Best PHP Framework: A Reddit Summary

Symfony

• Symfony was mentioned multiple times as a solid PHP framework.
• One user recommended using Symfony as a microframework.
• Symfony is considered robust, modular, and scalable for various projects.

Slim

• Slim was highlighted as a lightweight and good choice for API development.
• It was recommended for simple projects and praised for its speed and ease of setup.

Laravel

• Laravel was mentioned as a straightforward framework with excellent documentation.
• It is popular for its ease of use, extensive packages, and support, particularly for authentication components.

CodeIgniter

• CodeIgniter was praised for its good documentation, ease of use, and powerful framework for getting started quickly.
• Some users mentioned it as a beneficial tool for starters but noted limitations like lack of PDO support.

Custom Frameworks

• Some users shared experiences of creating and using their own frameworks for specific projects.
• These custom frameworks were valued for being tailored to unique needs, leading to maintainable and efficient codebases.

Recommendations and Tips

• The Strangler Pattern was suggested for gradually refactoring legacy code into a modern framework.
• Refactoring was recommended over starting from scratch to avoid time-consuming rewrites that might lead to regressions and business value loss.
• Tools like static analysis and unit testing were recommended for code cleanup and modernization.

Microframeworks

• Users mentioned Flight PHP, Slim, Lumen, and LeafPHP as solid choices for microframeworks tailored to small projects or APIs.
• These frameworks are valued for their lightweight nature and efficiency for specific use cases.

Other Frameworks

• Mentioned frameworks like Phalcon, Peachpie, PhPit, FuelPHP, Kohana, CodeIgniter, Zend, Yii, and Agavi show a diverse range of options available for PHP development.

General Recommendations

• Users advised against full rewrites, favoring gradual refactoring and API modernization.
• Avoiding dependency bloat and considering both business value and developer experience were common themes in the comments.

This summary provides insight into various PHP frameworks, their strengths, and considerations when choosing a framework for different project requirements.