Lightweight auto-completing PHP editor?

Question

I've been using Eclipse + PDT, but it's kind of slow, especially to start.

Does anyone know a "smart", lightweight editor for PHP that supports folding, auto-completion and function parameter reminders and runs on Windows?

Answer 1

Notepad++ for Windows or Geany for Linux are the two main (free) alternatives

Answer 2

You should see this cuestion. It has a deep view into several php editors. (been Netbeans the one of my choice)

Answer 3

If you're on Windows you should have a look at Notepad++

Answer 4

You could try out Scite.

Scintilla is a free source code editing component. It comes with complete source code and a license that permits use in any free project or commercial product.

As well as features found in standard text editing components, Scintilla includes features especially useful when editing and debugging source code. These include support for syntax styling, error indicators, code completion and call tips. The selection margin can contain markers like those used in debuggers to indicate breakpoints and the current line. Styling choices are more open than with many editors, allowing the use of proportional fonts, bold and italics, multiple foreground and background colours and multiple fonts.

Answer 5

I have been using Aptana for a personal Project. It's nice. It has auto-complete, project management and FTP sync support...and lot more. It also installs a php server on your computer, so you can test your php site right into Aptana.

For sure, it's not as light as notepad++ (which is awesome too), but it is certainly a great web development environment.

Answer 6

phpDesigner

It doesn't support folding but it supports everything else you listed and much more, such as step-by-step debugging, phpDocumentor support, organizing code into projects, etc.

Answer 7

Zeus does PHP syntax highlighting, smart indenting and code folding.

It also has a displays the information produced by Exuberant Ctags in a class browser and where possible it uses this information for auto-completion.

Answer 8

I work in Aptana. It's compelling not to. It has auto-completion, formatting, debugging, can support all web servers, MySQL integration, log tracking and log highlighting with regexp, FTP syncing with sync profiles with regexp support, unparalleled task list, PHPDoc support and generation, not to start with it being the best javascript and css editor for eclipse. Plus you get the benefit of all the other Eclipse plugins available.

I've tried Zend Studio and got discouraged by the bad FTP sync profiles and JS support, turned out Aptana had better auto-completion, amazingly.

It's certainly not lightweight, but it sure does out weight any simple editors.

Answer 9

I'm using Komodo Edit (not the IDE) mostly now. It's a lot lighter than Eclipse/Zend and does autocompleting. I'm using it on my Mac, but I'm sure there's a Win32 version.