Editor's words Maguma Workbench

This review is based on Workbench 2.6.1 the windows version, but it is also available for Linux and Mac OS X. We are talking about an integrated development environment for PHP, the most popular web scripting language and the 5th most popular programming language. I do not look at PHP as a programming language but more as a scripting language, even if it has evolved and by switching to Zend Engine 2 since PHP 5, it really supports object oriented coding.

Let's see what Maguma Workbench offers as an editor, and what it offers as a development environment.

First impression
The interface is nice, fast as it's build in C++ and quite important friendly. You can choose from user options to use one of the free themes available. The changes will affect only the toolbar, showing it or not showing it, small icons or big icons.
Before you start editing your first file you have to configure your PHP parser. You can use the local PHP CGI interpreter or a local or remote server in order parse the script to preview it either in the internal viewer or in an external browser or to debug the script.

Basic functionalities

• Code coloring for CSS, Javascript, HTML, PHP, XML. You can customize the colors from user options.
• Visual brace matching
• Code folding
• Search and replace in all open files, files in current project or workspace
• Convert end of line to Unix (LF), Windows (CR-LF) or Apple (CR) format. I find this extremely useful when you are forced to use different editors, either members of the team prefer different editors, or you access the files from a different computer or location.

These are not necessary simple but the ones that I expect an editor to include otherwise I could just use an enhanced notepad. 

Advanced functionalities

• Auto complete for PHP functions, local functions and even user defined variables
• Workspace and project files management and file browser
• Integrated CVS client, useful for team working
• Integrated FTP, SFTP client and remote server browser
• Function declaration and definition tooltip
• Debugging.

These functionalities make Maguma Workbench a real integrated development environment.

Other functionalities that I liked

• CHM help files can be managed and accessed directly from the editor. Maguma Workbench is shipped with CSS2, PHP4 and HTML 4.1 help files. PHP 4 and HTML 4.1 are deprecated in my opinion this is why I find useful the possibility to add new files.
• New files are build from templates that can be edited and new templates could be added. It can be useful if you structure well your project so the main files would follow the same pattern.

Support and documentation
An user guide is available for download on Maguma's website. Also a CHM file is integrated with the editor along with the other help files mentioned above. Maguma also implemented a forum and a wiki on their website where you can ask for support.

Final words
Overall I'm impressed with the look and feeling, and the features that make the difference between a simple editor and an integrated development environment. I didn't really find something that I disliked and I didn't miss any functionality. Although it offers complex functionalities the GUI interface is friendly and intuitive. Coding with Maguma is faster and easier. It is a Highly recommended product, one of the best in its class.