Is changing PHP framework easy or difficult?

Question

I've decided to go with codeIgniter as my php framework because I am relatively inexperienced with php (only about 6 months of studying so far), and heard that Zend is for a more advanced level.

So if I work with codeIgniter for a year, and then decide to switch over to Zend (if I decide to), how long would it take to get through the transition between the two frameworks?

Answer 1

Codeigniter is a framework built for usability by programmers such as your self, where you have not a great amount of experience in PHP, and provides a simple API to create websites easily and fast.

Zend on the other hand is not a framework of the same nature, where Code igniter has specifically been constructed to act exactly as you would require to act Zend is more of a component framework, Where everything is provided but you would have to build it yourself.

That being said to work with Zend you would have to understand concepts such as MVC, OOP, Relation Mapping etc to be able to build websites effectively.

Zend is not just a framework for the Web, Its also a gateway in creating applications via the command line. - _{I know that CI 2.0 Supports CLI but its not built for it!}

For instance, I could remove Apache web-server from my system, and build a HTTP Server using just PHP and Zend via CLI, it would use the components to interact with other segments of my server such as services etc,Monitoring port 80 and parsing http headers and perform the correct action such as execute the requested file via PHP CLI.

If i can put it in lamen's terms i would say that Codeignter is Cake that has been backed and is ready to be sliced and shared with the world, Zend on the other hand are the ingredients on the table, Ready for mixing.

You should know that starting to cook a particular cake for the first time never goes right, it takes time and effort, trying new things before you can get it to how you like it.

Starting with Codeigniter would be a wise choice, This will learn you the fundamentals of Objects, Inference, MVC, Database Abstract, Libraries, Directory Structure's and many more things that you would use creating and advance system for your site.

Saying that, Migrating over to Zend would be a little tricky if all you know is Codeigniter as its a totally different platform, Its like jumping from Windows to Apple, they both perform the same job but its never the same.

So its no so much that the transition is measured in units of time, but more units of skill.

Resources:

• Why choose the Zend Framework over other PHP Frameworks? (Kevin @ KillerPHP)

Hope this helps.