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PHP Framework Development or CMS: The better choice

Posted on November 21, 2016November 6, 2019 by admin

Every business has its requirements and anything less is akin to playing the fiddle while Rome burns. The most effective one, the most versatile one, the most resourceful one – these are some of the adjectives that are preferred by businesses to search for tools for web development. They want to develop websites that are designed to catch the attention of potential customers and to convert them eventually into repeat customers. Two of the most popular ways to develop web applications nowadays are – CMS and PHP frameworks. Both these methods have their positives and negatives. We would be exploring these structures in and out through this article.

It is difficult to choose one amongst them owing to the deep intricacies in the same. Hence, we need to understand both these choices and the subtle differences between them.

What is CMS or PHP framework? How do they work?

CMS stands for Content Management System. Using CMS for website development provides various tools to help a developer manage a website and its contents. One can use the content management system for website development or e-Commerce related purposes. One can also make all the changes that are required for the same in a convenient manner. If we take the example of a Content Management System for eCommerce websites, one can change the price, layout, inventory, and more. The most popular CMS options include WordPress, Xaraya, Moodle, and Joomla among others. They are specifically tailored for ensuring that the management of a website becomes more easy and efficient.

Read More: Benefits of custom PHP web development

On the other hand, a framework can be defined as a developer-driven customized code that is created within a set of rules. Developers use core library functions to develop modules, which are tailored from the linguistic fabric known as PHP development– an art known as web development using the PHP framework. However, a layman would not be able to figure out the intricacies of the process of PHP framework development. Some of the most widely used PHP frameworks include CodeIgniter and other such tools.

What are the distinguishing features of both?

There are four critical factors that one needs to take care of while designing one’s website, which is listed below:

Security:

Security in the age of hacking is of prime importance. Every visitor needs to understand whether a website is secure enough for transactions or not. If a visitor notices the SSL lock sign on the link of a website, they will be satisfied and reassured that the purchase will occur without any discrepancies.

Being open-source platforms, the plugins and modules on CMSes are created by independent developers or groups of developers. When bugs or deficiencies are found, newer versions of code are launched after ensuring that the bug or deficiency has been removed. Installing reliable plugins on a CMS website is also an important element that needs to be considered as far as security is concerned. Due to the presence of other elements such as cross-site scripting, the security vulnerabilities on these platforms are considerably large.

The use of custom code in PHP frameworks adds a powerful layer of security to the website. Most have built-in functions for encryption and security. This makes them perfect for purposes such as corporate web development as well as the integration of complex web systems. This can be intricately tailored for ensuring a larger degree of freedom and customizability.

Verdict: We think PHP framework websites are more secure than CMS.

Flexibility:

Based upon what functionalities you are looking to add or enhance your business, its web portal may need to be integrated with various functional elements as well as with third-party applications. Dedicated PHP programmers design applications by keeping the business interests in priority.

CMS platforms have diverse functionalities as far as application goes but suffer due to limited flexibility. This gives birth to numerous restrictions as far as creative freedom is concerned. Hence, even though there are numerous modules and plugins on CMSes, the inherent flexibility as far as their usage is concerned is limited to quite an extent.

Frameworks derive heavily from libraries of functions and data, which can easily be customized based on the requirements of the business. PHP web application development is an important aspect that PHP frameworks are useful for, especially due to the immense degree of customizability that the framework provides for the users.

Verdict: For flexibility, we consider PHP frameworks to be ahead of CMSes.

Upgrades:

Getting your online portal updated to the latest standards of technical proficiency is imperative. As far as security and functionality are concerned, updating installed plugins and modules is necessary for the progress and development of the website.

CMSes get updates on a regular basis owing to the large community of developers who are a part of the development team. However, PHP frameworks do not have frequent updates when compared to CMSes.

Verdict: We think CMSes are better in this case owing to the frequent upgrades and the immediate support that is available on these platforms.

User Experience (UX):

Content Management Systems are built by taking managers and modern websites into consideration. Most CMSes make it very simple to manage website content. Due to this, most CMSes are crafted in intricate ways to maximize convenience and ease for website owners. The website host can modify elements on a website without encountering any problems with the same. CMSes mostly provide responsive themes so that the website functions can be used on mobile systems as well.

A PHP framework does not have a user-friendly interface, unlike CMSes, owing to the immense amount of knowledge about coding that is required to work with these frameworks. Moreover, in order to customize linguistic frameworks to make them more flexible, a laymen individual would require the help of dedicated PHP programmers.

Verdict: CMS is certainly a better choice when it comes to user experience and ease of use.

And the winner is…!

Choosing a platform that is just right for your website is as important as finding a perfect destination for building your house. Trying to find the best fit for your preferences involves understanding the subtle nuances of security, design, and user experience.

A platform that can provide a balance between all of these elements will be the perfect fit for your online business portal. After all, your application is judged as a whole and not by severed elements.

Every business has its preferences and requirements, the fulfilment of which will ultimately lead to the progress and growth of the online portal. So go ahead, make your choice.

Eliminate These 5 Wastes to Optimize Your Software Development Once and For All

Posted on June 27, 2016November 6, 2019 by admin

The IT sector is a powerful medium for the creation and management of profound tools and applications. However, the great amount of power that the sector provides to the user does not come exempt from waste and unnecessary baggage. More often than not, these wastes and unnecessary elements that hinder the proper functioning of applications and technologies are caused due to human error. But, let’s face, we humans are not exactly “perfect”. So, here are some pockets of waste that need to be taken care of if the imperfect human wants to perfect waste management in IT.

Garbage #1: Partially done work

This element in IT is the waste that lines the backend of any application or software that one is creating. Bits of unstructured code, along with those parts of the code which have not been tested form a major part of this type of waste. Other than these aspects, other elements within this type of waste also include pieces or strings of code which cannot be deployed.

Let’s make it simpler: These bits and pieces of unusable and waste code are like the long lines in a story that ultimately do not contribute in any way to the entire essence of the story as a whole. Consider them like the characters in a story that are added into it at the last moment just to add a particular flavour or feel to the story as a whole.

Red Herring is the name given to a character or element in a movie which do not serve any other purpose other than to distract or mislead the audience from the actual essence of the movie.

Eradication Tactics: The essence of this problem arises from a lack of alignment between tasks and responsibilities, as well as between the team members themselves. Ensuring that important tasks are performed completely and not left asunder is an important part of the equation. The members on your team should be capable of handling different tasks and should have diverse roles so that a deadlock is avoided in all possible cases. There also has to be constant coordination between your team and the product owner at all times, so that the line of communication is maintained to the highest extent.

Garbage #2: Extra Features

We all love the enthusiasm. It is one of the most valuable assets that a person can have in the IT sector. But then again, valuable assets have a large capability to cause immense fallout and unnecessary waste. Enthusiasm is good until it produces more harm than value. This becomes especially visible when it comes to your team producing more features than are required by the product owner, or the customers themselves.

Let’s make it simpler: Do you know how a nuclear reaction works? Well, you do not need to because that will just make things more difficult. However, the basis of a nuclear reaction is that it involves disintegration of a substance or the merging of two substances. Well, a simple thing really, right? But, add enough features and mechanisms to it and you have created a tool for large scale destruction! This is how adding features might turn out for you as well.

Eradication Tactics: This element requires careful planning as well as execution. For the plan to be created and subsequently implemented, you need to know the requirements of both your product owner as well as your target audience. Once you know what they need and what elements they would be comfortable with, you only need to concentrate on those instead of adding unnecessary elements.

Garbage #3: Hand-Offs

This element involves the transferring of work from one web developer to another in order to place emphasis on diversity of function. Even though this is an important element as far as working together in a team is concerned, it can become a huge burden when it comes to distributing tasks within a single project among individuals who are in different locations. There is bound to be a lack of communication and efficiency in this case owing to the fact that the entire essence of the information does not get conveyed to the individual on the other side. Another important malfunction due to this can be the lack of clarity between different employees on the same topic.

Let’s make it simpler: When a group of people listen to a song, they all have different perspectives towards the same. You cannot expect two people to interpret the same song in exactly coherent ways. Which would be quite idealistic, to say the least. However, if you are a part of the group who created the song itself. You will observe that all the members of the group will have a lot of commonalities as far as the song and its meaning to them is concerned.

Eradicating Tasks: The best way to reduce hand-offs is to keep the entire project in a single location. Which can ensure a high degree of clarity as well as synchronicity between the members participating in the creation process as a whole.

Garbage #4: Delays

Well, this is one of those pockets of waste that all of us have been a victim to at some point or the other. This essentially involves the inability to adhere to timelines, as well as the missing of crucial value-addition specifics due to the lack of time management capacity.

Let’s make it simpler: Delays are like those gloomy monsoon days when you just do not feel like doing anything. And want to just sit at home doing nothing. Whenever a delay occurs, it has the ability to numb you and considerably affect the creative process as a whole. Resulting in considerable risks to the overall project itself. For instance, if a delay occurs, one resides in a space that I like to call “The Place of the Damned”. Where you are constantly bombarded with thoughts that cause you to gradually lose all hope in your own abilities as a whole. This is not too dissimilar to the caverns of Hell where the damned are tortured for their sins for ages on end.

Eradication Tactics: Delays can be eradicated by ensuring that the project or task at hand is divided into separate elements. Or individual responsibilities, so each and every task can be managed with the intense dedication that it requires. Moreover, one should determine the important tasks within the project. And differentiate them from the tasks which are not that important in comparison.

Garbage #5: Task Switching

This is where most teams fail to complete their projects and seem to be unable to achieve their targets as a whole. If your team tends to too inclined towards adopting a wavering approach towards your software or Web development process as a whole. It is more than apparent that there might be some serious problems in the processes and systems that you have adopted.

Let’s make it simpler: Have you seen machines on an assembly line? Yeah, the ones which have specific functions and perform only those for which they have been programmed to. Well, if you treat your team members in a similar fashion, then you can get your job done in a better way by “hiring” machines to do the same. However, if you want some real creation to happen. It is better if you involve your team members in a wholesome way. Especially as far as application or software development is concerned.

Eradication Tactics: In order to ensure that waste due to task switching is avoided to the maximum extent. It is important to acknowledge and appreciate the role of each and every team member to the fullest. The only way in which task switching can be managed to a large extent is by ensuring that each team member is involved in the project on a larger level than mere “workers”.

Benefits of custom PHP web development

Posted on June 11, 2016November 6, 2019 by admin

Let’s just say that PHP is the WhatsApp of scripting languages. It is widely used, open-source, easy, free, available on all platforms and to exaggerate a bit, even a 5-year-old can be taught how to use it.

PHP is used by many major web companies like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, WordPress, etc. If you want to make your own website or start a new venture, PHP is the way to go. And today, when a technological revolution is taking place in the world, e-commerce and online marketing companies are being set up at a very high rate. A well-functioning website is an elementary thing to do; as necessary for a company as a healthy diet is necessary for a person to stay fit.

Now, the real question is what are the benefits of PHP web developing? Why do you hear so much about PHP and not about any other scripting language?

For a moment, let’s just forget about PHP or web developing and go back to the ’70s, a time when technology was just climbing atop the hill of progress. During these times, communication methods were more inclined towards personality rather than the actual exchange of information. Let’s say there’s a person, an outsider, who does not know how to speak or communicate with people. He is a tribal who does not know the common tongue.

But that guy has an idea that would make him a millionaire. Now, In order to implement his ideas he has to talk to several people in different countries who speak different languages. In order to communicate with them, what should he do? How should he develop himself so that he can grab the best out of the situation? Obviously, first of all, he should write down his idea, put down a presentation, a nice one which everybody would understand and appreciate.

Now, he does not know any language so what languages should he learn? It’s obvious that everyone would tell him to learn English as it’s a language used globally to interact with people who speak a foreign language.

If he would present himself in English, all the big powers, the Chinese, French, German, Indian, Russian and of course American, everyone would understand him and might dig deep into their pockets for the tribal’s idea. Another good thing about English is that it is not as diversified as Hindi or Chinese, not as hard to pronounce as French or German, so the person himself would be happy to learn it. So once that person learns English, he can have no regrets and can do business with utmost ease & support.

Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going. ‒Rita Mae Brown

The same is with the PHP language; it comes with all the good things you need in a scripting language. It is easy as it is based on C/C++, a large community of developers is present to update and document the language, it is secure, supports almost all platforms & servers, is used by a lot of big companies around the world and also supports RAD (Rapid Application Development).

Custom web development is even more beneficial as it makes you choose on your own. When you visit a website, see things that annoy you and you don’t want them on your website, you can go with custom web development. Instead of having a standard website, you can customize it according to your needs. And the easiest way to do this would be by using PHP.

Customized PHP web development is very effective and yields good results for business enterprises, regional companies and small scale companies too. These websites are of high quality, unique and perform well as they can handle a lot of traffic. Hiring brilliant and intelligent developers is also not a big deal today. You don’t have to go running around looking for them as they are right here on the internet, just a click away. It is very convenient to hire them too as they can be hired on an hourly basis. Ultimately, you’ll have lucrative results at cheap investments.

In conclusion, using PHP for web developing is very beneficial. Custom web development plays a crucial role when you want a perfect website in accordance with your needs. And in today’s world when technology’s drums are thumping their beats on every corner of the Earth, you should have the right musical notes or you’ll get out of tune and the ones running the tunes of custom PHP development will win. Custom PHP Web development is your Whiplash!