Zend Framework - Is it the best that PHP has till date?

In the present times, having a strong presence on the web is mandatory for every business to be successful in their ventures. In the midst of technological revolution, web development has become very important. The role of internet in enhancing the business prospects cannot be undermined. Organizations are now aware of the need to harness the power of the internet by building a strong website that goes a long way in providing the firm with an important mode of communication with customers besides imparting an online identity to the same.

Zend framework stands out as one of the most popular and strong frameworks that PHP provides to its users. It is based on the common design pattern of Model View Controller (MVC). It is an open source framework that is used for developing web applications and services. Often referred to as the best framework that PHP has to offer, Zend comes with a simple as well as a unique structure of its components that is less reliant on one another. Therefore, it has the potential to help developers in making individual use of each component.

The features that are loaded in Zend add another dimension to web development while taking it to the next level. The flexible architecture facilitates building of interactive web services and applications without exerting any extra effort. There are several factors that contribute in making Zend as one of the best frameworks that PHP has to offer till date.

Loosely coupled components

With the loosely coupled components, it becomes easier for the developer to change a particular component without affecting others. The data model, application logic as well as UI are all separated from one another which lead to the components undergoing minor changes when one of them is altered. This proves to be highly beneficial not only during working on the project but also in future.

MVC Components

Each object in its library is entirely object oriented and comply with the E_STRICT set standards. Moreover, owing to the loosely connected or coupled components in the MVC, there is minimal interdependency that leads to easy building of web apps that are customized with the help of the web services of Zend PHP.

Basically, Zend framework has been created for building strong web 2.0 applications and services. Thus, it is capable of providing unparalleled dependability along with excellent security.

Model View Controller framework

The modular Model View Controller framework of Zend helps in separating user interface from business logic. This goes a long way in certifying that Zend stands as the best framework so far with respect to the development of web applications.

Supports various databases

Another stronghold for this framework is that it supports different database systems as well as vendors, such as, Maria DB, MySQL, SQL Server, Post GreSQL, IBM DB2 and SQLite.

High performance

As compared to other frameworks of PHP, Zend offers to its users with a high performance as well as a strong MVC implementation along with a database that is abstract and simple to be used with respect to development of PHP Zend. This makes it easy for web developers to promote the best practices related to PHP community. In this regard, it is important to note that Presentation logic is kept separately from core Application logic which results in simultaneous completion of the application.

Support

A large number of support communities promoting active development as well as hundreds of APIs are associated with the detailed documentation of the same for fulfilling various Functional, Technical and Business requirements.

Vastness

With respect to vastness, Zend is unparalleled. There are 64 components while writing in Zend framework and to add further the number is in steady growth. This makes the framework take the form of a vast and huge library.

Quality

From the perspective of quality, the framework is highly active as it pays much focus to the code’s quality. It, thus, follows the best practices of the industry. It makes adequate use of design patterns that are object oriented. The components in it can be extended and are tested through PHPUnit. Moreover, with the help of a continuous integrating server, it offers the provision for a testing component.

Security

Organizations find the protection of their code easier with the help of the Zend Framework License and the BSD License. The open source framework of PHP leads businesses to have absolute control on their code. Subsequently, this leads to the protection of the right to intellectual property and security of the same.

Zend has, thus, been of sound help to developers across the globe with enough features, security options along with other protective tools in order to meet the requirement of both small as well as large business organizations. With several readymade solutions to offer to the developers, the Zend framework significantly reduces the time consumed in making new developments. You can hire developers from a PHP development company, who can help you build web apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide custom PHP development services. If you would like to hire PHP developer for your web development needs, please contact us Mindfire Solutions

The Pros and Cons of Zend PHP Certification

Zend PHP Certification is done in two phases – Zend PHP Phase I and Phase II. The phase I of the certification course is basically the foundation course that is designed for providing a sound idea of PHP language to the non-technical or non-programming individuals. This particular course guides the aspirants through the fundamentals of PHP with a somehow experiential approach that is pregnant with a number of examples along with several hands-on exercises. As the course comes to an end, the aspirant learns the key essentials that are needed for PHP programming.

The second phase of the certification curriculum on the other hand, is an intermediate-level course that is built upon the programming knowledge that has been acquired throughout the 1^st phase. The 2^nd phase is chiefly consisted of a hands-on approach, rich with a number of instances along with practical exercises and development of a key project with a view to enhance as well as continue enhancing the skills by utilizing the best practices with the help of the most effective tools.

Now the question is whether this certification course if really worth. While one school of thought is of the opinion that the course is really valuable, according to another quarter, the course is not that useful. On the contrary, it is a bit overrated. All said and done, it is perhaps most sensible to say that the course has its merits as well as demerits and one cannot ignore its efficacy at the end of the day, no matter which way it is seen from. So let us discuss the pros and cons of this certification course.

Advantages

It helps in confirming the skills

The most important objective of this certification is that it provides a formal confirmation about the PHP programming skills of an individual. Once a programmer successfully completes the course, he/she is described as a ZCE or Zend Certified Engineer. His/her name gets included in the directory of all successful ZCEs, which surely is a feather in his/her cap.

This certification is particularly important for the intermediate developers as this helps to differentiate them from the beginners. As the certification course covers various aspects of PHP programming language in a comprehensive manner, getting certified helps the programmers immensely whenever they chose to learn advanced PHP programming.

An excellent way of reviewing and extending the programming prowess

For taking up the examination, a thorough preparation is needed, as the course virtually includes all the fundamental functionalities of the language. Thus, preparing for the certification itself helps a lot when it comes to learning various aspects of the language, or evaluating one’s programming knowledge as well as expertise. The knowledge may include certain fundamental concepts like syntax, language constructions, dealing with operators along with various intricate features that may include working with different types of files, manipulation of arrays and strings, session handling, dealing with cookies and form data and so on.

Disadvantages

However, the certification is not without blues. This takes us back at the start of this article where it is stated that a certain school of thought has reservations regarding this course. Here are the points that have been raised by that quarter.

Limitation of examination questions

The examinees have to answer about 70 questions, the samples of which can be found on the official website of Zend. Some of these sample questions deal with the inbuilt function names of PHP, parameters – their usage etc. All these knowledge would by default form the very part of the psyche of any developer or programmer. Therefore, it is virtually impossible to evaluate this knowledge by asking such questions. Also, according to this sect of pundits, there is no logic of memorizing such a huge number of array and string functions just for passing the examination successfully, simply because in real life scenario, a proper string or array function can easily be found on the net by browsing appropriate PHP documentation.

Efficacy of the certificate

Again, certain people have expressed their reservation regarding the very efficacy of the certification, citing that it may not after all be a proof enough that an individual is an efficient PHP developer. While the certificate does guarantee that the individual in question has advanced PHP knowledge, it does not say that the person is skilled or competent enough to use that knowledge in real life scenarios. You can hire developers from PHP development company who can help you build web apps within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide PHP application development services. If you would like to hire PHP developer India for your web development needs, please contact us Mindfire Solutions.

15+ PHP Best Practices That You Must Follow

The world of web development is becoming interesting and challenging with advanced technologies. With each passing day hundreds of web applications are being created and in this maddening race, a website needs to have a higher usability and more attractive UI and robust backend to stand out from the crowd. This is where a web programming language like PHP comes to your aid. Defined as a Hypertext Preprocessor, PHP is a dynamic language which explains the popularity that it enjoys among the developer's community around the world.

It is a server side scripting language which when combined with HTML and CSS forms a lethal combination delivering best robust websites. This server side characteristic allows you to easily design and develop dynamic webpages using PHP. Different genre of websites such as chatting platforms, ecommerce stores and CRM solutions can be developed using PHP. It is also used in all major social networking sites such as Facebook and Wikipedia. Even WordPress and Drupal have the PHP touch and are very much used worldwide for making customized websites. No wonder PHP web development is a promising sector and hundreds and thousands of talented programmers are working with this technology across the globe. 

A good programmer should follow the coding standards for programming in any technology. It is a vital factor for achieving a high code quality. A common customized style, naming conventions and other technical settings allow producing a homogeneous code which is easy to read and maintain. Equally important is the style in which certain problems are solved during programming - It shows the workmanship and experience of the individual developer which shines through and ultimately makes the difference between a technically ‘okay’ code and a well systematic, ‘mature’ code. 

Best Practices Followed in PHP

• Befriend the PHP Manual : For aspirants in web development, the PHP manual is the best friend. Because it is thorough and gives helpful comments following each step to be followed in web development. Before figuring out errors or steps one should read the manual and save time for easy and quick solutions. 

• Turn on Error Reporting : Error reporting in PHP is of great advantage. One can figure out the bugs in code earlier than before and can be aware of the working of an application. There are different levels of strictness in the reporting that one can use and  E_ALL command shows the most errors, be it critical and warnings alike. It is a feast to a programmer or a tester to detect errors and fix them.

• Try an IDE : Integrated Development Environments are useful tools for any developer. They can help in many ways such as syntax highlighting, code completion, error warnings, refactoring (reworking) and many other ways. There are plenty of great IDEs out there that support PHP.

• Try a PHP Framework: PHP Frameworks like CakePHP or CodeIgniter render PHP applications quickly, even if the developer is not an expert in PHP. It is a great way of increasing programming efficiency. The web world is full of several PHP frameworks which can be used as per the needs of the project. Hence PHP programmers have to decide which framework would suit and meet their best business requirement by evaluating the various unique features of the frameworks.

• Learn the DRY Approach: DRY approach is nothing but Don’t Repeat Yourself and it’s a valuable programming concept which deals with not to write redundant code.

• Indent Code and Use White Space for Readability: A developer needs to write a good readable code with proper indenting and makes use of white space. It ensures that a code is neatly organized and easy to search so that it can be referred to in future in case of change requests come up. IDEs and advanced text editors help in adding indentation automatically. Programmers use shortcuts unknowingly when declaring in PHP - For example, let’s take a look at the code snippet below. 

          <?

          echo"Hello world";

           ?>

          <?="Hello world";?>

          <% echo"Hello world"; %>

All of the above methods are depreciated and unofficial. Sticking with the standard <?php ?> as it will be guaranteed to be supported in all future versions. This simple malpractice can cause conflicts with XML parsers and can also make code incompatible with future versions of PHP. 

• Use Meaningful, Consistent Naming Conventions : Naming conventions are very important in case of good programming practice. Help others by using names that make sense for classes and functions. One can easily understand what the code is about or for which database table the data is fetched; easy for the programmers who can deal with the code in future for maintenance and updates.

• Comment, Comment, Comment : A good programmer always gives comment for each line of code he or she writes. As they understand the importance of comments in the long run. White space and indentations have been used to separate the code; one also wants to use inline comments to annotate code. It is very useful to go back and find something in the code, or if what a certain function did. It’s very useful for every developer who needs to look over the code. Not sure how the code instead of keeping a comment on the code one must write the code formatting standards expressive with a good, because one can get confused with the semantic coding standards both in web design and PHP development.

• Install MAMP/WAMP : MySQL is the most popular type of database to use with PHP. If you want to set up a local environment to develop and test your PHP applications on your computer, look into installing MAMP (Mac) or WAMP (Windows). Installing MySQL on computer can be a tedious process and can be installed in a clean and simple way.

• Upgrade to the Latest Version of PHP : One should be aware of the advantages and new versions of PHP. There are lots of performance increases between PHP 4 and PHP 5. Check a server to make sure one is up to date with the new version and an application is compatible with the upgrades.

• Reduce the Number of Database Queries : A good developer knows very well that database queries take lot of time to load the applications. With the lesser number of database queries executed the better a PHP code can perform. There are many tools such as Process Explorer (Windows) and Stace (Unix) that allow redundant processes.

• Know the Difference Between Single and Double Quotes: It is more efficient to use single quotes in strings as the parser doesn’t have to sift through the code to look for escaped characters and other things that double quotes allow. It is always better to use single quotes whenever possible.

• Give Scripts Limits : Putting a time limit on PHP scripts is a very critical thing. It is a time when scripts fail and to avoid that the set_time_limit function is used for database connection timeouts and infinite loops. The set_time_limit puts a time limit on the maximum number of seconds a script will run. After that time it throws a fatal error.

• Don’t Put phpinfo() in your Webroot: Phpinfo (http://us2.php.net/phpinfo)is a beautiful thing. By simply creating a PHP file that has

          < ? php phpinfo(); ? >

And dropping it onto the server somewhere could be dangerous; one can instantly get to know all information about the server. It is not good to drop a file containing phpinfo() in the webroot of the server. This is a really insecure practice and could  potentially spell doom for server. Make sure phpinfo() is in a secure spot and could    be removed after use.

• Never, Ever Trust your Users: If an application has places for user input, one should always be prepared that they’re going to try to input naughty code. A great way to keep any website hacker-free is to always initialize variables to safeguard a website from XSS attacks (http://ha.ckers.org/xss.html). Therefore PHP.net has an example of a properly secured form- http://talks.php.net/show/php-best-practices/19

• Store Passwords with Encryption : Good way of saving passwords in encrypted format in the database. Many programming newcommers often plunk sensitive data like passwords into the database without applying any encryption which is a faulty approach. 

Code is the foundation of any website and a framework catalyzes how to write beautiful code with aesthetics. Websites having bad coding style can lead to a mess in the near future. Good code is the first start to any search engine optimization and it is very important for a website template builders or new beginners who build one of their first sites. It’s too big of an investment for things to get screwed up, coded poorly or any number of possibilities. Since good coding is the foundation of any website with a strong web presence, establishing a secure and a classy website with clean, flawless code which goes much further than one thinks.

We provide PHP development services at Mindfire Solutions. If you would like to speak to one of our PHP programmers or you would like to hire PHP developers from us, please do reach out to us. We will be glad to assist.

PHP Web Programming and Business Benefits of PHP Development

PHP is a popular scripting language that evolved from what was called the Personal Home Page by Rasmus Lerdorf. Initially developed as a series of scripts that was used to track visitors to a webpage, it has turned out to be an interpreter on most operating systems and platforms and is considered the most popular language in the field of web development today.

PHP can be used to create a range of web applications including personal websites, e-commerce applications as well as community web portals. As per statistics, about 35% of web traffic is handled by it while a vast majority of websites including those of Facebook and Wikipedia have used this language. Even the best blogging platforms like WordPress or Joomla are built using the platform.

It is not without reason that this language has become so widely preferred as well as used. Several factors have contributed to its success.

Here is a brief overview of how businesses benefit from PHP web development:

It’s Open Source and Therefore, It’s Free
The platform is freely available for use. In addition, the community of open source PHP developers not only offer technical support but are also on the lookout for updating the core functionalities of the language. It, along with the other required software such as Apache Server, MySQL and Text Editors are obtainable free of cost under PHP General Public License. For businesses, this appears to be a very cost- effective option.

It’s Powerful
The programming platform is powerful enough to allow an effective performance of several web tasks. Different types as well as natures of websites can be developed using PHP. These encompass informative forums, e-commerce shopping carts, e- business, community websites and even the rather huge database driven websites.

It is Highly Compatible
The language is best- suited for cross-platform applications while also being highly compatible with the prominent web servers and operating systems. The scripts of this particular language can run across Linux, Solaris, OpenBSD, Windows as well as Mac OSX. It offers support for servers like IIS, Apache, iPlanet and more.

It Helps in Faster plus Easier Web Development
PHP not only works well with the web but also allows in quick web development. With this particular language, accessing the GET and POST or operating with HTML and URLs is easy apart from being flexible.

It Offers Complete Security
The platform is widely preferred also because of its ability to offer top level security and prevent malicious attacks. Thus, hacker proof websites can be built while the security stages can be attuned in the .ini file.

It Provides Extensions to Expand Functionalities
A range of extensions along with libraries are made available by PHP for those willing to extend the core functionalities of their websites. Even the source code of the language can be modified to incorporate the custom created components as well as extensions. This automatically increases the extensibility.

It Comes up with Great Community Support
One of the main advantages of PHP is its offer of community. For instance, if a particular developer is looking for certain script, he can check within the PHP community for availability and oftentimes, he will get something similar to what he wants, created by another developer. Others can also take advantage of certain function that you have created.

Refreshes Automatically
This is yet another advantage of PHP when it comes to web development. The platform enables automatic refreshing, hence, does not require any kind of manual changes to be made. This characteristic makes it quite sought after for building the dynamic websites in particular.

Enables Easier Access to the Other Tools
PHP allows for easier access to web based tools. Now, tools such as Google maps are extremely useful for the creation of business websites. It is for this reason that the language is popular in this respect too.

We provide php application development services. If you would like to hire php programmers from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Why You Should Choose PHP for Website Development

For businesses, a well- developed website is of utmost importance, as it guarantees success for an organization in the long run. With the widespread realization of the necessity of developing functional websites, there has also been a rise in the number of languages available for web development. The task of choosing the right language is essential and quite elaborate at the same time. PHP is considered the most beneficial platform for developing websites. Now, it is not without reason that the language is widely preferred as well as used by some of the most talented developers across the world.

Let us delve deeper into the advantages of PHP in order to find out why one should choose the same for web development.

Faster and Reliable Service

To begin with, the amount of speed along with the level of reliability that PHP offers are incomparable. This particular language facilitates easy usage, configuration and synchronization to certain possibilities. It is simpler to follow than any other language too. Its use of a number of system resources apart from the retention of speed while working with other software applications makes it highly sought after in the field of web development.

Works Independently

It works independently and perfectly well with various platforms such as Mac OS X, Linux, UNIX as well as Windows. Quite a few number of back-end databases such as MySQL, Oracle etc are also supported by PHP. Thus, this platform is considered more independent and hence, suitable for deployment in any environment.

Better Performance and Higher Flexibility

It paves the way for easy building of high performance applications. Apart from performance, the flexibility, scalability as well as the opportunity for enhanced graphics offered by PHP makes it the choicest platform for web development.

Open Source plus Cost- Effective

PHP comes up as an open source language used for a variety of purposes. The platform can be downloaded for free from the internet at the same time. This particular ‘open source’ feature has made the programming language popular among the developers. The PHP updates involve no cost and therefore, emerge as one of the most budget friendly language available for developing websites. Developers working on tight budget projects prefer this platform for this very reason.

Easy Availability of Help and Support

It, being one among the most popular as well as widely used languages that it is, makes it rather hassle-free to find support or helpful documentation online. Essential help can be obtained through blogs, social media, support forums and PDF/video files. The users of the language actually form a community. Consequently, they can be accessed for further help and support.

Higher Level of Security

PHP has syntax, which is very similar to the C as well as the C++ language syntax. Additionally, it is included within a variety of libraries such as that of the graphics, encryption etc. All these features make it easy for the developers to learn, add, edit module, delete, manipulate functions and even fix the bug, as and when it arises. Chances of malicious activities are lowered by means of high level of security offered by PHP.

Reduces Complexity in Programming

PHP offers a whole lot of advantages in web development. Perhaps the greatest benefit of using this platform is that it reduces the overall complexities of programming. Future changes can be accommodated without trouble with this specific language in use.

Business entrepreneurs or organizers looking for a perfect website to represent their website enlist the services of the expert and experienced PHP developers who can make the best use of this web development platform. They exploit it sufficiently to build a strong website that stands out among others in this highly competitive market while also promising the desired exposure to the organization eventually. PHP web development teams can help you build projects within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide php application development services. If you would like to discuss with a certified php developer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

Why is PHP web development getting valuable?

PHP is indeed the most frequently visited technology in the web for web apps development. It rules the other scripting languages for website development, a leader in the web world. As technology is seeping to every area of our lives the need for recognition for every business is getting important, people are aware that internet can reach out to the large audience from all around the world.

PHP has emerged as one of the most useful and yet completely free web programming platforms, along with Linux and MySQL. It is actually host side scripting dialects with regards to producing websites. Various PHP web programming solutions include CRM solutions, eCommerce solutions, shopping carts with content management system, chat software as well as conversation forum. Nowadays Php along with MySQL database will be accustomed to develop some of the most potent online sources and it is powering some of the great web applications.

PHP has had many stable releases since its arrival, and getting better with every release. PHP has many great features,d functions and frameworks that helps every developer create powerful dynamic websites according to any business demand. PHP developed websites and web applications have much simpler code to write or understand. Its a versatile and well-established language with more new versions that are under wraps. It can be customized according to online web development needs and is a flexible enough so that one can develop greater websites that is compatible with any browser.

Certain benefits of PHP Web Development can be enlisted as follows.

• It supports major databases such as MySQL, Oracle, Sybase, etc.
• It supports major platforms like Unix, Windows, Linux and more.
• IIS, Apache servers can work with PHP which proves to be the versatile scripting language.
• It meet one's custom requirement of solutions like e-shopping carts like CMS, CRM, web calendars, etc.
• The easy functions, methods and the syntax of this language help PHP Web Developers deploy the solution in less time.
• It can be customized with new technology seamlessly in future if required.
• It decreases the loading time as its source code need not be compiled every time it loads.

A PHP framework has the best practice oriented approach which help one build complex rich internet applications quickly, saving a lot of time reusing code snippets that are already available. There are so many useful PHP frameworks available on the web. Depending on requirements and need, one can select from a wide range of web development frameworks offered in the web market. Most interesting part is they are freely available and got a huge community driven forum where stuck developers can get their solutions quickly and build their website up and running in no time.

Top PHP(Rapid Application Development) frameworks are:

• CakePHP is an opensource rapid development PHP framework that provides an MVC architecture for developing, maintaining and deploying customized applications. It comes in with great tools for form tampering protection, XSS prevention and SQL injection prevention which helps in building secure websites. The MVC conventions guide in properly to build in richer web applications and blogs. Developers and users find it more interesting because of flexible code generation, free licensing, user-friendly community, compatible with all the latest versions of PHP, cookie, security, data sanitization, email, session and request handling components,works from any website directory, with little to no Apache configuration involved etc.
  
  
• Laravel has a well fabricated toolbox which allows to write less code, with less risk of error. And using this framework developers can build websites with greater value and productivity, such as managing guiding principles, side effects, etc. A structured approach is followed using this framework, using best practices and standards where complex websites can be efficiently deployed. It is well said that Laravel is for web artisans and creative craftsman where wonderful applications can be built with less code and expressive syntax which gets easier for programmers who build complex apps with cleaner and understandable code.
  
  
• Symfony is a full-stack framework comprising a library of cohesive classes written in PHP5. It provides a classy architecture, components and tools for programmers to build rich complex web applications quicker. Choosing symfony allows to release applications quicker, host and scale them without any problem and can be maintained over time. It was originally conceived by the interactive agency Sensio Labs for the development of customized websites for its esteemed clients from various sectors. Symfony was published by the agency in 2005 under MIT Open Source license and today it is among the leading frameworks available for PHP web development.
  
  
• Zend Framework is based on simplicity, object-oriented best practices, user-friendly corporate licensing and agile codebase which is regularly tested. This framework is focused on making simple, reliable secure and new web 2.0 applications & web services and consuming widely available APIs from leading vendors such as Flickr, Google, Yahoo, Amazon, as well as API providers.

The above popular PHP frameworks are unique in nature and can very well suit to any business need. They play a vital role in making websites richer and attractive adding value compared to other counter websites.

Everyone wants a website that looks appealing, attractive, customized and very much interactive with users and all this is possible with PHP allows one to customize their websites keeping everything simple and yet classy. PHP possesses all the main points of a successful programming language. PHP Website Development has maintained vast developer group of people around the world and lots of PHP professionals regularly enhance this. The web application developed in PHP costs less and affordable for website owners who can save a lot of money though it is having a multi-featured web application.

It has literally revolutionized the web development industry with a dynamic brand fresh structure.

There are many choices available to create robust and classic Website Development yet PHP will be action ahead of all and offer many useful features and functionalites. PHP based website is an ideal platform to flash and graphics for giving striking and attractive looks to the site. The versatility of PHP as a web design language is pretty much unmatched by any other scripting language,and since it was initially created it has been consistently used to produce the same excellent results. Using these frameworks, PHP developers would shorten the development timeframe for PHP web development projects.

We provide php development services. If you would like to hire php programmer from our 100% certified team of PHP developers, please contact us at Mindfire Solutions.

Why build small sized web applications with Silex micro-framework?

This is the perfect time for new frameworks to evolve as developers are aware of its benefits and aggressively use it for their projects. The framework way of doing things has undoubtedly made the websites much easier to manage and a good framework makes a lot of difference to a customized work. The framework requirements for an e-commerce site are different from a site which is going to be a messaging platform or a directory. Different people meet different needs. This is why one need to really look into the matter and the features of different frameworks properly and decide about which will best suite their business requirements.

Nowadays, a large number of small and medium-sized businesses manage all their affairs with web applications. Web applications are accessible on all web browsers and hand-held devices like smart phones and tablets. With the birth of new technologies, it has become necessary and easy means to commute web applications that support business activities. Silex is a such a micro framework designed for PHP 5 and built on top of Symfony2 components. It provides an ideal environment for a simple, single file application. By installing and setting up Silex, one can create web applications with full dependency injection, templating and blending with other features that would expect of a modern day PHP framework would do.

There are two types of frameworks - full-stack framework and a micro framework, depending on how the application is build and how it is structured. Silex deals with specific code which is very less for building apps. Only small business apps can take more advantage of this new framework.

It was created by Fabien Potencier and Igor Wiedler. It creates wonder by building applications especially for smaller projects. It is easy setting up one can download the whole of it in one single file. Silex is small, modular and very easy and fun to program with. With the release of PHP 5.3, the language continues to evolve as a more secure server-side language, which customizes many modern web applications. Hosting environments are designed to help leverage PHP frameworks to accelerate the development process, with full support for model-view-controller (MVC) frameworks such as Symfony, Cake, Code Igniter and Silex.

PHP language continues to expand with its popularity, its object oriented focus with traits and easy syntax, helps in expanding its libraries to accelerate development and improving session security to safeguard data.

Top Reasons why to use Silex Framework:

• Interoperable Features: It has interoperable features such as platform independence, window support, cloud support, NoSQL support.

• Security Concern: One of the few basic advantages of using this framework includes the increase in security of the website. Web applications can be rendered on time and easy upgrading in the development process.

• Structured Code: Provides a structured code run from one place rather than anywhere in the filesystem, potentially easier for others to pick up. (After the initial learning curve), it contains decent amount of pre-existing bundle rather than re-inventing the wheel.

• Learning curve: One has to acclimatize with the behavior of the framework and its structure and understand the concept of a framework.

• Performance: A light-weight framework performs better than heavy framework like Symphony2.

• Planning: Planning things for the future is important. May be a light-weight framework like Silex will be enough for the time being but supporting the structure might become difficult in future. Need to plan how to use a framework in a constructive way.

• Extensible: It deals with configuration files which leverage Service Providers to add basic functionality.
  
  
• Easy to use: an application and a series of commands; you don't need anything more to get started.
• Stable: It leverages the Dependency Injection Container Pimple and the Synfony2 Console Component; which makes it easy to test any application.

The PHP developers can develop robust applications within a very short time frame using a variety of frameworks like Symfony, Slim, Silex, Zend and Aiki. And each framework allows to avail a set of benefits including code reuse, better session management and database access libraries. Life will be more organized, more efficient and saner if one utilizes best of these php application development frameworks.

We provide php development services. If you would like to discuss with a certified php developer from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.  

PhpStorm 6.0: Take PHP by Storm!

The frequently changing trends in web application development have made many code editors obsolete. With websites being developed using HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript, it has become essential for developers to choose an editor that perfectly complements the project development environment. As a cross platform integrated development environment, JetBrains PhpStorm is hugely popular among PHP developers. Along with providing an intelligent editor for HTML, PHP and JavaScript code, the editor comes with features like error prevention and automatic refactoring of code.

JetBrains has built PhpStorm on IntelliJ IDEA. As the framework is written in Java, developers can write their own plug-ins, in addition to using the existing plug-ins created for the platform. A developer can also use PhpStorm to avail all features of WebStorm. Along with PHP and database supports, he can further avail a set of pre-installed JavaScript plug-ins without incurring any additional expenses. The latest version of the PHP code editor comes with a set of innovative features to help programmers in meeting the latest trends in website and web application development.

What Makes PhpStorm 6.0 an Intelligent Code Editor?

Full Support for PHP 5.4: If you are looking for a code editor that supports the latest version of PHP, then PhpStorm is your best option. The editor enables you to avail advantages of several syntax improvements including short array syntax, accessing class member on instantiation, binary literals, dereferencing array on function call, and static call expressions. At the same time, PhpStorm also supports the legacy projects developed using PHP 5.3.

Automatic Code Completion: Each developer frequently explores options to avoid writing lengthy code. Many programmers also look for smart ways to complete their coding. The automatic code completion feature of PhpStorm makes it easier for developers to build complex application without writing longer code. The feature can be invoked simply on typing, and used to finalize methods, classes, variable names, and PHP keywords. Also, a developer can use the feature to finalize variables and fields according to their types, and indexing arrays in PHP code.

Support for PHPDocs: The editor also supports the PHPDocs used in your code. Also, based on annotations, it provided relevant code completion suggestions. Whenever the PHPDocs in the program are edited, PhpStorm automatically completes the types and variable names based on the corresponding code blocks. Also, the PHPDocs are always updated while refactoring the PHP code.

PHP Refactoring: The frequent changes in user demands have made it essential for a website to remain dynamic and interactive. Often developers have to edit and re-factor their coding to optimize the web application’s performance. PhpStorm allows programmers to easily rename and move files, classes, constants, methods, functions, properties, parameter, along with the global and local variables. The PHP refactoring feature enables developers to incorporate local changes immediately, along with making global project changes in a secure and hassle-free way.

PHP Code Sniffer: Most developers want to access PHP porgrams on the fly. With the code sniffer feature of PhpStorm, a programmer can simply open a PHP file, and check the code on the fly. Further, the check is initiated automatically each time some changes are made to the PHP file. The sniffer also makes it easier for developers to fix the problems reported by it.

Smarty Template Engine: Often the .tpl files need modification to boost user experience. PhpStorm is designed with the Smarty template engine that allows you to avail several advantages while working with templates. You can use the engine to configure syntax highlighting for strings, keywords, syntax errors and variables. Further, the engine can insert quotes, paired braces and closing tags automatically. The engine further enables you to customize templates to meet the specific requirements of your web application.

Code Arranger: Along with writing the code, programmers also have to arrange and structure the coding in a systematic way. The latest version of PhpStorm comes with Code (re)arranger, a powerful tool that can be used to control the structure of both existing and generating code. For instance, based on your needs, you can arrange the methods based on fields or keep the dependent methods together. The tool will be of great help to the members of a distributed team to maintain the structure of code without putting any extra effort.

The PhpStorm 6.0 also comes with a set of innovative features like smart namespace handling, new database schema editor, and fresh web tool kit. These features make the editor effective in meeting the latest trends in web application development. With these features, PhpStorm becomes powerful enough to take PHP by storm. PHP developer India teams can help you build projects within allocated budgets and time schedules.

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