Available PHP IDEs
I am currently finishing a Drupal website and I need to implement some advanced stuff in it. In the other hand, I am also starting another PHP project that is going to be huge.
In either cases I need to do a lot more server side coding and for speed, quality and efficiency I can’t miss a good editor with a debugger.
In my case I would prefer an editor working on both Mac and Windows. Since I am more into Open Source tools and libraries, the list I came up with here doesn’t include much commercial options. It certainly doesn’t cover all existing free IDEs, but some good editors don’t come up with the required debugger.
Here what is available today (in no particular order):
- Aptana 1.2 (FREE and commercial): http://www.aptana.com/
- Netbeans 6.5 (FREE): http://www.netbeans.org/
- Komodo IDE 5.0 (commercial): http://www.activestate.com/Products/komodo_ide/
- CodeLoster 2.6 (FREE): http://www.codelobster.com/
Aptana
Aptana Studio comes in 2 flavours: a FREE and a commercial version (starting at 99$).
The FREE and commercial versions are pretty similar, and Aptana is full of features including support of HTML, XML, CSS, Javascript, Ruby, PHP, iPhone, Pyhon and Adobe Air. With debuggers, designers, code completion, colorization and more. The PHP support has matured and includes a debugger.
Aptana can also be installed as an Eclipse plugin and requires Java to run. It runs on Mac, Windows and Linux platforms.
Netbeans
Netbeans 6.5 brings a lot of goodness to this already old FREE IDE from Sun. Similar to Eclipse, Netbeans can be extended with plugins and is a modular platform. Originally a Java IDE, you can now develop in Ruby, PHP and Python. HTML, XML, CSS and Javascript are also recognized and colorized. Again, you will find debuggers, designers, code completion and colorization. In the case of PHP the support is pretty new but the IDE is integrated with Xdebug. Netbeans is known to be memory hungry and CPU intensive, but if you run on a modern computer you should enjoy it. For Drupal, you have a plugin to help you get started quickly: https://nbdrupalsupport.dev.java.net/
Netbeans requires Java to run. It runs on Mac, Windows, Linux.
Komodo
ActiveState Komodo IDE 5.0 has a long and very good reputation as an alternative IDE for Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby and more. There is Komodo IDE, the commercial version starting at 245$, and Komodo Edit the FREE lightweight version. Komodo Edit is a good editor but it miss some important features compared to Komodo IDE. So, I would recommend Komodo IDE. Komodo includes support for Perl, PHP, Python, Ruby, Tcl, Javascript, CSS, HTML, XML and Django (good since I also love Django). You will find debuggers, designers, code completion and colorization and more productivity features. The product is well polished and the price seems justified. The PHP support is very good with a nice debugger.
Komodo IDE is built on the Mozilla platform and runs on Mac, Windows and Linux.
CodeLobster
CodeLobster 2.6 is the new kid in town. At least it is less known than the others. However it is FREE and comes with support for HTML, CSS, SQL, Javascript and PHP. It does colorization, code completion and integrates a PHP debugger. It looks less featured than the others but certainly less bloated too. For PHP, this is a good alternative. It looks inspired by Visual Studio .Net. Its strength is an advanced Drupal plugin you can buy for 99.95$. Probably the best Drupal integration so far. So, this FREE IDE turn to a commercial alternative if you want the Drupal features.
CodeLobster runs on Windows only.
Conclusion ?
Choosing an IDE is always a matter of requirements and preference. If you are on Windows, pick any you like if you do PHP programming. If you are on Mac, Linux forget about CodeLobster: the only non Java based IDE being Komodo, but this is also a commercial product certainly worth it, but still.
Next thing is to look at the features that matter the most to you. I am looking for debuggers, code completion, colorization, code assist, documentation: this is the bare minimum for me for an IDE. But you may be looking for designers, drag and drop or something else…
The good news is that you can try any of them since they can all be downloaded and in the case of Komodo you have a 21 days trial version. In my case I’m not settled yet tonight, I already use Aptana for Javascript and Adobe Air development, but I’m looking at the new Netbeans 6.5 and actually was interested in Komodo also for Python development. I will soon pick one for PHP and will talk more about it here !
Until then,
In code we trust.
