views:

118

answers:

3

Note: This is not another "What is the best PHP IDE?" question.

I'm looking for a PHP IDE with a specific feature, namely an integrated / embedded (php enabled) web server; ideally with xdebug pre-bundled.

I already know that Aptana 1.5 has this functionality (and some older versions of Zend Studio as well), but Aptana 1.5 hasn't been supported for quite some time and as we make the transition to PHP 5.3 and beyond, it's usefulness will diminish significantly.

I've looked at some options including Eclipse PDT and NetBeans, but it seems every PHP IDE relies on a separate local/remote web server to actually interpret the code.

I know installing a web server locally is fairly trivial, but this is for a classroom solution, where installing, configuring, and maintaining a web server on 1000 machines is simply not feasible. A remote server solution will also not work due to the need to use debugging functionality (xdebug currently requires a hardcoded IP for the debug client).

This seems like such an obvious feature/plugin for a PHP IDE, but my research thus far has turned up no results.

A: 

http://www.enginsite.com/php-editor.htm - Found this through Google Search. It is possible to update the PHP.exe the application is currently using to the latest version; therefore, you could apply this solution to other IDE editors that you've discovered.

Komodo Edit (http://www.activestate.com/komodo-edit) - Has the ability to specify the PHP interpreter you want to use while coding PHP. Can set breakpoints and other debugging necessities. (http://docs.activestate.com/komodo/4.4/debugphp.html)

Riley
Yeah, I saw that one, it hasn't been updated in 6 years.
seth
Err, not Komodo, the other one. It sounds like Komodo has basic debugging functionality through a php executable, but not very useful for php web apps.
seth
+2  A: 

Delphi For PHP has a built-in web server (Apache) that it configures and starts/stops for debugging sessions. There is no end-user configuration necessary. However, the debugging engine is PHP DBG, not xDebug.

Note that Delphi For PHP fully supports debugging any kind of PHP site, it is not limited to sites created with the VCL For PHP framework.

Jon Benedicto
I guess it's not a requirement, but cheap / free / academic license would be ideal as we have almost no budget (community college...). From my research, I think NuSphere is also a good paid option.
seth
I *think* that Embarcadero has academic licenses, but I might be wrong. Best idea would be to contact them.
Jon Benedicto
+1  A: 

There is also NuSphere's PhpED:

link text

Ray Valdez
Agreed. The only issue is the cost.
seth