When comparing PhpStorm vs Codeanywhere, the Slant community recommends PhpStorm for most people. In the question“What are the best JavaScript IDEs or editors?” PhpStorm is ranked 11th while Codeanywhere is ranked 14th. The most important reason people chose PhpStorm is:
PhpStorm has two types of autocompletion: structural completion and word expansion. Structural autocompletion makes predictions based on its understanding of PHP, while the latter tries to predict the word currently being typed based on previously typed words. Word expansion also works in comments and docstrings and it's similar to vim's omnicompletion. Both types of autocompletion work extremely well, have little to no problems and are quite fast even when loading suggestions on the go.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Intelligent code completion
PhpStorm has two types of autocompletion: structural completion and word expansion.
Structural autocompletion makes predictions based on its understanding of PHP, while the latter tries to predict the word currently being typed based on previously typed words. Word expansion also works in comments and docstrings and it's similar to vim's omnicompletion.
Both types of autocompletion work extremely well, have little to no problems and are quite fast even when loading suggestions on the go.
Pro Supports various PHP frameworks
Supports Symfony2 (including Twig and Doctrine), Yii frameworks, and Laravel.
Pro PHPDoc support
PHPDoc is a documentation generator. It allows automatically generating documentation from specifically formatted comments.
Pro Inspections of all kinds
Not just for PHP, HTML and JavaScript, but especially good is SQL inspection and auto-completion of tables and fields. You can see at a glance, that your DB structure is in sync with your code.
Pro Built-in debugger
Has built in support for Xdebug including remote debugging.
Pro Phar package recognition
Phar support allows running complete applications out of .phar files.
Pro Database view
The database tab, while not perfect, provides all the tools you need for daily usage. You always have your DB overview on the side (you can hide it when not needed).
Pro External command support
Ability to setup custom external commands, which is something inherited from eclipse and found lacking on netbeans.
Pro Integrated Git GUI support
Allows users to manage their repositories directly from the IDE with a GUI which lets you do all Git commands.
Pro Plugins allow futureproofing and customization
Active development work on plugins is always a plus, as it can extend the use of the IDE.
Pro Code Refactoring
Quickly rename classes, methods, and variables used across multiple files in the project.
Pro Auto-sync with remote folders
It allows monitoring code and sync the files that need to be changed with a remote server. This works more efficiently than libnotify and faster than vagrant auto rsync.
Pro Lots of plugins
Lots of plugins from JetBrains and the community are available, from useful things like support for Docker, Vagrant, Angular, Vue.js and more useless (but fun) like a nyan cat progress bar.
Pro Zero latency typing
Type codes with pleasure. Delay of visual feedback on a computer display has an important effect on typist's behavior and satisfaction, as cited here.
Pro Has built-in console and SSH clients
This allows execution of needed commands without switching to other windows. It also keeps track of what's happening right in the IDE, which is especially good with Vagrant, because you can connect to a VM in a single click.
Pro It comes with Testing RESTful Web Services
Save time of building your own or integrating libraries for testing RESTful Web Services. PHPStorm enables you to test endpoints without leaving your workspace or disrupting your workflow . You can code your endpoints in one window and test it immediately from another window.
Pro Integrated Vagrant support
It recognizes Vagrantfile and allows full control from the IDE.
Pro Templating support
Supports Twig and Laravel's Blade (among others). Technically the later is part of a framework which Phpstorm supports but I've seen IDEs (e.g. Netbeans) with Laravel support but no blade support so it does deserve a notable mention.
Pro Responsive core developers
Pro Emmet integrated
Pro Task/Context functionality
Similar to Eclipse Mylyn: you can create tasks or retrieve them from your ticketing system, and each task keeps its own context (opened files, modifications, etc.).
Pro Regular updates for fixes and new features
PhpStorm is clearly being developed continually, which gives confidence that it will be available for some time and is not abandonware.
Pro Excellent search tools
Especially the "find in path" feature that displays both results and file preview!
Pro Full terminal access
CodeAnywhere gives users full terminal access.
Pro BitBucket integration
Integrates with BitBucket and allows logging in with your BitBucket account. It's possible to launch Codeanywhere from within BitBucket's repo by adding Codeanywhere integration as an add-on.
Pro Dropbox and Google Drive support
Codeanywhere allows connecting and pulling development files from a Dropbox or a Google Drive account, making it easy to sync development files across devices.
Pro Unlimited revisions
Each action performed on any file from any resource will be saved forever.
Pro Github integration
Integrates with Github and allows logging in with your Github account.
Pro Has mobile apps for all major mobile OSs
Codeanywhere has apps for iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, Windows, and Blackberry.
Pro SFTP access
Allows connecting code via FTP, SFTP.
Pro Good editor
Supports multiple cursors. Has code completion for JavaScript, PHP, HTML, CSS and linting for JavaScript and CSS.
Pro Allows inviting collaborators with a link
Codeanywhere has a feature called Share Links, that allows users to collaborate with others on their projects in real-time by simply sharing a link to their work.
Pro Multiple devboxes
DevBoxes are saveable, fully customizable development environments that run on either Open VZ or Docker and each has a dedicated amount of memory and disk space. Multiple devboxes can be run at the same time.
Pro SSH Terminal
Even for 3rd party SSH connections.
Pro Integration with DigitalOcean
CodeAnywhere recently partnered up with DigitalOcean. Now users can manage, spin up and provision DigitalOcean droplets all from the CodeAnywhere IDE. This is a great addition for both products, combining the power of an affordable host with the portability and power of CodeAnywhere IDE.
Pro OneDrive integration
Similar to their Dropbox integration, it gives you full access.
Cons
Con Resource exhaustive
It often maxes out even 4 cores, not to mention several hundred MBs of RSS with a single small project opened.
Con Proprietary
It is not free software (free as in freedom).
Con Costly or you need github education pack
If you are ready to pay for it for phpstorm then it is better otherwise you need github education pack or if you have'nt either github education pack or you are not ready to pay it then visual studio code insiders is best option.
Con Slow performance
A very slow indexing, many memory leaks, large projects after some time will be very slow, opening large files like 10mb can even break IDE.
Con FTP Extremely Slow
FTP File transfer is extremely slow compared to filezilla or other ftp programs
Con Sometimes buggy
Index gets corrupt which results in errors in syntax presentation, code validation and auto-completion. Version-control system sometimes stops working, occasionally freezes in big files
Con Interface is cluttered
Con Bloated
Con Only one project can be opened at a time (
Con No debugging options found (stepping through code)
Con Non free/libre (proprietary)
Con Web terminal window doesn't always run
In many instances, opening a terminal window in CodeEnvy would continue to load eternally.
Con Customer support is virtually non-existent
Con Custom domains do not work
The custom domain feature fails at the SSL cert, even if you are bringing your own via Cloudflare, etc. Running on port 80 appears to break the site. This is especially frustrating when you paid an extra $24 for 15 custom domains that you cannot use. Support is non-existent so they will not help resolve the issue.
Con Does not jump to definitions
Unable to navigate the class definition or declaration.
Con Very unstable
It's a nice IDE when it works, but suffers a lot from instability with things like being unable to save files, or not starting up, as well as crashes, etc.
Con iOS app hasn't been updated in almost 3 years
Update as of August 20 2017.
Con Web editor on iPad is severely lacking
Codeanywhere relies on right click for major actions but doesn't support this interaction on iPad. Selecting listed Dev box URLs to access site is also unworkable in practice. iPad app allows the actions but has very limited set of Dev box controls.
Using an external keyboard with the app can also be problematic as the arrow keys don't work.
Con SSH Port will be different each time you start your DevBox
Only for Always on DevBoxes will SSH ports remain static.
Con Does not have a function name list in side panel view
Con Can't use SFTP with GIT
Con UI is not optimized and zoom is applied to the entire screen, rather than just the editor
The buttons are way too small. The UI feels washed out and opaque. Zoom (Ctrl++) is applied on the entire screen and not just on the editor.
Con 2 Factor authentication is a joke
Con Confusing, not user friendly
It's so confusing versus other IDEs. Not recommended for newbies and programming students.