PHP — LSP setup

Builtin server: php — intelephense --stdio
Extensions: .php
Install hint: npm install -g intelephense

Install

Intelephense is a Node package, so Node.js (and npm) must be installed first.

macOS: npm install -g intelephense
Linux: npm install -g intelephense
Windows: npm install -g intelephense

Confirm it resolves:

bash

command -v intelephense

Configure

Builtin — usually NO config needed (auto-resolved by extension). Configure only to set priority, init options, override extensions, or disable. Same JSON shape in .codex/lsp-client.json (Codex) AND .opencode/lsp.json (OpenCode/omo):

json

{ "lsp": { "php": { "priority": 100 } } }

For builtin ids in a PROJECT config, command is supplied automatically — only set priority/initialization/extensions/disabled/env. A fully custom (non-builtin) server with its own command must go in the USER config (~/.codex/lsp-client.json).

Initialization options (only if commonly needed)

Intelephense's premium features (rename, find-all-implementations, declaration providers, etc.) require a licence key. Supply it via initialization:

json

{
  "lsp": {
    "php": {
      "initialization": {
        "licenceKey": "YOUR-LICENCE-KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Without a key the server runs fine in free mode.

Alternatives

phpactor (not builtin): phpactor language-server. Pure-PHP, no Node dependency.

Troubleshooting

PATH: intelephense must be on PATH; reopen the shell after a global npm install. If missing, check npm bin -g is on PATH.
No Node: Intelephense fails to start without Node.js. Install Node, then reinstall.
Wrong PHP version inference: set intelephense.environment.phpVersion via initialization to match your project.

Verify

bash

bun ../../scripts/verify-lsp.ts path/to/file.php