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Easy Coding Standard Laravel Package
symplify/easy-coding-standard
Easy Coding Standard runs PHP_CodeSniffer and PHP-CS-Fixer rules together through one simple PHP config file. Install on any PHP 7.2–8.5 project, get parallel speed out of the box, use prepared sets, and fix code with a single command.
ECS runs PHP-CS-Fixer and PHP_CodeSniffer as a single, parallel fast tool with zero dependencies. Run on PHP 7.2+
Frequently asked questions about Easy Coding Standard
- How do I install ECS in a Laravel project?
- Install ECS as a dev dependency with composer require symplify/easy-coding-standard --dev. Run vendor/bin/ecs once and it creates an ecs.php config file with directories and a first rule. Run it again to see suggested diffs, or add --fix to apply changes. ECS works on any PHP 7.2–8.5 project with any dependencies.
- Does ECS support Laravel-specific coding standards?
- ECS does not ship native Laravel rule presets, but it is extensible through custom rules and community sets. You can start with PSR-12 and layer Laravel-specific rules for app structure, naming, or custom patterns. The symplify/coding-standard dependency suggests compatibility with Laravel ecosystem conventions, but you may need to adapt rules yourself.
- Can I replace PHP-CS-Fixer and PHP_CodeSniffer with ECS in Laravel?
- Yes, ECS runs PHP-CS-Fixer and PHP_CodeSniffer rules together through one PHP config file. It provides a single parallelized command instead of separate php-cs-fixer and phpcs invocations. This reduces configuration drift and cognitive load. You configure paths, rules, and prepared sets in ecs.php.
- What PHP and Laravel versions does ECS support?
- ECS supports PHP 7.2 through PHP 8.5. Laravel 7 projects on PHP 7.2 may need a PHP 7.2-compatible ECS branch or custom configuration. For newer Laravel versions, check Symfony dependency compatibility because ECS relies on Symfony Console components also used by Laravel.
- How do I configure ECS for a Laravel app directory?
- In ecs.php, use ECSConfig::configure()->withPaths([__DIR__.'/app', __DIR__.'/tests']) to target Laravel directories. Add rules with withRules or withConfiguredRule, and apply prepared sets such as psr12: true. The config file is plain PHP and supports IDE autocompletion via ECSConfig.
- Is ECS safe to use with auto-fix in Laravel projects?
- ECS check mode without --fix shows diffs, so preview changes before applying them. The --fix flag can aggressively rewrite syntax such as array notation or trailing commas, which may disrupt Laravel-specific config or Blade-adjacent files. Whitelist or blacklist rules and exclude sensitive paths to avoid accidental breakages.
- How does ECS perform in CI for large Laravel codebases?
- ECS runs in parallel out of the box and can deliver significant speedups compared with running PHP-CS-Fixer and PHP_CodeSniffer separately. Very large Laravel monorepos with 10K+ files may still strain CI memory and execution time. Use output formats like GitLab or Checkstyle to integrate with CI pipelines.
- Does ECS work with Blade templates and Artisan commands?
- ECS primarily targets PHP files, so .blade.php templates are not natively parsed and may need to be excluded or handled with custom rules. Artisan commands are PHP classes and are processed like other PHP files. Test with representative paths to avoid false positives or negatives in Laravel-specific files.
- What are alternatives to ECS for Laravel coding standards?
- Common alternatives include PHP-CS-Fixer, PHP_CodeSniffer, and Laravel Pint, which is built on PHP-CS-Fixer. ECS differentiates itself by combining PHP-CS-Fixer and PHP_CodeSniffer rules in one parallel tool. Laravel teams that want a single unified config may prefer ECS, while Pint offers Laravel-oriented defaults.
- How is ECS maintained and compatible with Laravel's deprecation cycle?
- ECS development happens in the ecs-src repository, while symplify/easy-coding-standard is the deployed package. It supports PHP 7.2–8.5 and includes fixes for newer PHP versions such as PHP 8.4 nullable parameters. Check release notes for Symfony and Laravel compatibility before upgrading in older Laravel projects.
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