Best html/php editor

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:49 am

I'm looking for a good html/php editor (mostly php). It MUST have a debug mode that not only tells me what part I screwed up, but also how I screwed it up (Ex. Syntax Error, then it highlights the erroneous code).

Dreamweaver does not do this, and it's hell to try to learn php and html from scratch on it.

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 1:39 pm

One more post and you're at 4000!

I use Expression Web, but ONLY because it has syntax highlighting and a direct FTP connection to my server. This does not do what you want, though... I'm not sure if there is a "scripting notepad" out there that will do what you want... I just rely on Firefox's Error Console to tell me when I did something wrong, but this is only for Javascript and HTML. For PHP, I have to figure it all out from the error messages it gives me.

Oh, by the way, check out Tizag if you're learning HTML, Javascript, PHP, MySQL, ect. It was VERY helpful to me. They have the best tutorials for scripting I've ever seen.

(And you'll want to know Javascript if you're learning HTML. You'll probably want to learn MySQL if you're learning PHP as well.)

Kyo · Post by **Kyo** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:26 pm

I use notepad, and I'm sticking with it.

And well, PHP pretty much already tells you how you screwed up. But if you need any help with it, I've been doing it for years, and I can assist you, if you want me to.

ghosstt · Post by **ghosstt** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 3:43 pm

Notepad+
?

Electric Rain · Post by **Electric Rain** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 4:11 pm

I love Programmer's Notepad. Maybe check that one out? I've GOT to have syntax highlighting... that's why I don't just use Notepad.

Edit: CONGRATS TO KURT ON HIS 4000TH POST!

Edutainment · Post by **Edutainment** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:39 pm

I use SciTE. It has syntax highlighting for a lot of languages,a nd more can be added. For PHP/HTML I just discovered the extension Webdeveloper for Firefox today. It seems good. You can edit the HTML on a website and it'll update as you type.

lifeisbetterwithketchup · Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:34 pm

Edutainment wrote:For PHP/HTML I just discovered the extension Webdeveloper for Firefox today. It seems good. You can edit the HTML on a website and it'll update as you type.

Webdeveloper is an awesome extention. Thanks for pointing it out!

Sharp Sapphire · Post by **Sharp Sapphire** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:38 pm

To find errors in PHP code:

Load the webpage.
Read.

If you need any PHP/HTML help, feel free to PM me, I have plenty of experience.

Kyo · Post by **Kyo** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 4:56 am

Sharp Sapphire wrote:To find errors in PHP code:

Load the webpage.
Read.

If you need any PHP/HTML help, feel free to PM me, I have plenty of experience.

I guess that means it's time for a virtual-php-knowledge-penis-size-comparison-contest!

But seriously, I don't understand what's so hard about just looking at the line PHP gives you, notepad has a GOTO feature (if you have auto line breaking disabled, that is), so you're good to go.

Plus you got us as help.

Post by **bicostp** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 8:34 am

I like Notepad++. It's got tabbed documents, syntax highlighting, line numbers, can open a couple documents side by side, and you can collapse entire sections of the document so they're out of your way (for example, everything in between a pair of DIV tags can be hidden).

It's become an indispensable part of my digital tool arsenal.

http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net

As for debugging, open the document with a browser and see what happens. You might have to either install PHP on your computer, or run a virtual machine with a server OS on it. (Just for simplicity's sake, I use another copy of XP running XAMPP. Any version of Windows on Virtual PC is the best way to go, because you can install the Virtual Machine Additions. They make mousing between the virtual and host OS seamless, and you can drag and drop files between the two.)