PHPStan vs Pylint: What are the differences?

Introduction

PHPStan and Pylint are both popular static analysis tools used in different programming languages. Although they serve similar purposes, there are key differences between the two.

1. Integration with Programming Language: PHPStan is designed specifically for PHP code, while Pylint is used for Python code. PHPStan focuses on the PHP language features and provides robust analysis for PHP projects, while Pylint offers extensive support for Python syntax and semantics.

2. Type System Support: PHPStan and Pylint have different approaches to type checking. PHPStan leverages PHP's static type hints to provide comprehensive type analysis and detection of potential errors, allowing developers to catch type-related issues early on. On the other hand, Pylint relies on a type inference mechanism and follows the dynamic nature of Python, providing flexible type checking options.

3. Rules and Checks: PHPStan and Pylint have different sets of rules and checks. PHPStan analyzes various aspects of PHP code, including type correctness, variable usage, undefined variables, and more. Pylint, on the other hand, provides a wide range of checks for Python code, covering areas such as coding style, potential bugs, code complexity, and more.

4. Community and Ecosystem: PHPStan and Pylint have vibrant communities with active development and support. However, due to the popularity and widespread usage of PHP, PHPStan has a larger community and extensive ecosystem of plugins, integrations, and additional tooling specifically built for PHP projects. Pylint also has a significant user base and an active community, but the ecosystem may differ in terms of availability and maturity for certain Python frameworks or libraries.

5. Configuration and Customization: PHPStan and Pylint provide extensive configuration options. PHPStan offers a configuration file where users can specify various rulesets, exclude files or directories, and customize analysis options. Pylint also provides a configuration file to specify desired behavior, including disabling or enabling specific checks, defining code formatting standards, and more.

6. Performance and Execution: PHPStan and Pylint may vary in terms of performance and execution. PHPStan is known for its fast analysis speed, enabling developers to obtain results quickly. Pylint can also analyze large codebases efficiently, but the execution time may vary depending on the complexity of the code and the number of enabled checks.

In Summary, PHPStan and Pylint have key differences in terms of their integration with programming languages, type system support, rules and checks, community and ecosystem, configuration and customization options, and performance and execution. These differences reflect the specific focuses and design principles of each tool, allowing developers to choose the one that best fits their needs and specific programming language requirements.