PHPStorm vs Eclipse: A Head-to-Head Comparison

When it comes to web development, IDEs (Integrated Development Environments) play a critical role in making the process fast and efficient. IDEs are tools that help developers write, test and debug their code. Two of the most popular IDEs that developers use for web development are PHPStorm and Eclipse.

But, how do they compare? Which is more suited to meet your needs as a developer? We'll be taking a look at the features of each tool and conduct a comprehensive comparison of the two, so you can choose which tool works better for you.

Performance

Speed is a crucial factor when it comes to web development. In terms of performance, PHPStorm is the clear winner. PHPStorm is built specifically for PHP web development, using PHP extensions like PHP Documentor to accelerate code completion and improve navigation.

Moreover, PHPStorm’s indexing and search feature uses multiple threads, which can process large codebases very quickly. On the other hand, Eclipse has a slower indexing speed that makes it a bit sluggish when working on large projects.

User Interface

The user interface is the next critical factor that plays a role in the selection of an IDE. Eclipse’s user interface is simple and easy to use. Its intuitive dashboard allows for easy navigation through the standard IDE framework.

PHPStorm’s interface, on the other hand, applies a more cluttered desktop application style. Being feature-rich, it can take some practice to get used to. However, once mastered, it provides a more organized and efficient work process.

Code Completion

PHPStorm, with massive PHP libraries built-in, provides accurate code completion even to the most extensive projects with new features frequently updated according to current versions of the language. Additionally, the IDE has features for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Eclipse, with its mantras of lightweight plugins, maintains a mostly stripped-down feature set, relying on plugins to expand features. This trait can be useful in some development situations, but not accommodating for all languages or project sizes.

Debugging

Debugging is an important and tiring task in web development. PHPStorm's debugging features stand out here too. With its debugging tool, developers can find and fix errors with ease. Its flexible debugger allows customizing at almost every level, allowing developers to debug web applications easily.

Eclipse’s debugging features are equally good, having more short-cut keys, and having more customizations available regarding debugging.

Conclusion

Both Eclipse and PHPStorm provide outstanding support for PHP and other web development languages. PHPStorm tends to lean more towards PHP development, with an interface that caters to its users' preferences. Eclipse's stripped-down feature set makes it a popular choice for experienced developers who don't want to endure an unnecessarily extended learning curve.

All in all, we can say that the choice of IDE depends on personal preferences and project demands, but when it comes to performance, speed, and code completion, PHPStorm is the clear winner.

References

[1] PHPStorm vs. Eclipse, Your Guide in Choosing an IDE (2018), KeyCDN blogs

[2] Which Is The Best PHP IDE For Development?, (2019) Medium

[3] PHP IDE Comparison: PHPStorm vs. Eclipse, Kinsta (2021)

[4] Eclipse vs. IntelliJ IDEA vs. NetBeans—Three Java IDEs Compared, Toptal (2021)