These
days, if it’s not a framework, it ain’t worth
having. Thus, we have the .NET framework, the
Struts Framework for Java, the TurboGears Framework for
Python and the Rails Framework for Ruby.
Struts, TurboGears and Rails are three examples of a
fashionable type of framework that adopts the MVC methodology
(Model-View-Controller). These are used to create web
based applications in the form of ‘layers’ containing
the core program and data (the model), its on-screen
representation in a web page (the view) and the software
glue between the model and the view – the bit that,
for example, responds to user input (the controller).
It will come as no surprise to regular readers that
I am slightly more familiar with ‘Ruby On Rails’ than
with the Python and Java frameworks. I am not intimately
familiar with PHP frameworks either. I’ve read
a bit about a few frameworks such as Studs and Zoop but
somehow they never looked sufficiently inviting to tempt
me to try them out. And then I chanced upon CodeIgniter.
CodeIgniter is a deliberately Rails-like PHP framework
whose guiding principles are: keep it small, simple and
elegant. The first final release only came out towards
the end of March. I downloaded this pretty much as soon
as it appeared. In spite of the fact that I my PHP programming
skills are minimal, I have, so far, found this framework
a joy to use. The fact that it is not only well documented
but also benefits from a couple of step-by-step video
tutorials for newbies gains it extra marks in my book.
If you are a PHP programmers who’s been looking
enviously at Ruby On Rails, you may want to try out CodeIgniter
for yourself. Watch out for the Bitwise interview with
CodeIgniter’s developer during April.
Huw Collingbourne
(Editor)
In this month's bitwise...
Ruby
- hidden treasure or flawed gem? We debate the
pros and cons
Introduction
to Ruby - part two : Class hierarchies and
attributes
Review
- Carrara 5 : this 3D graphics package wins our
Recommended Award
Book Review:
Micro-ISV - From Vision To Reality - by Bob Walsh
Book
Reviews: PHP - two PHP book reviews updated
VB Classic - Graphics
and the GDI part two : coordinate transformations
Mathematical Digressions :
Wilf is bound up in chains
Bytegeist - Mind
Your Language : Dermot sings the praises of The Evil
Empire!
Rants
and Raves : Blogs, dogs and style sheets |
