• PHP Dev Tools

    PHP Development Tools That I Use

    Building a website from scratch? You’ll need the right programming tools to get the job done. While many would tell you to go for Python or Ruby, I say otherwise. If you want a clean, functional, and reliable website, go for a PHP development tool!

    Did you know that PHP is the server-side programming language for over 72% of websites worldwide? With statistics like that, who needs other options? That’s why I’m going to show the top PHP development tools I personally use to design all my websites. So roll the intro, folks, and let’s get cracking!

    NuSphere PhpED

    Does an advanced PHP editor sound good to you? How about a PHP parallel debugger? Or better yet, a dedicated commercial PHP accelerator that can boost your app development! You get that, plus so much more, when you use NuSphere’s new PHP development tool, PhpED.

    PhpED gives you a series of tweaks that will make your web development journey a piece of cake. No more dealing with slow applications or incompatible languages; this tool is the perfect fix for all your headaches. Get important database client & code insights and enjoy support for a string of composite file extensions. What’s more, you can even work through Zend, Laravel, and Yii.

    Cloud 9

    I fell in love with Cloud 9 just moments after I started using it, and I guarantee you will too. This powerhouse of a tool supports hundreds of programming languages, including Python, C++, Javascript, and much more. The moment you open this open-source cloud IDE, you get a pre-configured workspace so you can get right into the action. Moreover, the live preview and browser compatibility testing features are too good to ignore.

    As someone who’s been a dev for a long time, I enjoy collaborating with my colleagues on multiple projects. That’s why I totally appreciated the collaborative coding mode featured in Cloud 9. Devs can now pair their programs with colleagues and track every input in real-time. Teamwork makes the dream work, after all! Cloud 9 was instrumental in my work with development teams on some of the top free sex sites. With developers located in multiple countries around the world working together to execute a vision, this tool proved irreplaceable.

    Overall, this is an all-in-one tool with enough features to build you the ultimate website you can be proud of. With real-time language analysis, in-built image editing functions, and a stellar code reformatting system, Cloud 9 lifts your website up into the sky.

    PHPDebugbar

    To start, this PHP debugger gives you access to data from numerous web apps, which is a feature I always welcome. Not only does it catch bugs for PHP, but it does the same for Java and HTML too. Need to check the Javascript codes and CSS elements? The PHPDebugbar will take care of it in a jiffy!

    This life-saving tool supports many languages, including Java, PHP, .Net, and Ruby. If you need some help with those AJAX requests, the Debugbar steps right in to save the day. So take the world by storm, monitor that network traffic, root out all the bugs, and build your own customized collector with PHPDebugbar.

    CodeLobster

    CodeLobster is arguably one of the market’s most popular PHP development tools. WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento, you name it; this tool supports all the major CMS. You can also work with PHP frameworks like CodeIgniter, Symfony, and Laravel, among others.

    When you use CodeLobster, you won’t have to memorize any tags, functions, or attributes; the software will do that for you. Plus, there are several autocomplete features for PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Also, the internal PHP debugger locally validates all your codes. Can it BE any easier?

    I love the SQL manager and built-in syntax highlighter; it makes the dev life so much better. Moreover, it can also autocomplete your keywords and DOM elements to boot! So don’t go for a fancy elite tool that promises the world but only gives you headaches; just go for a delicious CodeLobster!

    Eclipse

    Whenever I go to google and search for the top PHP development tools, Eclipse always pops up somehow. Finally, I got curious enough to try it, and boy, it blew my mind. There are enough plugins here to feed an entire network, and the customization options are insane!

    Eclipse supports numerous languages, including COBOL, ABAP, Rust, Scala, Clojure, Python, Ruby, Julia, JavaScript; I could go on forever. The tool is super easy to use and helps you simplify even the most complex PHP codes. Moreover, you can extend its functionalities according to your needs, making it ideal for large-scale projects.

    Eclipse is an amazing PHP tool designed for those who love to customize. It offers an incredibly smooth code navigation system and gives you plenty of code templates to work with. With features like these, no wonder it’s one of the top PHP tools in the market.

    Netbeans

    I always liked the older version of Netbeans, but I love the new lightweight version even more. It comes with several extensions to support rare languages like HTML5 and C++. It can work with all the major PHP frameworks like Smart, FuelPHP, Symfony 2, CakePHP, and much more.

    Global users will love that it supports languages like Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Brazilian, and even Chinese. You’ll appreciate the smart code completion feature if you’re a lazy coder like me. And you can also fold and format your codes into whatever you like. Finally, the getter-setter generation feature is one of the best I’ve ever come across.

    Conclusion

    Overall, I think each option comes with plenty of unique features that are worth your time. I’ve used them to help me get through some of my most challenging projects, and they deliver every single time. After all, the dev life is difficult enough, so you might as well get some help while you’re at it.…

  • PHP Framework

    PHP Frameworks We Love!

    While most people opine that PHP is gradually disappearing from the face of society, web developers know better. PHP won’t be going out of style and demand anytime soon.

    PHP frameworks have remained consistent throughout the years. Did you know that thriving websites like Wikipedia and Facebook use PHP? Nearly 80% of the websites use PHP frameworks, as per W3Techs.

    What is a PHP Framework?

    A PHP framework is a platform that enables the creation of PHP web applications. It saves you from the time and complications of coding.

    PHP frameworks offer code libraries for common functions. The advantage of using PHP is that it is less time-consuming and provides faster development. Besides, it offers a secure coding experience that follows good coding rules with easier maintenance.

    Top PHP Frameworks

    If you’re interested in PHP frameworks, here is a list of the best options:

    Laravel

    Specs

    Launch date – June 2011
    Latest Version – 8 (since Sept 8, 2020)

    Technical requirements

    PHP = 7.2.5
    Database support
    Composer installed

    Laravel is one of the top PHP choices, and for a good reason. It is no wonder why Laravel is called “The PHP framework for web artisans.” Taylor Otwell is the developer of this outstanding PHP framework. This PHP framework offers one of those beautiful and engaging designs for web developers.

    One of the best things about Laravel is that it is not complicated and very easy to use. Although laravel features a user-friendly base, it is also one of the top choices for professionals in web development. It is used to produce solid work, thanks to the multiple inbuilt features with a fast application.

    Symfony

    Specs

    Launch date – October 2005
    Latest Version – 5.1.4

    Technical requirements

    PHP = 7.2.5
    Composer installed

    Symphony is an indispensable PHP framework by SensioLabs. You’ll surely love how easy it is to use while providing some of the best works. More than 300000 developers use this framework.

    With reusable PHP libraries, Symfony makes many works easy. It also has the most bundles among all the frameworks. You can even learn invaluable things through the official training courses from this active framework.

    Yii 2

    Specs

    Launch date – December 2008
    Latest Version – 2.0.35

    Technical requirements

    PHP = 5.4.0, 7+ recommended
    Database support
    Composer installed

    Did you know that Yii is a Chinese word that stands for “simple and evolutionary”? Yes, Yii 2 is all about convenience and ease.

    Yii 2 is one of the oldest PHP frameworks operated by a team of international expert developers. It features an easy learning curve. This framework features support for AJAX and allows users to turn database data into objects.

    CakePHP

    Specs

    Launch date – April 2005
    Latest Version – 4.1.1

    Technical requirements

    PHP 7.2, 7.4 recommended
    Database support
    HTTP server with mod_rewrite preferred

    A clean and fast PHP development is what every developer wants. CakePHP has been through a roller coaster ride, but since the release of version 3.7, it has fostered its foundation as one of the best PHP frameworks in 2022.

    CakePHP is developed with an MIT license and is free for both commercial and personal use. There is zero configuration with in-built validation.

    CodeIgniter

    Specs

    Launch date – February 2006
    Latest Version – 4.0.3

    Technical requirements

    PHP = 7.2
    Database support

    You don’t have to worry about configurations with CodeIgniter because it is minimal. This makes this PHP framework one of the best options to run if you want to develop a project quickly.

    With a simple interface, CodeIgniter offers exceptional performance. It is packed with wonderful tools in a single package with optimum security.

    Zend Framework

    Specs

    Launch date – March 2006
    Latest Version – 1.3.0 (Laminas) or 3.0.0 (Zend)

    Technical requirements

    PHP = 7.3 (Laminas) or =5.6 (Zend)
    Database support
    Composer installed

    Zend Framework is an old and amazing PHP framework that is a favorite with many web developers. However, it is in the process of changing to the Laminas Project. So, it would be best to shift to the new framework because they no longer update Zend.

    Zend Framework supported third-party components. The new Laminas Project features 3 parts, namely Laminas Components and MVC, Mezzio, and Laminas API Tools.

    Phalcon

    Specs

    Launch date – November 2012
    Latest Version – 4.0.6

    Technical requirements

    PSR extension
    PHP 7.2 +

    Phalcon is one of the fastest PHP frameworks written in C and Zephir. Unlike other PHP frameworks, it is coded in C and C++ and delivers exceptional projects.

    When you use Phalcon, you’ll also be able to learn more about the PHP platform. This developer-friendly framework features advanced security for the best performance.

    Slim Framework

    Specs

    Launch date – September 2010
    Latest Version – 4.5.0

    Technical requirements

    PHP 7.2 +
    Web server with URL rewriting

    Josh Lockhart created Slim Framework, which concentrates on receiving HTTP requests, gathering callbacks, and delivering HTTP responses. It is one of the best platforms for creating APIs.

    The framework is perfect for small web app development and also features HTTP Caching and Flash.…