best way to debug php when you have a syntax error?

I've looked at the error handling, but it doesn't seem help

[pixeltierra]

Whenever we miss a ';' or a '}' in php, it shows a blank white screen. What is the best way to find where the error is?

[pixeltierra]

Ok, I've descovered the cause of my woes was this ini setting: ignore_repeated_errors on

It seems when I change the error_reporting() the setting above would cause strange behavior, because it wouldn't give me the same error(s) twice in row, even on different page loads. I thought I was going crazy.

All is better now. Thanks.

[eelixduppy]

Glad you solved it! Here's a related thread [webmasterworld.com] if you are up to reading it. ;)

[henry0]

When going live don't forget turning off error_reporting() at your .ini level.
Errors reporting: on, could give away too many information.

[swa66]

For finding syntax errors:

command line php can:

do syntax check only with the "-l" switch

specify alternate php-ini with the "-c <file>" option or use "-n" not to use a php.ini at all.

e.g.:

$ cat /tmp/t
<?
echo test
echo test
?>
 
$ php -ln /tmp/t
 
Parse error: parse error, unexpected T_ECHO, expecting ',' or ';' in /tmp/t on line 3
Errors parsing /tmp/t