Uniform Server PHP IDE: Introduction

Uniform Server PHP IDE.

Uniform Server PHP IDE

Uniform Server is an excellent throwaway WAMP, extract have a play and throwaway if you don’t like it. Similarly this simple PHP IDE plugin is also throwaway; first extract a new version of Uniform Server and then the IDE. Once extracted you can start writing PHP CLI code and test in the integrated console window. Alternatively write WebPage code and immediately run on a working web server. Should this package not meet your expectations just throw it away and search the Internet for something that does.

Above package offers a complete PHP coding environment. It is ideal for learning PHP. Scripts are entered using Notepad++ a single button click provides syntax checking. Double clicking on any highlighted errors takes you to the appropriate line in the edit window for correction. Corrected code is run from menu options either in a console window for CLI scripts or a browser to display web pages. Should the code not perform as expected it can be debugged using the integrated XDebug PHP module and Notepad++ debug client.

WebPages are directly edited on Uniform Server avoiding need to FTP completed pages.

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Two versions

There are two variants of the IDE self-contained and plugin.

• The self-contained version includes a built in PHP interpreter allowing it to run independent of Uniform Server this is ideal for learning PHP and CLI scripting.
• Plugin version shares the PHP interpreter integrated into Uniform Server this greatly reduces plugin size.

Choose one of the following installation options.

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Installation option 1 -Self-contained Portable PHP IDE

Download and Install

Following assume you are using drive H and folder us_ide_1 they are not mandatory feel free to use another drive and folder, substitute your drive letter and folder as appropriate.

Download IDE

Download self-extracting archive file from SourceForge.

• Create a new folder H:\us_ide_1
• Download file us_portable_php_ide_1_0_0.exe from SourceForge
• Save to above folder (us_ide_1)
• Double click us_portable_php_ide_1_0_0.exe this extracts all files no need to change path
• Folder us_portable_php_ide is created

Download Uniform Server

This step is optional however if you want to create and test web pages extract latest version of Uniform Server UniServer 5.6.15-Nano or UniServer 6.0.5-Carbo

• Save downloaded file for example UniServer5_6_15.exe to folder H:\us_ide_1
• Double click UniServer5_6_15.exe this extracts all files no need to change path

Configuration

If you have download Uniform Server and wish to run XDebug it requires configuring as follows:

Navigate to folder H:\us_ide_1\UniServer Start the server tray menu by double clicking on Start.exe From the tray menu run Server Status - This rewrites all internal paths Navigate to folder H:\us_ide_1\us_portable_php_ide\unicode\php\extensions You need to copy the XDebug extension to Uniform Server there are two version VC6 and VC9 For 5.6.15-Nano copy php_xdebug-2.1.0-5.3-vc6.dll to folder H:\us_ide_1\UniServer\usr\local\php\extensions For 6.0.5-Carbo copy php_xdebug-2.1.0-5.3-vc9.dll to folder H:\us_ide_1\UniServer\usr\local\php\extensions Edit the three PHP ini files: H:\us_ide_1\UniServer\usr\local\php\php.ini H:\us_ide_1\UniServer\usr\local\php\php.ini_delvelopment_nano H:\us_ide_1\UniServer\usr\local\php\php.ini_production_nano At the end of each file add the following section: [xdebug] zend_extension=H:/us_ide_1/UniServer/usr/local/php/extensions/php_xdebug-2.1.0-5.3-vc6.dll xdebug.remote_autostart=on xdebug.remote_enable=on xdebug.remote_host=127.0.0.1 xdebug.remote_port=9000 xdebug.remote_handler=dbgp xdebug.remote_mode=req xdebug.idekey=default

Note 1:

Substitute the path heightened with the path that matches your installation

zend_extension=H:/us_ide_1/UniServer/usr/local/php/extensions/php_xdebug-2.1.0-5.3-vc6.dll

Note 2:

If you now move folder us_ide_1 and all its content to a different location all paths are automatically updated. Ensure the new location does not contain spaces in any folder names.

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Installation option 2 - Plugin PHP IDE

Following assume you are using drive H and folder us_ide_2 they are not mandatory feel free to use another drive and folder, substitute your drive letter and folder as appropriate.

Download and Install

Following assumes you are using drive H substitute your drive letter as appropriate.

Download Uniform Server

Download self-extracting archive file from SourceForge.

• Create a new folder H:\us_ide_2
• Extract latest version of Uniform Server
  • UniServer 5.6.15-Nano
  • or UniServer 6.0.5-Carbo
• Save downloaded file for example UniServer5_6_15.exe to folder H:\us_ide_2
• Double click UniServer5_6_15.exe this extracts all files no need to change path

Download IDE

Download self-extracting archive file from SourceForge.

• Download file us_plugin_php_ide_1_0_0.exe from SourceForge
• Save to folder H:\us_ide_2\UniServer
• Double click us_plugin_php_ide_1_0_0.exe this extracts all files no need to change path
• Folder H:\us_ide_2\UniServer\us_portable_ide is created

Configuration Part 1

To run XDebug on Uniform Server. Server requires configuring as follows:

Navigate to folder H:\us_ide_2\UniServer Start the server tray menu by double clicking on Start.exe From the tray menu run Server Status - This rewrites all internal paths Edit the three PHP ini files: H:\us_ide_2\UniServer\usr\local\php\php.ini H:\us_ide_2\UniServer\usr\local\php\php.ini_delvelopment_nano H:\us_ide_2\UniServer\usr\local\php\php.ini_production_nano At the end of each file add the following section: [xdebug] zend_extension=H:/us_ide_2/UniServer/usr/local/php/extensions/php_xdebug-2.1.0-5.3-vc6.dll xdebug.remote_autostart=on xdebug.remote_enable=on xdebug.remote_host=127.0.0.1 xdebug.remote_port=9000 xdebug.remote_handler=dbgp xdebug.remote_mode=req xdebug.idekey=default

Note 1:

Substitute the path heightened with the path that matches your installation

zend_extension=H:/us_ide_2/UniServer/usr/local/php/extensions/php_xdebug-2.1.0-5.3-vc6.dll

Change extension "php_xdebug-2.1.0-5.3-vc6.dll" to match your version of Uniform Server

• For 5.6.15-Nano use php_xdebug-2.1.0-5.3-vc6.dll
• For 6.0.5-Carbo use php_xdebug-2.1.0-5.3-vc9.dll

Note 2:

If you now move folder H:\us_ide_2\UniServer and all its content to a different location all paths are automatically updated. Ensure the new location does not contain spaces in any folder names.

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Configuration Part 2

Edit file H:\us_ide_2\UniServer\usr\local\php\php_cli_ide_debug.ini

Change this line to match php_xdebug version you are using (shown for 5.6.15-Nano)

zend_extension=./extensions/php_xdebug-2.1.0-5.3-vc6.dll

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Folder Structure

Commonality Folder structure for both versions is similar as shown on right   A) Convenient folders for installation these can be any folder you like B) Folder UniServer contains Start.exe starts Uniform Server's tray menu C) Server root folder (www) location of WebPages you edit from Notepad++ D) Folder containing IDE and file Run_IDE.bat double click to start IDE E) Folder php_scripts A convenient folder for your CLI scripts this can be any folder you choose. Portable IDE If you are learning PHP or writing PHP CLI scripts there is no need for a server you can delete folder UniServer B) and use the portable IDE in folder D. Plugin IDE This integrates both Uniform Server and IDE effectively this should be considered as the IDE!

Portable IDE

Plugin IDE

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Design Information

A step-by-step design guide is provided see page PHP PORTABLE IDE

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Summary

The above has shown how to install the Uniform Server IDE.

Next page provides an overview of the XDebug PHP module.

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