PhpStorm 2018.1 Help

Code Sniffer

On this page:

Code Sniffer Page

File | Settings | Languages and Frameworks | PHP | Code Sniffer for Windows and Linux
PhpStorm | Preferences | Languages and Frameworks | PHP | Code Sniffer for macOS
Ctrl+Alt+S

settings

The page is available only when the PHP plugin is enabled. The plugin is activated by default. If the plugin is disabled, enable it on the Plugins settings page as described in Enabling and Disabling Plugins.

On this page, choose the Code Sniffer script to use.

Item Description
Configuration From this drop-down list, choose the script to use:
  • To use the script associated with a specific remote PHP interpreter, choose the name of this interpreter.
  • To use the script associated with the default project interpreter, that is, the one chosen on the PHP page of the Settings dialog box, choose By default project interpreter.
  • To use a local script, choose Local. In this case the local Code Sniffer will be executed no matter which PHP interpreter - local or remote - is used in the project. Note that there can be only one Local configuration for Code Sniffer because PhpStorm runs a script (phpcs.bat for Windows or phpcs for Linux) which contains a path to a PHP engine.
Ignored files This area displays a list of files that Code Sniffer skips. PhpStorm suggests adding a new file to the list during inspection when waiting for response from the Code Sniffer exceeds the limit specified in the Tool process timeout field. This is done to prevent slowing down processing. For each file, PhpStorm displays its name and location.
  • To delete a file from the list and have Code Sniffer process it again, select the file and click the Remove file button delete.png.
  • To remove all the files from the list, click the Clean the list button close.png.

Code Sniffer Dialog

The dialog box opens when you click browseButton next to the Configuration drop-down list on the Code Sniffer page.

Use this dialog box to configure local Code Sniffer scripts, scripts associated with remote PHP interpreters, see PHP Code Sniffer, and configure Code Sniffer's behaviour.

The left-hand pane of the dialog box shows all the configured Code Sniffer scripts, one of them is of the type Local, and others are named after the remote PHP interpreters with which the scripts are associated. When you select a configuration, the right-hand pane shows its details.

  • To configure or edit the Local script, select Local and specify the location of phpcs.bat or phpcs in the PHP Code Sniffer path field.
  • To configure a new script associated with a remote PHP interpreter:
    1. Click new on the toolbar.
    2. In the Code Sniffer by Remote Interpreter dialog box that opens, choose the remote PHP interpreter to use the associated script from. If the list does not contain a relevant interpreter, click browseButton and configure a remote interpreter in the CLI Interpreters dialog box as described in Configuring Remote PHP Interpreters.

      When you click OK, PhpStorm brings you back to the Code Sniffer dialog box where the new Code Sniffer configuration is added to the list and the right-hand pane shows the chosen remote PHP interpreter, the path to the Code Sniffer associated with it, and the advanced PHP Code Sniffer options.

ItemDescription
PHP Code Sniffer (phpcs) Path In this text box, specify the location of the Code Sniffer utility phpcs or phpcs.bat.If the script is associated with a PHP interpreter, PhpStorm detects the path to it and fills in the field automatically but you can edit it if necessary.

In either case, type the path manually or click Browse browseButton.png and select the path in the dialog box, that opens.

To check that the specified path to phpcs.bat or phpcs ensures interaction between PhpStorm and Code Sniffer, that is, the tool can be launched from PhpStorm and PhpStorm will receive problem reports from it, click the Validate button. This validation is equal to running the phpcs --version command. If validation passes successfully, PhpStorm displays the information on the detected Code Sniffer version.

Interpreter The field shows the chosen PHP interpreter to use the Code Sniffer from.
Maximum number of messages per file In this text box, set the upper limit for the total number of messages to be reported for a file. All the messages above this limit will be rejected. PhpStorm will display the following warning right in the code: Too many PHP Code Sniffer messages and suggest adding the file to the Ignored files list.
Tool process timeout In this text box, specify how long you want PhpStorm to wait for a result from PHP Code Sniffer, whereupon the process is killed to prevent excessive CPU and memory usage. This gives you the capability to fine tune the PHP Code Sniffer process behavior depending on the configuration of your computer and the rule sets used.
Last modified: 27 July 2018

See Also