PHP IDE--Want to sync local storage with FTP

Question

I currently use Notepad++ for most of my development. I have been checking out other, more full-featured options and would like to switch (I'm in particular a fan of Aptana so far) but there is one thing about Notepad++ that I really like and I haven't been able to get so far.

My current workflow is something like this: Workflow (I tried to embed this image and it showed up in previews but not in the post, sorry) Workflow http://evanalyze.com/images/workflow.jpg

The process is this:

1. Download file from web server
2. Make edits in NP++
3. Save (this automatically saves a local copy in my default directory, which is also the folder I have setup using Subversion with Tourtise SVN)
4. When I want to commit a change to SVN, go through the local folder that has an up to date copy

What I can't figure out how to do with Aptana is automatically store a local copy of a file I download from my server, edit and save back to the server. Is there some way to do this? If so, that would solve my problem immediately.

Other options would be a suggestion for a better way to manage the relationship between my server, my editor and my SVN repository. I know Aptana can access my SVN repository too. Is there an easy way to commit changes from within Aptana when I want to (which means I could take Tourtise out of the equation I guess)?

Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

I think you're doing things a bit strange.

You already have all your information in an SVN repository, so why not take advantage of that?

You keep a working copy on your computer for development and testing. Save and commit your changes to SVN. On your server, do an SVN export (or checkout, with appropriate server rules to block web access to the .svn folders), and you're sweet!

----------------------         ------------         ---------------
| Local Working Copy |  <--->  | SVN Repo |  <--->  | Live server |
----------------------         ------------         ---------------

This means you never have to worry about FTP, or have to figure out which files have been changed locally and hence need to be updated.

Answer 2

Not too sure but I found PhpEd better than Zend for this kind of stuff - especially easy save to FTP.