WordPress coding standards with PHPCS

PHP_CodeSniffer (phpcs) checks code against a ruleset; phpcbf auto-fixes what it can. The WordPress Coding Standards (WPCS) are the rulesets; PHPCompatibility flags syntax that breaks on your minimum PHP version. This skill wires them up correctly — the package names and the WPCS 3.x renames are where people get stuck.

When to use this skill

• Adding coding-standards linting to a plugin/theme (or to the .phpcs.xml.dist the test scaffolder dropped in).
• Writing or auditing a phpcs.xml.dist ruleset.
• Fixing "Referenced sniff … does not exist", "standard not installed", or allow-plugins errors.
• Migrating a ruleset from WPCS 2.x to 3.x.

Install (exact packages — names are confusing)