Is PHP the new JS?
AI Summary
This video explores the idea that “PHP is the new JavaScript” as discussed in a Mux blog article by Dave. Theo examines PHP’s journey from being widely disliked to gaining renewed interest, particularly through Laravel’s success and recent $57M investment.
Key Points:
PHP’s Dark Past:
- PHP had a terrible reputation due to poor performance, lack of guardrails, and inconsistent design
- WordPress deployments via FTP were common and often led to security issues
- Performance was abysmal - PHP 5.6 averaged 475ms response times vs 164ms in PHP 8.0
- Facebook had to create “Hack” language to work around PHP’s limitations
The JavaScript Era:
- Node.js revolutionized server-side development by allowing JavaScript everywhere
- This led to framework fatigue (Ember, Angular, Backbone, Meteor, etc.)
- React eventually emerged as the solution that brought stability
Laravel’s Rise:
- Created by Taylor Otwell starting in 2011
- Provides first-class support for common web app needs (Stripe via Cashier, feature flags via Pennant, social auth via Socialite)
- These are official framework features, not community packages
- Offers a “batteries included” approach that eliminates decision fatigue
Modern PHP Improvements:
- Massive performance gains: 10x faster from PHP 4.0 to modern versions
- PHP 8.x series brought significant speed improvements
- Better tooling and ecosystem maturity
Key Takeaway:
While JavaScript frameworks offer flexibility and innovation through community-driven solutions (like React Query/TanStack Query), Laravel provides stability and comprehensive built-in solutions. For developers tired of choice paralysis in the JavaScript ecosystem, Laravel offers a mature, well-integrated alternative that makes PHP development enjoyable again.Theo concludes by expressing excitement to try Laravel himself, suggesting the framework has successfully rehabilitated PHP’s reputation in the modern web development landscape.