question on php framework

greedyisg00d

I am new to php and I am just using xampp and dreamweaver when developing a website. So basically what is a php framework and do I need one in creating a website?

dagon

I would be inclined to leave php frameworks alone if your a newbie.

An Overview of PHP Framework Guides for Developers

handcraftedweb

greedyisg00d;10963349 wrote:
I am new to php and I am just using xampp and dreamweaver when developing a website. So basically what is a php framework and do I need one in creating a website?

One way to think of a framework is a big body of code that can be extended or tailored to fit your needs. I'd call WordPress a framework, and Drupal.

For simple things, using a framework takes too much work because it's takes time to learn how to use it. For complex things, building on top of a proven framework has a big payoff.

If I were new to PHP (actually I am new to PHP but I've done a lot of programming in other languages) I'd wouldn't plan on using a framework for a while. Study them, think about how to leverage them, but I'd focus on understanding the PHP language before attempting to build on a framework.

...Mike

dagon

handcraftedweb;10963352 wrote:
One way to think of a framework is a big body of code that can be extended or tailored to fit your needs. I'd call WordPress a framework, and Drupal.

Neither of theses are frameworks, they are content management systems.

NogDog

dagon;10963353 wrote:
Neither of theses are frameworks, they are content management systems.

I would tend to agree, as far as general usage and connotation go; though you can, in fact, use them as frameworks in a way, should you want to extend them by writing plug-ins and otherwise extending their PHP code base.

To the OP, most of the popular frameworks (e.g. Zend, CodeIgniter, Symfony, etc.) are object-oriented and require some understanding of object-oriented PHP. So, depending on your programming experience, you may first want to study OOPhp a bit before venturing into PHP frameworks. (If, on the other hand, you are coming to PHP from other OOP programming experience, then that need not be an issue.)

dagon

NogDog;10963354 wrote:
I would tend to agree, as far as general usage and connotation go; though you can, in fact, use them as frameworks in a way, should you want to extend them by writing plug-ins and otherwise extending their PHP code base.

You can extend a car in to an airplane or a submarine. However in both cases there are far better starting positions.

handcraftedweb

dagon;10963353 wrote:
Neither of theses are frameworks, they are content management systems.

OK, I stand corrected.

...Mike