PHP MVC Frameworks and Symfony

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PHP MVC Frameworksand Symfony
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What is MVC?

• Model-View-Controller
• Separates
• M Data model
• V Presentation (UI)
• C Business logic
• Can change any of these three without affecting
  the others (in theory)

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Why use an MVC framework?

• Avoid reinventing the wheel
• Use proven, tested code
• Automation (ORM, generators)
• Maintainability
• Plugin functionality

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Flow Traditional vs. MVC
Query
Controller
Model
Processing
Output
Output
Query
Output
Processing
View
Final Output
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Popular PHP MVC Frameworks

• CakePHP
• Documentation is somewhat lacking
• Apparently difficult for beginners
• Symfony
• Great documentation and community
• Easy to get started
• Zend
• Supported by Zend (official PHP company)
• More of a library than complete framework

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Why did we choose Symfony?

• Steep learning curve, but
• Great documentation
• Great community
• Well-written and tested code
• Nice deployment system (PEAR / SVN)
• Extensive use of existing projects, instead of
  rewriting everything from scratch

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http//www.symfony-project.org
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Model
View
Controller
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Command line interface

• Has a command line interface
• Creates the basis for the module
• Helps with maintenance
• Easy to check if everything worked

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Object Relational Mapper (ORM)
YAML (Used in RoR)

• Propel gives database independence
• Id, created_at, foreign key fields are
  autogenerated

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Object Relational Mapper (ORM)

• Database tables classes table rows objects
• Auto-generated based on schema

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Admin Generator

• List, show, edit, add
• 4 pages, lt 30 LOC

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i18n and l10n
English (LTR)
Arabic (RTL)
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Symfony Plugins

• 100s of plugins
• Easy integration
• AJAX, CSS, CMS, SEO, Security, Flash, etc.

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• Diagnose Problems
• Check Execution Time
• Optimize SQL Queries

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Should you use an MVC framework for your next
project?

• Are there complex hierarchical relationships in
  your data?
• Will this project need to be maintained by more
  than one person for more than a year?
• Do you need the ability to add advanced features
  like AJAX without writing the code from scratch?
• Probably Yes. (unless its a throwaway)

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Which MVC Framework?

• .NET (official)
• Ruby on Rails
• PHP
• CakePHP
• Symfony
• Zend
• Use a well-established framework with good
  documentation and a large community

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More information

• Symfony Project
• http//www.symfony-project.org
• Syllogistic Software
• http//www.syllogisticsoftware.com
• Questions?
• Contact Jason Hanley jhanley_at_sylsft.com