Two Reasons You Should Not Use PHP

Rejuvenating PHP: Dispelling Misconceptions and Embracing Opportunities

In the world of web development, PHP has witnessed its share of transformations and controversies. Despite doubts and speculations, it continues to thrive in its own unique way.

1. The Resilience of PHP

Is PHP on the verge of extinction, or is it more resilient than we think? Let’s explore the facts.

The Decline Myth

PHP’s popularity has taken a hit in recent years, with claims of its impending demise. Is there any truth to this?

Over the past year, PHP’s share in the backend web technology landscape decreased by 1.6%. If this trend persists, PHP could drop below 50% in 18 years. However, it’s crucial to scrutinize these numbers.

The idea that PHP is dying has been circulating since 2013 when concerns about its support for long-lived processes and lack of asynchronicity arose. While these criticisms have merit, it’s essential to consider PHP’s adaptability.

A Wider Perspective

PHP’s decline isn’t unique; many languages have faced similar challenges. Let’s compare its “death rate” to other programming languages.

Data from GitHut 2.0 reveals that PHP, along with languages like Ruby, C/C++, and Python, has experienced a decline on GitHub. However, there’s an upward trend, suggesting possible resurgence.

Contrary to expectations, a declining language shouldn’t attract an increasing number of job offers. As of now, there are 171 PHP-related job postings on a leading Polish job portal, including 50 for junior positions.

Additionally, PHP’s sustainability is backed by The PHP Foundation, an independent open-source community that financially supports PHP developers through contributions from companies like JetBrains and Symfony Corp, as well as individual developers.

2. PHP: Debunking the Dreadful Reputation

PHP has often been criticized for its quirks and idiosyncrasies. Is it as dreadful as it seems?

The Dreadful Perception

Developers familiar with strongly typed languages have frequently labeled PHP as “dreadful.” Let’s delve into why.

According to the 2021 StackOverflow survey, nearly 60% of respondents found PHP to be “dreadful.” This perception is rooted in the language’s historical memory issues and other quirks.

For instance, the infamous memory problem in PHP can be exemplified by code that causes memory errors. PHP’s naming conventions and parameter order, such as str_ and array_, have also drawn criticism.

The Transformation

While PHP has had its quirks in the past, it has evolved significantly. Explore the improvements and opportunities it offers today.

PHP has undergone a significant transformation, allowing for modern coding practices. Features like object properties initialization simplify code, and frameworks like Symfony enable the development of Domain-Driven Design (DDD) applications.

To address PHP’s asynchronicity limitations, developers can utilize tools like Message Bus. Despite its perceived limitations, PHP can still find unconventional uses, as demonstrated by a PHP console game built with Symfony + Docker.

One of PHP’s strengths lies in its accessibility to new developers. Robust documentation for frameworks like Symfony and Laravel, along with PHP’s own documentation, eases the entry into backend development. Additional libraries, such as Laravel Nova, streamline component development.

3. PHP’s Path Forward

PHP may have an image problem, but it has the potential to thrive. What steps can we take to ensure its future success?

A Brighter Future

PHP isn’t dying; it’s evolving. To secure its place in the programming landscape, we must contribute to its growth.

PHP, a two-decade-old language, has weathered previous storms in the tech world. With concerted efforts to educate the new generation and share best practices, PHP can find its niche and continue to thrive.

As an industry, we can collectively improve PHP’s image through articles, libraries, and guidance. With dedication and innovation, PHP may well experience a resurgence, potentially with PHP 10.x on the horizon.

In conclusion, PHP’s journey is far from over. While challenges persist, the language’s adaptability and the commitment of its community ensure a promising future. It’s time to reevaluate PHP and embrace the opportunities it offers in the ever-evolving world of web development.