

Version Control IntegratedĪnother popular feature in PhpStorm is the easy integration with popular version control systems like Git, SVN, and others. So when it comes time to refactor something, or change the name of an object, method, function, or class, the IDE responds by showing you everywhere your changes will take effect. Its code-reading abilities surprised even me. And when it comes to ability, PhpStorm is pretty high up there. This means the IDE seeks to “understand” your code and what it’s doing, to the best of its ability. One of the main reasons people choose to go with an IDE instead of a plain text editor is because an IDE adds an extra layer on top of your code, which allows you to interact with the code across multiple dimensions.

You can instantly download your packages and manage them from inside the default PhpStorm interface. The PHP composer, which lets you manage PHP packages across your projects, is fully supported in PhpStorm. If you’re using one of the popular PHP frameworks and/or content management systems (CMSs) then you can rest assured that you are fully supported on PhpStorm without having to install any additional modules or plugins.Īnd more. While much of your work in PhpStorm will depend upon your personal style and the project you’re working on, here is a rundown of some of the main features that the IDE brings over a plain text editor.

The old argument about integrated development environments (IDEs) vs text editors continues to rage on.
