PHP pages are a common part of web applications, and is one of the
most popular web application languages used by developers worldwide.
Although, there are far superior languages and development environments
that have come up in recent times, people still prefer PHP to them, just
because of its simplicity. The fact that it is easier to develop of PHP
environment makes it a strong argument for developers to incline
towards it.
However, like always, there has been a question over the future of PHP.
While some feel that its time that PHP makes way for more advanced
languages and development interfaces, there are also hardcore PHP
loyalists who think that the simplicity of PHP cannot be replicated by
any other language. So, where do we see PHP, a few years from now? Or
rather, how will PHP develop itself in keeping itself updated with the
changing requirements of the World Wide Web (WWW)? Read on and we will
discover some valid arguments on the future of PHP.
PHP Facts and the Future
1. One of the advantages of the PHP language is its vast online
community. There are around 20 million web applications that use PHP.
Developers all over use the language to create scripts. Many useful
software applications like video-streaming applications and content
management systems are known to be based on PHP, the most popular
example being Drupal. Although, developers in the community can add PHP
scripts and suggest changes or add new features in the core PHP package,
only about 450 programmers can approve such changes. The organization
Zend looks after the packaging issues of PHP. So, in terms of
development, there are enough developers, and also administrators who
can protect the original package from getting dilute with sub-standard
codes.
2. The fact that PHP has stayed at the top, and managed to fend off
challenges from much hyped-up languages like Java and ColdFusion, it is
safe to suggest that it will continue to do so in the future as well. As
we recently saw, PHP came up with the Model-View-Container framework of
its own in order to counter the threat from Ruby-on-Rails, it again
goes to show how simple the language is, and how easy is it to replicate
any new “technologically” advanced interfaces and frameworks that come
up now and then.
3. Other languages like Java are considered to be superior because of
its extended scope. PHP is generally viewed to be limited with web
applications only. However, one can create standalone desktop
applications with the help of PHP and GTK. Even some open source
programming frameworks now support PHP projects in their tool. Thus, PHP
is slowly and steadily coming out its web application boundary, to
conquer the standalone application space.
Thus, it is pretty safe to say that, PHP, which is known to withstand
the test of time, is good enough for the future as well. Simplicity, as
they say, is very complex to achieve. And, PHP happens to achieve that
very strongly!