PHPStan vs Scrutinizer: What are the differences?

Comparison between PHPStan and Scrutinizer

1. Support and Focus: PHPStan is a static analysis tool for PHP that focuses primarily on finding errors in code during a project's development stage. On the other hand, Scrutinizer is a continuous inspection platform that not only provides static analysis but also offers code coverage and other quality metrics.

2. Installation and Configuration: PHPStan can be easily installed using Composer in any PHP project without the need for additional tools. In contrast, Scrutinizer requires setting up a separate account on their platform and configuring integrations with version control systems like GitHub or Bitbucket.

3. Customization and Extensibility: PHPStan provides a range of pre-built levels of strictness according to the project's needs but offers limited customization options. Scrutinizer allows users to define custom rulesets for their projects, making it more adaptable to specific coding standards and requirements.

4. Reporting Capabilities: PHPStan generates reports locally in various formats like text, table, and online dashboards, which can be viewed directly by developers. In comparison, Scrutinizer generates detailed reports on its web-based platform, allowing for team collaboration and sharing results with stakeholders.

5. Community and Support: PHPStan has an active open-source community that contributes to its development and provides support through forums and documentation. Scrutinizer, being a commercial product, offers dedicated customer support and may have more comprehensive documentation and training resources available.

6. Pricing Model: PHPStan is an open-source tool available for free to use and integrate into projects without any cost. In contrast, Scrutinizer offers a variety of pricing plans based on the number of repositories and users, making it a paid service with different tiers for businesses and organizations.

In Summary, PHPStan and Scrutinizer differ in their support and focus, installation and configuration processes, customization and extensibility options, reporting capabilities, community and support, and pricing model.