PHP Live Server

POWERED BY ARK PLATFORMS

The missing link for PHP development in VS Code.

PHP Live Server transforms your VS Code into a powerful PHP development environment. Inspired by the legendary "Live Server" extension for HTML, this tool brings the same ease of use and instant feedback to your PHP projects.

No Apache? No XAMPP? No problem. We use the built-in PHP server to give you a lightweight, zero-config experience.

🌟 Key Features

🚀 One-Click "Go Live"

Start your server specifically for your current workspace with a single click. No terminal commands, no configuration files. Just click the $(radio-tower) Live Server button in your status bar.

⚡ Instant Hot Reload

Say goodbye to the F5 key. Whether you're editing .php, .html, or .css files, the preview window automatically refreshes the moment you save, keeping your flow uninterrupted.

🌐 Full Workspace Support

Unlike other simple previewers, this extension serves your entire workspace root. This means:

• Relative links work (e.g., <a href="about.php">).
• Images and assets load correctly.
• You can navigate your whole site within the preview.

🐘 Native PHP Power

Utilizes the robust php -S built-in web server. This ensures that your code runs in a real PHP environment, not a simulation.

� Smart Port Management

Automatically finds an available port on your machine (e.g., localhost:54321) to avoid conflicts with your other running services.

🛠️ Requirements

• PHP Installed: You must have PHP installed on your system and added to your PATH.
  • Mac: Usually installed by default, or install via Homebrew (brew install php).
  • Windows: Install via XAMPP or download the PHP binaries and add them to your environment variables.
  • Test it: Open a terminal and run php -v.

📖 How to Use

1. Open Project: Open your project folder in VS Code.
2. Start Server:
   • Look at the bottom-right status bar for the $(radio-tower) Live Server button (Green icon).
   • Click it!
3. Preview:
   • A new "Live Server Preview" tab will open instantly.
   • The server URL will be printed in the output console if you want to open it in Chrome/Firefox.
4. Edit: modifying your code and saving (Cmd+S / Ctrl+S) will trigger an instant reload.
5. Stop:
   • The status bar button turns Red $(circle-slash) Stop Server while running.
   • Click it again to shut down the server.

❓ FAQ & Troubleshooting

Q: The "Live Server" button doesn't appear. A: Ensure you have a Folder open in VS Code (File > Open Folder). The extension requires a workspace to serve files correctly.

Q: It says "Could not find a free port". A: This is rare, but if it happens, try stopping other running servers or try again in a few seconds.

Q: Does it support MySQL/Database? A: Yes! Since it uses your system's PHP, if your PHP is configured to talk to MySQL (e.g. via XAMPP or local install), it will work perfectly.

Q: Can I use it for pure HTML projects? A: Absolutely. It serves HTML files just as well as PHP.

📦 POWERED BY ARK PLATFORMS

Developed with ❤️ by the ARK PLATFORMS team. We believe in creating tools that empower developers to build faster and better.

Enjoy your seamless coding experience!