I have an idea, but I am not sure if it is any use. I need community help to determine this.
The idea is to build cloud-based service that can perform static checks on PHP code. Static checks types that I think about are:
1. Syntax and type checks.
2. Code conventions compatibility checks (code compatibility with PEAR/PSR/Symfony code style conventions). In perspective, automatic fixing of mistakes, like using tabs instead spaces, replacing shortened php tags with long, etc.
3. Code complexity checks.
When check is finished, user will have report with results and recommendations what to improve.
User will be able to test single PHP file, archive of files or whole repository. It is very important to enable GitHub/Bitbucket hooks support, so these static checks can be performed as part of CI testing process.
Benefits of using this system that I see are next:
1. You will know better what parts of your code smell.
2. You will have better control over code style consistency, so overall readability of code will improve.
In perspective, this can be implemented for other languages as well.
Please, feel free to criticize me and tell your thoughts about this idea. Thanks!
