rector/docs/static_reflection_and_autoload.md

Static Reflection and Autoload

Rector is using static reflection to load code without running it since version 0.10. That means your classes are found without composer autoload and without running them. Rector will find them and work with them as you have PSR-4 autoload properly setup. This comes very useful in legacy projects or projects with custom autoload.

Do you want to know more about it? Continue here:

• From Doctrine Annotations Parser to Static Reflection
• Legacy Refactoring made Easy with Static Reflection
• Zero Config Analysis with Static Reflection - from PHPStan

// rector.php

use Rector\Core\Configuration\Option;
use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Loader\Configurator\ContainerConfigurator;

return static function (ContainerConfigurator $containerConfigurator): void {
    $parameters = $containerConfigurator->parameters();

    // Rector is using static reflection to load code without running it - see https://phpstan.org/blog/zero-config-analysis-with-static-reflection
    $parameters->set(Option::AUTOLOAD_PATHS, [
        // discover specific file
        __DIR__ . '/file-with-functions.php',
        // or full directory
        __DIR__ . '/project-without-composer',
    ]);

Include Files

Do you need to include constants, class aliases or custom autoloader? Use BOOTSTRAP_FILES parameter:

// rector.php

use Rector\Core\Configuration\Option;
use Symfony\Component\DependencyInjection\Loader\Configurator\ContainerConfigurator;

return static function (ContainerConfigurator $containerConfigurator): void {
    $parameters = $containerConfigurator->parameters();

    $parameters->set(Option::BOOTSTRAP_FILES, [
        __DIR__ . '/constants.php',
        __DIR__ . '/project/special/autoload.php',
    ]);
};

Listed files will be executed like:

include $filePath;