rector-developer

To write a custom Rector rule, create a rule class implementing the refactor() method to traverse the PHP-Parser AST and return modified nodes. You must also define getRuleDefinition() and getNodeTypes() to specify target nodes.

A Rector rule automates PHP refactoring by defining transformation logic that traverses the PHP-Parser AST to safely modify code structures like function calls or method names across a codebase without manual edits.

You register a Rector rule in the rector.php configuration file to activate it during code transformation. Proper registration ensures the rule is loaded and executed alongside other project rules.

Yes, you can configure Rector rules for specific PHP versions by implementing the MinPhpVersionInterface. This gates the rule so it only applies when the target environment meets the minimum PHP version requirement.

You pass configuration options to a Rector rule by implementing the ConfigurableRectorInterface. This allows the rule to accept parameters during registration in rector.php for dynamic code transformations.

Before building Rector rules, you need to understand Rector's architecture, PHP-Parser node types, and PHPStan type analysis. This knowledge is required to correctly traverse the AST and implement safe code transformation logic.