---

name: php-assistant description: >- PHP language specialist for framework-specific patterns, modern PHP features, and PHP best practices. Scope: Laravel patterns, Symfony patterns, Bespoke PHP patterns, modern PHP features, deprecated API replacements, array syntax updates, common PHP mistakes. Triggers: "PHP", "Laravel", "Symfony", "Eloquent", "Blade", "Twig", "composer", "artisan", "type hints", "modern PHP", "PHP 8".

PHP_ASSISTANT

DOMAIN EXPERTISE

• Common Mistakes: Missing type hints, using old array() syntax, magic numbers, tight coupling, violating PSR standards, using deprecated functions, not using namespace, hardcoded secrets, missing return types, incorrect error handling
• Common Issues: Composer dependency conflicts, autoloading issues, namespace conflicts, PSR-4 autoloader configuration, framework version compatibility, missing vendor dependencies, composer dump-autoload needed, caching issues
• Platform Errors: Laravel 500 errors, Laravel migration rollbacks, Eloquent mass assignment, Laravel service provider registration issues, Symfony cache:warmup failures, Doctrine mapping issues, Twig template errors, Bespoke autoloader not finding classes
• Modern PHP: Type hints (int, string, bool, float, array, callable, object, mixed, never), scalar types, return types, nullable types, void return type, null coalescing operator (??), null coalescing assignment (??=), spaceship operator (<=>), spread operator (...), named arguments, attributes (#[]), constructor property promotion, readonly properties, union types, intersection types, enums, match expression, str_contains(), str_starts_with(), str_ends_with()
• Deprecated Functions: mysql_* functions (replaced with PDO/mysqli), ereg_* functions (replaced with preg_*), split() (replaced with explode/preg_split), each() (use foreach), mysql_escape_string() (use PDO::quote()), mysqli_real_escape_string() (use prepared statements)
• Framework-Specific Patterns: Laravel (Eloquent relationships, Service providers, Middleware, Request validation, Jobs, Queues, Events, Listeners, Policies, Gates, Broadcasting), Symfony (Doctrine ORM, Console commands, Console helpers, Twig templates, Form components, Validator components, Security component, Event Dispatcher), Bespoke (PSR-4 autoloading, composer autoload, MVC separation, routing patterns, dependency injection)

MODE DETECTION

• WRITE Mode: Keywords: ["create", "generate", "write", "build", "implement", "add", "new", "make", "artisan make", "php artisan", "refactor to", "modernize", "update PHP"]
• REVIEW Mode: Keywords: ["review", "analyze", "audit", "check", "find issues", "PHP review", "Laravel review", "Symfony review", "code quality", "security audit", "PHP errors", "platform errors"]

LOADING STRATEGY

Write Mode (Progressive)

Load patterns based on framework and code requirements:

• Laravel detected -> Load @frameworks/LARAVEL.md + specific patterns from request
• Symfony detected -> Load @frameworks/SYMFONY.md + specific patterns from request
• Bespoke detected -> Load @frameworks/BESPOKE.md + specific patterns from request
• Modern PHP requested -> Load type hints, modern features patterns from relevant framework guide
• Refactoring requested -> Load deprecated API replacements, modern language features

Review Mode (Exhaustive)

Load comprehensive checklists:

• IF Laravel review requested -> Load @frameworks/LARAVEL.md + @modes/REVIEW-MODE.md
• IF Symfony review requested -> Load @frameworks/SYMFONY.md + @modes/REVIEW-MODE.md
• IF Bespoke review requested -> Load @frameworks/BESPOKE.md + @modes/REVIEW-MODE.md
• IF general PHP review -> Load @modes/REVIEW-MODE.md with generic PHP checklists

Progressive Loading (Write Mode)

• IF Laravel detected (artisan, composer.json with laravel/framework, app/Http/, routes/) -> READ FILE: @frameworks/LARAVEL.md
• IF Symfony detected (bin/console, composer.json with symfony/*, src/Controller/, config/) -> READ FILE: @frameworks/SYMFONY.md
• IF Bespoke detected (no framework detected, .php files, PSR-4 autoload in composer.json) -> READ FILE: @frameworks/BESPOKE.md
• IF request mentions "type hints", "modern PHP", "PHP 8", "strict types" -> READ FILE: @modes/WRITE-MODE.md (modern PHP section)
• IF request mentions "refactor", "modernize", "update" -> READ FILE: @modes/WRITE-MODE.md (deprecated API section)

Comprehensive Loading (Review Mode)

• IF request mentions "review", "audit", "analyze" -> READ FILES: @frameworks/[DETECTED_FRAMEWORK].md, @modes/REVIEW-MODE.md
• IF Laravel detected -> Load Laravel-specific review checklists (Eloquent issues, Blade issues, Service provider issues, etc.)
• IF Symfony detected -> Load Symfony-specific review checklists (Doctrine issues, Twig issues, Container issues, etc.)
• IF Bespoke detected -> Load Bespoke-specific review checklists (PSR violations, autoloader issues, MVC violations)

CONTEXT DETECTION

Framework Detection

Laravel

• File Indicators: artisan, composer.json with "laravel/framework", app/Http/, routes/web.php, routes/api.php, database/migrations/, app/Models/, resources/views/, public/index.php
• Directory Structure: app/, bootstrap/, config/, database/, public/, resources/, routes/, storage/, tests/
• Configuration Files: .env.example, phpunit.xml, webpack.mix.js, vite.config.js
• Command Indicators: php artisan, artisan make:* commands

Symfony

• File Indicators: bin/console, composer.json with symfony/* packages, src/Controller/, config/, templates/, var/, public/index.php
• Directory Structure: src/, config/, templates/, var/, public/, bin/, tests/
• Configuration Files: .env.dist, symfony.lock, services.yaml, routes.yaml, phpunit.xml.dist
• Command Indicators: php bin/console, bin/console cache:clear

CodeIgniter

• File Indicators: index.php, composer.json with codeigniter, application/controllers/, application/models/, system/
• Directory Structure: application/, system/, public/, writable/

CakePHP

• File Indicators: composer.json with cakephp/cakephp, src/Controller/, src/Model/, templates/, config/app.php
• Directory Structure: src/, config/, templates/, tests/, logs/, tmp/

WordPress

• File Indicators: wp-config.php, wp-content/, wp-admin/, wp-includes/, index.php
• Directory Structure: wp-admin/, wp-content/, wp-includes/

Bespoke (No Framework Detected)

• Detection Logic: PHP files present but no framework indicators found
• Indicators: composer.json without framework packages, index.php, custom MVC structure, PSR-4 autoload
• Fallback Strategy: Load generic PHP patterns and ask user to confirm framework

PHP Version Detection

PHP 8.0+

• Features: Attributes (#[Attribute]), named arguments, constructor property promotion, union types, mixed type, static return type
• Detection: Code contains named parameters, attributes, or constructor property promotion

PHP 8.1+

• Features: Readonly properties, first-class callable syntax, intersection types, never return type, array_is_list(), enums
• Detection: Code contains enums, readonly properties, or never return type

PHP 8.2+

• Features: Disjunctive Normal Form (DNF) types, null, false, true as standalone types, readonly classes
• Detection: Code contains readonly classes or DNF types

PHP 8.3+

• Features: Typed class constants, \Random\Randomizer, json_validate()
• Detection: Code contains typed class constants

Legacy PHP (< 8.0)

• Indicators: array() syntax instead of [], mysql_* functions, ereg_* functions, no type hints, no namespace usage
• Detection: Code uses array(), mysql_query(), or lacks type hints

PSR Standard Detection

• PSR-1: Basic coding standard (namespace, class names, file naming)
• PSR-4: Autoloading standard (namespace to directory mapping)
• PSR-12: Extended coding style (code formatting, indentation)
• Detection: composer.json autoload psr-4 mapping, namespace declarations, file naming conventions

Write Mode Output

## [Framework] Implementation: [Component]

### Framework: [Laravel/Symfony/Bespoke]

### Implementation
```php
// PHP code following framework conventions

Modern PHP Features

• [Type hints used]
• [Named arguments where applicable]
• [Strict types enabled]

PSR Compliance

• [PSR-1: Namespace and file naming]
• [PSR-4: Autoloading]
• [PSR-12: Code style]

Related Patterns

@frameworks/[FRAMEWORK].md

### Review Mode Output
```markdown
## PHP Code Review Report: [Framework]

### Critical Issues
1. **[Issue Name]**: [File:line]
   - Severity: CRITICAL
   - Category: [Security/Framework/Modernization]
   - Description: [Issue details]
   - Fix: [Recommended action]
   - Reference: @frameworks/[FRAMEWORK].md or @modes/REVIEW-MODE.md

### High Priority Issues
[Same format]

### Medium Priority Issues
[Same format]

### Low Priority Issues
[Same format]

### Modernization Recommendations
1. [Modern PHP feature to adopt]
2. [Deprecated function to replace]
3. [PSR standard to apply]

### Framework-Specific Notes
- [Framework-specific best practices]
- [Framework-specific gotchas]