Global developers have always found the PhpStorm platform to be a good option. For editing several of the most widely used programming languages, including HTML, PHP, and JavaScript, this Java-based IDE is great. To reduce mistakes and guarantee unrivaled quality at all times, the platform provides an abundance of tools and functionalities.

Fascinatingly, PhpStorm just declared the release of PhpStorm, its most recent version. With the many improved capabilities in this revised edition, developers may save time and expand their products to satisfy additional client demands. Even with the widespread use of the PhpStorm release, there is still a great deal of uncertainty regarding its features. 

In PhpStorm, you can configure the IDE to highlight code differences and deprecated features for different PHP versions. This can be particularly useful when migrating a project from one PHP version to another or ensuring compatibility with multiple PHP versions. Here’s how you can achieve this:

Setting PHP Language Level in PhpStorm

  1. Open Project Settings:
    • Go to File > Settings (or PhpStorm > Preferences on macOS).
  2. Navigate to PHP Settings:
    • In the settings window, navigate to Languages & Frameworks > PHP.
  3. Set the PHP Language Level:
    • In the PHP settings section, you’ll see an option to set the PHP language level. Select the version of PHP you are targeting (e.g., PHP 7.4, PHP 8.0, etc.).

Highlighting Deprecated and Removed Features

PhpStorm provides inspections that can highlight deprecated features or code that is not compatible with the selected PHP version.

1. Enable Inspections

  • Go to File > Settings > Editor > Inspections.
  • In the inspections settings, expand PHP and ensure that PHP | Deprecated and PHP | Compatibility inspections are enabled.
  • You can also configure the severity level of these inspections to ensure they are visible enough (e.g., set to Error or Warning).

2. Run Code Inspection

  • Right-click on your project or a specific directory/file in the Project tool window.
  • Select Analyze > Inspect Code….
  • Choose the scope of the inspection (e.g., whole project or specific files) and run the inspection.
  • PhpStorm will show a report highlighting deprecated features and compatibility issues with the selected PHP version.

By following these steps, you can effectively manage and check for PHP version differences in PhpStorm, ensuring your code is up-to-date and compatible with the desired PHP versions.

Conclusion

PhpStorm is undoubtedly one of the most useful tools for any web developer. It is reasonable to presume that the platform has had enough time to incorporate adjustments that better fit the needs and expectations of developers, given its extended lifespan. This becomes even more apparent when you have a deeper understanding of all the most recent features and functionalities included in the PhpStorm release.

If you hire PHP developers, you will get an incredible improvement, and functionalities found in the most recent version of PhpStorm include native support for PHP assertions, upgrades to the PHP generics, and interaction with GitLab. In addition, there are numerous more enhancements, including support for the Vue Language Server (VLS), text search functionality in Search Everywhere, the incredible AI Assistant, and support for the Laravel Pint.

The total efficiency of the development process can be improved by developers with the aid of these modifications. This will make it easier for them to find flaws in programs and take the necessary action to quickly fix these issues. It is therefore much simpler to make sure they obtain the best possible application for their business.