5 Common Mistakes Every PHP Developer Must Avoid Going Into 2023
Web technologies are rapidly transforming. New age tools are completely uprooting the way websites were made just a decade back. With such a rapid transformation going on, it is very important for all stakeholders to keep a tab on everything. Adapting to the change is no longer a choice one has to make.
Technology always acts as a learning ladder, a ladder that has multiple steps on the way up. If you use these steps wisely, they can elevate you to newer heights. Skip one of them and you will lose your balance. There are many expressions about what a developer in today’s day and age should do. What’s rare is a list of things to avoid.
Hacks for a PHP Developer
Before moving on to expanding what mistakes a PHP developer must avoid, let us take a look at a few hacks one can have. PHP is the de-facto programming language of one of the leading website builders in the world today. In terms of percentage, PHP powers more than 77% of websites in the world currently. Given how popular it has been over the last few years, it makes a lot of sense that professionals choose PHP over any other programming language to have a steep professional growth.
PHP has a community like no other. The support, forums and resources PHP has is second to none. A top notch custom PHP web development company would find it easy to stay updated about the latest trends for PHP compared to that of any other technology. Gauging from the community of PHP, here are some popular hacks to make the most of the server-side programming language.
Frameworks
Frameworks are platforms on which developers can create PHP web applications. These frameworks are pre-filled with code libraries and have some amazing features like core correction and auto-completion. A lot of the codes on these frameworks can be reused which shortens the length of the code overall.
Editors
Editors are environments on which developers write their codes. These environments offer a great user interface providing distinction between codes through color coding. Many editors have in-built libraries which make the otherwise tidy task of programming easy.
Website Builders
Website builders are the tools that assemble both the design elements on the front end and the programming codes that run the website. These tools work like an engine that keeps everything together and helps the vehicle i.e. website to run smoothly. Most of the modern day website builders have intuitive designing interface along with easy incorporation of programs for the backend.
Commonly Committed Mistakes to Ignore For PHP Developers in 2023
Careers in technology usually see a stable growth. The key is to always keep learning. For instance, the version of PHP a developer would have known 5 years back would be completely different to the latest one. The stagnant nature of projects can lead professionals into a loop which can hamper their growth. There are some tangible as well as intangible mistakes that developers usually make in their careers. Let us take a look at a few of them.
Updates
Updates are very important for every platform or technology. It not only prevents your products from hacking threats but also enhances performance. Keeping your PHP versions updated across all the tools and platforms is the key to progress. Often developers get used to a certain update and hesitate with the change. Many times they fail to identify the improvements in an update and dismiss them as minor updates. Version updates, be it for programming language or building frameworks and tools, address some major concerns like bug fixes, security tightening and performance improvements.
Resources
Developers must be aware of the armory they have. There are thousands of developers out there whose sole aim is to make lives better for their counterparts and colleagues. Keeping that in mind many developers have come up with innovative libraries, APIs, SKDs and other third party integrations that make the overall process of website building a lot more convenient. These resources are either derived from the most commonly asked questions or from a sheer point of innovation. Not knowing the right resources can result in lengthier and complex coding.
Design
Many developers working primarily on PHP often are oblivious to the design language. We live in a very competitive world in terms of websites. The attention spans are shorter than they ever were. Businesses need to come up with innovative design ideas to prolong their potential customers’ attention and engagement on their website. For developers, it is very essential to always remain in sync with the design trends to understand the process of programming their applications better.
Community
PHP is one of the oldest programming languages out there. It has seen generations of developers over the last 3 decades. Despite being a veteran, it still possesses tremendous command over the market. Because of the popularity of PHP, its community has grown very strong. There are conferences, summits and events done annually by the core contributors. Apart from that, there are always some brainstorming sessions going on in the community. Staying updated with what the community is up to can also be very beneficial to developers of today’s generation. Professionals often underrate the power of community led platforms and their events.
Summary
The "to do" list for a PHP developer is quite popular. What is rare is an elaboration of what not to miss. The aforementioned mistakes are probably the most common ones that PHP developers make. Apart from that, there are many things that developers often overlook like lack of communication, project timeline management and ability to contribute to the content. With the world getting closer and closer by every passing day, having a 360 degree approach to technology is the only way forward.