Macronimous Web Design

Codeigniter is an open source web application framework for building dynamic websites with programming language PHP. Its main aim is to facilitate the developers to develop projects much faster than writing code from the scratch. If you are a developer who want to meet the clients’ deadline and tired of tediously large and painstakingly undocumented frameworks, Codeigniter is the way to go. When compared to other PHP frameworks, Codeigniter is often distinguished for its speed.

CodeIgniter

Now is the real time to know about the power of Codeigniter. So ignite yourself and initiate reading to know why you want to choose Codeigniter. It will suit if:

• You require a framework which can be set up very quickly and efficiently.
• You need an outstanding performance.
• You are a developer who needs methodical and clear documentation.
• You need a framework that does not call for sticking on to restrictive coding rules.
• You want a framework that needs nearly zero configuration.
• You need a framework which is compatible with many environments

Some of our developers always prefer to use  CodeIgniter, write me if you want to see some samples and know why they used CodeIgniter. If you want to start using CodeIgniter start right here at: http://codeigniter.com/

3. Frameworks we like: 2. CakePHP and why?

2. PHP Frameworks we like 1. Zend and why?

1. PHP Frameworks we like

Symfony a web application written in PHP as per the Model-View-Controller (MVC) standards launched by Sensio Labs during 2005. It is aimed to give developers full authority over the configuration. Symfony also looks to up the tempo of creation and maintenance of web applications and to reduce the recurring coding tasks. More or less a whole lot from the directory structure to foreign libraries could be customized.

The symfony templating component is a flexible layer on top of PHP which provides you simple yet influential features that covers most familiar templating needs. One of the objectives of symfony templating component is to be as fast as possible. It comes as a tool which is very easy to use with just a single archive to download and that’s it, you are ready to be on the go.

You might ask me the next question, what is the exact need for any framework in PHP? PHP was supposed to be meant as a fast web based programming language. The ever escalating popularity of Open Source Technology today has given away to the position of PHP in web community.

Given this condition why do you need a Symfony? Why a framework in the first place? Let us see how the Symfony framework is going to benefit the customer and as well as the developer.

Benefits of Symfony Framework for Customers

• Released under MIT open source license, the Symfony framework comes as free software and you can use it for any commercial purposes.
• Symfony Framework is independent of database due to the ORM layer “Propel” or “Doctrine”.
• Use of tested code and also less lines of code which always results in less chance of bugs and also it will minimize your cost.
• Web applications are very easy to modify later on because of the clear Model View Controller (MVC) structure that separates application into separated layers.
• Swift developments of a custom-made website build on proven methods and principles.

Benefits of Symfony Framework for Developers

• All codes are object oriented and entirely in PHP5.
• You will gain plenty of time in the overall development process and get improved maintainable and testable code.
• Very appropriate for development methodologies like XP.
• Advanced cache system which includes file cache, apc cache, mem cache and few others.
• Offers tools to make use of every useful best-practice accessible on the web today.

Initially when I came across this Symfony software, found it really overwhelming and appeared a big step. But the structure of the framework and also because of the consistency of Application Programming Interface (API), the documentation provided was really wonderful.

I must admit that ever since we started using Symfony, we haven’t looked back.

3. Frameworks we like: 2. CakePHP and why?

2. PHP Frameworks we like 1. Zend and why?

1. PHP Frameworks we like

Another set of developers liked CakePHP and they prefer to stay with this solid web app. CakePHP is one of the most well known frameworks for PHP development. CakePHP considerably decreases development costs and also helps you as developers write very less code. This blog will walk you through the Cake framework and its hot features which caught my eye at the first sight of it.

As you know, CakePHP is an open source development framework for developing, maintaining and deploying web applications.  It is designed using Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural paradigm. This renowned design pattern provides you with an organized framework that enables to develop a complete web application at all the levels. CakePHP is released under MIT license.

There are few basic features:

• Cool Application Scaffolding – a way to staging the development
• Compatible with PHP 4 and PHP 5
• Easy and simple to understand
• Comfortable for both seasoned programmer as well as a beginner
• Aids HTML, Forms, JavaScript, XML, RSS and more
• Simple yet widespread validation of model data
• Code Generation through Bake for automatic code generation

There are more specific features which will make you take a look at:

1. Flexible caching to speed up your application
2. HTTP Authentication through Security Component
3. Powerful flexible data validation features
4. Use of Ajax will be a cakewalk
5. Full console environment supporting multi tasks
6. Router for mapping URL’s (friendly URLs)

Well, it’s not that often you get something which is so easier for the user to interface with the database. The above mentioned features are only a part of the wonderful framework. You can actually know about CakePHP and enjoy its features once you get going.

Next: Frame works we like 3. Symfony, and why?

Our developers first choice was Zend, reasons?  Zend Framework is an uncomplicated, straight forward, open source software framework for PHP 5. Its flexible design allows you to build interactive web applications and services with ease. One of the major highlight is the Model-View-Controller (MVC), which makes the code reusable and trouble-free to maintain.

MVC is nothing but an architectural blueprint used by software engineering. As a developer you would wish to separate data and user interface. This enables you as a developer to make changes to user interface without disturbing data handling and rearrange data without making any changes to the UI.

There were few positives which I came across and would like to share it with you:

• Easy to deploy and simple maintenance.
• You don’t have to make use of the entire package, instead pick and choose bits, and plug it together to get a complete product to suit your requirements.
• It supports your higher yet simple solutions in developing PHP 5 web applications for an international audience.
• Zend Framework is completely object oriented and very easy to enlarge and improve.
• Configuration files are not essential for up and running.

All in all, if you’re looking for a “face-lift” to PHP, Zend Framework provides you with powerful solutions for building a safe and robust website.

Next: Frameworks we like: 2. CakePHP>>

Developers need to complete the project in time. The client quickly need a stable site or web application which is easy to maintain. This two reasons drive the concept of web application development framework. When the third reason, “the cost”  intrudes, there comes Opensource and PHP frameworks to meet everyones desire.

While many PHP developers reuse and code smartly, some developers code the same smarter with PHP frameworks. Frameworks help those smarter guys to complete a web project effectively and help them to manage the same easily.  Macronimous encourages programmers to work smarter and thats the reason why we use PHP Frameworks.

In these series of blogs, we will let you know the four solid Frameworks in PHP that helps our programmers and the site owners to ‘develop-own solutions effectively’.

I recommend you to make  quick visits to these previous blogs: Know more about PHP frameworks, Use frameworks – Cut down your web Development cost! before you read these series.

Next: PHP Frameworks we like 1. Zend>>

Cost cutting! – This is something everyone always appreciates, particularly during this slowdown. People want to spend small or no money, however things need to keep going! You need to cut down the development time, so you can save money, execute more projects and manage to reduce the cost of development. This is the time to indentify the ways to reach low cost solutions to customers.

Web development framework to open source developers are not new. There are many Frameworks are available for PHP, Python, Ruby and Java developers. With Frameworks, you get a project skleton, a structure and Libraries which you need to start. Moreover the structure forces you to keep the design and development seperated with MVC. MVC Stands for Model View Controller.

Choossing a Framework is based on the requirments, and the customer. There are simple to complex. I beleive every web development firm should invest time on evaluating few Frameworks in various technology (or atleast in PHP) to provide quick and low cost solutions to the customer. A single Framework may not allow you to fullfil all the features of various web development projects.

There are few popular frameworks widely adopted by developers, for Python there is Django and Pylons, Struts and Cocoon for Java, Ruby on Rails for Ruby, Several for PHP (Zend, Codeigniter, CakePHP etc) – See a very good comparions here.

While we use and recommed few like Codeigniter, CakePHP and Struts, Its better you try, evaluate and get insight on more than one Framework. This will help you/your developers to recommed the right framwork for the requirments and quick completion of the project. Please note reuablity and MVC are the prime factors for using Framworks, But indentifying the right framework which will meet your specification is even more important.

As a developer, you should be able to accomodate more projects if you reduce the development time. My team says you can save around 30%-40% of development time, this should be real good news to you and your clients, right?