I use phpStorm and Zend debugger and it is ever bit as good as VFP. Step through code, set break points anywhere, see values of variables. One better is I can make code changes as I am stepping through the code.

>I'm not familiar with code igniter, but the problem I see with PHP is that debugging is a pain in the a$$
>
>>Mehachem Bezian has made several presentations to the VFP Philly Group on PHP with Code Igniter.
>>Basically, it looks and works like MVC as Menachim presented it.