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A Useful VSCode Extensions for WordPress and PHP Web Application Development

Updated:   VSCode, Web development 1 min read

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General PHP & Framework Support

  • PHP Intelephense (bmewburn.vscode-intelephense-client)
    Advanced IntelliSense, go‑to‑definition, real-time diagnostics & refactorings—must‑have for all PHP projects.
  • PHP CS Fixer (junstyle.php-cs-fixer)
    Enforces consistent coding standards via auto-formatting (PSR‑12, project rules).
  • Prettier – Code Formatter (esbenp.prettier-vscode)
    Beautifies JS/CSS/HTML across themes or WordPress templates for uniformity.
  • PHP Debug (felixfbecker.php-debug)
    Integrates Xdebug for breakpoints, stepping through PHP and WordPress code.

Laravel-Specific Tools

  • Laravel Extra IntelliSense (amiralizadeh9480.laravel-extra-intellisense)
    Laravel-aware autocompletion for helpers, facades & routes.
  • Laravel Artisan (ryannaddy.laravel-artisan)
    Run Artisan commands directly in VS Code with history & favorites.
  • Laravel Blade Formatter (shufo.vscode-blade-formatter)
    Clean, consistent formatting for Blade templates.
  • Laravel Blade Snippets (onecentlin.laravel-blade or other snippet packs)
    Handy Blade directive, syntax, and component shortcuts.
  • Laravel Snippets (xyz.laravel-snippets)
    Quick boilerplate for common Laravel structures—controllers, models, routes.

WordPress-Focused Extensions

Yii2 / CraftCMS / Other PHP Frameworks

  • Yii2 Snippets (yii2-snippets)
    Shortcut snippets for models, controllers, forms, and migrations in Yii2.
  • Twig Language 2 (twig.twig)
    Syntax highlighting and IntelliSense for Twig templates used by CraftCMS and Yii-based templating.

Workflow & Productivity Boosters

  • GitLens & Git Graph
    Enhance version control experience with blame annotations, commit history, and branch visualizations.
  • Better Comments (aaron-bond.better-comments)
    Organize TODOs, notes, and questions visually with colour-coded comments.

Optional: Docker & Live Preview

  • Docker (ms-azuretools.vscode-docker)
    If you containerize your environment, manage images, and compose from within VS Code.
  • Live Server (ritwickdey.liveserver)
    Use it with Blade/Twig for auto-refresh front-end previews; great in hybrid WP setups.

These extensions are actively maintained, compatible with the latest PHP (8.2+), Laravel (10.x), Yii2, CraftCMS 5.x, and WordPress setups. They’ll significantly streamline development, whether you’re building a custom plugin, CMS, or full-stack PHP app.


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Senior WordPress Developer (Freelancer)

Senior WordPress Developer (Freelancer)

I’m a professional WordPress and WooCommerce developer based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with over a decade of experience creating fast, secure, and scalable websites. From custom themes and plugins to full WooCommerce stores, I help businesses build a strong and reliable online presence. Need a freelance WordPress developer you can count on? View my portfolio or get in touch to discuss your project.