Frameworks - a small selection

2022-03-14 development

Frameworks save a lot of time…
if you don’t have to search for the suitable one every time, and if you don’t have to learn it from base everytime ;)

I just got a selection for myself over the years that suit for most cases. It’s no comparison or such, it’s just what I use and why.
And maybe there is one or another that fits your needs too.

Microframework

FlightPHP

The smallest and simplest framework I know. Possible to do everything in one file, still good structure.
One Requirement, and the autoloader, nothing more.
Features (I use):

  • routing
  • simple structure
  • really NO dependencies
  • PHP 7.x and even 8.x “ready”
  • could even be used without composer
  • everything needs to be made by hand

PHP Framework

Symfony

It’s extremely scalable in modules, from microservice with doctrine or renderer or even bigger solutions
Features:

  • big community
  • good documentation
  • many modules already available (doctrine, twig, and so on…)
  • dependency Injection
  • debug bar - many useful information while developing
  • “built in” OPCache
  • could get memory hungry for extremely logical sites
  • could get a little bit “slower” for extremely logical sites (if not cached)
  • much practice (in my case ;) )

JS Framework

I’m more a backend developer and not settled in JS as I am in PHP, so the JS Framework selection is wider, and I got no favorite till now.

Frontend only

Vue

  • easy and fast to learn
  • performance is good
  • logic and design could be separated
  • growing community
  • close to classic html and js
  • gets slower at gigantic data (tables)
  • some ready to use plugins

React

  • well settled
  • so much documentation
  • better performance at more complicated sites
  • so many ready to use plugins…
  • no separation between logic and layout
  • way higher learning curve

note: take a look at svelte - looks like react “lite”

Ember

  • better debugging options
  • close to html
  • electron / cordova support
  • easier logic builds
  • predefined structure
  • hot reload while developing
  • complicated logic builds

Front + Backend

Meteor

  • three part model (backend, frontend, components that are used by both)
  • Fullstack / All in one environment
  • high learning curve

Backend

Node Js

  • no webserver needed
  • ability to create websockets

Gaming

Phaser

  • good documentation
  • kinda easy to use
  • many plugins
  • a bit limited

(3D) Graphics

PixieJS

  • kinda webgl microframework
  • limited features
  • small community
  • less plugins

Three.js

  • good documentation
  • used by web ar
  • good performance
  • higher learning curve

Babylon JS

  • good visual quality
  • high performance
  • well documented
  • clientside memory usage

CSS

Bootstrap

  • the classic - many use it
  • have most features that you will need
  • more features than you will need

MaterializeCSS

  • lighter than bootstrap
  • more pastel color themes by default
  • more at the “flat design” pattern than bootstrap(?)
  • some missing features

Framework Tools

Electron

Makes a html client side js app into a standalone desktop app, without the need to have version for mac, windows or linux.
One code 4 platforms - web, mac, windows and linux

Apache Cordova

Writing mobile apps with html/js with the possibility to use mobile based features like camera

Johnny-Five

Have to mention it, even if its more a library :p Coding low lvl hardware near IoT with NodeJs.

Google WebAR

“Upcoming” thematic. still not sure myself in which direction I personally will go…

#php #js #framework