How To Install PhpStorm on Fedora 43
PhpStorm stands as one of the most powerful integrated development environments (IDEs) for PHP developers, offering intelligent code completion, advanced debugging capabilities, and seamless framework integration. If you’re running Fedora 43 and want to set up a professional PHP development environment, this comprehensive guide will walk you through multiple installation methods to get PhpStorm up and running on your Linux system. Whether you prefer the convenience of Snap packages, the flexibility of JetBrains Toolbox, or the traditional manual installation approach, we’ve got you covered with detailed instructions and troubleshooting tips.
What is PhpStorm?
PhpStorm is a commercial IDE developed by JetBrains specifically designed for PHP development. This feature-rich development environment goes beyond basic code editing, providing developers with intelligent code analysis, refactoring tools, and built-in testing frameworks that significantly enhance productivity.
The IDE includes smart code completion that understands your project structure and suggests contextually relevant code snippets. It supports major PHP frameworks like Laravel, Symfony, CodeIgniter, and WordPress out of the box. Additionally, PhpStorm integrates database tools for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite, allowing you to manage your databases directly within the development environment.
Version control integration with Git, SVN, and Mercurial makes collaboration seamless. The built-in debugger works with both Xdebug and Zend Debugger, enabling you to step through code and identify issues quickly. PhpStorm also supports full-stack development with excellent JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and modern frontend framework capabilities.
Prerequisites and System Requirements
Fedora 43 System Requirements
Before installing PhpStorm, ensure your Fedora 43 system meets the minimum hardware specifications. Your computer should have at least a 2 GHz dual-core processor, though a quad-core processor provides better performance for development work. Fedora 43 supports both x86_64 and ARM64 architectures, giving you flexibility in hardware choices.
RAM is crucial for IDE performance. While Fedora 43 can run on 4 GB RAM, having 8 GB or more is highly recommended when running resource-intensive applications like PhpStorm. Storage-wise, allocate at least 40 GB of SSD space for the operating system and development tools. Modern graphics hardware ensures smooth desktop environment performance, particularly if you’re using GNOME or KDE Plasma.
PhpStorm System Requirements
PhpStorm itself requires 2 GB of free RAM with 8 GB total system memory recommended for optimal performance. The IDE needs approximately 3.5 GB of disk space, though allocating 5 GB ensures room for caches, plugins, and project indexes. A multi-core processor significantly improves indexing speed and overall responsiveness.
The good news is that PhpStorm includes a bundled JetBrains Runtime, so you don’t necessarily need to install Java separately. However, having OpenJDK installed can be beneficial for some development scenarios. You’ll need root or sudo privileges on your Fedora system to complete the installation process.
Preparing Your Fedora 43 System
Start by updating your system packages to ensure compatibility and security. Open your terminal and execute the following commands:
sudo dnf clean all
sudo dnf updateThis process refreshes your package cache and upgrades all installed software to the latest versions available in Fedora repositories. The update might take several minutes depending on your internet connection and the number of packages requiring updates.
Next, check if Java is already installed on your system:
java -versionIf Java isn’t present and you want to install OpenJDK, run:
sudo dnf install java-11-openjdk-develVerify you have sufficient disk space by checking your available storage:
df -h /Ensure you have at least 5-10 GB of free space on your root partition. This accommodates the IDE installation, caches, and project files.
Installation Method 1: Installing PhpStorm via Snap (Recommended)
About Snap Package Manager
Snap is a universal package management system that simplifies software installation across different Linux distributions. Snap packages are self-contained, bundling all necessary dependencies, which eliminates compatibility issues. They also receive automatic updates, ensuring you always have the latest security patches and features.
For IDEs like PhpStorm, Snap uses “classic confinement,” which allows the application full system access necessary for development tasks. This differs from strictly sandboxed applications but provides the flexibility developers need.
Installation Steps
First, install Snapd on your Fedora 43 system if it’s not already present:
sudo dnf install snapdSnapd is the service that manages Snap packages on your system. After installation, create a symbolic link to enable classic snap support:
sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snapThis symbolic link ensures that classic snaps can access necessary system directories. For the changes to take full effect, either log out and back in, or restart your system. This updates your environment variables and PATH settings.
Now install PhpStorm using the Snap package manager:
sudo snap install phpstorm --classicThe --classic flag is essential because it allows PhpStorm to operate outside the restricted snap sandbox. Without this flag, the IDE would lack necessary permissions to access your project files and system tools.
The installation process downloads approximately 500-600 MB of data. Once complete, verify the installation by checking the version:
snap list phpstormLaunch PhpStorm from your application menu or by typing phpstorm in the terminal. The snap installation automatically creates desktop entries and adds the application to your system PATH.
Installation Method 2: Installing PhpStorm via Toolbox App
JetBrains Toolbox App provides a centralized way to manage all JetBrains IDEs from a single interface. This method is particularly useful if you work with multiple JetBrains products like IntelliJ IDEA, WebStorm, or PyCharm.
Download the Toolbox App from the official JetBrains website. Navigate to your Downloads directory and extract the tarball:
cd ~/Downloads
tar -xzf jetbrains-toolbox-*.tar.gzNavigate into the extracted directory and run the Toolbox executable:
cd jetbrains-toolbox-*/
./jetbrains-toolboxThe Toolbox interface opens, displaying all available JetBrains products. Click on PhpStorm and select “Install.” The Toolbox handles downloading, extracting, and configuring PhpStorm automatically. It also manages updates across all installed JetBrains IDEs, making version management effortless.
Toolbox creates desktop shortcuts automatically and allows you to maintain multiple versions of the same IDE simultaneously. This is invaluable when you need to test plugin compatibility or work on projects requiring different IDE versions.
Installation Method 3: Manual Installation from Tarball (Traditional Method)
Downloading PhpStorm
Visit the official JetBrains website to download the latest PhpStorm tarball for Linux. Alternatively, use wget from the terminal:
cd ~/Downloads
wget -O PhpStorm.tar.gz "https://download.jetbrains.com/webide/PhpStorm-2024.3.tar.gz"Replace the version number with the latest available release. The download is approximately 500-600 MB in size.
Extracting and Installing
Extract the tarball to the /opt directory, which is the conventional location for third-party applications on Linux systems:
sudo tar -xzf PhpStorm.tar.gz -C /optThis creates a directory like /opt/PhpStorm-243.12345/ containing all IDE files. The exact folder name varies based on the version number. Navigate to the installation directory:
cd /opt/PhpStorm-*/Examine the directory structure. The bin folder contains executable scripts, lib holds library files, and plugins stores IDE extensions.
Running PhpStorm
Execute the startup script to launch PhpStorm:
cd bin
./phpstorm.shThe first launch initializes the IDE and presents a configuration wizard. You’ll choose whether to import settings from a previous installation or start fresh. Select your preferred UI theme—light, dark, or high contrast. The wizard also prompts you to activate your license or start a free trial.
Creating a Desktop Entry for Easy Access
Running PhpStorm from the terminal every time becomes tedious quickly. Creating a desktop entry allows you to launch the IDE from your application menu like any other installed application.
PhpStorm includes a convenient built-in desktop entry creator. After launching the IDE, navigate to Tools > Create Desktop Entry from the menu bar. This automatically generates the necessary .desktop file and places it in the correct location.
If you prefer manual creation, create a desktop file in your local applications directory:
nano ~/.local/share/applications/phpstorm.desktopAdd the following content, adjusting paths to match your installation:
[Desktop Entry]
Version=1.0
Type=Application
Name=PhpStorm
Icon=/opt/PhpStorm-*/bin/phpstorm.svg
Exec="/opt/PhpStorm-*/bin/phpstorm.sh" %f
Comment=Lightning-smart PHP IDE
Categories=Development;IDE;
Terminal=false
StartupWMClass=jetbrains-phpstormSave the file and update your desktop database:
update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applicationsPhpStorm now appears in your application launcher. Add it to favorites in GNOME or pin it to your taskbar for quick access.
Post-Installation Configuration
First Launch Setup
The initial PhpStorm startup presents several configuration options. If you’re upgrading from a previous version, the wizard offers to import your existing settings, keymaps, and plugins. Otherwise, select “Do not import settings” to start fresh.
Choose your UI theme based on personal preference. The Darcula theme reduces eye strain during long coding sessions, while the Light theme offers a classic IDE appearance. Configure your keymap—the default layout works well, but you can switch to Emacs, Vim, or Visual Studio bindings if preferred.
The plugin configuration screen appears next. PhpStorm comes with numerous plugins pre-installed. Disable plugins you don’t need to reduce memory usage and improve startup time. Common plugins to consider include Markdown support, database tools, and version control integrations.
Essential Configurations
Configure your PHP interpreter by navigating to File > Settings > PHP. Click the “…” button next to CLI Interpreter and add your system’s PHP installation. Fedora typically installs PHP in /usr/bin/php. PhpStorm detects the version and available extensions automatically.
Set up Composer integration at Settings > PHP > Composer. Point PhpStorm to your Composer executable, usually located at /usr/local/bin/composer or ~/.composer/vendor/bin/composer. This enables dependency management directly within the IDE.
Configure database connections if your projects require database interaction. Navigate to the Database tool window, click the “+” icon, and add connections to MySQL, PostgreSQL, or other database systems. Test the connection to ensure proper configuration.
Version control setup is crucial for collaborative development. Go to Settings > Version Control > Git and verify PhpStorm detected your Git installation. Configure your name and email address for commit messages.
Verifying PhpStorm Installation
Launch PhpStorm from your application menu or terminal to confirm proper installation. The IDE should start without errors and display the welcome screen. Check the version information by navigating to Help > About to ensure you installed the correct release.
Create a test PHP project to verify core functionality. Select File > New Project, choose “PHP Empty Project,” and specify a location. Create a new PHP file and start typing code. PhpStorm should provide syntax highlighting, code completion suggestions, and error detection in real-time.
Test the integrated terminal by opening View > Tool Windows > Terminal. The terminal should open at your project root with your system shell (bash or zsh). Verify you can execute commands without issues.
Check that database tools are accessible through View > Tool Windows > Database. The panel should appear without errors, ready for you to add connections.
Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues
Snap Installation Fails: If sudo snap install phpstorm --classic returns an error, verify that snapd is running properly:
sudo systemctl status snapd
sudo systemctl start snapd
sudo systemctl enable snapdEnsure the symbolic link exists by checking ls -la /snap. If missing, recreate it with sudo ln -s /var/lib/snapd/snap /snap.
PhpStorm Won’t Launch After Manual Installation: This typically indicates permission issues or missing dependencies. Verify the phpstorm.sh script has execute permissions:
chmod +x /opt/PhpStorm-*/bin/phpstorm.shCheck if Java is properly installed and accessible. Although PhpStorm bundles its runtime, system Java conflicts can cause launch failures.
Desktop Entry Not Appearing: After creating a desktop entry manually, your application menu might not immediately reflect the change. Log out and back in to refresh your desktop environment. Alternatively, run:
update-desktop-database ~/.local/share/applicationsFor GNOME users, restart GNOME Shell by pressing Alt+F2, typing r, and pressing Enter.
Debugger Connection Issues: If Xdebug won’t connect, verify your PHP configuration includes proper Xdebug settings. Check that PhpStorm listens on the correct port (default 9003 for Xdebug 3.x) by navigating to Settings > PHP > Debug. Ensure your firewall allows connections on the debug port.
Performance Issues on Lower-Spec Systems: If PhpStorm feels sluggish, reduce memory consumption by disabling unused plugins through Settings > Plugins. Close tool windows you’re not actively using. Adjust the memory heap size by navigating to Help > Change Memory Settings and allocating appropriate RAM based on your system capacity.
Updating PhpStorm on Fedora 43
Snap-Based Updates: Snap packages update automatically in the background. Force an immediate update check with:
sudo snap refresh phpstormList available updates before applying them:
snap refresh --listSnap maintains the previous version temporarily, allowing you to revert if the update causes issues.
Toolbox Updates: JetBrains Toolbox notifies you when updates are available for installed IDEs. Click the update icon next to PhpStorm in the Toolbox interface to download and install the latest version. Toolbox preserves your configuration and allows maintaining multiple versions simultaneously.
Manual Installation Updates: For tarball installations, download the new version and extract it to /opt. Before replacing your old installation, back up your configuration directory located at ~/.config/JetBrains/PhpStorm*/. Extract the new tarball and update your desktop entry to point to the new installation path.
PhpStorm includes built-in update checking. Navigate to Help > Check for Updates to see if newer versions are available. You can also subscribe to EAP (Early Access Program) builds to test cutting-edge features before official releases.
Uninstalling PhpStorm from Fedora 43
Removing Snap Installation: Uninstall PhpStorm installed via Snap with a single command:
sudo snap remove phpstormThis removes the application but preserves your configuration files in ~/snap/phpstorm/. To completely remove all data including configurations:
sudo snap remove --purge phpstormRemoving Manual Installation: For tarball installations, delete the PhpStorm directory from /opt:
sudo rm -rf /opt/PhpStorm-*Remove desktop entries from ~/.local/share/applications/:
rm ~/.local/share/applications/phpstorm.desktopPhpStorm stores configuration, cache, and plugin data in your home directory. Remove these if you want a complete uninstallation:
rm -rf ~/.config/JetBrains/PhpStorm*
rm -rf ~/.local/share/JetBrains/PhpStorm*
rm -rf ~/.cache/JetBrains/PhpStorm*If you plan to reinstall PhpStorm later, consider backing up the .config/JetBrains/PhpStorm* directory to preserve your settings, keymaps, and custom configurations.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed PhpStorm. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing PhpStorm lightweight and smart PHP IDE on your Fedora 43 Linux system. For additional or useful information, we recommend you check the official PhpStorm website.
