Code editors: PhpStorm vs VSCode

Hey! Im new here, just wanting to try this forum with a simple question I got:

¿It's truly worth it trying phpStorm?

I have used VSCode all my coding life, but next week I will start a new position as a developer where the project will be primarily developed in Laravel (my first job with this framework). Would you recommend trying to get used to phpStorm right away or is it better to use the same editor as always? Along the same line, is it possible to take advantage of phpSotrm without having to pay for it?

-- Best regards, PhD: Laracasts is mind-blowing. Thank you for this!

LaryAI

1 year ago

Level 58

Certainly! Here's a detailed response to your question about choosing between PhpStorm and VSCode for Laravel development:

Title: Code editors: PhpStorm vs VSCode

Response:

Hey there! Welcome to the Laracasts community. Your question about whether it's worth trying PhpStorm is a common one, especially among developers transitioning to a new framework like Laravel.

PhpStorm vs VSCode

PhpStorm

PhpStorm is a powerful IDE specifically designed for PHP development. Here are some of its key features:

Deep PHP Integration: PhpStorm offers advanced code understanding, code completion, and refactoring capabilities tailored for PHP.
Laravel Support: It has built-in support for Laravel, including features like route navigation, Eloquent model completion, and Blade template support.
Debugging: PhpStorm provides an integrated debugger, which can be a significant advantage for tracking down issues in your code.
Database Tools: It includes robust database tools, making it easier to manage your database directly from the IDE.
Code Quality Tools: PhpStorm integrates with tools like PHP_CodeSniffer, PHP CS Fixer, and PHPUnit, helping you maintain high code quality.

However, PhpStorm is a paid product. JetBrains offers a 30-day free trial, and there are discounts available for students, teachers, and open-source contributors. Unfortunately, there isn't a free version of PhpStorm beyond the trial period.

VSCode

VSCode is a highly popular, free, and open-source code editor with a vast ecosystem of extensions. Here are some reasons why you might stick with VSCode:

Flexibility: VSCode is highly customizable with a wide range of extensions available for PHP and Laravel development.
Cost: It's free, which is a significant advantage if you're looking to avoid additional expenses.
Extensions: There are several extensions that can enhance your Laravel development experience, such as:
- PHP Intelephense: Provides intelligent code completion, linting, and more.
- Laravel Blade Snippets: Adds Blade syntax support.
- Laravel Artisan: Allows you to run Artisan commands directly from VSCode.
- PHP Debug: Integrates Xdebug for debugging PHP code.

Here is an example of how you can set up some of these extensions in VSCode:

{
  "extensions": [
    "bmewburn.vscode-intelephense-client",
    "onecentlin.laravel-blade",
    "ryannaddy.laravel-artisan",
    "felixfbecker.php-debug"
  ]
}

Recommendation

If you're already comfortable with VSCode and it meets your needs, you might want to stick with it, especially since it has strong community support and a rich ecosystem of extensions. However, if you find yourself needing more advanced features specifically tailored for PHP and Laravel, PhpStorm could be worth the investment.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal preference and workflow. You might even consider trying PhpStorm's free trial to see if its features significantly enhance your productivity.

Best of luck with your new position and your journey with Laravel!

I hope this helps you make an informed decision. If you have any more questions, feel free to ask!

Best regards, LaracastsGPT

1 like

puklipo

1 year ago

Level 9

I've been using PhpStorm for Laravel development for 10 years.

VSCode is just a lightweight text editor. I switch between multiple editors many times. It's important to be editor independent.

2 likes

Tray2

1 year ago

Best Answer

Level 73

You can use either, however PHPStorm is a PHP IDE which means that the support for PHP is a lot better out of the box than VSCode. With the right plugins you can almost get the same functionality in VSCode as you have in PHPStorm. It is a matter of preference, but I prefer using PHPStorm for my PHP development, and since most of it is done using Laravel, the Laravel Idea plugin is a great extension of PHPStorm.

In short, I would suggest giving it a go (Free trial), and if you don't think it's worth the money, well then you can go back to VSCode.

There is a free course here to see how to use PHPStorm.

https://laracasts.com/series/phpstorm-for-laravel-developers

5 likes

blueshift9

1 year ago

Level 4

I argue that even if you are a hobbyist and have the budget, PHPStorm is worth it. If you do PHP in any sort of capacity where you make money, it is pretty much a no brainer even if you have to pay for it yourself. I would hope your new employer would supply you with a PHPStorm license - and if they do, that is a no-brainer to me. I'd also be worried if my employer balked at paying for it. I would also recommend the Laravel Idea plugin as well, though it is isn't quite as critical as PHPStorm itself.

As others have said, PHPStorm is a full IDE, while VS Code is a text editor. VS Code is a FANTASTIC program, and I would definitely argue it is a good thing to feel comfortable in it as it is far and away the best text editor out there; and very extensible as well. It's just takes a bit of tweaking to get it in a great place for PHP.

1 like

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