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phplint

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PHPLint is a high-performance syntax validation tool for PHP that provides rapid syntax checking without code execution. It serves as an essential first line of defense for catching PHP syntax errors and parse issues.

Key Features:

  • Fast Syntax Validation: Lightning-fast PHP syntax checking without executing code for safe validation
  • Parallel Processing: Multi-threaded scanning that efficiently handles large codebases
  • Comprehensive Error Detection: Catches syntax errors, parse errors, and fundamental PHP language issues
  • Multiple PHP Versions: Supports validation against different PHP versions to ensure compatibility
  • Batch Processing: Validates entire directories and project structures efficiently
  • SARIF Support: Modern report formats for seamless integration with development tools and platforms
  • Memory Efficient: Minimal memory footprint for scanning large PHP projects
  • Configurable Scanning: Flexible file inclusion/exclusion patterns and custom validation rules

phplint documentation

phplint - GitHub

Configuration in MegaLinter

Variable Description Default value
PHP_PHPLINT_ARGUMENTS User custom arguments to add in linter CLI call
Ex: -s --foo "bar"
PHP_PHPLINT_COMMAND_REMOVE_ARGUMENTS User custom arguments to remove from command line before calling the linter
Ex: -s --foo "bar"
PHP_PHPLINT_FILTER_REGEX_INCLUDE Custom regex including filter
Ex: (src\|lib)		 Include every file
PHP_PHPLINT_FILTER_REGEX_EXCLUDE Custom regex excluding filter
Ex: (test\|examples)		 Exclude no file
PHP_PHPLINT_CLI_LINT_MODE Override default CLI lint mode
- file: Calls the linter for each file
- list_of_files: Call the linter with the list of files as argument
- project: Call the linter from the root of the project		 list_of_files
PHP_PHPLINT_FILE_EXTENSIONS Allowed file extensions. "*" matches any extension, "" matches empty extension. Empty list excludes all files
Ex: [".py", ""]		 [".php"]
PHP_PHPLINT_FILE_NAMES_REGEX File name regex filters. Regular expression list for filtering files by their base names using regex full match. Empty list includes all files
Ex: ["Dockerfile(-.+)?", "Jenkinsfile"]		 Include every file
PHP_PHPLINT_PRE_COMMANDS List of bash commands to run before the linter None
PHP_PHPLINT_POST_COMMANDS List of bash commands to run after the linter None
PHP_PHPLINT_UNSECURED_ENV_VARIABLES List of env variables explicitly not filtered before calling PHP_PHPLINT and its pre/post commands None
PHP_PHPLINT_CONFIG_FILE phplint configuration file nameUse LINTER_DEFAULT to let the linter find it .phplint.yml
PHP_PHPLINT_RULES_PATH Path where to find linter configuration file Workspace folder, then MegaLinter default rules
PHP_PHPLINT_DISABLE_ERRORS Run linter but consider errors as warnings false
PHP_PHPLINT_DISABLE_ERRORS_IF_LESS_THAN Maximum number of errors allowed 0
PHP_PHPLINT_CLI_EXECUTABLE Override CLI executable ['phplint']

MegaLinter Flavors

This linter is available in the following flavors

Flavor Description Embedded linters Info
all Default MegaLinter Flavor 127 Docker Image Size (tag) Docker Pulls
cupcake MegaLinter for the most commonly used languages 88 Docker Image Size (tag) Docker Pulls
php Optimized for PHP based projects 55 Docker Image Size (tag) Docker Pulls

Behind the scenes

How are identified applicable files

  • File extensions: .php

How the linting is performed

  • phplint is called once with the list of files as arguments (list_of_files CLI lint mode)

Example calls

phplint myfile.php

phplint mydir

phplint mydir myfile.php

phplint mydir -vvv

Help content

Description:
  Files syntax check only

Usage:
  lint [options] [--] [<path>...]

Arguments:
  path                               Path to file or directory to lint (default: working directory)

Options:
      --exclude=EXCLUDE              Path to file or directory to exclude from linting (multiple values allowed)
      --extensions=EXTENSIONS        Check only files with selected extensions (multiple values allowed)
  -j, --jobs=JOBS                    Number of paralleled jobs to run
  -c, --configuration=CONFIGURATION  Read configuration from config file [default: ".phplint.yml"]
      --no-configuration             Ignore default configuration file (.phplint.yml)
      --cache=CACHE                  Path to the cache directory (Deprecated option, use "cache-dir" instead)
      --cache-dir=CACHE-DIR          Path to the cache directory
      --cache-ttl=CACHE-TTL          Limit cached data for a period of time (>0: time to live in seconds) [default: 3600]
      --no-cache                     Ignore cached data
  -p, --progress=PROGRESS            Show the progress output
      --no-progress                  Hide the progress output
  -o, --output=OUTPUT                Generate an output to the specified path (default: standard output)
      --format=FORMAT                Format of requested reports (multiple values allowed)
  -w, --warning                      Also show warnings
      --memory-limit=MEMORY-LIMIT    Memory limit for analysis
      --ignore-exit-code             Ignore exit codes so there are no "failure" exit code even when no files processed
      --bootstrap=BOOTSTRAP          A PHP script that is included before the linter run
  -h, --help                         Display help for the given command. When no command is given display help for the lint command
      --silent                       Do not output any message
  -q, --quiet                        Only errors are displayed. All other output is suppressed
  -V, --version                      Display this application version
      --ansi|--no-ansi               Force (or disable --no-ansi) ANSI output
  -n, --no-interaction               Do not ask any interactive question
  -v|vv|vvv, --verbose               Increase the verbosity of messages: 1 for normal output, 2 for more verbose output and 3 for debug

Installation on mega-linter Docker image

  • Dockerfile commands :
# Parent descriptor install
RUN update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/php php /usr/bin/php84 110
COPY --from=composer/composer:2-bin /composer /usr/bin/composer
ENV PATH="/root/.composer/vendor/bin:${PATH}"
ENV PHP_CS_FIXER_IGNORE_ENV=true
# Linter install
# renovate: datasource=packagist depName=overtrue/phplint
ARG PHP_OVERTRUE_PHPLINT_VERSION=9.6.2
# renovate: datasource=packagist depName=bartlett/sarif-php-converters
ARG PHP_BARTLETT_SARIF_PHP_CONVERTERS_VERSION=1.2.0
RUN GITHUB_AUTH_TOKEN="$(cat /run/secrets/GITHUB_TOKEN)" && export GITHUB_AUTH_TOKEN && composer global require overtrue/phplint:${PHP_OVERTRUE_PHPLINT_VERSION} bartlett/sarif-php-converters:${PHP_BARTLETT_SARIF_PHP_CONVERTERS_VERSION}