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clean-code-javascript vs Clean Code PHP

Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.

clean-code-javascript

Open source · MIT

A guide of clean code principles for writing readable JavaScript, with bad and good examples.

Clean Code PHP

Open source · MIT

A guide of clean code principles with PHP examples, showing bad and good code side by side.

The short answer

Choose clean-code-javascript if you need…

  • Developers who want to improve the readability of their JavaScript code
  • Teams looking for shared review guidelines for code quality
  • Students learning software design principles in JavaScript
  • Developers who already know the basics and want concrete refactoring examples

Choose Clean Code PHP if you need…

  • PHP developers who want to write more readable and maintainable code
  • Students learning object-oriented design principles in PHP
  • Developers reviewing or refactoring an existing PHP codebase
  • Teams looking for shared examples to discuss code quality

Side-by-side

clean-code-javascriptClean Code PHP
TypeLearning resourceLearning resource
PriceFree and open sourceFree and open source
LicenceMITMIT
GitHub stars94.7k12.5k
Setup difficultyBeginnerBeginner
How you get itRead it onlineRead it online
Main languageJavaScriptPHP
Last code update2 years ago2 years ago

What each one is

clean-code-javascript

This is a written guide, adapted from Robert C. Martin's book Clean Code, that explains how to write software in JavaScript that is easier to read, reuse, and change. It is organized by topic such as variables, functions, classes, SOLID, testing, and error handling. Each topic shows a short 'Bad' example and a 'Good' example so readers can compare them. The README says it is a set of guidelines rather than a strict style guide.

Clean Code PHP

This is a written guide, not a program, that applies general clean code ideas from Robert C. Martin's book Clean Code to PHP. Each section shows a short 'bad' example and a clearer 'good' version, covering topics like naming, functions, conditionals, classes and SOLID principles. The author notes it is a set of guidelines rather than a strict style guide.

Best for

clean-code-javascript

  • Developers who want to improve the readability of their JavaScript code
  • Teams looking for shared review guidelines for code quality
  • Students learning software design principles in JavaScript
  • Developers who already know the basics and want concrete refactoring examples

Clean Code PHP

  • PHP developers who want to write more readable and maintainable code
  • Students learning object-oriented design principles in PHP
  • Developers reviewing or refactoring an existing PHP codebase
  • Teams looking for shared examples to discuss code quality

Strengths

clean-code-javascript

  • Concrete Bad and Good code examples for each principle make the advice easy to apply
  • Openly states that the guidelines are not strict rules, which keeps the advice practical
  • Widely referenced, with a long-standing topic list covering variables through comments

Clean Code PHP

  • Concrete bad and good code examples make each principle easy to follow
  • Adapted specifically to PHP rather than being a generic translation
  • The author states the guidelines are not absolute, which encourages judgment over rote rules

Not ideal for

clean-code-javascript

  • People looking for a linter or automatic formatter, since this is a set of written guidelines (the README points to tools like ESLint only in passing)
  • Readers who want strict, universally agreed rules; the README itself says the principles are not all universally agreed upon
  • Beginners who have not yet written much JavaScript, since many examples assume familiarity with the language

Clean Code PHP

  • Readers who want an enforceable linter or automated formatter, since this is only written guidance
  • Developers using PHP 5, because the examples assume PHP 7.1 or newer
  • Readers looking for a complete framework or library to install

Trade-offs

clean-code-javascript

  • It is a reading guide, not software, so there is nothing to install or run
  • The README is truncated in this analysis, so later sections such as classes, SOLID, and testing were not reviewed here
  • Some examples reference libraries like moment, so readers may need to adapt them to their own stack

Clean Code PHP

  • It is a single document, so it does not check or fix your code automatically
  • The README excerpt provided is truncated, so some sections could not be reviewed here
  • Some principles are opinions that experienced developers do not all agree on, as the author acknowledges

Getting started

clean-code-javascript

Clone the repository to read it locally

git clone https://github.com/ryanmcdermott/clean-code-javascript
Step-by-step guide: how to use clean-code-javascript

Clean Code PHP

Clone the repository to read it locally

git clone https://github.com/piotrplenik/clean-code-php
Step-by-step guide: how to use Clean Code PHP

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between clean-code-javascript and Clean Code PHP?

clean-code-javascript: A guide of clean code principles for writing readable JavaScript, with bad and good examples. Clean Code PHP: A guide of clean code principles with PHP examples, showing bad and good code side by side. clean-code-javascript suits developers who want to improve the readability of their javascript code, while Clean Code PHP suits php developers who want to write more readable and maintainable code.

Are clean-code-javascript and Clean Code PHP free?

clean-code-javascript: Free and open source. Clean Code PHP: Free and open source.

Is clean-code-javascript or Clean Code PHP more popular?

clean-code-javascript has more GitHub stars (94.7k) than Clean Code PHP (12.5k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.

Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.