Symfony and Symfony 2

Symfony

Symfony is a flexible PHP Framework that contains enough functional and reusable components that it can be called a “full stack” framework. Like all frameworks, Symfony allows developers to focus on high level tasks rather than coding minor functions.

Symfony is less of a traditional framework than other frameworks like CodeIgniter and Cake PHP in that its structural emphasis mirrors that of a content management system (CMS). This makes it more ideal framework for a content management application rather than a fully unique custom application.

Symfony has several key features that make it attractive to developers:

1. Less to install.

Symfony’s functional components can be used as needed without having to install the entire framework.

2. Active support community.

Symfony has a large community that supports the framework. This community offers development assistance, plug-ins and reusable code at no charge.

3. A useful developer toolbar.

One of the benefits of Symfony is its “Web Debug Toolbar” that allows for easier troubleshooting and subsequent issue resolution.

4. Standardized naming conventions.

Symfony Adheres to the “defacto” standards of PHP including the standard naming conventions for classes.

Symfony 2 simply refers to the entire framework itself, or “core.”

Rather than using a few components of Symfony, developers utilizing Symfony 2 install the entire framework and work within it using bundles. These bundles allow users to change everything within Symfony including the core itself. Changing these bundles allows a Symfony 2 to provide a tremendous amount of development flexibility.

Additionally, Symfony 2’s HttpKernel allows it to get requests and responses automatically. This allows for easier testing of applications written in the Symfony 2 framework.

Silex

Silex is a micro framework for Symfony 2 that includes a concise API and an extension system that is can easily tie into a number of third party libraries.