PHP Tool - what is important? - PHPBuilder Forums

PHP Tool - what is important?

Jefff

Hi all! 🙂

Help a newbie to start from the right point! There are plenty of php tools out there, but which one to choose? I know that everyone has its favorite, but why did you choose it?

The question is "What 3 things do you consider the most necessary/important in a php tool?". Perhaps, the question should be divided in two:
- in regards to php editor only
- in regards to php IDE only.

???

Thanks!

-Jefff

vaaaska

Until somebody pointed out this tool to me, I was getting absolutely nowhere with php - but it's really only there to help the db stuff simple.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpmyadmin/

Any editor is pretty ok for learning how to write the code - I just use BBedit since it's there in front of me.

drawmack

I use html kit for a couple of reasons that are important to me.

1) It's not WYSIWYG but it does have a preview panel in it.

2) It does code highlighting of all the languages I use so I don't need to jump between editors

3) It has a built in upload client so once I set up a development area I can build my code right there on the server no jumping around and remembing to upload files.

dalecosp

Ooh, ooh, can I be mean and say "the search link at the top of this page???" :evilgrin:

Seriously, we've got some real detailed threads, right here in the EL, talking about editors and IDE's ... you'll find a plethora of opinion and some good linkage to several tools...

Welcome to PHPBuilder ... we're not all as mean as me, heh heh, lots of us are even worse!

🙂 😃

LordShryku

Originally posted by dalecosp
Welcome to PHPBuilder ... we're not all as mean as me, heh heh, lots of us are even worse!

We won't name names.....

Jefff

Thanks, drawmack! I understand about html kit. And what about debugger? Don't you use any? It seems to be useful if you do a lot of coding...

Jefff

dalecosp - yes, please, be "mean" further and will learn even more 😉 I'm going to read all about php tools here

Jefff

do you use any of these commercial tools? I know that Zend are "designers of PHP", so their IDE is rather good, but I read it's rather slow because of Java. Komodo and Dreamweaver are not specifically php-oriented, though Dreamweaver is a "gold standard". I heard nothing bad about PhpED. ???

piersk

Originally posted by Jefff
dalecosp - yes, please, be "mean" further

Does anyone else think this sounds rude?

Or is it just me?

I need help 🙁

laserlight

Well, we could always ask dalecosp to be median or mode, I suppose.

do you use any of these commercial tools?

No, but then I have not worked on really large and complex projects.
So far using a text editor and manually debugging by testing on the webserver/PHP installed locally has worked fine.

Jefff

Originally posted by piersk
Does anyone else think this sounds rude?

Or is it just me?

Hey, I did not mean anything bad at all. Yes, I know that the topic about php tools is not so new, but there is always something new on the market, so no wonder that the question arises from time to time again.

Jefff

Originally posted by laserlight
No, but then I have not worked on really large and complex projects.
So far using a text editor and manually debugging by testing on the webserver/PHP installed locally has worked fine.

I see. Thanks. I'm going to dive into the php thing so I'm rather looking for some sophisticated tool.

laserlight

I'm going to dive into the php thing so I'm rather looking for some sophisticated tool.

Are you starting as a rank beginner, or as a novice who wants to advance his skills?

If you are a beginner, I think that simply using a good text editor would be a better choice than using a full blown IDE, as you would get to know what style of programming you prefer.
Later, there would be time to learn the ins and outs of a given IDE.

Likewise, you could just run SQL manually, and later, when you have a feel of it, use a tool such as phpmyadmin.

drawmack

Originally posted by Jefff
Thanks, drawmack! I understand about html kit. And what about debugger? Don't you use any? It seems to be useful if you do a lot of coding...

Sure I use a debugger, it's called the comment and echo method.

Seriously I've been programming so long that debuggers usually just slow me down.

Jefff

Originally posted by drawmack
Seriously I've been programming so long that debuggers usually just slow me down.

Good for you! Okay, so it seems that it's better to start with some simple tool and then... we'll see...

Jefff

Originally posted by laserlight
Are you starting as a rank beginner, or as a novice who wants to advance his skills?
....

Rather as a novice, but anyway there is a truth in your words. I will start with something simple.

Weedpacket

Originally posted by drawmack
Sure I use a debugger, it's called the comment and echo method.

Seriously I've been programming so long that debuggers usually just slow me down.

😃 If you're careful about your coding practices you shouldn't need a debugger; you should be able to walk through your own code yourself.

(Try telling that to some people I've met: their web application framework was ghastly - no matter how many errors their code threw, the framework would only output the last error message generated. Think about the fun you could have with that. "But you should be using the debugger", they said....)

dalecosp

Here's the classic thread: Editor used for PHP

And the poll on WYSIWYG editors: Clicky

My 'IDE': brain, hands, keyboard, 'Net, ssh via CLI, and a simple text editor on the server.

But, if we really must start the crusade again:

[ /me crosses himself && lifts big sword]

"ed(1) is the standard text editor!!" :mad:

😃 😃 😉