Contemporary computer technologies/3. Software

Student – Shotkin R.K., co-author M.Eng. Otinova I.V.

North Kazakhstan State University named after M.Kozybaev

THE COMPARISON OF PHP-FRAMEWORKS

Framework – a structure of software system; software which makes the development and the combination of various components of big software projects easy.

Framework – frame of software system (or subsystem). It can include auxiliary software, library code, the scripting language and other software which facilitate the development and the combination of different components of a big software project. Usually, the combination occurs by using the unified API[1].

Framework allows users to create applications faster and more correctly, the use of frameworks became popular and it is even being used by experienced users.

The ability to use php-frameworks is topical. Nowadays, there are a lot of job offers which require computer programmers with the work experience in frameworks.

There is another opinion which states that use of frameworks forces users to work in “frames” which has no place for the development and self-expression. Moreover, users of frameworks do not try to understand the way that frameworks work, but they use it just in order to achieve the aim of completion.

According to the information above, this article tries to solve problem of finding the best framework in order to create a web-product. Therefore, let’s discuss pros and cons of popular php-frameworks.

Let’s take a look on popular frameworks CakePHP, CodeIgniter, Yii.

CakePHP

Installation: During the installation problems occur with Apache, while in the data sheet of this framework it is not mentioned. It requires editing 3 files .htaccess by adding the command “RewriteBase”.

Use: It requires knowing Helpers, Actions, Behaviours, Layouts, Components in order to work properly with this framework.

Data sheet: The data sheet seems to be complete and easy to read. There is no “Troubleshooting” section in the data sheet.

Flexibility: CakePHP is designed on the agreements. The given framework expects certain names of files, classes, databases, methods, and etc. from users.

CodeIgniter(CI)

Installation: Trivial. It requires unpacking files, and then the framework is ready to work.

Use: CodeIgniter is quite simple. The data sheet proves this statement.

Data sheet: It is simple and easy to read. There are various internet resources about the work with CI and partial translation of the entire data sheet.

Flexibility: CI is quite flexible in the use, it uses MVC pattern.

Yii

Installation: Yii is simple. It requires launching yii in order to create the web root directory. It has PHP-version as well (yii.php) which optimizes the work of framework if you do not have ssh-access. Yii has good data sheet.

Use: Yii seems to be simple and easy to understand, a bit more difficult than CodeIgniter.

Data sheet: The search for data sheet by using Yii does not require a lot of efforts, the entire information about this framework is easy to understand and accessible.

Flexibility: Yii is as flexible as CI. Yii uses MVC pattern like CI does.

The following table indicates the resultant table of comparison of frameworks which has five-point rating scale, names of frameworks and parameters of these frameworks. A web-programmer who used these frameworks has participated in this rating.

Framework Parameter	CakePHP	CodeIgniter	Yii
Simpleness	3	5	4
Data sheet	4	5	5
Performance	4	5	5
Flexibility	3	4	4
Safety	3	4	5

As we can see, CodeIgniter and Yii showed themselves very good, while CakePHP does not that well in terms of several parameters. In conclusion, every user can choose the framework which would fit in his work.

Reference List

1. Framework. http://www.sbup.com/wiki/фреймворк (File Date: 13.02.2010. Current Date: 03.12.2014).