After working in Django I keep getting a shock when I need to re-write features and basic functionality. I know Django is a framework and PHP is a language (although, not according to some people). However, I’ve not yet found a PHP framework that I’ve liked, one that has empowered me while not feeling like it is getting in my way. They usually feel verbose and awkward, but my favourite is the Zend framework (I just hope they can make it easier to use with namespaces soon!).

With Django I have become used to using the built in authentication (django.contrib.auth), RSS feeds (django.contrib.syndication), awesome form handling (django.forms) and so on. After doing this when I get back to PHP I’m crying out inside “you want me to write what?!” Now when I do some PHP I am making more use of open source solutions, tools and frameworks. There is lots of great stuff out there; I think there is often too much. The python Zen states “There should be one—and preferable only one –obvious way to do it.” Does PHP have too great a selection and no clear correct choice?

DRY programming certainly is the way forward and something I don’t think I’ve appreciated fully before. So has Django/Python made me a lazier developer? I don’t think so but perhaps a smarter and more efficient developer.

I’m going to follow this up with some posts about the awesome solutions I’ve found in PHP lately.