So I am not only getting my BS in CGT at the end of this semester, but also getting a IT Web Development Certification. I am currently taking 2 online classes that have delved into two different areas of web development. The one class started out using mainly HTML/CSS (easy), then we moved on to Javascript and now are exploring jQuery. Before the end of the class we will be using Bootstrap (which I am excited to explore this framework since I have never used it before). The other class I’m taking has mainly consisted of PHP and a tiny bit of SQL. We learned about different frameworks and framework styles. Currently we are working in an MVC framework that I think the Professor created from scratch, so it’s been a little less than smooth sailing in that class. However, I think PHP is something worth delving into more since right now it’s definitely not one of my strengths. I found this pretty cool article discussing 11 of the best and most popular PHP frameworks.
I think PHP is even more important and relevant to learn now that WordPress is a pretty dominant force in web design/development. Most average day people can make a WordPress site, but I think the key to being really good at it is to understand what goes on behind the scenes. I’ve always liked to understand how things work, and I would like to learn more about frameworks and PHP.
According to the article the most popular PHP framework right now is laravel. Laravel works with MySQL, Postgres, and SQL Server which are widely used among many companies today. This framework can be used for all types of projects whether big or small. Laravel is well documented. Although there are many PHP frameworks out there that can be used in PHP web development, I believe Laravel is one one that will continue to develop new functionality to meet the needs of web developers and will remain a strong competitor in the market.