PHP Development Environment Setup
The first step is to select the integrated environment package XAMPP or MAMP to build a local server; the second step is to select the appropriate PHP version according to the project needs and configure multiple version switching; the third step is to select VS Code or PhpStorm as the editor and debug with Xdebug; in addition, you need to install Composer, PHP_CodeSniffer, PHPUnit and other tools to assist in development.
If you want to start writing PHP programs, the first step is to build the development environment. Many people will get stuck at this step at the beginning. In fact, as long as you choose the right tools and clarify the process, the environment is not complicated.

How to choose a local server: XAMPP or MAMP?
For those who are just getting started, the easiest way is to use integrated environment packages, such as XAMPP or MAMP. They all come with Apache, MySQL and PHP. After installation, they can run PHP projects by directly starting the service.
- XAMPP is cross-platform, supports Windows, macOS and Linux, and is more flexible to configure.
- MAMP is more suitable for macOS users, with a friendly interface, and is suitable for those who don’t want to mess with configurations.
Pay attention to when using:

- Make sure that ports 80 and 3306 are not occupied by other programs before starting
- Remember to back up the original file when modifying php.ini
- The default website directory is usually a subdirectory under
htdocs
orhtdocs
How to choose the PHP version? Don't always follow the latest version
PHP updates quickly, but not every project requires the latest version. If you are taking on other people's projects, it is best to confirm which PHP version they are using first.
- Common stable versions are 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, and most modern frameworks (such as Laravel) are already compatible with these versions.
- Some old projects may also rely on PHP 5.6 or 7.2, so be careful not to upgrade too hard.
- Use phpbrew or [XAMPP Multi-version Switching Plug-in] to easily switch between multiple PHP versions
The method to view the current version is very simple, enter it on the command line:

php -v
Recommended editor and debugging tools are enough
In terms of editors, VS Code and PhpStorm are the mainstream choices. VS Code is free, and can also implement code prompts, syntax checking and other functions with PHP plug-in; PhpStorm has more comprehensive functions and is suitable for medium and large projects.
The debugging tool is recommended to be used with Xdebug, which can help you see variable values, execution paths, error stacks and other information. Note when setting:
- To enable xdebug extension in php.ini
- Configure remote_enable=On to trigger debugging in the browser
- VS Code Install PHP Debug plug-in for graphical debugging
Some practical gadgets:
- Composer: PHP package manager, which almost all modern frameworks rely on
- PHP_CodeSniffer: Check whether the code style complies with the specifications
- PHPUnit: Must-have for unit testing
Basically that's it. Don't be scared by a bunch of configurations. Take it step by step, first run the basic environment, and then slowly add functions. Many problems are actually caused by the path configuration or extension not being opened. If you encounter problems, read more logs to solve the problem faster than Baidu.
The above is the detailed content of PHP Development Environment Setup. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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