Convert Laravel class strings to PHP 5.5 class constants using PhpStorm / Sublime Text / Regex

HowTo.md

How-to

Replace the old class strings 'Illuminate\Foundation\Providers\ArtisanServiceProvider', with the new class constants Illuminate\Foundation\Providers\ArtisanServiceProvider::class, with following steps:

1. Open an editor with a Regex search and replace function
2. Search for '((?:Illuminate|App)\\.+)',
3. Replace it with $1::class,

Be careful with that in files with namespaces. It most likely will break your code.

If you have namespace App\Console and a lot class strings like:

    'App\Console\Command1',
    'App\Console\Command2',
    'App\Console\Command3',

You can use following search term: '(?:Illuminate|App\\Console\\)(.+)', with the normal replace term: $1::class,

This will result in:

    'Command1::class',
    'Command2::class',
    'Command3::class',