PHP Tools for Visual Studio Code – Version 1.59#

We’re excited to announce the release of PHP Tools for Visual Studio Code version 1.59! This update delivers a wide range of improvements and new features — from enhanced Laravel support, powerful code actions, and improved IntelliSense, to diagnostics and formatting refinements.

Let’s take a look at what’s new:

🧠 Smarter Laravel IntelliSense#

Laravel developers are in for a treat! The IDE now provides deeper insight into common Laravel patterns:

• Livewire computed properties are now recognized.
• Eloquent relationships support generic return types (e.g., HasOne<T>), so the IDE can infer types of dynamic properties.
• Blade templates get better $this type completion when tied to a component class.
• Completion of attributes from casts() and $casts is more accurate.
• .php language translation files are processed – functions like trans() or Blade’s @lang can now navigate and complete translation keys.
• Fixes for Blade directives such as @error and duplicated @ symbols in completions.

• Translation IDs completion is improved and provides texts across the packages.

🧠 IntelliSense Enhancements#

Your coding flow just got even better with several key upgrades:

• Extract Method / Extract Constant code actions are now available to refactor code with a click.
• Support for Composer IntelliSense out-of-the-box, even when composer.phar is not part of the workspace.
• Improved navigation through constructs like new self, new static, and new parent.
• Accurate recognition of callable-strings and PHPDoc annotations, including .phpstorm.meta.php.
• Seamless handling of trait method usage and complex type inference.

🛠️ New: Organize Imports#

Keep your code tidy with the new Organize Use Statements feature. You can now sort your use statements:

• Alphabetically, or
• By length

This can be configured via your settings.json or .editorconfig file (ij_php_import_sorting). Sorting can be triggered manually, on save, or automatically via code actions. Read more here →

🔧 Formatting Tweaks#

Formatting has been fine-tuned for readability and consistency:

• Prevented foreach from collapsing into a single line.
• Fixed new line placement for single-line property hooks.
• Resolved issues with block comments mixing tabs and spaces.
• Added setting to configure spacing before unary ! (#874).
• Fixed formatting for intersection types (#2309).

🧪 Diagnostics Improvements#

We've made diagnostics smarter and quieter — reducing false warnings and improving analysis:

• More accurate reporting for unimplemented abstract methods and properties (#870).
• Better type inference for numeric operations and class references.
• Blade and global $this usage are no longer flagged when appropriately annotated.

⚙️ New Settings#

Take control with new customization options:

• php.files.exclude: exclude files from language indexing, while keeping them in Explorer.
• php.navigation.referencesScope: configure strictness of "Find References".
• phpTools.parallelismLimit: limit background threads for indexing and parsing.

🚨 Breaking Change Notice#

HTML auto-update tags behavior has changed: it now respects VS Code’s "editor.linkedEditing" setting. Be sure to adjust your preferences if needed. Learn more.

🐛 Fixes and Stability#

• Language server stability improvements (e.g., polyfill packages crash fix #873).
• Performance optimizations across the board.
• Fix for trait members with changed visibility (#854).
• Parsing and Blade template improvements.

Thank you for using PHP Tools for Visual Studio Code! Your feedback helps us continue making the best possible experience for PHP development in VS Code. 🚀

Happy coding!
— The DEVSENSE Team