Facebook’s Association With PHP

PHP is the largest used programming language in the web development community. It is used in more than 80% of all the websites that are “live” today. Its CMSs and Frameworks like Joomla, Drupal, Cake, Magento, Codeigniter and WordPress are being deployed by some of the most successful and hi-tech web platforms. In fact, it has been the language that brings Facebook to all desktops and smart devices!

However, it also has its fair share of haters. Many developers have commented that PHP stands good for as long as you are limited to website and web applications. Sometimes, the codes can become very dirty and a burden to maintain. However, all of it depends on how you are coding.

Here are some good and bad things that are true to the PHP programming language:

The GOOD

Easy to learn: PHP is arguably among the most accessible and easier programming language available. All due thanks to the excellent documentation and the updated online resources, it is very easy to understand. This also makes PHP one of the most popular web programming languages ever. According to Josh Lockhart, New Media Campaigns, “PHP has a small learning curve, fast development iteration and facilitates higher ease of development”.

PHP continues to evolve itself: Created back in 1994 when we had no concept of closure and namespaces, PHP has continued to evolve to become the best updated language for modern web development. PHP followers would say that people who want to move away from the language have most likely failed to understand its full capabilities. One will regard this statement when checking enhancements like Hack and HHVM Virtual Machine.

Easy to work upon: Spare the developers – their job is writing codes. But what about users who look up to the PHP platforms for their business? Well, PHPs CMSs solves all major problems of website maintenance and upgrades. CMSs like WordPress, Joomla and Drupal have made it easy even for a non-developer to create and maintain a high-functional website. Further, a huge CMS community comes to help with its plugins, fixes, ad-ons and other answers.

It gives you the job: For a developer knowledgeable in PHP, getting the job becomes quite easy. PHP has a huge demand in the market and as already pointed, 80% of websites are looking to work with PHP. So, if you are expert in PHP, you get the job and the money that comes with it!

The BAD

Haters will be haters! However, there has been massive “thumbs down” on the PHP language, its framework and even the ecosystem. Sometimes, the language can bring surprises and is criticized for being inconsistent. The biggest complaint against PHP is it being “opaque, saddled with weak and complex typing and with negligible traces of stacks”.

For modern developers, the disadvantages with PHP lie in:

ü  A lot of “legacy baggage” like magic quotes, globals, etc

ü  Less focused compared to other languages

ü  Inconsistent language, especially its argument ordering and function names

However, we would say that if one knew what PHP caters with, these inconsistencies can be played through and a greater setup can be focused on.

PHP is being used by 81.7% of internet, in websites that have known server side programming. Again, 98.7% of these PHP websites use the 5^th version of the language. This shows that PHP 5.0 is arguable the top coding language today and the best examples lie in the form of Facebook.com, Twitter.com, Pinterest.com, WordPress.com, Wikipedia.com, Baidu.com and more.

For someone looking into a career in PHP, the future seems bright. However, it is also important to understand you are able to maintain the high code quality, PHP’s naming conventions, visual styles, and other technical settings allows developers to come up with homogeneous codes that both easy to read and maintain. The experience and personality of the coder also comes into play when differentiating a code that is “okay” and a code that is “awesome”.

Naming

Naming conventions have always been undervalued by software developers. While no one denies that having a nice name makes things easy, many opt for cryptic abbreviations, juts to save some typing. It is generally advisable to have English names for class names, comments, method names, database tables field names and variable names. It is common consensus that English is always easier to remember than special characters.

Vendor namespaces

Vendor namespaces are the base for namespaces and package keys. This provides two advantages. Firstly, there isn’t an extra requirement for a central package key registry and secondly, it allows the coder to easily integrate third party packages like Zend framework components, Symfony2 components or for that matter, any PHP 5.3+ based library.

Turn on Error Reporting

Error Reporting can be a highly useful function and enabled all throughout the development phase. Among the commonly used feature here would be E_ALL, spotting all critical errors with warnings. It is mandatory that we turn on this feature before putting our code to production.

Using the DRY Approach

DRY or ‘Do not Repeat Yourself’ ensures that there is no redundant code in our scripts. Codes that violate DRY are referred to as WET solutions and are common to programmers who enjoy unnecessary typing!

WET code:

$mysql  = mysql_connect ( ‘localhost’,  ‘mysqladmin_uid’, ‘mysqladmin_pwd’ );

mysql_select_db( ‘DB_NAME’ ) or die( “Sorry !! No database selected!”);

DRY version:

$db_host = ' localhost ';

$db_user = ' mysqladmin_uid ';

$db_password = ' mysqladmin_pwd ';

$db_database = ' DB_NAME ';

$mysql = mysql_connect($db_host, $db_user, $db_password);

mysql_select_db($db_database);

Indentation / use of white space

Not just in PHP, but whatever language you may be working upon, it is necessary that the coding is properly indented and there is sufficient amount of white space wherever necessary. This helps in maintenance and enhancing the readability.

Don’t trust the user, ever!

If the application you are working on requires user inputs, make sure that it is designed to handle all kinds of possible inputs. Initializing your variables with some initial value can also be a tool against hackers, though it might not seem relevant to the business flow.

Lastly, use Cache whenever required and never resort to copying extra variables. These should keep your script sane and your application efficient.

A Loosely typed language is a language that can create variables of different types easily. It refers to those programming scripts that do not require defining a variable type. To put it simply, while declaring a variable in these programming scripts, there is no need of defining or classifying the data type stored in them. While working with these programming scripts, you need to use a sign for each variable type(like string, integer, float, etc.) to declare them. You just need to assign a string value to the variable, to define that our variable is an integer. This is the reason why PHP is a loosely typed language. 

What is PHP Script?

As PHP does not require defining the variable type. As a result, you are not restricted to a limited type of data. Quite inevitably, it proves to be highly beneficial for programmers, as they enjoy optimum flexibility.

The PHP script is very much popular among programmers and developers to develop various kinds of applications. As a loosely typed language, this particular script offers golden opportunities to programmers for designing great software programs. It is the most widely used language for developing web applications. There are many factors that attract developers and users to use PHP in their applications. Here in this article, we have jotted down the reasons that make PHP so popular among all – 

1. Optimum Flexibility

While creating dynamic applications, it is the flexibility of a loosely typed programming script that renders the most useful assistance. Because of their nature, dynamic applications are quite tough to work with. Often, these applications have to determine actions based on unknown data. Using the PHP programming script proves to be the best shots, in this context. It does not enforce data types on variables, and hence offers complete flexibility in complex programming.

2. Complete Programming Liberty

In cases of strongly typed languages, the programming rules are already pre-set and pre-determined. Therefore, the programmer cannot do any changes to it as per preference. In this context, however, situations are completely different with PHP. By allowing programmers to set their own programming rules, this particular programming script offers them freedom of operation.

3. Simplicity & Cost

The PHP language is one of the most simple programming languages. Like other languages, it is bound to have its bits and bytes, but still, it is compatible to run on any system productively. Writing a PHP script is pretty much straightforward and simple as opposed to another language. It also allows programmers to write customized scripts. The cost factor also makes PHP popular! As PHP is an open-source framework, that means it is completely free to use and is fully supported by documentation.

Summing Up

PHP programming script has gained traction with ingenious programmers and has become their current favorite, but as any other script PHP also comes with its share of drawbacks. While working with PHP, programmers need to have proper knowledge, otherwise, they might create vulnerable programming codes. As a loosely typed language, PHP creates some major possibilities of errors. Say, for instance, your code needs integer input, and your variable is in a string. As the most undesired output, the entire function will break. However, it is possible to overcome this issue by creating a properly structured and organized programming code.

So now you know why PHP is a loosely typed language and why it is so popular. PHP has various advantages  and it is widely used for web application development. Want to know more details about PHP? 

Stay tuned to this space! 

Or are you looking forward to having your dedicated web application built by using PHP? Contact GoodWorkLabs, one of the best web application development companies in Bangalore. Reach out to us and our team will discuss further about your requirements. Email us at – [email protected] or call at +91- 9863077000

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In its early days, PHP programming was largely limited to being highly procedural. There were certain building blocks to every applications and these ‘procedures’ offered a degree of reusability by being called by other applications. However, a programmer can still introduce the OO characteristics without the constructs of object oriented language, into the codes. While the process if a tad bit difficult, the ability to be able to build relationships between interfaces and classes makes it easier to come up with codes that are governed by good OO practices.

Here are top 5 PHP coding habits that every programmer is expected to follow:

1.     Being a good neighbor

Classes should be able to handle errors self-sufficiently. Consequently, you should package them in a format that is easily understood by the caller. Further, it is better to avoid any returning object in a state of null or invalidity. This can simply be taken care of by throwing specific exceptions and verifying arguments to prove the invalidity of supplied arguments. This habit can save you from wasting a lot of time.

2.     Avoiding the Medusa!

Beginners in PHP are always confused about the importance of interfaces. However, experts and seasoned professionals suggest that not using interfaces would be like looking into the eyes of the Medusa. In mythology, any person who would look into the eyes of Medusa, a Greek Goddess with snakes for hair would turn into stone! Similarly, with interfaces, using them directly limits your options and your classes are set in stone.

3.     Embracing the weakest links

It’s a good thing when you couple your modules loosely as they allow encapsulating change. The first and third habit mentioned above will also help your work towards modules that are coupled loosely. However, to loosely couple your classes, you should develop the final characteristics by lowering dependencies of classes – make this a habit. When trying to build OO designs, it is better to think of concepts like “Separation of Concerns”, wherein programmers try separating objects from classes, thus reducing the coupling.

4.     Being modest

Try not to expose yourself with your functions and class implementations. Hiding information is accepted as a foundational habit and it will get more difficult to build other good habits if you are already into hiding your implementations. Also referred to as encapsulation, exposing public fields makes you run out of options when things change in your implementations. It is better to use OO concepts to isolate the changes and stop them from spreading early on.

5.     Sticking to the family

The greatest disaster in OO programming is the copy-paste operations. Used without an upfront OO design, they can create havoc. Whenever, you are being tempted to use the same lines of codes from one class in another, it is a good habit to stop and consider how the class hierarchy can be leveraged to identical functionality. In most cases, copying codes is totally unnecessary when trying to come up with a good design.

Which programing practices form a part of your internal team checklist? Do leave in your comments and let us know.

PHP has been one of the earliest, most consistent and most popular programming languages for a long time now. However, it too suffers from few inadequacies like an inconsistent naming convention, lacking of certain important features, disorganization, security vulnerabilities. These lacking are duly overcome by platforms like CakePHP. Based on the same PHP basic, CakePHP offers a highly flexible architecture that is being used by developers globally to develop, maintain and deploy several types of applications. The best part of CakePHP is that it reduces the mundane scripting part to a great extent, allowing the developer to be creative. The popularity of CakePHP has made it grow through the decades. It is being constantly updated and the latest version (v.3.0) allows high build quality, a friendly license, clean MVC conventions, secure scripting, zero configuration and built-in authentication.

Here are the several reasons why CakePHP has been widely accepted in the developer community globally:

Open source

At the heart of CakePHP is open source architecture, making it the common goal of every developer. Being open source ensures that developers get access to the latest development tools and don’t have to spend huge amount of time and energy in writing the same source codes. This helps add robustness to applications, thereby improving their performance.

MVC pattern

Based on an MVC framework, CakePHP developers can access, insert, delete and modify data directly from the database. Further, the platform facilitates support data on the screen to assist developers through a friendly process. A controller process always responds to events on identification of errors, ensuring an immediate modification even before it has interacted with the database. Overall, the MVC pattern makes it quite easy to differentiate logic from the presentation.

Reusability

As hinted earlier, CakePHP saves a lot of time through readily available source scripts. Since the programmer can always access pre-written codes, it could be base to several projects that have different applications. This allows the developer to focus more on the creative and logical part without bothering about the tedious task of re-coding.

Zero configurations

At no point in the coding or configuration process do developers need to specify website URL or a source library. CakePHP is programmed to auto-detect all these information, saving time for the developer. The only thing you do need to worry about is the platform’s database connection setting.

Wide community

Again, being open source, CakePHP is supported by a huge group of peers, always ready to share information and learn from each other. With so many contributors, new programmers always get access to new tools and features with CakePHP. The well maintained forum also makes it easier to research upon new development features and functionalities.

Built-in validation

This feature has been newly introduced into the CakePHP framework, making the language even more encouraging. Previously, the validation process was very basic. However, modern features bring in options of advanced validation rules into single field.

Overall, CakePHP is one of the easiest and most flexible programming languages a developer would come across. It has been the core of popular websites like mapme.com, followmy.tv, mygasfeed.com and many others.

According to statistics by w3techs, PHP is being used in 81.3% of all websites developed in server side programming language. It holds a market share comfortably above ASP.NET, Java, Static Files or ColdFusion. The use of PHP has been growing at a fast rate and it can unquestionably said to be the most popular programming language across the globe. But what makes PHP so intriguing? Here are some simple reasons:

Simplicity

PHP programming is just like composing an English article for the computer. Aside from the fact that the language is bits and bytes, PHP is compatible to be run on any system productively. Writing a PHP script is pretty straightforward and as opposed to other language, PHP doesn’t assemble difficult coding propensities. Thus programmers can write profoundly customized scripts.

Zero cost

PHP is an open source framework, meaning that it is free, handy and supported by loads of documentation. All of it makes PHP one of the savviest systems that have found its way into popular applications like Facebook, twitter, Wikipedia, WordPress and more. Being open source also means that PHP is ready available for new developers who want to test their aptitude in coding.

Great CMS

When the technology and internet is drifting towards dynamic content, PHP has met the need for high end CMS customization. PHP makes scripting amoebic, allowing developers to change codes as and when they will. Every site developed with PHP is highly adjustable and this opens the grounds for updates and changes that are a part and parcel of the modern market. Content management systems like Joomla, Drupal and WordPress have thus been made from PHP.

Versatile

Any PHP code can be run on all significant platforms, allowing designers to coordinate the sites in its different stages. For businesses, this would mean cost effective utilization of the current framework and working on platforms like UNIX, Linux and Windows and further an extra support to integrate Apace and MySQL.

Elastic, measurable and effective

This is clearly understood from the fact that the biggest social network, Facebook, runs on PHP. The usefulness of PHP for such a dynamic platform has also led to the creation of “Hack”, a subordinate language, to meet the changing development needs. PHP doesn’t require a server reboot to be updates as opposed to other competing languages.

Extensions and other ad-ons

PHP is the most adaptable language in the field of web development. It allows designers to create and add more updated functionalities that keep the end users hooked. Further, extensions and plugins helps new developers cope up with the programming challenges.

Highly supported

PHP is backed up by a huge library of resources and tutorials. Being open source, developers get to learn from users across the globe and this has been a defining reason why PHP is being adapted by every web developer today.

PHP has the capacity to support fast turnaround times and efficient but highly secure web platforms and applications. Let us know if your application and IT solutions too is driven by PHP.