PHPStan Memory Limit Error In Pre-Push Hook: A Fix

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PHPStan Crashes: Fixing Memory Limit Errors in Your Pre-Push Hook

Hey guys, have you ever been in the middle of a coding session, ready to push your changes, and BAM! PHPStan throws a memory limit error? It's a real buzzkill, blocking those all-important pushes and PR updates. Let's dive into this frustrating issue, figure out why it's happening, and, most importantly, how to fix it. We'll explore the problem, its impact, the environment where it occurs, and, of course, the solutions. Get ready to banish those memory limit errors and get back to coding!

The Problem: PHPStan and the Memory Limit

So, what's the deal? You're using PHPStan (a fantastic tool, by the way) to keep your code squeaky clean, and right before you push your changes, it crashes. The error message is pretty clear: "Child process error: PHPStan process crashed because it reached the configured PHP memory limit: 128M." Yep, your PHPStan analysis is hitting a wall because it's running out of memory. This can be super annoying, especially when you're on a roll, because it completely blocks your ability to push your code to the remote repository, which stops your ability to update pull requests (PRs). Now, let's explore why this is happening and what we can do to fix it. It is also important to remember that PHPStan is essential for maintaining code quality, so it’s something you definitely want to keep working smoothly!

The Impact: The main impact is that it stops you from pushing your code. You can't update your pull requests, and that can slow down your entire workflow. It's like hitting a roadblock right before the finish line.

Diving into the Environment

Let's get down to the nitty-gritty and check out the environment where this is happening. Understanding this will help us find the best solution. The important things to know are:

  • PHPStan version: Knowing the exact version of PHPStan you're using helps ensure the fix works. Check your composer.lock file.
  • PHP version: In this case, it's PHP 8.4 (or whatever version you are running). PHP version can sometimes affect memory usage.
  • Context: This is happening in a local pre-push hook. This is a script that runs before you push your code, to check for common issues. This is your first line of defense! The specific file is scripts/preflight.sh.
  • Files Analyzed: It's analyzing 51 files. This gives us an idea of the codebase size, and how much memory the analysis needs. The more files you have, the more memory PHPStan will need.

Root Cause: Why is PHPStan Running Out of Memory?

Here’s the lowdown: the default memory limit in PHP, often set to 128MB, is simply not enough for PHPStan to analyze your codebase. As your project grows, so does the memory needed for static analysis. PHPStan needs a certain amount of memory to do its job, and when it runs out, boom! It crashes. It's like trying to fit a giant pizza into a tiny box; it's just not going to happen. This default setting is the main reason for the error.

Proposed Solutions: How to Solve the Memory Limit Problem

Alright, let’s get into the good stuff: how to fix this! We've got a few options, each with its own pros and cons.

Option 1: Update phpstan.neon (RECOMMENDED)

This is generally the best approach. Inside your phpstan.neon file (or wherever your PHPStan configuration lives), you can specify a memoryLimit. This tells PHPStan how much memory it can use. Here’s how:

parameters:
    # Increase memory limit for large codebase
    # 256M should be sufficient for current size
    # Can be increased further if needed
    memoryLimit: 256M
  • Why it's great: It's clean, it's specific to PHPStan, and it keeps your settings organized.
  • How to do it: Just add this to your phpstan.neon file, adjusting the memoryLimit as needed. 256M is usually a good starting point, but you can increase it if you have a massive codebase.
  • Why is it the best? Because it is explicit. You are telling PHPStan to use more memory specifically. This method is also version-controlled, so anyone working on the project will use the correct settings automatically.

Option 2: Update preflight.sh

This method involves tweaking your pre-push hook script (preflight.sh). You can set the memory limit directly when running PHPStan.

# Before PHPStan execution
php -d memory_limit=256M ./vendor/bin/phpstan analyse
  • How it works: You're using the -d flag to set the memory_limit for that specific command.
  • Why it's good: It's a quick fix that doesn't require modifying your php.ini file. This is also a good solution, but not as good as the recommended option.
  • Considerations: This only affects the pre-push hook, which might be okay. It is also version-controlled, so anyone working on the project will use the correct settings automatically.

Option 3: Update php.ini (NOT RECOMMENDED)

This involves changing your global PHP configuration (php.ini).

  • How it works: You'd find your php.ini file and change the memory_limit setting there.
  • Why it's not recommended: This affects all PHP processes on your system, which can have unintended consequences. It's also not portable; your settings won't automatically apply to other developers’ machines.
  • Stay away: It's better to avoid this approach if possible because it affects the whole system.

Acceptance Criteria: How to Know You've Fixed It

How do you know you've successfully squashed this bug? Here's what to look for:

  • PHPStan completes analysis without memory errors: The primary goal! No more crashes.
  • Pre-push hook passes on your local machine: You should be able to push your code without issues.
  • Solution works in the CI environment: Your CI system should also be able to run PHPStan without memory errors. Your CI environment may need different settings, but you will need to apply one of the solutions.
  • Memory limit is documented: Whether it's in phpstan.neon or preflight.sh, make sure the memory limit setting is clear.
  • Tested with the full codebase: Ensure your fix works by running it on all your files.

Priority: Why This Matters (HIGH)

This is a HIGH priority issue. Why? Because it blocks your ability to push code. When developers can't push, progress grinds to a halt. It affects everyone involved in the project, so it is important to fix this issue as quickly as possible. When you fix the problem, it prevents workflow interruptions, keeps everyone productive, and ensures that code quality checks continue to run smoothly.

Labels: Tagging the Issue

The labels associated with this issue include:

  • bug: This is a software bug.
  • infrastructure: This relates to the setup and configuration of your development environment.
  • quality-gates: This means it impacts your checks for code quality.

Related Issues: Where This Came From

  • Discovered during PR #114 (domain enforcement sync): This issue came up while working on PR #114.
  • Pre-existing issue: It's not a new problem introduced by recent changes.

In conclusion, fixing the PHPStan memory limit error is crucial for maintaining a smooth and efficient development workflow. By increasing the memory limit, either through the phpstan.neon file or the pre-push hook script, you can prevent crashes and ensure that your code quality checks run without a hitch. Remember to document your solution, test it thoroughly, and prioritize this fix to keep your team productive. Happy coding, guys!