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VS Code for Laravel
Assemble a governed VS Code workspace for Laravel PHP applications.
Baseline before framework sugar
Establish PHP language support, PHP Debug, Composer scripts, and Git. Add Laravel-specific extensions only after the baseline works. Record every required extension ID.
Artisan and Sail/Docker
Run Artisan through the same environment that serves the app (local PHP, Sail, or Compose). Document the approved command prefix so developers do not mix host PHP with container PHP casually.
Xdebug for HTTP and queues
Configure launch.json for web requests and CLI workers separately. Path mappings must match the container or remote filesystem layout.
What VS Code will not invent
VS Code will not replace framework knowledge. Keep route/service discovery habits, tests, and .env discipline in the repository documentation.
Verification and maintenance
VS Code for Laravel was reviewed for this seed on 2026-08-09. Confirm current releases and extension publishers through Laravel Documentation before adopting recommendations.
Related reading
- Best PHP IDEs and Editors in 2026 A requirements-led shortlist of current PHP IDEs and editors, with conservative feature claims.
- Best Free PHP IDEs and Editors Compare genuinely useful no-cost PHP environments without treating plugin-based support as built in.
- PHP IDEs for Windows Current Windows PHP choices for native, WSL, Docker, and remote workflows.
- PHP IDEs for Linux Choose a PHP environment for local Linux, containers, SSH servers, and low-resource desktops.
- PHP IDEs for macOS Select a PHP editor on macOS with attention to Apple Silicon, local runtimes, containers, and remote work.