nWire: awesome Eclipse plugin for PHP
I’ve been through various software phases in my life/career, in the the endless quest for the perfect IDE. My full IDE history goes something like this:
Web Programming
HomeSite -> Allaire ColdFusion -> Macromedia ColdFusion -> DreamWeaver -> Crimson Editor -> Notepad++ -> Eclipse
Flash Programming
Flash IDE -> FlashDevelop -> Eclipse
My search for the perfect IDE seems to have come to a stop with Eclipse, which has plenty of pros and cons, but most importantly, allows me to develop in just about any language I need, within the same IDE. Better yet, eclipse has a seemingly endless supply of plugins, with my favorites being FDT, Aptana and Subclipse. Being able to program and deploy a project that includes html, css, javascript, flash/flex and more has greatly increased my productivity. Instead of jumping between a plethora of programs, I only deal with one.
After browsing reddit/programming earlier today, I came across another plugin that really appeals to a developer/designer such as myself. Thinking in code is a different process for everyone. Personally, when creating a project, I like to visualize how each class/object is paired with others. My desk is at times covered with rough sketches for the latest OOP design. My favorite tools for working with SQL are all visual GUIs. I was ecstatic when I saw what nWire promises to do (among many other features): it will create a graphical representation of your php code. It works with Zend Studio 7.0 and PDT 2.1 – as soon as I get a chance to experiment with it for myself, I will also post an update on how well it works with Aptana.
Of course, I am a bit weary of adding yet another plugin to an already bloated and memory-hog of an application such as eclipse, but, alas, I can rarely resist the temptation of a new and potentially useful plugin. Stay tunes for more updates!
nWire for PHP
