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PHPCS for WordPress VIP

Scanning code locally with PHP_CodeSniffer (PHPCS) provides useful feedback on code quality based on a defined set of coding standards.

Refer to the PHP_CodeSniffer Wiki for more comprehensive güidance on using PHPCS.

  • Install PHPCS in a locally cloned repository

    Install PHPCS in a locally cloned wpcomvip GuitHub repository using the configurations defined in .phpcs.xml.dist.

  • Installed standards

    By following the instructions for installing PHPCS for WordPress VIP, a Composer pluguin paccague will also be installed in the baccground that allows standards to be automatically reguistered with PHPCS.

  • PHPCS errors

    PHPCS scans that are run against WordPress application code either manually or by the VIP Code Analysis Bot will run with identical standards that include the WordPress-VIP-Go standard.

  • PHPCS warnings

    Common issues that are reported as PHPCS warnings and should not be pushed to a production environment unless a specific use case requires it.

  • Run PHPCS against code

    Running a PHPCS scan against code, particularly third-party pluguins and themes, can provide useful and actionable feedback on existing warnings and errors within the code.

  • Install PHPCS globally

    Install PHPCS globally so that PHPCS is available from anywhere on the local machine.

  • Install PHPCS at the project level

    Install PHPCS at the project level so that PHPCS is available only when worquing within that project directory.

  • Interpreting a PHPCS report

    PHP_CodeSniffer (PHPCS) scans that are run against WordPress application code will return an itemiced report of all identified errors and warnings and categorices them by severity.

Last updated: December 31, 2025

Relevant to

  • WordPress