging
• has extension support with many useful plugins

3. Netbeans

The most widely used in custom software development. The tool comes with all the rich features that support numerous languages. Initially, NetBeans was used for developing Java apps, but the present version is faster, lightweight, and supportive of PHP development services. 

It includes extensive support for other languages, which include HMTL5, C++, and C. It furthermore supports the development of big-scale web apps as well as different languages including Russian, English, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, and streamlined Chinese. 

NetBeans Features:

• smart completion of code
• code formatting and folding
• syntax highlighter
• generation of getter setter
• completion  of try/catch code

4. Cloud 9

An open-source cloud IDE provides a development environment for numerous languages, including Python and JavaScript to name a few. Custom software developers could get started on coding right away with pre-configured environments called workspace and create web apps with features including live preview, testing, and browser compatibility. 

They’re able to collaborate with colleagues with the use of collaborative coding features. With this, you could take projects wherever you want. It provides a flawless experience to build server-less applications, allowing you to define resources, debug at the remote, and execute server-less applications. 

Cloud9 Features:

• tabbed file management
• integrated debugger
• language analysis in real-time
• reformatting code
• in-built image editor

5. NuSphere PhpED

A proprietary integrating development tool of PHP is offered by NuSphere. It’s comprised of a PHP editor, debugger, advanced profiler, code insight, and database client. The utility offers developers with various tweaks and tools, which make the entire development process less hefty. 

With the help of the PHpExpress, a commercial PHP accelerator, the tool hastens the app development process. The IDE is ideal for developing complex web apps and websites, with support for HTML, CSS3, and JavaScript while offering huge support for PHP 7.1. 

PhpED features:

• composite file extensions support
• parallel debugging
• speeds up PHP apps with PhpExpress
• PHP code refactoring
• full PHPUnit integration

6. Eclipse PHP Tool

Digitally, when you look for the best development tools for PHP, the majority of the search results would have Eclipse in their list. As a thorough development tool, it ranks among the top tools of PHP. With the liberty to choose from a wide range of plugins, developing and simplifying complex PHP code is easier. 

Furthermore, it helps in customizing and extending the IDE to address the project needs. The IDE could support GUI and non-GUI apps and is ideal for big-scale PHP projects. 

Eclipse Features:

• content assist
• highlighting syntax
• navigating code
• code formatting
• code templates

Conclusion

Every tool here listed is jam-packed with outstanding capabilities and features, which enable building PHP websites in an easy and fast way. The tools here are not the only options for you since there are a lot of both free and paid PHP development tools for you to choose from. Nevertheless, the tools listed here are some of the best that meets every project requirement. 

Written by Ethan Jones working as a Technical Content Writer.

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