Top 5 php tools
By Justin Silverton
The following are five tools that are invaluable to any php developer:
1) Crimson Editor (Free)
Link: http://www.crimsoneditor.com/
This program is not only fast in loading time, but also small in size (so small that it can be copied in one floppy disk).
While it can serve as a good replacement for Notepad, it also offers many powerful features for programming languages such as HTML, C/C++, Perl, PHP and Java.
2) VS.php (Commercial, 30 day trial)
Link: http://www.jcxsoftware.com/vs.php
VS.Php is a Php integrated development environment based on Visual Studio. With VS.Php you can design, develop, debug and deploy Php applications within the Visual Studio IDE. VS.Php key features are around providing rich Php and Smarty editing capabilities as well as its ability to debug Php scripts locally as well as remotely.
This is a very nice editor because it offers code completion for all php function names. There is also a stand-alone edition that can be installed in-case you do not own a copy of visual studio .net 2005.
3) ez_sql/ez_results - mysql wrapper library (Free)
Location: http://www.jvmultimedia.com/portal/
A great mysql library that features:
- Disk caching
- It is one php file that you include at the top of your script. Then, instead of using standard php database functions listed in the php manual, you use a much smaller (and easier) set of ezSQL functions
- It has excellent debug functions making it lightning-fast to see what’s going on in your SQL code
- Most ezSQL functions can return results as Objects, Associative Arrays, or Numerical Arrays
- Works with Smarty templating language
4) Smarty Template Engine (Free)
Location: http://smarty.php.net/
An excellent template engine for php.
One of Smartys primary design goals is to facilitate the separation of application code from presentation. Typically, the application code contains the business logic of your application, written and maintained in PHP code. This code is maintained by programmers. The presentation is the way your content is presented to the end user, which is written and maintained in template files. The templates are maintained by template designers.
5) mysql gui bundle 5.0 (Free)
Link: http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/gui-tools/5.0.html
A suite of GUI tools that includes: MySQL Administrator, MySQL Query Browser, MySQL Migration Toolkit, and MySQL Workbench.
Update 11/05/06
Here is a list of some more tools that can be very helpful for php developers.
Editors
tsWebEditor: http://tswebeditor.net.tc/
Pnotepad: http://www.pnotepad.org/
Pspad: http://www.pspad.com/
notetab: http://www.notetab.com/
notepad++: http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm
conTEXT: http://www.context.cx/
php Designer: http://www.mpsoftware.dk/
Dev-PHP: http://devphp.sourceforge.net/
Mysql GUI clients
Navicat (commercial) : http://www.navicat.com/
phpmyadmin: http://sourceforge.net/projects/phpmyadmin/
Libraries
Propel: http://propel.phpdb.org/trac/wiki/Users/Introduction
Templates/Frameworks
phptal: http://phptal.motion-twin.com/
cakePHP: http://www.cakephp.org/
prado: http://www.xisc.com/
110 Comments so far
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Uhm, I’m a PHP developer for years now, but need nothing of your tools.
Need just www.cakephp.org, nothing more.
There are many frameworks available on the Internet for PHP. While many of them are powerful, such as cakephp, it is also a good idea to get experience outside of a framework.
Justin, I’m a big fan of the blog. Great stuff so far.
I would have included tsWebEditor instead of Crimson, but to each his own, I guess. Small is great, but who uses floppies anymore?
Jaredmellantine,
I have never used tsWebEditor. I just checked out their site (http://tswebeditor.net.tc/ if anyone is interested), and it looks like a great editor. I will check it out.
Thanks!
Great Post! We now use Crim editor thanks to this! Good stuff!
>…another lame ‘top x’ list pushes it’s way into the feeds.
particularly lame because items 1) and 2) are windows-only, items 3) and 4) aren’t really ‘tools’ per se, and item 5) isn’t even directly related to php!
“particularly lame because items 1) and 2) are windows-only, items 3) and 4) aren’t really ‘tools’ per se, and item 5) isn’t even directly related to php!”
1 and 2 are windows only because I develop most of my php applications on a windows machine (last time I checked, 90% of the world uses some for of windows). Also, what would I mention for *nix? vi, pico, or joe? All are built-in and not even worth mentioning. 3 and 4 are tools. They can both help you get a specific job done. 5 isn’t related to php, but chances are, if you are writing a php application, you will also be interfacing with mysql (or some other database).
That looks like ’stripslashes’ / ‘magic_quotes’ problems in the last reply… Sweet irony.
Vs.PHP is ok, but the intellisense sucks compared to Zend IDE. Which does support the “other” platforms. IMO though, Zend sucks at just about everything else.
beggers can’t be choosers.
And how many “template” designers actually *use* smarty? It makes it easier for them to read, but they hack them apart and remove stuff. When they see the php tags, they generally stay away more (IMO).
I’ve found it’s much easier to take a template and put in what I need (still using an MVC type approach). Smarty has just caused more overhead for me than I need. And I’ve started using it on over 10 projects with differant companies, but each time we drop it.
Another great editor is Programmer’s Notepad: http://www.pnotepad.org/
Are you kidding me ? This got to be the worst list of tools i’ve ever seen.
1) A free editor as many others, nothing special except it’s ugly and got lesser features than others
2) Visual studio ? this is not ASP.NET , where the hell did you get that lame idea from ?
Eclipse can do the same , and is even free.. zend.com/phpide/
3) ezSQL ? You never heard of mysqli ? or PDO ? Try and fail less hard next time.
4) Smarty ? o’rly ? They lack so much power, try use php.net/xsl/ if you want a powerfull template language. Smarty is sooo much php4, and we’re almost at php6 now.. bummer again
5) That’s fine, but how does that suit online access for shared hostings, or clients sites ? phpmyadmin can do almost the same..
Sorry but you failed amazing hard with this article.
You should check out Quanta is you are a linux user - my fave all time editor! Its got code completion, syntax highlighting, bracket matching, indenting etc.
Nifty and the best bit is its free. It comes with KDE Web Dev.
Hmmm, how Windows-centric. All the PHP developers I know use BBEdit or Emacs. Also, if you must use Windows, why Crimson instead of TextPad or UltraEdit?
I forgot to post the URL for tsWebEditor. The code completion and parameter hints are my favorite features. I had to search for a long time before I could find a decent free editor that had those features.
Do you realy think MySQL Query Browser is a nice tool?
I’ve used it but it has just 3 string(!) query input window and you can not change its size!!!
Other “tools” are nice(haven’t used 1 and 2 since I prefer vim and KDevelop) but if you need simple query testing - use built in mysql command line tool(it even has table/column name completion!) or try Aqua for complex things!
I just have to say that I don’t use any of those tools. I would have to say that Elipse/PHPEclipse/Subclipse/Ant, Notepad++, WAMP5, Subversion, and Filezilla are my 5 most frequently used programs while I am doing some PHP programming.
defproc (or I should say anonymous)
Yes, the problem has been fixed and no it was not magic quotes or stripslashes.
“Are you kidding me ? This got to be the worst list of tools i’ve ever seen.
1) A free editor as many others, nothing special except it’s ugly and got lesser features than others”
Here is why I like it: 1) small footprint, 2) free, 3) color codes your source (many languages built-in), and 4) curly bracket following (comes in handy with large amounts of code/enterprise projects.
tsWebEditor, which Jaredmellantine mentioned is also a great editor (I’m liking it more than crimson the more I use it).
“2) Visual studio ? this is not ASP.NET , where the hell did you get that lame idea from ?
Eclipse can do the same , and is even free.. zend.com/phpide/”
The zend IDE crashes and has never worked very well. Have you actually used it? Eclipse is just bloated.
“3) ezSQL ? You never heard of mysqli ? or PDO ? Try and fail less hard next time.”
Yes. ezSQL has worked better for me than the other two (and faster).
“4) Smarty ? o’rly ? They lack so much power, try use php.net/xsl/ if you want a powerfull template language. Smarty is sooo much php4, and we’re almost at php6 now.. bummer again”
Many people are still running php4 (almost all hosting providers I have come across still run the latest version of 4. also, just because a new version of php comes out does not mean we need to start using new buzz-word technologies).
xsl is okay, but it does not offer any form of caching (which smarty does). Also, smarty is very powerful, easier (in my opinion) to use, and offers anyone in charge of design to easily customize anything without having to touch any PHP code.
“5) That’s fine, but how does that suit online access for shared hostings, or clients sites ? phpmyadmin can do almost the same..”
if you have an online host and can’t connect to your mysql server from the outside, phpmyadmin works just as well.
“Sorry but you failed amazing hard with this article.”
I’m glad I have a new fan out there. Have a nice day
Justin: I totally agree with you about Smarty’s caching feature. I can’t tell you the number of times that’s saved our butts when our webserver was getting hammered by traffic from drudgereport and fark.
PSPad is a better editor than Crimson Editor. PSPad has newer PHP5 functions in its code completion and is updated more frequently than Crimson Editor.
Good list. I’m going to try Smarty out now.
Next time don’t make a Windows only list. Quanta+ for Linux web development. Handle’s PHP very well, used it many times.
1. I enjoy using Zend IDE. I actually just started to use it and its worked fine for me. I like the fact that you can setup network connections to several client sites. Very helpful when you have to deal with several clients on a regular basis.
2. Visual Studio is definitely a powerful IDE and I wouldn’t degrade it in anyway. I don’t see why you would want to edit php code inside VS, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt. I would just stick to a more php oriented IDE.
3. I prefer the PEAR querytool package which allows you to connect to several different types of databases. This allows you to design code which can be used across widely accross different types of databases. This way you don’t have to modify your code to work with various db’s.
4. I looked into Smarty before, but I ended up using Savant which is somewhat similiar. I find Smarty somewhat bloated and I prefer Savant over Smarty. I guess either one provides the same goal, but its just a matter of preference really. Separating code from html is the way all programmers should go. Allows designers to work with html and to not worry about screwing up the code. Also reduces frustration on the programmers side as they don’t have to search through the mangled html and php code.
5. I have been using sqlyog to connect to all of my mysql databases has it reminds me of the sql 2000 db interface and also that it provides ssh tunneling, which is a bonus.
Firstly, I think you’ve missed the 2 most important tools EVERY php developer should have:
Vim & phpMyAdmin. Vim is by far the best & only editor you’ll ever need.
Secondly, you also forgot to mention a decent framework (*ahum* Symfony *ahum*).
Thirdly, VS is total shit for web development. Even for client side c++ development I find it bloated & slow. It’s just so….Microsoft…..
Excuse me…Smarty? Quite possibly the worst thing to ever happen to PHP. I’m all for templating, but Smarty is for suckers: Bloated. Redundant. Moronic. And caching, huh? Didn’t know Smarty was the only way to do that.
Navicat (http://www.navicat.com/) is the best GUI mysql admin I’ve used, but is unfortunately neither free nor Free. However, SQLyog is also very good and is just in the process of going open source - http://webyog.com.
I develop in both Linux and Windows i use Zend Studio for php in both of these operating systems. For me the key is the editing with sftp. It saves me so much time and removes the most mundane task from coding.
I use phpmyadmin and would consider that the way forward. Though i have never tried anything else.
I also use VIM to do quick edits. In the end, each to there own. I doubt anyone using web applications will care if you used notepad or a chisel.
VIM FTW! Also, Navicat mySQL is indispensible for working with mysql databases.
I have one word for you: notetab
http://www.notetab.com/
You have forgot Phped
How did PHPMyAdmin not make the list?
Thanks for the list ‘o tools. Notepad++ is my favourite freeware editor for PHP:
http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm
I’m a web developer for 70+ websites currently and I use PHP and MySQL strictly for all of them. I have custom coded a CMS system for them all as well.
I use Dreamweaver 8 to hand code all my php in because whenever you hit save it autouploads it to the server via sftp and saves it locally. That is the simplest way to have current copies locally and on the server. Plus it lets you have all your sites organized within it. So all 70 sites are just a drop down menu away. Truly the best development environment I’ve ever used… and yes I’ve tried them all as I’ve been doing this since the early days of php3.
For quick edits you can’t beat GVIM.
I’ve found projects like SMARTY and CAKE and JOOMLA to be so generalized that rather than learning their quirks it’s easier and faster to custom code everything yourself. It also forces you to LEARN more so you’re better at coding securely.
Also PHPMyAdmin is all you’ll ever need to manage MySQL.
“Also, what would I mention for *nix? vi, pico, or joe? All are built-in and not even worth mentioning.”
Hmm… how about Quanta Plus, or any other vast number of tools available on *nix that you could choose. Also, if you develop most of your stuff in Windows, do you host in Windows? Seems to make sense to develop in the environment you will deploy.
I have been programming in php for years, and only use dreamweaver for php and phpMyAdmin for mysql. Your tools are crap and any good programmer won’t need to use any of them…
gPHPEdit is a great editor for MAC and *Nix folks. Tab completes and the rest of the goodies. Best part is that it works with the GFS so you can work on files that are sitting online… through ssh of ftp…
I’d seriously recommend PHP Designer 2007 - it’s one of the best IDE’s I’ve ever used and whats more it’s free!
I’ve been using Crimson Editor for years, and I wouldn’t think of using anything else.
Smarty? I’ll pass. I use a home-grown template solution that does the trick just fine for me.
For all my database needs, I use phpMyAdmin or PgAdmin, depending on the database I’m using.
I don’t see why people are bashing the author… In the end it all boils down to the developers tastes. I develop on windows and like simplicity, hence I use a simple text editor, simple template engine, and simple database administration. Just because you have different developmental preferences doesn’t mean this is a bad article.
Ever heard the phrase “Diff’rent Strokes for Diff’rent Folks”? Grow up, people.
Wow, who ever said that web developers aren’t passionate?
These are great resources.
I love using Smarty already, I can’t wait to check out Crimson Editor
[…] 5 must-have tools for php developers! […]
CakePHP is awesome. I’ve used Crimson Editor before and it’s alright, but PSPad is where it’s at.
crimson editor? the screenshot cries Windows 3.1
vs.php is a god-send.
smarty? excellent.
but wheres Propel?
why just use an include file to dumb down (read: make easier and already easy set of functions) integrating myql when you can use an open-source object persistence layer and never write a line of sql to begin with. now *thats* a powerful tool.
what about prado as a templating engine?
seriously. its a robust and easy to use event-driven framework.
the mysql homegrown gui kit and garbage. they barely function on windows and their mac ports are a joke. find an old copy of Mysql-Front (out of commission, but still around - i dont know how i lived on phpmyadmin now that i use this with windows) or CocoaMySql (a solid program)
The trend for “windows only” is looking very troubled of late and this trend looks to only accellerate. IE used to have some 98% of the browser market. Now less then 80%. Among developers, the “90% of market” remark is way off the mark.
You’re a bit ignorant of what other platforms have to offer. The best you could come up with is vi, pico, or joe? That’s ok. You’ll see the light eventually. There is a revolution afoot. Microsoft is far from the best this world has to offer and the world is just starting to wake up to this fact.
Keep blogging. I may not always agree, but i enjoy them none the less.
I’m underwhelmed. When making a claim of “Top 5 PHP tools”, I expected something GREAT.
1 & 2 just seem to be editors. I don’t see how an editor is a top PHP tool unless it adds something to PHP development that other editors don’t. Crimson isn’t that hot anyways. Vim does split screen (same or different files), multiple buffers, macros, incredible search and replace, color coding, tab completion, AND MUCH MUCH MORE!.
The others don’t exactly blow me away either. Why learn another syntax even if EZ is easier? MySQL isn’t that hard. If you’re a real developer, you already know it, and if you’re not, you’d be better served learning it.
Smarty can be good in certain circumstances, but I don’t think it’s that great for smaller sites (>100 pages?). Gallery2 uses it since the template designers aren’t the same people as the developers….but that’s about it that I know of.
“You’re a bit ignorant of what other platforms have to offer. The best you could come up with is vi, pico, or joe? That’s ok. You’ll see the light eventually. There is a revolution afoot. Microsoft is far from the best this world has to offer and the world is just starting to wake up to this fact”
Im not ignorant of other platforms, I just tend to do all of my development on the windows platform. Hosting is a different story, as most of my servers are either a flavor of linux or freebsd.
Care to share some of the revolutionary tools for the *nix platform? I, for one, would be very interested.
Hello…
I too think this list sux big time…
nobody uses homesite? dreamwever has homesite incorporated… I find DW bloated so I use HS since it was stil of ALLAIRE… and macromedia did no put any efforts to improve it… its a shame…
I’ve found in homesite everything I need in a php editor (I;ve been one for more than 8 years)… code templates, color highliting, big working area, light, html tags completition (maybe it lacks php completition but I type fast so there’s no need for that…)…
The only thing I miss is the utf8 encoding support!
and since now there is the boom in MVC programming pattern it would be nice to have an editor or an ide that would fascilitate the working proccess.
Here I wpuld like to mention cakePHP…as I explained before… I am a php programmer for several years now and have made a framework of my own.. but if talking MVC cakePHP is the way to go! (www.cakephp.org)
Personally I don’t like smarty!
as far as the DB utills… not everyone uses mySQL.. postgre is powerfull too… I personally preffer mySQL (you know… the habbit).. and of course phpMySQLAdmin!
“The others don’t exactly blow me away either. Why learn another syntax even if EZ is easier? MySQL isn’t that hard. If you’re a real developer, you already know it, and if you’re not, you’d be better served learning it.”
It’s not about the easy syntax of Mysql. For a long time, I never used anyone else’s libraries/components. I always had my own classes for pretty much whatever I needed (database access, sessions, etc.). True, it is always better to learn the basic concepts first before using a wrapper library, but they do come in handy at times.
Also, many of these libraries have new and improved features added to them all the time (ez_sql for instance has its own caching functionality built-in and support for many other databases besides mysql).
” have been programming in php for years, and only use dreamweaver for php and phpMyAdmin for mysql. Your tools are crap and any good programmer won’t need to use any of them”
Tools are just that…tools. They won’t make you a better programmer, just a more efficient one. You mentioned dreamweaver. How does this make you any more a programmer than someone else that is using crimson editor or notepad?
I have been programming in PHP for several years now, and I also only use Dreamweaver. It provides easy website management; an easy switch between code, UI, and split screen views; and quick uploads to the web server. I have thus far found Dreamweaver, PHPmyAdmin, TextPad, and Fireworks (for simple graphics) to be my staple tools.
Your arguments for both smarty and ez_sql seemed to include caching. As noted by many of the comments, smarty is an overkill for small-medium sized applications. Whilst templating is a good thing, for those that have tried the many templating engine out there, smarty will eventually turn out to be less favourable.
ez_sql… now if you’re using it because of simplicity, I would have to agree with the other poster that mysql itself wasn’t hard. Don’t get me wrong, I agree with you that using a wrapper library is handy but PDO does the job pretty decently in that regards although, they’re not exactly the same thing. However, there’s always adodb (does caching too) and creole.
As for the editors you’ve mentioned, I like crimson on windows just because it’s free and its syntax highlighting does a great job and yeah, pretty light weight. But given that you’ve recommended it as a ‘top’ php tool, then its equivalent tools on *nix isn’t quite hard to find. Kate and the heavier Qanta plus are examples.
Each to its own about the platform that they develop in but should your title be somewhat suggestive towards the windows then I would think you’ll get less of *nix comparisons.
Your comments about how most people are still using PHP4, whilst it may still be true but it’s certainly changing very rapidly. Rather than the notion of having the latest and greatest… you are actually missing out on the benefits of PHP5. If your hosting provider doesn’t have PHP5 then bug them for it or maybe it’s time to look elsewhere.
My 2 cents
FYI: ezSQL supports mySQL, Oracle8, InterBase/FireBird, PostgreSQL, SQLite (PHP), SQLite (C++) or MS-SQL according to their website.
“Your comments about how most people are still using PHP4, whilst it may still be true but it’s certainly changing very rapidly. Rather than the notion of having the latest and greatest… you are actually missing out on the benefits of PHP5. If your hosting provider doesn’t have PHP5 then bug them for it or maybe it’s time to look elsewhere.”
I’ve been using PHP5 for quite some time now. I actually find PHP4 to be lacking in many respects (especially with OO programming).
I have worked with many of the major hosting providers and almost all of them still using the latest version of 4. I think I have only found 1 that had 5 installed.
I use Zend IDE, and EMS MySQL manager for php development. Anything else is useless…
“I use Zend IDE”
Zend IDE is great. It has all the functionality I would ever want. However, stability is what keeps me from using it. I use it from time to time and it always ends up crashing on me (just from doing standard editing/debugging).
I wish there was another editor/IDE with the power of zend out there (watches, breakpoints, etc.).
As a professional web developer, I consistantly use one tool, and only tool only, possibly the greatest program ever created: ConTEXT.
It’s free and it’s got everything you’ll ever need in a text editor.
http://www.context.cx/
Does anyone still use VI and MySQL prompt?
I use Smarty since I started PHP programming, but never used other tools you listed.
“Excuse me…Smarty? Quite possibly the worst thing to ever happen to PHP. I’m all for templating, but Smarty is for suckers: Bloated. Redundant. Moronic. And caching, huh? Didn’t know Smarty was the only way to do that.”
It’s not, you are correct. But, I have tried many other template solutions and they just don’t work as well.
“Navicat (http://www.navicat.com/) is the best GUI mysql admin I’ve used, but is unfortunately neither free nor Free”
I use Navicat on a daily basis and it is one of my favorite mysql GUI admin tools. I didn’t mention it because I already had one commercial app on my list. I wanted to keep them mostly free of charge.
Smarty is out of date, very slow, use too much memory. Smart developers never use Smarty. Use PHPTal ( http://phptal.motion-twin.com/ ), Savant (http://www.phpsavant.com) or PHP templates (SolarPHP, CakePHP, Zend..) instead.
“Smarty is out of date, very slow, use too much memory. Smart developers never use Smarty. Use PHPTal ( http://phptal.motion-twin.com/ ), Savant (http://www.phpsavant.com) or PHP templates (SolarPHP, CakePHP, Zend..) instead”
This just isn’t true. I have tried PHPtal and Savant and they don’t work as well as smarty. Smarty may be over-kill in some situations, but it is definitely not slow or out of date.
I have been PHP propramer for years too. I really like Dreamweaver and phpMyAdmin, and there are very god ‘tool’ you need to development PHP application (not just write code).
But as time change, new tool comes up and really competes.
For Dreamweaver lover, please check out “Microsoft Expression Web Designer (Beta)”. This time, it is definitly not just another FrontPage. And this beta copy is Free.
For phpMyAdmin, it still works very great as you can upload the whole software to remote web server (but just left there, keep it secret in some secret directory). For local development, someone up there recommended sqlyog and I think it is already enough for most development work.
For discussion on Smarty (the one pointed by author), mysql or db wrapper, cache system, etc, let us excludes them in this tool discussion, otherwise we can actually includes all MVC frameworks, cache frameworks, logging frameworks, and even programing approaches and it never ends.
PS: No one talks about source code control, and bug tracking tool? And firefox extension to bug HTML/XML/Javascript during development time?
I am going to have to check out the Microsoft Expression Web Designer beta.
Thanks for the tip!
I used to use Crimson Editor but Windows messed with it and development stopped. A clone called Emerald Editor is being developed by CE fans. I switched to gVIM for Windows and works wonders for me.
i also would recommend PHP Designer 2007. http://www.mpsoftware.dk/
I use jEdit on my iBook. CLI tools on Linux.
Smarty bloated, slow… hmm… Iwonder why Flickr uses it, then?
Don’t listen to half of what comes out of a developer’s mouth. That half is mainly arrogant twaddle. The other half is the gassy effluence from the Coke can he downed in 5 seconds. You probably don’t want to listen to that either.
Find what works right for you, and learn to use it well.
1) Ultra Edit
2) Zend (but I mainly use Ultra Edit)
3) ezSQL — very good tool indeed!!
4) PHP is a templating language, why use another?
5) mysql gui bundle is good enough.
Cheers,
JV
Just downloaded tsWebEditor, looks good but has one annoying problem - even though i’ve set the tab apcing to 4, and turned off the ‘change into spaces’ option, when I tab, it inserts extra spaces afterwards, anyone any ideas?
I usually use notepad2 and that handles tabs fine.
There’s so many different tools out there that I’m sure that each developer has their personal favorites.
Because of that I’ll not even comment on the personal choices of Justin or any commenter. It’s a personal choice, and my only advice is “if it works for you, use it.”
Anyway, I personally try to stay away from commercial tools. The company where I work is already strained to keep the Adobe/Macromedia licenses that designers and developers use (Photoshop, Illustrator) that putting more overhead into the budget is undesirable at least.
Having said that here’s my personal choices, which are just that, personal. Oh and Unfortunately I do use Windows for a client machine (all our servers are Linux though) so some of these choices are necessarily Windows-only too.
1. Editor - Notepad++
At first glance it seems underfeatured compared to Zend or other editors out there, but believe me, I’ve tried anything else that appeared out there and I always come back to Notepad++.
2. Template Engine / Database Abstraction Layer
source, it’s hosted at http://code.google.com/p/sbook/ ) and I use PEAR MDB2 as the database abstraction layer and Smarty as a templating engine. Performance so far has never been an issue, even in complicated templates with lots of objects being passed to the template, and being able to assign a result array directly from the database and using it as-is inside the template is a huge time-saver when you’re chasing a deadline.
I do use my own MVC framework (if you want to have a look at the not-documented-at-all
PEAR modules are also used whenever we need to simplify complicated functionaly into a couple of lines, like HTTP_Upload for file uploads or Spreadsheet_Excel_Writer for instance for backend export functionality.
Besides none of this is tied-in to the framework, I just use it if I want it, if I need to use something else I will, so it’s pretty much open-ended.
These choices are really just that, choices. I do use other tools that help out in having a good work environment, like Servant Salamander as a file explorer and ftp tool (it’s commercial I know, but it’s cheap - $30 - and you can’t beat the ammount of functionality if gives you for that price) as well as Filezilla.
Because I use Linux servers as development machines (Windows being only used as client machines) I also use Sitecopy for uploading/upgrading projects to the production servers and of course Subversion as a version control system (using Tortoise in Windows to access it or just cmd line it through shell access - using putty).
Because my work also includes construction the HTML/Javascript/CSS for the templates I use - We’re a small company - I have to mention Firefox and a couple extensions (Web Developer, FireBug and URLParams) as being invaluable when developing. Web Developer is THE extension for Web work, it has so many cool and useful features that it suprises me nobody almost ever mentions it… FireBug is invaluable for Javascript programming and URL Params is simply marvelous in it’s simplicity. It’s “just” a POST or GET form builder/submitter. If you do a lot of Flash work like myself, or even web services developing, it helps being able to send data to the form processing method to do debugging/profiling or whatever instead of using debugging tools or Flash test suites that are overcomplicated and tend to have special requirements, specially if what you’re doing is simple.
In end what works for me can be a nightmare for someone else and vice-versa, so don’t change just for the sake of it, only if you really need it.
Sorry for the extra-large comment, and also, nice post Justin!
NunoF
Ugh, people. Instead of ripping on his list of tools, just use that Back button and go look at something else on the Internet if you don’t like what you see here.
He’s *trying* to help someone out by posting a list of things he’s found helpful, and instead is getting a bunch of garbage comments about how his information is “lame”, “useless”, or “crap”. Again, if you don’t like what’s been posted here, go away. Not every page on the Internet is going to appeal to everyone, but one thing *none* of us need is more junk out there to sift through.
As for me, I just found out about ez_sql the other day, and would have to agree that it is indeed a helpful tool you might want to check out if you’re frustrated with the way database queries are normally handled in PHP. It has already saved me a bunch of time, and that’s kind of what lists like this are for.
I’ll also give a nod to the MySQL GUI tools listed above…if you’re connecting your PHP app to a MySQL database. Notice how I’m not posting a remark like “the mysql tools you posted are dumb because not everyone uses mysql”. If the shoe doesn’t fit, then don’t wear it.
Thanks for your list, Justin.
“Sorry for the extra-large comment, and also, nice post Justin!”
No problem. Thanks for your input, I appreciate it.
“He’s *trying* to help someone out by posting a list of things he’s found helpful, and instead is getting a bunch of garbage comments about how his information is “lame”, “useless”, or “crap”. Again, if you don’t like what’s been posted here, go away. Not every page on the Internet is going to appeal to everyone, but one thing *none* of us need is more junk out there to sift through.”
I’m glad there are at least a few people like you coming to my site that can give me some insightful tips without the personal attacks.
To each their own in terms of software to edit code. I personally use PHPEdit, or Notepad++ in Windows.
The best MySQL tool there is has to be phpMyAdmin, for its simplicity, and ease of use.
Your problem is not the post but its title: “The following are five tools that are invaluable to any php developer”.
It makes the rest of us who don’t use these tools feel like we are not good php developers.
Anyone still using MysqlFront? I love this tool.
Dmitry
“Your problem is not the post but its title: “The following are five tools that are invaluable to any php developer”. ”
Really?
If I wanted to do that, I would have called it “5 tools that only genius pro php developers use”.
I love crimson editor. Column mode is incredibly useful. However lately I’ve found that a (slightly) better alternative in my opinion is editpad pro. There’s a paid version but also a freeware one that I use all the time. It’s far more customizable has better searching and more comprehensive support for different languages.
[…] Jaslabs: High performance php » Top 5 php tools (tags: php programming tools) […]
Crimson does look a bit old-school, I might give it a try. But w00t for Homesite, I’ve been using it since the Allaire days too, way before I started using PHP, and can’t find anything nice enough to warrant switching. My toolset pretty much consists of (now) Adobe Homesite, Webmin (screw phpmyadmin, way too much for what I need to do), and WinSCP for syncing. Of course, I’ve not been doing PHP for very long, and am not doing any professional work yet, but I’m doing pretty much everything by hand, without any do-it-all frameworks. I’ll take a look at a lot of the tools posted here, and see if anything works nicer. By the way, Dev-PHP anyone? I believe it has some of the features requested earlier. http://devphp.sourceforge.net/
Cliff,
Thanks for the tip, devphp looks great (from the screenshots). I am going to try it out.
btw. I removed your site URL..luckily the site doesn’t exist anymore.
Zend Studio, Zend Framework, Smarty, PEAR… this is all i need to make anything
Although I’ve never tried the crimson editor, I prefer emacs over anything. It’s extremely powerful. IMO. Thanks for the post.
I’m suprised now one has mentioned Komodo/xdebug combo yet, breakpoints and proper debugging of php, python, perl, javascript and more, highlighting, code completion etc. Far less stupid cvs/svn integration than the Zend IDE also.
[…] read more | digg story […]
Justin,
Yeah I know it’s gone, that’s why I linked to it. Figured only people who knew about it would get the joke.
This is is rather underwhelming…I tried several free php debuggers and phpED is the best hands down. Not free, but worth every penny. Alos, psPad is probably close to the best general purpose FREE editor around.
Now to my question…I am trying to find a PHP “function parser” that I can run on a large codebase and get a summary of classes, methods and vars…can anyone help me find one?
advTHANKSance,
- mark
does anybody here use this text programmer’s editor: www.context.cx
“Ugh, people. Instead of ripping on his list of tools, just use that Back button and go look at something else on the Internet if you don’t like what you see here.” - Matthew
I couldn’t agree with Matthew more. I can’t believe how many people just rip on this list… when they could just simply suggest other alternatives. Instead of being jerks, how about just saying, “Hey that list is ok, but what about these better tools A, B, C, etc.”
I use Editplus for years.
And I try to use zend studio now.
But I will try those tools.
Thanks for your list.
Crimson is good as an editor, but the three things that I need which most editors don’t provide are auto-complete of my own classes/objects (not just PHP functions etc), breakpoint debugging/watches and Subversion support. For these I need a full IDE.
I’ve tried quite a few. Eclipse is good for editing and subversion but awful for debugging, PHP Designer, TS Web Editor, EnginSite, PHP-IDE and so on are all pretty bad with at least one of the three, and Zend Studio I just couldn’t get running and debugging with any stability.
I’ve now got my ideal mix. Visual Studio Pro 2005 (I get MSDN from work, fortunately, but I’d buy it anyway as it’s possibly the best software MS ever did and the best IDE anywhere), with the free AnkhSVN plugin for Subversion support (only version 0.6.0.2 seems to work for me) and the VS PHP plugin (not free but very cheap). Plus the MySQL GUI tools bundle from their site.
It gives the best editor, full intellisense, step debugging, version control, and even shows PHPDOC comments in the intellisense tooltip for my own code. I’m almost in tears of joy as I remember my old frustrations …
Why make it a list where people can add in their preference to the list. That way people would start buzying themselves adding their preference to the list instead of yapping about what they like, what they dislike, et cetera et cetera, yada yada.
Heck, you can even laugh at some the stuffs added later on, and of course we are all suppose to have the best”est” of intentions, which I think some people did not quite get what you are trying to do in the first place.
[…] Jaslabs has a list of the top 5 PHP Developer tools. […]
I use
PHPEclipse IDE
SQLYog for DB management(i guess its better than phpMyAdmin in terms of usability)
I have configured PHPEclipse to show code hint from Cake API too…
that works for me …
Hello,
you just forgot to mention the genuine eclipse plugin TruStudio by xored for PHP, Python, and ECMAScript development. Its a free plugin and can be downloaded via http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/trustudio. I use it a lot and its much better than ZEND Studio.
Greetings
thomas
eSKUeL (http://www.phptools4u.com/scripts/eskuel/?lang=english) is a good PhpMyAdmin alternative too.
You should give it a try.
Anyway, thank you for this cool review.
“Also, what would I mention for *nix? vi, pico, or joe? All are built-in and not even worth mentioning”
I use Kate.
“Does anyone still use VI and MySQL prompt?”
yeah , i do. nothing beats being at the coalface with no GUI getting in the way.
but i prefer pico/nano to vi.
editplus and mysql front……there is nothing else to talk about
I use SciTE (on Windows) and Kate/Quanta/SciTE (on Linux), instead of Crimson Editor. SciTE is much small, It’s open-source (and free, as in free beer). It offers syntax highlighting for many languages (you can add your own), curly bracket matching etc. Kate and Quanta offer more features.
[…] Justin Silverton has a list up of his top 5 PHP tools and the comments on his page are quite disparaging. […]
I’m not sure about your recommendation for Crimson Editor. Now, a couple years ago I might have felt different but the latest release is from 2004! There are a ton of free and cost-friendly alternatives out there just check out php-editors.com, you can even search by license or OS.
[…] http://www.whenpenguinsattack.com/2006/11/05/top-5-php-tools/?82 […]
[…] Top 5 php tools I’ve been getting into PHP more lately that I’m working with things like Wordpress. Having tools available such as Mysql visual tools is always nice though and doesn’t require PHP (tags: php programming software webdesign tools development) […]
[…] read more | digg story […]
[…] While trying to get back on track with PHP, after being completely taken over by Ruby on Rails for web development, I stumbled upon this list of top 5 php tools. Havent yet tried all of them but VS.php seems quite nice, maybe that is just because I’m selflearning C# and using Visual Studio C# Express Edition for that, although I dont know if such an extensive IDE is necessary for php development. (Way to contradict myself.) […]
what about http://www.ultraedit.com ???
[…] Jaslabs: High performance php » Top 5 php tools Posted in bookmarks | Trackback | del.icio.us […]
first I use smarty and find it very powerfull. Don’t listen to bad comments here. I was using dreamveaver but, frankly, I think it’s the worst IDE for php out there. I now switched to rapid PHP (great php tool with css and html support, site browser by ftp like DW) and komodo (for debugging with xdebug). I’ve tried tswebeditor for debugging but it simply don’t work out of the box with xdebug, dont kown why. Ezsql is a great class, I recommend it also.
Nice list!
I’m already using Crimson Editor.
[…] http://www.whenpenguinsattack.com/2006/11/05/top-5-php-tools/ […]