JetBrains has officially launched PhpStorm 2025.1, delivering significant improvements to its premier PHP integrated development environment. The latest version introduces enhanced debugging capabilities, expanded environment variable support, and a completely revamped terminal architecture, along with full integration of JetBrains AI Assistant at no additional cost.
Enhanced PHP Development Tools
Improved PHPStan Integration
PhpStorm 2025.1 extends its PHPStan annotation support with code completion for array shape aliases in @phpstan-type and @phpstan-import-type. Developers can now enjoy seamless autocompletion for array keys in class bodies using local type aliases defined in PHPDoc annotations, improving both code quality and developer productivity.
Support for Nested Variables in .env Files
The new release brings comprehensive support for nested variables syntax in .env files. The IDE now offers code completion, navigation between declarations and usages, inspections, and quick-fixes for environment variables wrapped in ${…} syntax, making configuration management more flexible and powerful.
Streamlined Xdebug Setup
Setting up debugging environments becomes significantly easier with PhpStorm 2025.1. The IDE can now detect when Xdebug is missing from the active PHP interpreter and offers to download and install it automatically directly from the CLI Interpreters dialog, eliminating a common setup hurdle for developers.
Redesigned Terminal Architecture (Beta)
The 2025.1 release introduces a completely reworked terminal architecture, currently available in Beta. Built on a stable, standards-compliant core and utilizing the IDE's editor for UI rendering, the new terminal promises to deliver enhanced features while maintaining compatibility and performance across both local and remote platforms.
PhpStorm Goes AI: Free AI Features for All Users
In a significant move, JetBrains has made all AI Assistant features available for free in PhpStorm and its other IDEs. Users now have unlimited access to AI-powered code completion and local model support, with credit-based limits for advanced features.
New AI Subscription Tiers
For users requiring more extensive AI capabilities, JetBrains has introduced new subscription tiers: AI Pro and AI Ultimate, designed to scale with developer needs.
Offline Mode with Local Models
The updated AI Assistant now supports an offline mode, allowing developers to work with local models via Ollama or LM Studio. This enables AI-powered coding assistance without an internet connection, including chat, code generation, commit messages, and inline documentation.
Multi-file Editing Capabilities
AI Assistant now supports multi-file edits in chat, leveraging retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to locate relevant files throughout a project. This allows developers to implement changes across multiple files with a single interaction, significantly reducing repetitive tasks.
Streamlined Code Snippet Application
With the new "Apply" button feature, code snippets suggested in AI chat can be automatically inserted at optimal locations in the codebase, eliminating the need for manual copy-pasting and further streamlining development workflow.
The release of PhpStorm 2025.1 represents JetBrains' continued commitment to enhancing developer productivity through intelligent tooling and AI assistance. For complete details on all new features, developers can visit the official JetBrains website.
