IntelliJ IDEA vs PhpStorm vs WebStorm: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the key differences between IntelliJ IDEA, PhpStorm, and WebStorm, which are all popular integrated development environments (IDEs) designed specifically for different types of software development.

1. Functionality: IntelliJ IDEA is a comprehensive IDE that supports a wide range of programming languages and technologies, making it suitable for large-scale enterprise development. In contrast, PhpStorm focuses primarily on PHP development, providing extensive features and tools tailored specifically for PHP projects. On the other hand, WebStorm is optimized for web development, with robust support for HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

2. Pricing: While IntelliJ IDEA and WebStorm offer both free and paid versions, PhpStorm is a paid-only IDE. IntelliJ IDEA has a Community Edition which is free, but it lacks some of the advanced features available in the Ultimate Edition, which is a paid version. WebStorm offers a free trial and requires a license for continued use.

3. Features: IntelliJ IDEA boasts a plethora of advanced features such as intelligent code completion, version control integration, code analysis, debugging, and support for frameworks like Spring and Hibernate. PhpStorm, being specialized for PHP development, includes dedicated features like PHP code editor, PHPUnit testing integration, and support for popular PHP frameworks like Laravel. WebStorm, being focused on web development, offers features like intelligent JavaScript and TypeScript coding assistance, built-in tools for debugging, and integration with popular web development frameworks like Angular and React.

4. Performance: IntelliJ IDEA is known for its robust performance, even when working on large-scale projects, thanks to its intelligent indexing and smart background processes. PhpStorm and WebStorm also offer good performance, but they are optimized for their respective domains (PHP and web development), providing specific features and optimizations that cater to those needs.

5. Community and Ecosystem: IntelliJ IDEA benefits from a large community of developers, which results in a vast array of plugins and extensions available for enhancing the IDE's functionality. PhpStorm also has a well-established community, while WebStorm, being specific to web development, has its own dedicated community that focuses on web-related plugins, frameworks, and libraries.

6. User Interface: IntelliJ IDEA, PhpStorm, and WebStorm share a similar user interface as they are all built on the same IntelliJ platform. This ensures consistent navigation, menus, and overall user experience across the IDEs.

In Summary, IntelliJ IDEA, PhpStorm, and WebStorm are all powerful IDEs with unique focuses and feature sets. IntelliJ IDEA is versatile and suitable for various languages and technologies, while PhpStorm is specialized for PHP development, and WebStorm is optimized for web development. It's important to choose the IDE that aligns with your specific requirements and project needs.

Why do developers choose IntelliJ IDEA vs PhpStorm vs WebStorm?

• IntelliJ IDEA fans call it “fantastically intelligent” and the “best in class IDE.” They appreciate its plugin architecture, integrated version control, and reliability.
• Users of PhpStorm call it the best IDE for PHP. They also appreciate its integrated version control, local history, themes, plugins, and functionality, and call it easy to use.
• WebStorm fans call WebStorm intelligent and appreciate that it’s cross-platform, supports the latest technologies, and offers easy JavaScript debugging.

What are some alternatives to IntelliJ IDEA, PhpStorm, and WebStorm?

• Visual Studio - State-of-the-art tools and services that you can use to create great apps for devices, the cloud, and everything in between
• Xcode - The complete toolset for building great apps
• RubyMine - The most intelligent Ruby and Rails IDE