PHP framework for a Noob to build a website?

[cbrunsdonza]

I would say try codeigniter its a very simple framework, then move on to symfony

+1

But I've stopped using Symfony as its too bloated, rather go with CakePHP. Developed since Symfony was in Beta (0.9) but will no longer touch it with Malemas middle finger.

[Nerhzelok]

CodeIgniter. Lots of training videos to work through on their site.

Nyah, you'll get going with CI very quickly. Brilliant documentation.

[eitai2001]

+1

But I've stopped using Symfony as its too bloated, rather go with CakePHP. Developed since Symfony was in Beta (0.9) but will no longer touch it with Malemas middle finger.

I read that Symfony 1.x was bloated, but they apparently fixed this with 2.x ... so perhaps maybe have a relook :P

I hear everywhere that CI is easy, and I believe that ... my only issue, is everywhere I read ... people are saying it is becoming outdated fast, because they try an keep the legacy support throughout. In fact, that comparison website listed earlier ... one of the comments was CI is so nineties and shouldn't be on the list

Seems a lot of good writing about Symfony 2 and Yii in the comments?

[eitai2001]

Reading up about Yii ... seems really good.
Apparently has these:
1) Scalable
2) Easy to learn
3) Fast

Not sure how it compares though, but everyone seems to be raving about it ... haven't found any bad words yet?

[EtienneK]

I read that Symfony 1.x was bloated, but they apparently fixed this with 2.x ... so perhaps maybe have a relook :P

I hear everywhere that CI is easy, and I believe that ... my only issue, is everywhere I read ... people are saying it is becoming outdated fast, because they try an keep the legacy support throughout. In fact, that comparison website listed earlier ... one of the comments was CI is so nineties and shouldn't be on the list

Seems a lot of good writing about Symfony 2 and Yii in the comments?

For you, since you're a noob (see topic), go for CakePHP or Code Igniter.

[eitai2001]

For you, since you're a noob (see topic), go for CakePHP or Code Igniter.

Yeah, that's also true ... but I've definitely ruled out CI because I just read everywhere how aged it is, and doesn't make use of PHP 5.3 features, etc.

I do think that Symfony may just be too advanced for me at this stage ... but since it was mentioned here, I'm reading into Yii, and it seems quite good ... have you heard of it / used it?

CakePHP also has its strengths though.

[EtienneK]

Yeah, that's also true ... but I've definitely ruled out CI because I just read everywhere how aged it is, and doesn't make use of PHP 5.3 features, etc.

I do think that Symfony may just be too advanced for me at this stage ... but since it was mentioned here, I'm reading into Yii, and it seems quite good ... have you heard of it / used it?

CakePHP also has its strengths though.

Must be honest, I have not had a look at Yii yet. I have kind of moved on from PHP development. Java and Node.js is where I'm at nowadays. The last PHP project I did was in CakePHP (I chose it after Symphony took me more than an hour to learn).

[eitai2001]

Must be honest, I have not had a look at Yii yet. I have kind of moved on from PHP development. Java and Node.js is where I'm at nowadays. The last PHP project I did was in CakePHP (I chose it after Symphony took me more than an hour to learn).

Me and Java are like the Emperor of Japan and Spanish ... but it will need to come one day :P

Yeah, after reading a bit I definitely think Symfony may just be beyond me for now while I'm new ... it may "put me off" even. However, reading around ... I found a few guys who have converted from CakePHP to Yii due to it being faster ... so that has to say something right? :P

Here's another way of asking it though, which would be the better framework if you were to rebuild the following sites:
- Pinterest
- Twitter
- Facebook (In it's earlier days)

These are just examples that would help me relate ... I'm not actually rebuilding any of them :P

[eitai2001]

I found this comparison performed by the guys at opensky.com for their own website ... but I like this list of requirements they put down, which they then compared against the various frameworks.



They left out Zend, CI, Cake and X Framework because their developers already knew it didn't meet a bunch of their requirements.

They ended up using Symfony, but one of their developers said it is an excellent platform, but lacks foundations, so you have to do a lot of that work yourself. So I have opted not to use Symfony due to my entry to this world.

However, it seems Yii does a lot of the stuff I need (although I would have liked YML, but not a biggie) ... and I have come across some nice big sites powered by it, and so I have decided to go the Yii route.

I have opted not to use Cake, because everywhere I read, it is apparently a lot slower, and I have read a couple cake guys who moved to Yii.
Also Yii is also very well documented ... there is a fairly biggish community now and all the functions of Yii are listed in the online documentation.

I opted not to use CI, because everywhere I read, it's an old-school framework whose upgrades keep legacy support an important aspect, and it just seems Yii (and Symfony and a few others) are better suited to Web 2.0.

Now as was said here ... let me get it to work :P

Do any of you guys have any tips, or links to decent information on the best way to plan a project like this?
I have plotted down stuff like pages I want, and made database schema's, etc ... but that's about as good as I know how to do.

I don't have much time to read through tons of material on planning, so if you have any summarised tips ... I'd appreciate that

[EtienneK]

eitai2001, like I've stated, just get started.

This is your first project. What you should be learning is the basics. Any of the mentioned frameworks will teach you that.

Just get something running; that alone will be a great first step. Don't worry about the rest, yet.

Make it work. Make it right. Make it fast.

[eitai2001]

eitai2001, like I've stated, just get started.

This is your first project. What you should be learning is the basics. Any of the mentioned frameworks will teach you that.

Just get something running; that alone will be a great first step. Don't worry about the rest, yet.

Make it work. Make it right. Make it fast.

Thanks Etienne ... when you refer to basics ... which basics are you referring to? I have PHP experience, just not much framework experience (except playing around with modules and templates in Magento which uses Zend, so some, but not much).

My main concern is I want to use (and learn) the best suited framework from the start ... so make it work, agreed, but in the best suited framework. Make it right to me means debugging, adding features, etc ... I don't think it should be redesign it or port it into a new framework.

But from What I've seen with Yii, it is relatively easy to learn, and powerful enough, and there are examples of relatively high bandwidth sites using it.

If you got to know me, you will know I am someone that wants to do it right the first time ... if I build it, and then realise I need to port it or something to a better framework, I will probably lose interest