Why we use a Framework or Content Management Systems like CakePHP, CodeIgniter, Symfony, Zend & Joomla
Frameworks like CodeIgniter, Symfony, Zend, CakePHP, etc., are used by all of our teams in San Diego, Cordoba, Miraflores, and Madrid. In most cases, they are extremely helpful and important because they exist to help web developers write less code, which saves time. Software is all about re-usability and adapting to change rapidly with as little ramp-up time as possible. Many projects while working through tight deadlines have to ponder and think about all the “mystical” ways to write components. Is the better solution to reuse someone else's code now and in the future?
Our lead systems architect in San Diego says, "While working with our internal employees as an outsourced team in Argentina and Peru, frameworks create a common central point based on the MySQL and PHP (LAMP Platform), which allows the entire organization to stay on the same page with regards to web development. That common point is critical because we all know that project specifications change so quickly that by the time someone else comes along to reuse your stuff, it probably needs to be re-written anyway."
We can honestly say that the projects we have worked on using a framework started more easily and finished a little faster than if we wrote raw code (one line at a time). As requirements change and grow for these projects post-deployment, we are less concerned of maintainability because of the community that often backs each and every framework. These communities often update the core of the framework and supply module/package updates on an almost weekly basis...and almost every one of those are free to download.
Frameworks and Content Management Systems we prefer here at SGC
CakePHP
www.CakePHP.org
CakePHP is a rapid development framework for PHP that provides an extensible architecture for developing, maintaining, and deploying applications. Using commonly known design patterns like MVC and ORM within the convention over configuration paradigm, CakePHP reduces development schedules and helps us as developers to write less code.
CodeIgniter
www.CodeIgniter.com
CodeIgniter is a powerful PHP framework with a very small footprint, built for projects that need a simple and elegant solution. As developers we know many of our customers live in the real world of shared hosting accounts and this streamlined package is thoroughly documented, making CodeIgniter one of our preferred frameworks.
Symfony
www.Symfony-Project.org
Symfony is a full-stack framework and a library of cohesive classes written in PHP. The framework provides an architecture of components and tools for us as developers to build complex web applications faster than raw code.
Symfony is built based on experience. It does not reinvent the wheel, it uses best practices of web development and integrates some great third-party libraries at the same time. Symfony is one of the most popular PHP frameworks around because of those embedded benefits.
Zend
www.Zend.com
Zend Framework is an open source, object oriented web application framework for PHP 5. Zend Framework is often called a "component library" because it has many loosely coupled components that can be used more or less independently. Zend Framework also provides an advanced Model-View-Controller (MVC) implementation that can be used to establish a basic structure for your Zend Framework applications. A full list of Zend Framework components along with short descriptions may be found in the » components overview. This QuickStart will introduce you to some of Zend Framework's most commonly used components, including Zend_Controller, Zend_Layout, Zend_Config, Zend_Db, Zend_Db_Table and Zend_Registry, along with a few view helpers.
Joomla
www.Jommla.org
Joomla is an award-winning PHP content management system (CMS), which enables us to build websites and online applications for our clients on the LAMP platform. Many aspects, including its ease-of-use and extensibility, have made Joomla one of the most popular website software packages available for free download. Best of all, Joomla is an open source solution that is freely available to everyone.
Joomla is designed for a clean install and set up which supports even developers that may not be senior. Many web hosting services offer custom hosting just for the Joomla package and best of all it is PHP and MySQL
Components that make up quality PHP & MySQL Frameworks
- MVC: Indicates whether the framework comes with inbuilt support for a Model-View-Controller setup.
- Multiple DB's: Indicates whether the framework supports multiple databases without having to change anything.
- ORM: Indicates whether the framework supports an object-record mapper, usually an implementation of ActiveRecord.
- DB Objects: Indicates whether the framework includes other database objects, such as a TableGateWay.
- Templates: Indicates whether the framework has an inbuilt template engine.
- Caching: Indicates whether the framework includes a caching object or some other way of caching.
- Validation: Indicates whether the framework has a built-in validation or filtering component.
- Ajax: Indicates whether the framework comes with built-in support for Ajax.
- Auth Module: Indicates whether the framework has a built-in module for handling user authentication.
- Modules: Indicates whether the framework has other modules, like an RSS feed parser, PDF module, or anything else (useful).
- EDP: Event Driven Programming.New!
A content management system is software that keeps track of every piece of content on your Web site, much like your local public library keeps track of books and stores them. Content can be simple text, photos, music, video, documents, or just about anything you can think of. A major advantage of using a CMS is that it requires almost no technical skill or knowledge to manage. Since the CMS manages all your content, you don't have to.
A Web content management (WCM) system is a CMS designed to simplify the publication of web content to websites and mobile devices, in particular, allowing content creators to submit content without requiring technical knowledge of HTML or the uploading of files. Several web based content management systems exist both in the Open Source and commercial domains. However, this is one area where OSS has gained dominance over proprietary counterparts.
MVCs - Model View Controller
Model - This is the part of your application that defines its basic functionality behind a set of abstractions. Data access routines and some business logic can be defined in the model.
View - Views define exactly what is presented to the user. Usually controllers pass data to each view to render in some format. Views will often collect data from the user, as well. This is where you're likely to find HTML markup in your MVC applications.
Controller - Controllers bind the whole pattern together. They manipulate models, decide which view to display based on the user's request and other factors, pass along the data that each view will need, or hand off control to another controller entirely. Most MVC experts recommend » keeping controllers as skinny as possible.
