IDE static analysis for dynamically instantiated classes - php

Question

I'm creating a class from variables (in a controlled environment) like this:
$controller = new $controllerClassName();
But my IDE doesn't know what type of class is. So, I'd like to know if there is a way to identify the class (maybe I could create an interface).
This is what I want to do:
$controller = (InterfaceController) new $controllerClassName();
Edit: I'm using PhpStorm IDE
Solution:
As yivi suggests, I've used PHP-Doc annotations, so now it's working:
$controller = new $controllerClassName();
/** #var MyInterface $controller */
Note that "MyInterface" could be a class or an interface.
Also, I've tried to execute the following code, but it didn't work. It seems that the annotation must be in the same block of the variable:
/**
* #param string $var1
* #param string $var2
* ...
* #var MyInterface $controller
*/
function thisIsAFunction($var1, $var2, ...) {
...
$controller = new $controllerClassName(); // <- Class still unknown
...
}

Answer 1

You don't specify your ide, but in most competent PHP IDEs you can use PHP-DOC annotations to specify type and help with static-analysis.
E.g.:
/** #var SomeClass $someClass */
$someClass->thisCouldBeAutoCompleted();
In your case, since you are instantiating your class dynamically for some reason, you probably should (as you said) use an interface which is implemented by the classes you are liable to instantiate, or an parent class for the family.
So maybe:
$painter = new $painterImplementingClass();
/** #var PaintInterface $painter $painter*/
$painter->line($point1, $point2, $color);
// auto-completion should work for Pencil, Pen, Brush and other
// classes that implement PaintInterface
Or
$vehicle = new $vehicleClass();
/** #var AbstractVehicle $vehicle */
$vehicle->accelerate($acceleration, $time);
// auto-completion and static analysis should work for Car, Bicycle,
// Boat and other classes that extend AbstractVehicle

Answer 2

Perhaps you need to tune your IDE for a little.
Or to make it clear for your IDE you can use namespaces which will point to your new $controllerClassName();
You can read more about namespaces here