Last Updated on 2024-10-11
PHP is one of the most developer-friendly languages to work with and the most reliable tool for a startup. Read on to learn more about PHP development.
The reason why programming languages exist is for us to communicate effectively with computers. Over the years, these languages have evolved drastically in their functionalities.
But how do โoutdatedโ languages like PHP stay relevant today? Strangely enough, it makes up the foundation of a lot of current popular websites. To further understand this, letโs first learn the basics of what PHP is.
What is PHP development?
PHP is an open-source scripting language commonly used for web development and business applications. It is the go-to language if you want to create something on a web server. From blogs, software-as-a-service applications, scripts, and even complicated software projects,
PHP is pretty flexible and most websites use it for that very reason. It can also interact with different database languages and can run on Windows, Unix, and Linux servers.
To date, itโs one of the most widely-used languages for software development. According to the W3techs survey, 78.9% of all running websites with a known server-side programming language use PHP. Some of the biggest names that use PHP for their websites even today are:
The biggest social media network was originally developed using PHP. In fact, it even led to the development of a new PHP-derived language called Hack. Designed to interoperate seamlessly with PHP, Hack allows developers to update and change the existing PHP codebase continuously.ย ย ย
Wikipedia
PHP is part of what makes up the popular information hub Wikipedia. Although its development involves other programming languages, MediaWiki (Wikipediaโs engine) heavily relies on PHPโs functionality. If youโre familiar with Wikiโs feature that allows users to edit its page info, thatโs done through PHP processing and data display.
iStockPhoto
The famous photo website is one of the biggest resources for various graphics, images, and visuals. Itโs the number one resource for bloggers, professionals, and students to collect free visuals to use in their projects. And PHP happens to play a key role in the creation of this website.
WordPress
WordPress powers at least 25% of all existing websites. The Full Scale blog youโre reading now runs on WordPress. This famous content management system was written in PHP and takes full advantage of all its features.
WordPress processes such as checking options, image uploads, and form fields all tap into PHPโs code functionalities.
The abovementioned sites are just a few notable names that based their operations on PHP. Through them, itโs safe to say the whole PHP is dead myth will continue to be a myth.
Web Application Development with PHP
Now that weโve learned the basics of PHP development, itโs time to dive deeper into the whyโs and howโs of it. Why do businesses use PHP?
Of all other languages out there, why is it still a popular choice among brands? How does it differ from other languages?
To answer these questions, here are the reasons businesses use PHP:
Affordability
Because PHP is an open-source technology, startups can easily create their website with minimal expense. Itโs easy to download PHP development tools without breaking the bank.ย ย
Speed
Perfect for E-commerce, PHP allows you to build apps quickly through its frameworks and other PHP development tools. Because PHP uses its own memory, it can create attractive business applications with a fast loading time.
Security
PHP has a security layer that protects startup owners from potential viruses and security threats. PHP developers can create accurate error reports, set limitations, and ensure that users enter mandatory and appropriate data.
Developer-friendly
PHP developers can conveniently update existing websites with ease because most sites that run on PHP have an easy-to-comprehend database.
PHP is generally regarded as an easy-to-learn programming language. You donโt have to worry about finding developers to implement it. But finding the right developer to do it, well, is a whole other story.
Even with the emergence of hundreds of other languages, PHP still stands out as the most reliable and flexible language to create a website. Whatever type of software project it is, PHP presents some great solutions for it.
And with all that said, itโs time to look for the right people to implement this highly versatile language.
What is a PHP Developer?
A PHP developer specializes in creating websites and applications using a dynamic scripting language. Depending on the project, PHP developers can be classified as software developers or web developers. Assign them to either create user interfaces or work behind the scenes of the website.
So, what do you look for when you hire PHP developers?
The most important factor to consider would be their work experience. Although certifications and educational attainments are impressive, the developerโs work in the field would drastically affect his or her work.
Ideally, your PHP developer should have worked with various PHP development tools in the past.
As we all know, the software field is constantly evolving. Hence, your PHP developer should be able to keep up with the latest tools. PHP has already released multiple versions since it was launched. Itโs important to review your candidateโs knowledge about the language and its trends throughout the years.
As a startup owner, you can browse through your candidateโs web development portfolio first and see if itโs to your liking.
Once youโve got that covered, you can look into all the different options for hiring a developer.
Hire with Full Scale
The recruitment scene in the US is pretty complicated. With the overflowing demand for developers, youโll have a very difficult time finding good candidates for your project. The shortage of developer talent makes it ten times more challenging to add dedicated workers to your team.
This is why most startups look into the alternative option of offshoring. Offshoring allows you access to a wider talent pool at a much lower cost. Not only will you find the best candidates, but youโll also be able to manage them conveniently.
Full Scale offers a great solution for your business needs. We have a wide range of software development services you can choose from to scale your startup. Weโll build your software team and manage them for you.
You can concentrate on expanding your business while we take care of all the nitty-gritty processes of hiring.
Interested? Talk to us!ย
Matt Watson is a serial tech entrepreneur who has started four companies and had a nine-figure exit. He was the founder and CTO of VinSolutions, the #1 CRM software used in today’s automotive industry. He has over twenty years of experience working as a tech CTO and building cutting-edge SaaS solutions.
As the CEO of Full Scale, he has helped over 100 tech companies build their software services and development teams. Full Scale specializes in helping tech companies grow by augmenting their in-house teams with software development talent from the Philippines.
Matt hosts Startup Hustle, a top podcast about entrepreneurship with over 6 million downloads. He has a wealth of knowledge about startups and business from his personal experience and from interviewing hundreds of other entrepreneurs.