spec me a php editor

Redrum

Redrum

Redrum

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From doing a search, I know there have been a few other threads on this in the past but I'd like to ask again because there are so many programs out there and I have some specific features I'd like.

I have recently had to take over maintaining a large php system, with hundreds of thousands of lines of code. The code is not well commented, not indented, heavily nested and there are hundreds of functions with bad names sitting in some included files that are often referenced.

So I want an editor that can take care of the lack of proper indents by using some kind of colour coding or something. It would also be nice if it could allow me to right click on a function like you can do in some of the MS editors, and click define, and have it pull up whatever file that function is in and scroll to it.

I don't need ftp support. Ideally it should be on Windows, but Linux is also acceptable. Free is better but I don't mind paying a reasonable amount if needed.

In the past I've mostly just used notepad but I don't think it's up to the job in this case, and searching around there seem to be a lot of php editors out there, and I don't want to have to install 20 of them to find a good one. So, please help!
 
NetBeans IDE, good code colouring, code completion, hints, customisable and multi-platform as its java.
 
Eclipse if you don't mind fiddling around with plugins. We use it at work and love it. The option to have an SVN integrated into the program is fantastic.
 
You can integrate SVN into NetBeans (and a host of other IDEs) too. Overall I prefer Eclipse and would feel confident it's up to the task for a large php project, though I've only really used Eclipse for large java (SE, J2EE, and android) apps, as any php work I've done was small enough to do just in notepad / notepad++ / crimson editor.

Things mentioned like the indenting/formatting controls, colour syntax highlighting, and ability to navigate around and jump to definitions from a method call are all basic capabilities of Eclipse (and from what I recall Netbeans isn't lacking on those either).

I would guess these two are going to be the most recommended, even if some users of one have a polar view of the other. The good news is, both are completely free too, so you certainly have the opportunity to try both and decide.
 
That's a point, I should point out I've not used it for php, just XHTML, CSS, Ruby and Java.
 
Well NetBeans seems to be the most recomended in this thread. I've just tried it but it locked up within 5 minutes of me starting to use it, so that's out!

I've now installed phpDesigner, which looks quite nice and the code beautifier seems awesome! Instead of colour coding all the badly indented code it will actually fix it. The only downside is it doesn't seem to recognise the code as php unless you specifically put the <?php in. It doesn't know the shebang.

I might give eclipse a try as well.
 
Redrum said:
Well NetBeans seems to be the most recomended in this thread. I've just tried it but it locked up within 5 minutes of me starting to use it, so that's out!

I've now installed phpDesigner, which looks quite nice and the code beautifier seems awesome! Instead of colour coding all the badly indented code it will actually fix it. The only downside is it doesn't seem to recognise the code as php unless you specifically put the <?php in. It doesn't know the shebang.

I might give eclipse a try as well.
Click to expand...

NetBeans does have issues with memory, especially with large projects and on Macs in my experience.

You should be able to tell phpDesigner to use shorttags, if thats what your referring to.
 
FabienO said:
PHP designer, Netbeans

Negative vote for eclipse.
Click to expand...

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Redrum said:
Well NetBeans seems to be the most recomended in this thread. I've just tried it but it locked up within 5 minutes of me starting to use it, so that's out!
Click to expand...

I really wouldn't give up on it that easily - it's by far the best IDE ime.

I've now installed phpDesigner, which looks quite nice and the code beautifier seems awesome! Instead of colour coding all the badly indented code it will actually fix it.
Click to expand...

Netbeans does the same with a Ctrl-Shift-F ;)

I might give eclipse a try as well.
Click to expand...

NO NOT THIS. At the risk of sounding like a fanboy, I've had to start using Eclipse again recently for developing with Vaadin, it's absolutely woeful. It's like it's been designed by a team of kids, each adding there own little bit to it.

That's not to say Netbeans doesn't have its problems, but it's by far the more polished (though sometimes at the expense of 'bleeding edge' technology) and robust IDE.
 
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