Why I choose the Zend Framework
A while ago I decided to take my web development skills to the next level and embarked on a search for RAD environment that would greatly improve my productivity. After some Google searches I came across several top PHP frameworks such as Codeignite, Zend and a particularly interesting code generator called Codecharge studio.
Given my Delphi background Codecharge studio with its drag drop features was seemingly attractive. It was simple and it could generate a database application with ajax features within minutes. Infact I used it to set up a demo application for a bidding – that I lost. However I came to discover that code generators are inherently “evil”. They limit your creative space and tie you down – not good in a rather fast paced competive world.
From the advice and recommendations of a friend of mine Marc Gray he insited that I use a framework and better still make my own. Making my own was out of question because one of my requirements was that I want to use a framework will evolve outside myself and has a strong community.
After a couple of searches I was drawn to the Zend Framework. I must say it has a learning curve but the MVC structure it enforces makes it an overkill should your application grow. I liked the business model employed by Zend and the certification program that sets the stage for the enterprise adoption of PHP. Its association with companies such as Adobe for some of its componets such as Zend Action Message Format (AMF) server is very re-assuring for a developer because you are assured of its quality and personally creating backend code for my flex RIAs has never been so easy. The Zend Framework enabled me play around with the various web services around and thumbs up for Jon Lebonsold whose webcasts greatly accelarated my learning curve.Thanks Jon!!!
It goes without saying that zend is a framework worth learning and utilizing for php based projects. With its Eclipse-Based RAD its makes it a framework of choice.
