The PHP editor PhpStorm is a reliable, fairly inexpensive product with great features to make coding easier and hassle free. Whether you have years of experience in the programming field or are still learning the ins and outs of coding, this PHP editor will do what you need it to when you need it to. It doesn't have all the frills, but it is definitely one you might want to check out if only for the price.
The features in this PHP editor cover a broad range of tools, all of which make coding easier while reducing mistakes. Some of the key features include auto-complete, code validation, syntax highlighting, spell check and templates. These features may not seem like much all by themselves but add them together and use them for a couple of hours and you'll understand why each one is vital to have when using a PHP editor. The auto-complete reduces the errors in the code and will help with formatting more complex variables. The code validation removes the fear of accidentally deleting or moving code accidentally. The syntax highlighting make it quick to see which part is code and which is text. The spell-checker catches the spelling mistakes that might reduce your credibility and the templates give you a head start on coding new pages.
While this PHP editor has a lot of beneficial features, there is a limitation. This PHP software application doesn't have a built-in browser. Because it doesn't have this option, if you want to preview you site, you will have to open a web browser. This isn't a problem in and of itself, but it does mean you can't have everything contained in the PHP development software application itself. The biggest feature this application has going for it is the price. A commercial license for this product is significantly less than some of the other products we reviewed.
This PHP editor's interface is fairly straightforward. It has a layout which you can vary how you want just by dragging and dropping information between the windows. One of the handy features for this PHP toolkit is the buttons in the window edges that toggle the windows for easy access. They are numbered so you can use your keyboard to open and close them quickly, which is a feature we appreciated. The bookmarks for the code didn't have quite as many options as we wanted; they were just check marks that showed up in the margins instead of you being able to name them. Using the PHP editor as a whole was pretty good. All of the menus are organized and there is enough information in the help that by the end of our testing, we felt very comfortable moving around in it.
When looking into PHP editors, you want to make sure that the support offered by the manufacturer is continually being added upon through a forum or newsletter, which is exactly what JetBrains does. So if you stay tapped in to their network, you are sure to get the most updated information available. If you need more help using the application than working with the coding or scripting, a manual is provided in the application. You can also call or email JetBrains' customer support. All of these options make sure that you get the help you need when you need it. Whenever we contacted their staff, we received answers to our questions in a timely fashion.
When you build a website, you want to use a PHP editor that's both fast and powerful. With all of the features available in PhpStorm, you'll get speed and quality for a great price.
