Cpanel PHP code checker

Hello, I am using cPanel code editor to write php scripts. If there is an error in the file, often there is no error log generated. I was having a difficult time with this, until I found a nice terminal command 'php -l <filename>'. This has caught every error so far.

However, to use this I have to log into my account using Putty, and if the file has '.inc' extension, it won't show in a directory listing. I have to first change the extension to .php from cPanel.

Is there something equivalent to 'php -l <filename>' that I could use from cPanel? Maybe an app I could install or turn on?

Thanks!

Shared hosting account info:

Code:

grep '' /etc/redhat-release /usr/local/cpanel/version /var/cpanel/envtype ; grep CPANEL= /etc/cpupdate.conf ; httpd -v ; php -v ; mysql -V

grep: /etc/redhat-release: No such file or directory
/usr/local/cpanel/version:11.48.4.8
/var/cpanel/envtype:standard
grep: /etc/cpupdate.conf: No such file or directory
-jailshell: httpd: command not found
PHP 5.4.45 (cli) (built: Oct  5 2015 15:35:12)
Copyright (c) 1997-2014 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.4.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2014 Zend Technologies
  with the ionCube PHP Loader v4.7.4, Copyright (c) 2002-2014, by ionCube Ltd., and
  with Zend Guard Loader v3.3, Copyright (c) 1998-2013, by Zend Technologies
mysql  Ver 14.14 Distrib 5.5.42-37.1, for Linux (x86_64) using readline 5.1

 

Thanks kernow, ls -lah works. I was using ls -al.

I read somewhere that, for security reasons, there is a server setting that will not allow certain files to be listed (only remotely?). I did not feel like trying to change this setting, however ls -lah is showing all the files. Great!

I'm logging in using Windows xp. I do have a small Linux computer that I could try logging in with. Would there be any advantages of logging in with a Linux computer?

Edit: Just realized that asking a Linux user if there are advantages over Windows is probably an insult! Apologies, didn't mean it that way

 

@cPanelMichael, thanks for your reply. I will try and learn a bit about php error logging before I ask them to do anything, just in case this is a 'beware what you ask for' case .

For now logging in with Putty, and using 'php -l' is working great, thanks to kernow pointing out how to list hidden files with the 'ls -alh' command. Now it occurred to me that access to a terminal window, from cPanel, would be very handy. Could this be added under the 'advanced' tab?

@kernow
When xp was phased out, I bought a small single board Linux computer to learn about Linux. It has a 1Ghz dual core A20, 1GB ram and I added a hard dive. If it has a multitasking limit, I have not reached it yet. The processor only has a passive 3/4 x 3/4" heat sink. At 100% load, it's barely warm to the touch. I can't imagine what a modern Linux laptop would be able to do, and it's very tempting to look into it.