PHP PORTABLE IDE: Introduction

Uniform Server Portable PHP IDE.

Uniform Server portable PHP IDE

This step-by-step design guide shows how to create a simple portable PHP IDE (integrated development environment).

Included are steps for converting this IDE to run as a Uniform Server plugin. For completeness the guide includes mini tutorials.

Portable PHP IDE Features:

Self-contained Edit PHP CLI scripts Debug PHP CLI scripts Only Open Source components used Includes Notepad++ - Core Includes Notepad++ plugin NppExec Includes Notepad++ plugin DBGp

Portable; run from UDB memory stick Edit PHP web pages running on local server (Uniform Server) Debug PHP web pages running on local server (Uniform Server) Easily converted to a Uniform Server plugin Includes PHP XDebug - CLI and Server debugging Includes PHP 5.3.3 - CLI PHP CLI Easily upgraded

Background

Some time ago I was asked the following question "Is there an easy way to develop and run PHP CLI scripts from a USB memory stick"?

It transpires this user was learning PHP and wanted an easy way to run code snippets. The reason user had for running from a USB stick, they did not want to install PHP and a full-blown IDE on their PC.

My reply was, use Notepad++, install the NppExec plugin and add core binaries from PHP. To run currently displayed script, write a small NppExec command script. You can create a shortcut key that runs this command script. For greater flexibility, consider adding XDebug which will allow you to debug both CLI and server side scripts.

The response was not unexpected! "Can you supply a complete idiots guide?"

Guide Tutorial Breakdown

This guide is split across several pages. Each page builds on previous pages to construct the final IDE. Pages and topics covered are as follows:

Page	Content
Introduction	This page
Notepad++	Step-by-step guide creating IDE folder structure. Install and reduce size of Notepad++ (core component). Batch file to start Notepad++ Install NppExec plugin - Provides console window Install DBGp Plugin - Debugging client and control window
Install PHP	Install PHP for running CLI scripts. You can decide which version of PHP to use PHP Install Method 1 - Extracts PHP binaries from Uniform Server 6.0.5-Carbo PHP Install Method 2 - Extracts PHP binaries from PHP 5.3.3 distribution Configuration file for PHP - Configuration file for running CLI
NppExec configuration	This page covers the following: How to copy and paste in the console window. Use environment variables for absolute paths to Notepad++'s folders. Using the above Environment variables run script currently displayed in Notepad++ Several commands can be saved as a command list and run collectively. A [[PHP PORTABLE IDE: NppExec Configuration#Assign shortcut key | shortcut key] can be assigned to run the above saved command script. Output in a console window may be filtered to highlight errors. Double clicking this highlighted text takes you to that line of code in the edit window.
PHP extensions	This page shows how to enable PHP extensions in the CLI configuration and ensure that the correct file is being picked up. Running CLI scripts, the PHP interpreter needs to know what configuration file to use. Also true when run via a command script. Checking that correct configuration file is being picked up. You can put a dummy line in the configuration file to produce an error or use the PHP info function. How to enable PHP extensions using the WinBinder extension as an example. Generally when a file is double clicked you expect that file to be run with the correct application. Interestingly this can lead to some confusion, especially for PHP files. See Double clicking PHP file problem. Want to preserve file associations; for example .php is associated with a PHP editor and you want to run that script on a server when double clicked. Use a redirection file!
Run Menu	This page looks at automating functionality using the Notepad++ menu system. After editing a PHP script, it is advisable to run a syntax check. This functionality is assigned to a menu item. Similarly running a page on a local web server is assigned to a menu item. This runs a PHP script that indirectly (via a browser) runs a script on a local server. A server may be configured to pass files with any extension, hence the PHP redirection makes no distinction.
XDebug 1	XDebug 1 covers setting up our IDE for PHP CLI debugging using the XDebug extension Majority of material seems to be Linux orientated hence a quick overview for Windows users Downloading and installing XDebug is very easy. To run XDebug a separate [[PHP PORTABLE IDE: Notepad++ XDebug 1#PHP Configuration file | configuration file] specific to PHP CLI is required. Similarly configuration of Notepad++’s client plugin is easy requiring only a few mouse clicks. Our IDE requires both console and debugging windows to be open, however there is an issue when these are docked. Solution is to undock them. Adding a new command script to run PHP CLI debugging requires only minor changes to an existing script.
Debugging 1	PHP CLI debugging is covered on this page. Debugging overview shows complete sequence for debugging CLI scripts. A powerful feature is the ability to change a variable while debugging. When interested in tracking a small number of variables, add them as watches. How to use Xdebug Break function useful for initiating a break point in included pages. Notepad++'s integrated console window may be of limited use for your application. The alternative is to use an external cmd window for debugging.
XDebug 2	XDebug 2 covers setting up our IDE for running and debugging PHP web pages using the XDebug extension Again, the majority of material seems to be Linux orientated, hence a quick overview for Windows users This section covers downloading and installing XDebug on Uniform Server. Running XDebug on Uniform Server requires modifications to the PHP configuration file. Similarly configuration of Notepad++’s client plugin is easy requiring only a few mouse clicks. Our IDE requires both console and debugging windows to be open however there is an issue when these are docked solution is to undock them. At this stage you will have noticed duplication between pages XDebug 1 and XDebug 2. This is intentional; see Important Commonality.
Debugging 2	This page provides a recap of material already covered and provides an updated redirect script. Recap example. Debugging initiated using a browser and from Notepad++ Add menu items to Context Menu Run Script On Server Plugin design and what requires changing.

Download and Install

After reading this design tutorial, why not download either the finished Portable IDE or Plugin?

Download and Install details are provided on this page: Uniform Server PHP IDE

Summary

First page introduces the core component Notepad++

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