12 replies to this topic

[shackrock]

Basically for PHP / HTML coding... what's the most helpful software that people use to code? Right now I use Notepad2, and the logical color changes are helpful, but I think that it could do more... any tips?

[WingedPanther]

Notepad2, Notepad++, jEdit, or any of several others are all good, but all do basically the same thing. As you learn more, you'll build more strategies, and more useful code. With time, you'll refine that code into your own libraries.

[LuthfiHakim]

You may want to check Delphi for PHP. But now it has new name, RadPHP. It's an IDE with RAD (Rapid Application Development) approach for PHP coding, therefore it will increase your productivity. But note that it's not free and I believe only available for Windows OS. However beside PHP, it also allows to code in .NET (C#), Java, and Ruby on Rails.

[sam_coder]

netbeans is pretty slick with PHP, more productive? I dunno, its pretty heavy,
but it comes with code completion, and an integrated debugger, and thats pretty cool..

[shackrock]

Here's a question...

what about when you have more than 1 coder working on the same files, is there something like google docs for coding (with syntax highlighting, perhaps shading of "who wrote what")? I'm sure a lot of SVN type things do these things... but I'd love to hear people's favorites (most secure? most easy to use? most free? etc...).

[sam_coder]

I personally like subversion for change control. There are a lot of great options out there though.
typically, you wouldn't want your source control internet facing, unless you know what you're doing. I know a lot of folk use a secure http front to subversion,
but another option is to simply house the server on a local network, and provide VPN access to that network for road warriors.

[shackrock]

Yeah as of now I am planning on just working on a server, from the server... BUT, we never know when one of us is editing a file... and so we will lead ourselves to write over changes...

[sam_coder]

yea, thats ok too, see if that happens, you will be prompted with a conflict, for which you have the opportunity to merge.

That said, proper process, and you can avoid that, simply by having developers update in branches,
this allows them to check in their changes say.. daily, and work with under the protection of the code, without impacting other developers.

then at whatever interval, likely by release, they merge their branch into the trunk, in a systematic way,
normally during a release cycle, or when a developers project passes some sort of integration testing.

Also note, that you can then branch your trunk off as releases are rolled out, so you always have a point of reference.

[nokia3310]

i use dreamweaver anyday, anywhere, anytime

[Blimp]

nokia3310 said:

i use dreamweaver anyday, anywhere, anytime

*Facepalm*

[gregwarner]

Some good suggestions above (well, except the dreamweaver one...), but I might toss out a suggestion for Eclipse with the PHP development environment. True, it's still pretty heavyweight, but you can have the Zend engine running inside for debugging, which I find extremely helpful. Truth is, though, I don't do much PHP anymore. That ship has sailed...

[sam_coder]

LOL!

I loved Dreamweaver! I just haven't heard it mentioned in a while.

I also liked Homesite. Anyone ever use that one?