Question 1

How does the PHPCS standards composer installer plugin work?

Accepted Answer

It scans all installed Composer packages for those with type `phpcodesniffer-standard`, detects PHP_CodeSniffer rulesets within them, and automatically configures the `installed_paths` option in PHP_CodeSniffer. This happens during Composer events like install or update, making standards available without manual intervention.

Question 2

dealerdirect/phpcodesniffer-composer-installer vs manual PHP_CodeSniffer setup: which should I use?

Accepted Answer

This plugin automates the entire process, saving time and reducing errors, especially when managing multiple standards. Manual setup is better if you need full control over configuration or are in environments where Composer plugins aren't allowed. For most teams using Composer, the plugin is the efficient choice.

Question 3

How to grant permission for this plugin in Composer 2.2?

Accepted Answer

Run `composer config allow-plugins.dealerdirect/phpcodesniffer-composer-installer true` in your project directory. This adds the necessary setting to your `composer.json` to allow the plugin to execute, as Composer 2.2+ requires explicit permission for security reasons.

Question 4

How to integrate this plugin into a CI/CD pipeline?

Accepted Answer

Add a script in your `composer.json` that calls `Plugin::run`, then reference it in other scripts like `post-install-cmd`. This ensures coding standards are registered automatically during CI runs, as detailed in the README's script examples for development and CI environments.

Question 5

What if PHPCS standards aren't showing up after installation?

Accepted Answer

First, verify that Composer plugins are allowed with the correct permission. Check that dependent packages have the `phpcodesniffer-standard` type and aren't deeper than the default search depth. You can also call the plugin directly via `composer run-script` to debug, as suggested in the README.

Question 6

Is this plugin compatible with PHP 8 and Composer 2?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it supports PHP 8.x since v0.7.0 and Composer 2.2+ since v0.7.0, with later updates dropping older versions. Always review the compatibility section in the README, as requirements may change with new releases.

PHPCodeSniffer-Composer-Installer

What is PHPCodeSniffer-Composer-Installer?

Overview

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