Best authoring tool for PHP/MySQL

[Tourex]

I'm starting to get into PHP/MySQL pretty heavily and would like some advice on the best editor to use for webs with a high element of PHP/MySQL.

I started off on FrontPage and frankly have stuck with it. I find the interface cleaner and more intuitive than Dreamweaver, which always seems so cluttered. In fairness, I don't use the FrontPage Extensions and publish via FTP (which is a little cumbersome, but you get used to it) and edit CSS via TopStyle Pro and have been editing PHP via PHP Designer 2005.

I've just been having a play with Dreamweaver 8 and they seem to have tidied it up a little, so I'm wondering whether it worth the time to get to grips with. However, I couldn't see any facility for checking the syntax of PHP scripts. Is that something that Dreamweaver can do - or is there an extension or plug-in that extends the ability?

Any advice that might help me make a choice would be appreciated. What do most experts edit PHP in? I find PHP Designer 2005 a bit clunky, so not really happy with it, but need something that makes things a little easier for us newbies. Its such a pain transferring the script to my Linux server for testing, only to find I've made some stupid syntax error.

Thanks in anticipation.

[adb64]

Most of the times I use Arisesoft Winsyntax (Google for it and skip the Russian site) for editing of my PHP, HTML and other plain ascii stuff. It's a free and simple editor.

Arjan

[rfontaine]

Just learn to code by hand. This is true => it is faster in the long run. Plus if you really learn what you are doing you can do anything with the code. That is a good feeling and something very handy indeed.

If you mean you are coding by hand, I recommend something like the old Homesite or even HTML edit.

[jatar_k]

I do have to suggest not using DW, it's php code is ok but not great. It will work but you won't learn much. It automates too many things for you. You will end up having to write hundreds of scripts to figure out one simple thing where if you do it on your own from the get go you will figure out how it all works right away.

for html, css etc it can be easier and faster to do it the other way but with php, it is a hindrance rather than a help.

You will run into the issue that your html, maybe your css and even your javascript starts being generated on the fly by php. Without a better understanding of all of those components and especially php itself you will spend more time debugging due to misconstructed code.

I will say though if you feel the undying need to use a WYSIWYG then dreamweaver is the best choice.

[MattyMoose]

vi is the way to go. Seriously. :)

Or, if you're not a fan of archaic 1970's-style editors, then something very simple and straight forward works wonders. I think something like TextPad is great. (Sorry if product name isn't allowed there) There are other plain old text editors out there that have syntax highlighting and/or plugins for PHP.

I like to use editors that don't want to inform me of what parameters the function takes (like a full-fledged IDE), or anything too fancy. I DO like to have syntax highlighting, though. It helps me quite a bit to get a grip on the feel of the code.

I hope that made sense. ;)

[johnwards]

Zend Studio rocks if you want to pay for stuff..has database management in it too.

[chrisjoha]

Well, as the others said: get you a** out of those automated bastards right away, and start writing your own code. :) I write code with PHP Eclipse, which also has syntax highlighting and more for HTML, CSS, (some) Javascript and XML (and of course Java ;) )

[tomda]

I learned PHP/MYSQL myself using text editor. It took me some time but as said above the advantage of typing everything yourself is that you will never get lost and can do almost everything.

The tools I used to start-up are :

1stPage2000 - An old open-source HTML editor. Simple, nice and the best I have found so far. I can't tell you if the app is still available on the web.

EasyPHP - This small app will install PHP4, MYSQL and MYSQLADMIN is one simple click. Works great. Available for Windows (and Linux I think?)

Then read lot of books/references, join few forums;
also start a project and learn while making it!

[rfontaine]

Yeah, coding with a wysiwyg editor instead of learning to do it by hand is like riding a tricycle compared to driving a fine BMW.

Sure, you can get where your going with either, but if you are going 100-miles which would you choose? Learn to code by hand and you are far far better off.

Don't be lazy. You will do less work in the long rung.

[omoutop]

I use an old version of php edit for coding my php scripts...I find it very useful and practical.....
newest versions need to be purchased and thus I have not tried them yet....

[neo_brown]

I actually found it easier learning to use php and mysql with manual coding than I did trying use Dreamweaver. I still code in dreamweaver but only use it for the basic html type stuff.

[wormsitesAdmin]

I use PHPEd from NuSphere. (Mainly for the great debugger support). I don't see how using a plain text editor somehow makes you a "stud" coder. Actually it sounds pretty stupid given the number of truly great tools available. After 25 years as a full time software developer, I can tell you that ego is the wrong thing to drive your coding method.

Instead, use your head
Learn the language
Use a good coding tool
Read Read Read...

When designing enterprise level aps, engage some development methodology (Dont go overboard), and a good case tool to hold you to your design.

Speaking of design, ACTUALLY complete your Design before you start writing code...otherwise you will end up with spagetti code full of stupid mistakes.

Yea, some people believe that they are somehow 'Smarter' or 'better' because they write in a plain text editor, but that is just ego and stupidity running the show. Use the tool appropriate for the job. You wouldn't try to hammer a nail with your fist because your neighbor said that "hammers are for pussies" would you? then don't write code with a plain text editor because someone told you that if you don't you are stupid.

[Tourex]

Thanks for the input everybody.

I obviously didn't make myself clear. I DON'T want anything to write code for me, just an editor that colour-codes the code and provides syntax checking. There nothing more annoying and time-wasting that uploading and testing the stuff only to find that I've left a semi-colon off the end of a line. Might seem a stupid mistake to experts, but we all had to start once.

Writing in a plain text editor without syntax highlighting or any form of syntax-checking is frankly a daft suggestion for anybody starting out. Yes, the best way to learn/code is obviously to write every line manually, but I confess that I am astonished that anybody would suggest a plain text editor rather than something with syntax checking, etc.

[chrisjoha]

"There nothing more annoying and time-wasting that uploading and testing the stuff only to find that I've left a semi-colon off the end of a line."

I gather from this that you don't have PHP and MySQL running locally? If so, install it right away. Having a local testing environment greatly improves productivity.

[Tourex]

Hi chrisjoha

I do have Apache/MySQL installed on my local machine, and use that for small projects. Same argument still applies though - it would be nice to check the code before running it.

[chrisjoha]

Of course, I was not suggesting that you don't need syntax highlighting and a debugger. I just wanted to point out that in addition to a good editor (such as Eclipse or Zend studio), being able to test scripts locally greatly improves your productivity.

[jetboy]

I don't see how using a plain text editor somehow makes you a "stud" coder.

You're right, that's nothing. I code PHP with an Etch A Sketch ... in the dark!

[grandpa]

My favorite text editor has already been mentioned. As to using a text edior..

you will never get lost

really?

and can do almost everything

Absolutely.

The best authoring tool is the human mind. Followed closely by a pad of paper and a pencil.

[rfontaine]

Hi wormsitesAdmin -

Nothing to do with studliness - that is a different subject altogether. I know what I am talking about when I say people are far better off really knowing how to code by hand without the crutch of a wysiwyg editor. In fact, I submit that the wysiwyg editor and sytax checkers only gets in the way. HTML is not rocket science and once you know the basics of PHP and MySQL you can easily handcode on Notepad. I like highlighting, so I use an old version of Homesite but it is not necessary to be even that fancy.

I have Apache, PHP, and MyQL on my PC. That is where I do the testing and "syntax" checking. Do not need anything fancy to do that.

This statement seems to cause some people anxiety, but I stand by it 100%.