The State of PHP 2024  ## Metadata - Author: [[Tania Goral]] - Full Title: The State of PHP 2024 - Category: #articles - Document Note: --- tags: [#php, #state-of-php, #2024, #open-source, #developer-tools] - #php - #2024 - #jetbrains Author: JetBrains Team Source: JetBrains Blog (State of PHP in 2024) Reference: [State of PHP in 2024 - JetBrains](https://blog.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/2025/02/state-of-php-2024/) date created: 2025-05-16 09:13 --- # State of PHP in 2024 – JetBrains Survey Analysis ## Table of Contents: - [📝 Summary](#-summary) - [📖 Main Content](#-main-content) - [🗒️ Notes](#️-notes) - [📖 References](#-references) - [🗣️ Paraphrase](#-paraphrase) - [📰 Newsletter](#-newsletter) - [✅ Action Items](#-action-items) - [🧪 Hypotheses](#-hypotheses) - [📊 Methodology](#-methodology) - [❓ Questions](#-questions) - [🔮 Future Research](#-future-research) - [💡 Implications](#-implications) - [🧠 Learning Styles Assessment](#-learning-styles-assessment) - [📊 Accessibility Assessment](#-accessibility-assessment) - [🌍 DEIB Assessment](#-deib-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging-assessment) - [✅ Logical Validity](#-logical-validity) - [🔍 DARVO Analysis](#-darvo-analysis-prompt) - [🔍 SEO Evaluation](#-seo-evaluation) - [🎯 Conclusion](#-conclusion) --- ## 📝 Summary: JetBrains' "State of PHP in 2024" report compiles survey data from nearly 3,000 PHP developers worldwide. It reveals which PHP versions, frameworks, CMSs, and tools are most widely used, and identifies trends shaping the ecosystem. Key findings include PHP 8.x adoption, Laravel’s continued popularity, and growing use of modern dev tools. The report highlights the PHP community’s commitment to modernization, security, and professional development, and gives a realistic snapshot of the language’s evolution. --- ## 📖 Main Content: The JetBrains report presents a comprehensive analysis of PHP’s ecosystem in 2024, focusing on usage patterns, version adoption, frameworks, CMSs, hosting, tooling, and professional practices. The survey reflects responses from diverse geographies, but with a concentration in Europe. - **PHP Version Adoption:** - Majority of developers have moved to PHP 8.1 or later, showing strong community momentum towards the latest stable releases. - PHP 7.x usage is waning, but a non-trivial minority still maintains legacy codebases. - **Frameworks & CMSs:** - *Laravel* dominates the PHP framework landscape. - *Symfony* and *Yii* have smaller, but loyal, user bases. - *WordPress* remains the top CMS by far, followed by Joomla and Drupal. - **Development Tools:** - *Composer* is nearly universal for dependency management. - *Docker* adoption continues to grow for local dev and CI workflows. - *PhpStorm* is the leading IDE, with VS Code gaining ground. - **Testing & Quality:** - Automated testing usage is up, though not universal—indicating room for improvement in quality practices. - *PHPUnit* is the most popular testing tool, with alternatives like Pest and Codeception rising in visibility. - **Hosting & Deployment:** - Cloud hosting (AWS, DigitalOcean) is increasingly favored, but traditional shared hosting remains common for smaller sites. - CI/CD pipelines are on the rise, but many teams still rely on manual or semi-automated deployments. - **Community & Learning:** - Most developers learn through documentation, video courses, and online communities. - Conferences and meetups are important but secondary sources of professional growth. ### 🗒️ Notes - **PHP Version Trends** - PHP 8.1 and 8.2 are the most-used versions. - Legacy PHP (7.x) persists for maintenance work, but migration efforts are active. - PHP 8.3 adoption is starting but not yet mainstream. - **Framework Adoption** - Laravel (over 70%) is overwhelmingly preferred for new projects. - Symfony appeals to enterprise and complex projects. - Yii, Laminas, CodeIgniter retain niche audiences. - **CMS Landscape** - WordPress dominates by a wide margin, powering most PHP-based sites. - Drupal and Joomla usage continues to shrink. - Statamic, OctoberCMS, and others have tiny but dedicated communities. - **Development Environment** - Composer, Docker, and PhpStorm are default tools for most respondents. - VS Code’s flexibility is closing the gap with dedicated IDEs. - **Testing** - PHPUnit is standard, but usage varies—many devs still skip automated tests. - Pest (with a more modern, readable syntax) is gaining traction. - **Deployment** - CI/CD usage is up, yet manual deployments are still present in smaller teams. - GitHub Actions and GitLab CI are common pipeline choices. - **Professional Development** - Self-study via docs, videos, and Stack Overflow is the top way developers upskill. - Conferences (in-person/virtual) remain important for networking and inspiration. - **Geographic Diversity** - Europe provides most responses, followed by Asia and the Americas. - Regional variations in tool adoption and workflow persist. --- ## 📖 References: - [State of PHP in 2024 - JetBrains Blog](https://blog.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/2025/02/state-of-php-2024/) - [PHP Manual](https://www.php.net/manual/en/) - [Laravel Documentation](https://laravel.com/docs) - [Symfony Docs](https://symfony.com/doc/current/index.html) - [WordPress.org](https://wordpress.org/) --- ## 🗣️ Paraphrase: 1. **Original:** "PHP 8.1 and 8.2 have become the de facto standard versions, as the majority of respondents use them in production. Migration from older versions is still ongoing, but the community is clearly focused on modernization." **Paraphrase:** Most developers are now running PHP 8.1 or 8.2 in their production environments. While some projects are still catching up, the overall trend is strongly toward using the latest stable PHP releases, reflecting the community’s commitment to keeping tech stacks up-to-date. 2. **Original:** "Composer and Docker are now core tools in the PHP ecosystem, with nearly all developers reporting regular use. The adoption of CI/CD pipelines is rising, yet many teams, especially smaller ones, still rely on manual deployment." **Paraphrase:** Practically every PHP developer uses Composer for managing dependencies and Docker for local environments or CI. Automated deployment processes are becoming the norm, but manual uploads remain part of the workflow, particularly for small teams or solo devs. --- ## 📰 Newsletter: **PHP in 2024: The Community Levels Up** What’s new in the world of PHP? According to JetBrains’ annual “State of PHP” report, plenty! PHP 8.1/8.2 are now standard, Laravel remains the top framework, and Composer is nearly as essential as coffee for modern devs. Automated testing is on the rise (though there’s still work to do), and cloud hosting is gaining traction even as old-school shared hosting hangs on. Whether you build with WordPress, tinker with Symfony, or swear by Docker, the PHP community continues to modernize. Hungry for details? [Check out the full report](https://blog.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/2025/02/state-of-php-2024/) and join the conversation in our forums. Plus, don’t miss our spotlight on new plugins and contributor stories next week! --- ## ✅ Action Items: - *Open Source Advocacy*: - Share key findings with the WordPress and PHP contributor community to encourage modernization and adoption of best practices. - Use the report’s data to promote migration off legacy PHP (7.x) in favor of 8.x for security and performance. - *Contributor Engagement*: - Highlight Laravel’s and WordPress’s continued relevance as entry points for new contributors. - Advocate for more automated testing (e.g., via PHPUnit, Pest) to improve code quality in open-source projects. - *Education and Onboarding*: - Leverage insights about learning preferences (docs, videos, meetups) to improve onboarding materials for new contributors. - Organize community events that mirror the report’s emphasis on conferences and professional growth. - *Sustainable Funding*: - Use survey data to inform sponsors and stakeholders about the real-world impact and adoption of PHP and its tools, strengthening the case for funding. - *OSPO Direction*: - Analyze trends in CI/CD and DevOps adoption to guide - Summary: Explore trends in the PHP ecosystem based on the State of Developer Ecosystem Report 2024 by JetBrains. - URL: https://blog.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/2025/02/state-of-php-2024/ PHP continues to be a cornerstone of web development, powering millions of websites around the world. Its vibrant and dedicated community values its flexibility and ease of use. But what does the current state of PHP development look like? To uncover deeper insights and trends shaping the ecosystem, we’ve turned to our in-house expert, Brent Roose, Developer Advocate for PHP, who will guide us through the results of the [State of Developer Ecosystem Survey 2024](https://www.jetbrains.com/lp/devecosystem-2024/). Join us as we explore the findings and learn how PHP developers are navigating the ever-evolving landscape of modern web development.  #### Participants We analyzed the responses of a diverse pool of 2,660 PHP developers from around the world. ##### Professional experience The professional coding experience of the respondents varied widely, with a notable lean toward mid-career developers.  ##### Geographic distribution The survey attracted a highly international audience, with participants hailing from several different world regions. The largest group of respondents came from Japan (11%), followed by Mainland China (9%) and the United States (8%). Other notable regions included Brazil (7%) and India (6%). The representation of European countries, such as Germany (5%), France (4%), the Netherlands (2%), and Italy (2%), highlight the survey’s global reach. ##### Age range The age distribution of the respondents shows a predominance of early- to mid-career developers. Developers in their 30s represent a significant portion of the community, followed closely by those in their 20s, which reflects PHP’s largely young and dynamic developer base. Meanwhile, developers in their 40s and 50s are also well-represented, highlighting the breadth of experience across the community. Younger respondents under 21 and those aged 60 or older make up the smallest groups, indicating a primarily mid-range demographic. ##### ##### Gender The survey’s gender distribution shows a striking lack of diversity, with the overwhelming majority of respondents identifying as male. Female representation is minimal, making up only a small percentage of participants, while non-binary, genderqueer, and other gender identities are almost entirely absent. The data highlights the persistent gender imbalance within the developer community and suggests a pressing need for greater inclusivity and representation in the field. > “While the survey highlights gender imbalance and the lack of diversity, equality, and inclusion within the developer community, there are efforts to change that through initiatives like [Larabelles](https://larabelles.com/). Larabelles is a community for PHP and Laravel developers who are underrepresented due to their gender. We encourage inclusivity, provide resources, and create opportunities for developers to help build a more supportive environment for everyone in tech. While we have not provided a complete solution yet, our efforts are important steps toward addressing the imbalance highlighted by the survey data. I encourage you to join our community and our efforts to improve the tech industry.” > > **Zuzana Kunckova, [X](https://twitter.com/zuzana_kunckova)** Larabelles founder and a PHP and Laravel developer #### PHP versions in active use While 86% of PHP developers are using version 8 in 2024, adoption remains lower compared to the 96% who had adopted version 7 in 2020, a similar length of time after its release.  #### PHP frameworks [Laravel](https://laravel.com/) continues to reign as the most popular PHP framework among our user base. Get deeper insights into the framework and its ecosystem in the [State of Laravel 2024](https://stateoflaravel.com/results) survey and our [overview](https://blog.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/2024/09/laravel-trends-2024-the-latest-market-insights/) of it. > “As the creator of Laravel, it’s a profound privilege to continue developing a framework that empowers developers and companies around the world. Laravel’s mission has always been to help teams ship amazing, well-tested, and beautifully architected applications quickly and with confidence. It’s an honor to see the incredible solutions our community builds every day, and I’m grateful to play a role in supporting their success.” > > **Taylor Otwell, [X](https://x.com/TaylorOtwell)** Creator of Laravel  > “13 years ago, someone on the PHP subreddit [wrote](https://www.reddit.com/r/PHP/comments/u72v7/comment/c4swdt0/): ‘Laravel is my favorite framework right now. But deep down I wish I was a symfony2 guru and drove a nicer car.’ It’s intriguing to see how the PHP community has shifted in the past decade: Laravel used to be the underdog, but now it’s the most popular framework by far. What I think adds to Laravel’s success is its focus on code usability over ‘being correct’: 95% of the time, it just works. Combine that with a [very strong community](https://blog.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/2024/07/the-best-laravel-tutorials-and-resources-for-developers-2/#documentation-and-community-resources), both online and offline, and you get a recipe for success. Laravel’s journey is truly inspiring, and I think every programmer should be aware of it.” > > **Brent Roose, [PHP Annotated](https://www.youtube.com/@phpannotated) YouTube channel** Developer Advocate for PhpStorm #### PHP development environments ##### Most used IDE or editor While PhpStorm is still used by more than half of the respondents, VS Code is steadily gaining popularity among developers, especially beginners.  > “We see that most people who use PhpStorm keep using it indefinitely. At the same time, there’s a new generation of developers growing up who (understandably) reach for tools like VS Code to start their coding journey: It’s free and there’s a lower learning curve compared to a full-blown IDE like PhpStorm. > However, I’ve been telling people the same thing for years (long before I worked as an advocate at JetBrains): It’s worth investing time in learning the proper tools. Just like a carpenter has to spend time and effort learning to operate heavy machinery, it’s worth learning how to use an IDE to its full potential as a programmer. It’s a short-term investment that will make you so much more productive in the long run. > Recently I’ve been working on a ‘[Getting Started with PhpStorm](https://www.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/getting-started/)’ series that addresses this group. The goal of this series is to get you started with PhpStorm, so that you feel productive with it within minutes. I cover topics like IDE actions, refactoring, testing, debugging, etc. I think it’s worth the effort, so I’d say: ‘Give it a try.’” > > **Brent Roose, [PHP Annotated](https://www.youtube.com/@phpannotated) YouTube channel** Developer Advocate for PhpStorm [Try PhpStorm](https://www.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/download/) ##### IDE or editor of choice per framework [PhpStorm](https://www.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/) (including [IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate](https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/) with the PHP plugin) is the leading choice among PHP developers across most frameworks, particularly [Symfony](https://symfony.com/), where it is used by a substantial majority. For Laravel developers, PhpStorm also holds the top spot and faces competition from [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/), the second most popular choice. Among [WordPress](https://wordpress.org/) developers, VS Code narrowly surpasses PhpStorm as the preferred editor, likely reflecting WordPress’s broader user base and its inclination toward lightweight tools.  ##### Debugging When it comes to how PHP developers debug, the picture is almost unchanged from 2023, with the majority of those surveyed still favoring dumping values over using a dedicated debugger.  > “In my experience, a debugger is a really powerful tool, but it’s also difficult to get started with. Because PHP doesn’t have a built-in debugger, there’s an additional installation process you need to go through to set it up. On top of that, debugging itself is a skill that needs practice. > I think there’s a lot of room for improvement when it comes both to learning debugging as well as to making the debugger experience more frictionless. I’m looking forward to next year though, as the PhpStorm team is going to work to make debugging more enjoyable. Meanwhile, I’ve already made a video about getting started with Xdebug, check it out [here](https://www.jetbrains.com/phpstorm/getting-started/episode-6/).” > > **Brent Roose, [PHP Annotated](https://www.youtube.com/@phpannotated) YouTube channel** Developer Advocate for PhpStorm ##### Testing frameworks [PHPUnit](https://phpunit.de/index.html) is still the most widely used testing framework, with only a slight decrease in users, while [Pest](https://pestphp.com/) retains the 13% share it achieved in 2023.  > “I’m incredibly grateful for the growth of Pest in 2024. Its daily downloads on Packagist have doubled in just one year. With features like built-in snapshot testing, stress testing, mutation testing, architectural testing, type coverage, and more, Pest has grown into an incredibly powerful testing framework. Thank you to everyone who made this possible!” > > **Nuno Maduro, [X](https://x.com/enunomaduro)** Creator of the Pest testing framework ##### Code quality tools A cluster of 3 code quality tools stood above the rest in 2024. Despite the slight decrease from last year, [PHP CS Fixer](https://cs.symfony.com/) is still at the top. Meanwhile, second-ranked [PHPStan](https://phpstan.org/) closed the gap between itself and first place to just 1%. [PHP\_CodeSniffer](https://github.com/squizlabs/PHP_CodeSniffer) continued its decline following last year’s 5 percentage point drop.  #### Adoption of AI We uncovered some interesting trends regarding the use of AI tools for coding and development-related activities among PHP users. ChatGPT emerged as the most widely used AI tool, with GitHub Copilot following as the second most popular. Other tools, such as Google Gemini and JetBrains AI Assistant, saw less adoption overall.  On company policies surrounding AI usage, attitudes remain varied. While 29% of respondents reported that AI tools are allowed for all projects, an almost equal proportion (27%) said their companies only allow AI tools for select projects. Interestingly, 27% of respondents reported that their companies do not have any explicit AI usage policy, reflecting the ongoing normalization of these tools in development environments. Meanwhile, only a small percentage (7%) of organizations prohibit the use of third-party AI tools altogether. These findings reveal a growing acceptance of AI in development workflows, with ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot leading the way as key contributors to productivity and problem-solving. Despite being relatively new to the race, we’re constantly [improving](https://blog.jetbrains.com/blog/2024/10/22/introducing-mellum-jetbrains-new-llm-built-for-developers/) our own JetBrains AI Assistant to bring the most efficient AI experience to developers. [Try AI Assistant](https://www.jetbrains.com/ai/) #### The PHP Foundation: Projects and focus for 2025 The [PHP Foundation](https://thephp.foundation/) is a non-profit organization established in November 2021 to support the development and sustainability of the PHP programming language. As one of the founding members of the PHP Foundation, JetBrains has been instrumental in supporting this initiative, providing funding and helping to drive collaboration within the global PHP community. The foundation team is responsible for many of the recent additions to the language and ecosystem, including [property hooks](https://thephp.foundation/blog/2024/11/01/how-hooks-happened/), [asymmetric visibility](https://stitcher.io/blog/new-in-php-84#asymmetric-visibility-rfc), [lazy objects](https://stitcher.io/blog/new-in-php-84#lazy-objects-rfc), a [new tool for installing extensions](https://thephp.foundation/blog/2024/11/19/pie-pre-release/) called [PIE](https://github.com/php/pie/), and a security audit of the PHP source code – all in 2024 alone! So what’s coming in 2025? The main focus for the foundation will remain the same – improving the language for users and ensuring security and maintenance. Roman Pronskiy, PhpStorm Developer Advocate and Executive Director of The PHP Foundation, asked the community to share their opinions and ideas on X: > Hey folks, as we’re planning [@ThePHPF](https://twitter.com/ThePHPF?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)'s 2025 strategy, I’d love to hear from you. > > What’s been frustrating you about PHP or ecosystem lately? Any tools, workflows, or ideas you think could make things better? > > — Roman Pronskiy (@pronskiy) [January 10, 2025](https://twitter.com/pronskiy/status/1877672616355340392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) We received many interesting suggestions about what we should prioritize. Here are just a few of them: * A production-ready, built-in web server * A database connection pool * WASM support * Bundled extensions * Generics (of course) * Records/structs But the one that stood out more in this particular thread was the redesign of the [php.net](http://php.net) website! What do you think? There are some ongoing developments such as native modules, [pattern matching](https://wiki.php.net/rfc/pattern-matching), and others. Follow The PHP Foundation’s social media channels to learn about the coming projects: [X](https://twitter.com/thephpf), [Mastodon](https://phpc.social/@thephpf), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/phpfoundation/), and [Bluesky](https://bsky.app/profile/thephpf.bsky.social). #### Conclusion The PHP ecosystem is clearly continuing to evolve as developers adopt new tools, technologies, and practices. PhpStorm remains a top choice for many, particularly among those using frameworks like Symfony and Laravel, while VS Code has established a strong foothold within the WordPress community. The growing adoption of AI tools reflects an increasing reliance on AI to assist with coding and development tasks, with developers viewing these tools as collaborators and problem solvers. However, the survey also highlights areas for growth, such as improving gender diversity, broadening representation in the field, and fostering greater inclusivity. As the PHP community moves forward, these insights into today’s development landscape reveal opportunities to strengthen both the tools and the community as a whole., The State of PHP 2024, Tania Goral, 01jtqr8yjv5c3tx6hgfryf1f75.