Would you like to reduce the countless hours spent repetitively coding?
We have found the 8 best PHP boilerplates and frameworks to improve coding time and provide outstanding, secure code. Each boilerplate template aims to provide quality code and help you in your development journey.
Table of Contents
Best PHP Boilerplate Code and Frameworks
Kitto
Kitto is a SaaS starter kit designed to assist PHP developers in developing their applications by offering backend foundation built on PHP 8 and Symfony 7. It comes packed with an EasyAdmin bundle that provides a customizable administrative backend for better data and app management.
On the front end, Kitto uses Tailwind CSS and Flowbite, connected with features of Bootstrap and jQuery. This combination helps achieve a better user experience for creating unique and responsive designs.
For payments, Kitto supports Stripe and Stripe subscriptions, which allow recurring payments and flexible per-user pricing.
To deploy the boilerplate, you can use Kitto’s ready-made Docker configuration for a faster project execution rate.
PHP Microsite Boilerplate
PHP Microsite Boilerplate is a PHP framework for the rapid development of simple, highly functional, and secure websites. Unlike most PHP frameworks that require a complex setup, PHP Microsite helps eliminate this issue. It is the perfect solution for small-scale projects or individual developers to ship SaaS products faster to the community.
PHP Microsite Boilerplate includes tools and processes for caching and faster code rendering with its service-worker caching systems.
To make applications more secure from attacks, PHP Microsite is offering multi-level security measures for both Apache and Nginx servers. Each configuration comes with built-in firewalls and security headers, which require additional tweaking.
The PHP boilerplate falls under the category of PWA (Progressive APP Development) and supports multiple integrations, including assistance in the creation of multilingual websites.
For its front-end features and supported frameworks, PHP Microsite Boilerplate utilizes Tailwind CSS for front-end development and Bootstrap for direct block usage.
PHP HTTP Boilerplate
PHP HTTP Boilerplate is a PHP boilerplate designed for creating HTTP clients in PHP applications. Its source code can be hosted and comes with a standardized structure, simplifying the creation of clients faster.
The PHP HTTP boilerplate is easy to integrate into a project since it offers direct Composer integrations and is compatible with PHP versions 7.1 and above.
In terms of licensing, the PHP-HTTP Boilerplate is distributed under the MIT License, meaning that developers can easily create open-source projects or use in proprietary.
PHP Package Boilerplate
The PHP Package Boilerplate, created by Elliot J. Reed, is a one-stop solution for creating PHP packages or applications with a standardized structure.
The boilerplate is compatible with PHP versions such as 8.2 and above but supports lower versions from its branches, such as the ‘8.0’ branch, which supports PHP 8.0 and 8.1.
The PHP package boilerplate includes a ‘composer.json’ file, which directly integrates with composer for easier setup processes. Its setup utilizes integrations with external libraries and is equipped with a PHPUnit for unit tests.
Its directory structure is organized to separate application logic from tests, which helps with the testing and scaling of the project.
CakePHP
CakePHP is an open-source web framework written in PHP, following the model–view–controller approach, with a mission of rapid application development. cakePHP provides a structured framework created to reduce the need for complex XML or YAML files, making database creations faster and cleaner.
The PHP framework comes with built-in tools for input validation, CSRF protection, form tampering protection, and SQL injection prevention, providing developers with the necessary tools to protect their software.
The PHP boilerplate also includes features such as translations, database access, caching, validation, and authentication, all integrated into a single package.
CakePHP is licensed under the MIT license, making it suitable for use in commercial applications.
FuelPHP
FuelPHP is an open-source web app framework for developing scalable PHP applications. Its applied Hierarchical Model-View-Controller (HMVC) architecture allows developers to prioritize code reusability.
The FuelPHP boilerplate offers features such as a flexible routing system, RESTful capabilities, and a built-in Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) tool, which simplifies database interactions by mapping database tables to PHP classes.
The security in FuelPHP plays a core focus with built-in mechanisms to protect against common vulnerabilities such as Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).
The PHP boilerplate also provides tools for input filtering and output encoding, however, its development team has been less active in implementing new updates and security patches, which would require additional input from individual developers.
Yii PHP Framework
Yii is a component-based PHP framework for modern web applications. It follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which enhances code organization and maintainability for individual asset management.
Yii PHP framework offers a set of features such as a powerful code generator called Gii, which aids in rapid code scaffolding for models, controllers, forms, and CRUD operations. It also provides robust support for database access through Active Record, query builders, and data migrations, simplifying interactions with various database systems.
For security, the PHP boilerplate utilizes built-in tools to prevent common vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).
Symfony PHP Boilerplate
Symfony is a high-performance simple PHP boilerplate for the development of web applications, APIs, microservices, and web services.
It offers a collection of over 50 reusable PHP components, allowing developers to select and integrate only the parts they need for their projects.
The Symfony PHP framework follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, separating applications into three interconnected components:
- The model (data)
- The view (user interface)
- The controller (business logic).
Symfony preferred convention over configuration, reducing the need for extensive setup and helping developers focus on writing code. It comes with features such as a flexible routing system, a powerful templating engine, and robust security measures to protect against common web vulnerabilities.
The framework is backed by a community and documentation, providing resources for both junior and senior developers.
