Enterprise Level Web Development – Why PHP6 for It?

As a hugely popular server side scripting language, PHP needs no introduction. Along with being fast, scalable, flexible, open source and easy to learn, PHP also supports both procedural and object oriented programming. The developers also have options to use the rich set of inbuilt functions and avail the support of active community to avoid writing additional code. PHP is also widely for developing enterprise software applications that provide a wide range of services.

But the server side scripting language was earlier criticized due to lack of native Unicode support at the core language level. PHP6 is designed with true support for Unicode (UTF-8). It further allows developers to disable the Unicode support on the basis of individual software. At the same time, PHP6 also comes with a several new features and enhanced capabilities to complement the needs of enterprise level web designing.

PHP6 Features that Effectuates Enterprise Level Web Development

Unicode Support: As noted earlier, version 6.0 of PHP is designed with full support for Unicode (UTF-8). So the programmers now have option to use Unicode with larger (64 bit integers). At the same time, they also have option to enable or disable the option based on individual supports. The feature further make the PHP6 overcome the limitation of earlier versions.

Namespace: Many programmers use namespace to avoid collision of functions and classes with same name. They can use namespace to keep the names of the classes and methods readable by without using prefixes in naming conventions. PHP6 allows programmers to keep their code readable, while allowing the same class name or method name to be used by others without creating any problem. The feature will facilitate the development of enterprise applications in a distributed environment.

Caching Improvements: PHP6 also come with several caching improvements. Its caching features are improved at the application as well as the page (opcode) level. Also, the Alternative PHP Cache (APC) is moved to the core language level.

Revamped MySQL Driver: The version 6.0 of PHP development also includes a completely revamped MySQL database driver written in the Zend engine. Now the MySQL driver works with ext/mysql, ext/mysqli and PDO/mysql. The revamped database driver facilitates lower memory usage and faster execution, while supporting client side cache and performance statistics.

Syntax Changes: PHP6 comes with a number of changes in syntax. The syntax changes are made with the objective to make the coding simple and readable. Like “goto”, the programmers now have option to jump to a particular labeled point down the execution path. Likewise, the [] operator for strings and arrays now support the substr() or array_slice() functionality respectively.

Web 2.0 Features: PHP6 further makes it easier for developers to optimize the functionality and performance of the enterprise web application by incorporating web 2.0 features. As the enterprise applications are designed according to specific needs of an organization, their features and functionality vary. Most enterprise applications are designed as customized business-oriented tools to deliver specific services. The web 2.0 features make it easier for programmers to create complex and custom enterprise apps within a shorter span of time.

Updated Tools to Edit PHP Coding: Since the release of PHP 6.0, many IDEs and development tools are being upgraded to support the new release. Now the programmers have option to use upgraded version of Zend Studio, Eclipse PDT and similar IDEs with PHP support. The upgraded tools make simplify both code writing and editing process. The programmers can use the updated tools to complete PHP6 coding without putting any extra effort and time.

While using PHP6 for enterprise level web application development, the programmers have option to use several frameworks. They can use frameworks for developing and testing PHP enterprise applications without putting any extra time and effort. At the same time, the improved capabilities of PHP6 make it easier for programmers to create complex enterprise level websites and internet applications.

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How powerful is Apigility 1.0 API Builder released by Zend?

Apigility 1.0 from Zend is actually a standard interface that is developed to build, maintain, design, and implement Application Programming Interfaces or APIs. The interface works to simplify as well as ease the support along with compatibility for the advanced traits of API like versioning, handling of errors, documentation, validation, and so on.

The architectures that are based on API have integrated applications for future proofing, and this allows the same API to be utilized across multiple form factors as well as various types of mobile devices. The API can also be reused in various applications throughout the technology ecosystem of an organization. This is where the real power or strength of Apigility 1.0 lies.

Experts are of the opinion that once the companies have constructed an appropriate API set, they are able to support various web as well as mobile based applications the data or services of which are generally provided by a number of backend systems. Besides, the developers are also able to use Apigility 1.0 Application Programming Interface Builder to build up APIs that are capable of enabling mobile apps, community of developers, and access of consumers to applications. It also automates a few processes of creating the APIs, thereby helping the developers in evolving their APIs, to meet the requirements as they keep on changing. This may include addition, updating, removal of APIs to make them tailor made to meet the specifications that are required to address the requirements of the businesses in question.

Another factor that provides Apigility a substantial amount of power is its ability to let any PHP based business logic to get enabled by Application Programming Interface, irrespective of the way it is written along with the type of framework (if any) that is used. It can also verify the capability of each and every client when it comes to viewing any application. It can also evaluate whether the data that is submitted to an Application Programming Interface, is of an acceptable content type. If not, then Apigility can even send back a suitable response that clearly indicates that the API is not able to provide a representation or it is unable to understand the logic of the data.

It also supports more than one version of the same API, besides providing developers a unique option of supporting the old as well as the very last clients simultaneously, thus automating the process of version negotiation to the fullest extent. The user interface also allows the developers to deal with all the API versions from a single, centralized point, make provisions for the newer version whenever needed.

The power of Apigility 1.0 lies in its simplicity along with its standard interface that is apt for building as well as maintaining high quality of the Application Programming Interfaces, which are extremely important to power the modern interconnected applications. These applications are absolutely irreplaceable, when it comes to helping businesses in innovation along with helping them to attain success through agility. Apigility also helps to get rid of the challenges and obstacles that plague designing as well as implementation of the APIs. In short, the real power of Apigility 1.0 comes from its following properties:

Creation of APIs with REST and RPC services– Developers are able to create various new APIs with the help of REST as well as RPC services, by providing a wide range of web based services.

API authentication– It helps in adding authorization as well as authentication to the APIs, thereby enabling various credentials to be assigned to certain specific users.

API documentation– It also helps developers in documentation of their Application Programming Interfaces, by providing credible references to the end-users or consumers.

Besides, Apigility 1.0 also takes care of error handling, validation, negotiation of contents, versioning. You can get in touch with a php web development company India who can help you develop web apps that are stable, scalable and secure.

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Can you avoid LAMP development and expect growth in business?

The solution stack of software programs called LAMP, offers a wonderful platform so that web based applications can be easily developed as well as implemented. The first letters of components that are included in this formulate the name. The components are Linux which is an operating system, Apache which is a HTTP server, MySql which is the database and PHP, Perl or Python which are the scripting languages. This platform is open source; it can be used for both complex as well as simple work.

Components

Linux– This operating system is open source, ensuring efficient running of all components. Its cross-platform compatibility is a hugely popular feature.

Apache– This web server helps in connecting web applications with the users. Apache servers are responsible for the application’s stability. The conjunction between Apache and PHP result in the creation of dynamic pages, resulting in applications that are highly interactive.

MySQL– Data storing is mandatory for applications and this function is performed by the relational database management system which is highly capable and used generally to run enterprise level sites.

PHP– It acts as the glue holding every component together in the system. All dynamic content can be written in the language so that the data that is stored in the database can be accessed.

These days, most developers as well as businesses are finding it harder to avoid using LAMP with every passing day. In fact when using the platform, it is not a strict requirement for you to install all LAMP elements; you can select any one of the P elements. The platform has so many benefits that avoiding it is not really much of an option anymore. At some point or the other any of the above elements has to be used. In fact business growth may be hampered up to a certain level by avoiding LAMP development. Here is a list of benefits to show how.

Customization– The open source nature of LAMP components help in building up of a large assortment of extra modules as well as components which supply additional functionality. So you can easily customize functionality along with components that suit your requirements.

Flexibility– LAMP stack give you a bundle of unlimited options both in terms of licensing restrictions as well as technicalities. You get full flexibility so that applications can be built as well as deployed in the most suitable methods, regardless of the technology supplier currently being used.

Ease of deployment- There is no need for compiling of applications or dealing with licensing issues which make deployment really easy, just like copying some application to some new host. LAMP-based environments are provided by major hosting services as standards so that a Linux distribution may be deployed like Debian or Fedora.

Ease of development- Powerful applications can be written by virtue of the technology in relatively fewer code lines. The simplicity and straightforwardness of the code makes sure that modification or extension of the application can be done even by nonprogrammers.

Community along with support- During the deployment and development of such applications, you can take the support and help of many experienced people which makes the job a lot easier for any developer- even if he or she is new to it.

Security– The software has been developed by many people and a huge range of community groups as well as users have been using it. This has resulted in the high stability and security of the technology. Normally problems can be fixed really quickly and there is no need to go for expensive support contracts.

Despite several brand new platforms such as ASP.NET, J2EE, Ruby on Rails, etc on the market, the popularity of LAMP has not lost its sheen. The low barrier entrance along with low cost and several benefits mentioned above have contributed to its immense status, making it excellent choice for applications especially for enterprises. You can get in touch with a php application development company India who can help you develop web apps that are stable, scalable and secure.

We provide php web development services. If you would like to hire php developers for your web development needs, please contact Mindfire Solutions.

PHP for Healthcare Industry – What can be done?

The innovative enterprises apps have completely transformed the healthcare industry. Many companies frequently launch healthcare applications to help users in accessing their personal healthcare records and information anytime, anywhere. At the same time, some companies even launch enterprise apps to help healthcare service providers in providing improved and prompt services to their patients without incurring any additional cost.

Many clinicians even opt for custom made healthcare solutions to avail a number of advantages. In addition to implementing electronic health record management system and billing system, the customized healthcare enterprise app will further make it easier for you to speed up insurance claim processing and market health related products and services. However, it is also important for the healthcare service provider create the customized enterprise application by using a powerful technology like PHP.

How PHP Helps Clinicians in Effectuating Healthcare Management?

Usable for Creating a Variety of Applications: Despite being designed originally as a server-side scripting language, PHP is also used as a general purpose programming language. So it can be used for creating desktop, web and mobile applications. As the healthcare application needs to be accessible by users on a variety of devices, PHP is the best option to develop the application. The application can be further accessed on major operating systems, web browsers and mobile platforms.

Create Data Driven Applications: Normally, the electronic healthcare systems are required to manage large volumes of data. The healthcare data of patients also need to be updated on a regular basis. Thus, many clinicians opt for data driven enterprise apps. A PHP application can work seamlessly with a several widely used databases including MySQL, SQLite, dBase, FrontBase, InterBase, ODBC and IBM DB2. The fast data processing feature of the programming language further makes it easier for developers to create data-driven healthcare enterprise and EHR systems.

Efficient EHR Management Systems: The EHR systems must allow patients to access their health records in a quick and hassle-free way. At the same time, the application must be effective in simultaneously processing a large number of client requests. As a powerful technology, PHP is being used by some of the very widely visited websites and social networking platforms. So the PHP healthcare application can efficiently handle a large number of visitors at a time.

Easy to Update and Share Healthcare Information: Unlike other application, an EHR system must provide the most updated information to users. Some clinics even allow patients to update their health records periodically to make the information more relevant and current. Many developers find it easier to create and maintain PHP applications. Further, the developers can add new features and functionality to the system without putting any extra effort. Thus, the system can be easily updated to meet your specific healthcare management needs.

Optimize the Application for Mobile Devices: The mobile devices have enabled patients to access their health records anytime and anywhere. Most users nowadays access their electronic health records on their smartphones, tablets and phablets. So the EHR system of a clinic must be accessible across mobile platforms and devices. The PHP frameworks have made it easier for developers to create mobile applications without putting any additional time and effort. Further, they can optimize the online healthcare management systems for the mobile devices. Thus, it becomes much easier to create a healthcare enterprise application that can be accessed by users on variety of devices.

Despite being a powerful and popular programming language, PHP is open source and free. So the technology will help you in creating the healthcare enterprise application without spending a lot of money. You can further use the open source PHP frameworks to curtail the development cost and time.You can get in touch with a php development company India who can help you develop web apps that are stable, scalable and secure.

We provide php website development services. If you would like to hire php developers India for your web development needs, please contact Mindfire Solutions.

PHP to Develop an E-Commerce Site – Should We Go Ahead or Not?

The right ecommerce site can make a huge difference to any business. In addition to increasing online sales and revenues, the website will further help the business in retaining valuable customers. That is why; enterprises often find it daunting to choose the right platform to gauge their business online. If you are exploring options to build your ecommerce website, it is a great idea to choose PHP.

Like other programming languages, PHP is also effective in optimizing your website’s look, feel and performance. But the technology allows you complete the project rapidly by availing navigational tools, content management systems, libraries and extensions. At the same time, you also have option to choose from widely used PHP ecommerce frameworks like Magento, X-Cart, osCommerce and Zen Cart to create and run your online store without putting any extra time and effort.

Why Use PHP Frameworks to Develop an E-Commerce Site

Add Unlimited Items and Catalogs: Once you create the ecommerce site, it has to be updated frequently to include new products and catalogs. The PHP frameworks make it easier for you to add as many catalogs you want without any hassle. Thus, the existing product list can be updated frequently to complement the expansion or growth of your online store.

Add Many Manufacturers and Brands: There are also chances that your web store has to deal with products launched by different manufacturers or under different brands. So the website needs to be updated to showcase all these brands. The widely used PHP frameworks allow you to add new manufacturers and brands without any restriction.

Support for Multiple Currencies: The web store allows you to sell products to customers residing in different countries and regions. So you have to look for a payment system that supports multiple currencies. In addition to allowing customers to see the price of a product in a specific currency, the website must allow them to pay in their own currency. The PHP frameworks enable you to add multiple currencies to the online shop. As the customers have option to pay without any hassle, the website will help in increasing your online sales.

Integrate Major Payment Gateway: To optimize the performance of your online store, you have to use one of the most widely used and popular payment gateways and online payment processor. PHP frameworks make it easier to integrate third-party applications to the website. Thus, you can always deliver richer user experience by incorporating a widely used payment gateways and online payment processing system.

Administrator Panel: An ecommerce website also needs to be updated frequently to manage both product listing and prices. So you have to explore ways to administer the web store without deploying a fulltime website admin. The PHP frameworks make it easier for you to manage the product listing and prices through an easy-to-use admin panel. The admin panel can be further customized by the developer according to the way you want to manage the ecommerce website.

Option to Post Customer Reviews: You can always enhance the credibility and reputation of your web store by allowing customers to post reviews and comments. The product reviews and ratings can be displayed on your website to gain the trust of new customers. The PHP frameworks make it easier for you to allow customers to post reviews, and showcase the reviews to new customers to gain their trust.

PHP Online Forum: While creating an ecommerce site with PHP, a developer can avail assistance from several PHP web development forums. As the technology is used widely to create ecommerce portals, the developer can avail relevant help to complete the project rapidly. At the same time, the website administrators can use PHP scripts to monitor the activities of website visitors, and take relevant action to convert them into customers.

Unlike other technologies, PHP is both open source and free. Further, you have option to create the ecommerce portal by using a number of open source PHP frameworks. Thus, PHP will further make it easier for your business to launch and run a web store without investing a lot of money.

We provide php website development services. If you would like to hire php programmer for your web development needs, please contact us Mindfire Solutions.

Compare, Ponder and Choose- The Right PHP Framework

With more and more local businesses going online, web application developers often find it a daunting challenge to impress clients. Along with optimizing the performance, scalability and aesthetics of the website, it has also become essential for a programmer to complete the project at a rapid pace. Therefore, most developers use PHP frameworks to build a powerful web application at a rapid pace without writing lengthy code. The frameworks further allow programmers to reuse code for projects of similar nature. A programmer also has option to pick from a wide variety of PHP frameworks. So each developer must know some of the widely used PHP frameworks to choose the right option according to the specific needs of his project.

5 of the Widely Used PHP Frameworks for Web Development

Symfony: As a full-stack framework, Symfony is popular among beginners due to its simple and easy-to-use nature. The novice web developers also have options to access a wide range of books and tutorials to resolve problems. The latest version of the framework comes with a comprehensive library of classes written in PHP 5, components, tools, test suites and template engines, along with architecture to build complex websites at a rapid pace. The programmers can further use the command line generators to start new projects quickly, while availing the advantages like automatic code generation. But a user has to put some amount of time and effort to understand Symfony, as it is different from other PHP frameworks.

Zend: As an open source framework, Zend allows programmers to build a variety of web application and web services using the new features of PHP 5.3+ like namespaces, lambda functions, late static binding and closures. It is also popular due to its own IDE and web browser support. Zend is also widely used by programmers across the globe due to its effectiveness in form creation and data filteration. With more than 15 million downloads, Zend framework has become synonymous with PHP web application development. However, the innovative and advances features make Zend complex. So the beginners often find it difficult to start using the PHP development framework. But the framework is the best bet for programmers who are familiar with the software.

Yii: Within a very short span of time, Yii has joined the league of the best and widely used PHP frameworks till date. It also targets most of the small problems that other frameworks ignore. Along with being future-friendly and highly functional, the framework further allows developers to solve new problems arising during the coding phase. It also saves the time of programmers by simplifying some of the repetitive tasks like creating, reading, updating and deleting the code. A programmer can automatically generates the base code, and saves developers from writing longer lines of code. However, the beginners do not have options to access books and tutorials related to Yii as the framework is comparatively new.

Codeignitor : The easy-to-use to features of the PHP development framework has made it popular among both experienced developers and beginners. It also provides a comprehensive architecture and a simple yet elegant toolkit to rapidly build robust web applications. As Codeignitor is designed with an MVC folder, it makes easier to separate business logic from presentation without putting any extra effort. At the same time, the lightweight software further enables developers to optimize user experience by integrating third-party applications. A developer also has option to access good documentation, and avail the assistance of a large community to solve problems immediately. However, the Codeignitor allows freeway coding that is prone to various types of errors.

CakePHP : CakePHP is widely used by web programmers to build, deploy and maintain a variety of complex web applications at a rapid pace. The framework further allows programmers to avail several advantages by writing PHP4 compatible code. A programmer can avail several advantages by using this PHP development framework including high performance, large-scale monolithic libraries, standard hosting compatibility, minimal configuration, and clear documentation. The beginners can further avail support by accessing tutorials, message boards and groups. But CakePHP is designed with a set of strict conventions that affects its flexibility.

A web application developer has option to pick from a large number of PHP frameworks. Each framework is further designed with a set of features and functionality to enable programmers to build websites at rapid pace. But a programmer must understand the pros and cons of each PHP framework before choosing the right option. It is also important to pick a PHP framework by keeping in mind specific needs of the web development project. While thinking to outsource php development projects, clients are looking at developers who have solid expertise in specific framework and not just generic PHP.

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Lamp Development for Developing Dynamic Websites

Many developers look for innovative open source software to develop dynamic websites at rapid pace. Often developers have to adjust their code to make the internet application compatible with most operating systems, web servers, databases and browsers. But some free and open source software like LAMP enables web developers to avail advantages of several platforms. In fact, the term LAMP is an acronym that represents the first letters of Linux, Apache web server, MySQL, and PHP, Python or Perl.

However, the combination of the software included in a LAMP package may vary based on the web scripting software. The huge popularity of LAMP has further encouraged many companies by launching customized packages with different combination of web server, database, software language and operating system. For instance, the developers using Microsoft Windows platform can use the WAMP package that runs seamlessly on IIS. So a company can easily customize the open source product to meet specific requirements of its project.

What Makes LAMP the Best Choice for Dynamic Web Development?

Innovative Development Tools
Most developers look for customized tools to avoid longer lines of code. The use of tools also contributes towards shortening the project timeframe. As a LAMP package includes Linux, Apache, PHP and MySQL, each developer has options to choose from a wide variety of tools to complement the needs of the internet application. Along with providing a huge amount of flexibility and freedom to users to implement their ideas, the tools also make it easier for them to optimize the look, feel and performance of the website without putting any extra time and effort.

Options to Build Platform-Independent Web Applications
The constant changes in the choices of modern users have made it essential for programmers to explore creative options to make the internet application dynamic. To become hugely popular, each application needs to be compatible with major operating systems, web servers and databases. Also, the choice of scripting language is also selected according to the nature of the application. So each programmer has to write and edit the code to optimize the performance and scalability of the website. With LAMP, a developer can easily develop web application that can avail the benefits provided by some of the widely used databases, web servers and programming languages. So the web application becomes effective in targeting users across the world.

Easy to Write Bug-Free Code
To become popular, a web application also needs to be bug-free. While writing the code, many programmers explore options to make it bug-free. The LAMP stack makes it easier for developers to write bug-free code. The option is more important for the enterprises that are yet to adopt the agile testing methodology. The stack will ensure that the code remains bug-free, and the programmer is not required to spend time in identifying and fixing bugs. The early identification and fixing of bugs also help the enterprise in launching the website as per the predetermined schedule.

Easy to Deploy the Web Application
Along with developing a bug-free web application, the programmers also need to deploy it in an exact manner. Many programmers find it more challenging to deploy a website. They also find it a daunting challenge to the programming language seamlessly with the database and web server. But the LAMP package does not require programmers to put any extra time and effort for integrating the programming language, web server and database. As PHP is used by the product as a standard Apache module, the developers can deploy the LAMP web application in a hassle-free way.

Build Applications Locally
Many companies prefer developing websites locally. They want to develop and test the web application locally, before deploying it onto the web. The features and tools provided by LAMP allow enterprises to build the website locally. Also, the performance of the application can be evaluated and optimized before deploying it online. The local development feature also saves resources, and contributes towards keeping the project cost under control.

As LAMP is an open source product and can be customized easily, it can complement the requirements and budget of all types of enterprises. Without investing a huge amount of money, an enterprise can use the product impress clients by building dynamic websites and web applications at a rapid pace. You can hire developers from top php application development companies in India who can help you build projects within allocated budgets and time schedules.

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.

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. They have to use MD5 (http://us3.php.net/md5) to encrypt passwords into the database, which is a good protective way to keep data secure.

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.

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.

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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.