A VScode-user first time experience with PHPStorm IDE

The following is a short note about my introductory first steps and rundown with using PHPStorm IDE. Note: The PC used for this installation is a MAC.

Some shortcut command.

1. cmd + shift (x2) : global search
2. Alt + enter : code block specific helpful options.
3. PHPStorm (PS) has a nice code navigation feature. Urgm…same experience I have with windsurf/vscode.
4. Express testing by clicking on folders/specific tests’ methods. Nice. The command is ctrl + shift + R. Okay. This is super useful for running individual tests with less drag plus save me some clicks in my terminal.
5. Generate tests class with AI assistants: alt + enter -> choose “AI actions” then generate tests.
6. First-class X-debug support. You probably won’t need to use DD again…Well… I might be in the same DD category as you…haha!
7. AI AI AI : PS has native AI assistant available for installation but I will be using, say, a different LLM at least, for now since i’m just getting my hands fresh on it.
8. ….more to come.

Attached is a jetbrains 19 minutes guide for your reference: https://www.jetbrains.com/pages/phpstorm-getting-started/

Other: How to link a netlify frontend with a sub-domain backend

Installing a Theme:

As a Night owl theme user, I wanted to retain my vscode like theme. Monokai isn’t really my thing. One would ask: does theming matter ? Well I might want to say, urghm… but does design matter ? Does taste matter ? Well for an IDE, theme matters to me. Helps with that cognitive resonnance. My brain just doesn’t feel the need to adjust to a new look and tries to decipher whats off!

To install Night owl Theme on PHPStorm, you want to type “Night owl” in the plugin/theme search bar then click install and you are good.

One More thing, Font !

On my regular Vscode IDE, I have this beautiful font that inspired my adoration and endearment for Fira-code font. You know that regular `= = (equals to) ? I had thought that Fira-Code font displayed equals-to operator like this `===`. The elongated version and many more tushed examples like that.

pciture

Lo and Behold…It wasn’t a Fira-Code Font thing. That type of pattern is actually called LIGATURE:

A ligature is a single character that combines two or more letters to improve appearance or readability.

For example, without Ligature, I will have this:

With Ligature turned on:

Hehe! Did you also notice the asthetics with the greater-or-equals-to operator…Isn’t it beautiful? lol.

Anyway, my point is that I had to learn that my choice of font did not actually influenced the ligature pattern; it can be turned on or off.

How to enable ligature typography in PHPStorm IDE:

At the top right corner of PS IDE, click on the gear icon for settings, then search for fonts in the modal that pops up, select the font family you want to use. Select any font (if you want) and check the the ligature button. Some systems doesn’t come with Fira-code by default so you may want to download it .

Feel free to customize other typography options as you wish.