PHP framework is the canvas where a developer creates code. Using a high quality PHP framework is essential to creating a clean, stable, and error free site. Coders bask in the rich open source community, piles of documentation, resources galore, and a flexible user interface.
The growing popularity of PHP has led to a variety of MVC platforms to choose from. So which one is the best for your project? The question merits a deeper exploration of PHP frameworks. While there are many out there, we will dive into the following four: Zend, CodeIgniter, CakePHP, and Symfony. On a high-level, each framework has its own strengths and weaknesses. The right decision often comes down to the type of site you want to build, and the scope of the project itself. Project size, timeframe, and PHP skill level are all factors in picking the right framework for your development team.
Let’s take a closer look:
CodeIgniter
One of CodeIgniter’s strengths is speed. It’s great for projects both large and small, and relatively simple to install and adjust. The MVC structure is clean, and easy to understand. Along with speed, the CodeIgniter community is overflowing with documentation, forums, wikis, and tutorials. If you don’t have answers, there are many resources at your disposal.
CodeIgniter is also versatile, professing user-friendly tools that enable coders to build elegant sites without code restrictions seen in other frameworks. This is a double-edged sword with CodeIgniter, as the freedom in coding can lead to inconsistency in code if not done carefully. Overall, CodeIgniter is a solid choice if you need to get a project going quickly.
Symfony
Symfony is a powerhouse for large projects. Highlights include using ORM, a definite asset for working in a database environment. Another interesting feature of Sympfony is the “Bundles” concept, that helps organize code. Symfony has a steep learning curve, but a wonderful community.
Although Symfony is one of the more difficult frameworks to understand, it is also one of the most robust out there. Deciding whether Symfony is the right decision or not often comes down to time, and the size of the project at hand. For a heavy database environment, Symfony is an excellent option.
CakePHP
Like the other frameworks mentioned, CakePHP also has a huge following, along with the “Cake Bakery” where developers can share code with the community. Cake PHP is a great framework choice for simplicity and structure. Cake PHP framework is also PHP4 compatible, making it a great option for site revamps, and makeovers.
With that said, the framework can be unforgiving depending on what you want to accomplish. This can be a plus if consistency is a high concern, but can also pose challenges depending on the situation. Overall, CakePHP is a well-rounded option for small to medium sized projects.
Zend
Like Symfony, Zend framework is also geared towards enterprise development. It could also be considered one of the hardest frameworks to learn. Using Zend requires solid command of PHP. If you’ve used CakePHP or CodeIgniter, you’ll find some similarities, but Zend’s complexity and modularity makes it harder to learn at first.
Like the other frameworks we’ve examined, Zend also has an active community, so answers aren’t far away. Stability, feature integration, and security are all top-notch. This makes Zend a popular choice for developers building large applications.
So which one is right for me?
This is best answered by examining your development team, and the scope of the project you are going to undertake. PHP skill should also be considered when selecting a framework. Large-scale projects will likely require a more robust framework like Zend or Symfony, to handle the workload and ensure consistency. If speed and ease of use is a factor, a lighter framework like CakePHP or CodeIgniter may be the better way to go. While one framework may fit your needs better than another, most of the popular frameworks share a common trait: great documentation and help forums. At the end of the day, picking the right framework is best answered by reflecting on the project itself.
