Introduction to CakePHP
What is CakePHP? Why Use it?
CakePHP is a free, open-source, rapid development framework for PHP. It’s a foundational structure for programmers to create web applications. Our primary goal is to enable you to work in a structured and rapid manner–without loss of flexibility.
CakePHP takes the monotony out of web development. We provide you with all the tools you need to get started coding what you really need to get done: the logic specific to your application. Instead of reinventing the wheel every time you sit down to a new project, check out a copy of CakePHP and get started with the real guts of your application.
CakePHP has an active developer team and community, bringing great value to the project. In addition to keeping you from wheel-reinventing, using CakePHP means your application’s core is well tested and is being constantly improved.
Here’s a quick list of features you’ll enjoy when using CakePHP:
- Active, friendly community
- Flexible licensing
- Compatible with versions 4 and 5 of PHP
- Integrated CRUD for database interaction
- Application scaffolding
- Code generation
- MVC architecture
- Request dispatcher with clean, custom URLs and routes
- Built-in validation
- Fast and flexible templating (PHP syntax, with helpers)
- View Helpers for AJAX, JavaScript, HTML Forms and more
- Email, Cookie, Security, Session, and Request Handling Components
- Flexible ACL
- Data Sanitization
- Flexible Caching
- Localization
- Works from any web site directory, with little to no Apache configuration involved
Where to Get Help
The Cookbook
You've started in the right place. This manual should probably be the first place you go to get answers. As with many other open source projects, we get new folks regularly. Try your best to answer your questions on your own first. Answers may come slower, but will remain longer–and you'll also be lightening our support load. Both the manual and the API have an online component.
The API
Straight to the point and straight from the core developers, the CakePHP API (Application Programming Interface) is the most comprehensive documentation around for all the nitty gritty details of the internal workings of the framework. Its a straight forward code reference, so bring your propeller hat.
The IRC channel
#cakephp @ irc.freenode.net
If you’re stumped, give us a holler in the CakePHP IRC channel. Someone from the development team is usually there, especially during the daylight hours for North and South America users. We’d love to hear from you, whether you need some help, want to find users in your area, or would like to donate your brand new sports car.
The Bakery
The CakePHP Bakery is a clearing house for all things CakePHP. Check it out for tutorials, case studies, and code examples. Once you’re acquainted with CakePHP, log on and share your knowledge with the community and gain instant fame and fortune.
CakeForge
CakeForge is another developer resource you can use to host your CakePHP projects to share with others. If you’re looking for (or want to share) a killer component or a praiseworthy plugin, check out CakeForge.
The Official CakePHP website
The Official CakePHP website is always a great place to visit. It features links to oft-used developer tools, screencasts, donation opportunities, and downloads.
The Google Group
http://groups.google.com/group/cake-php
CakePHP also has a very active Google Group. It can be a great resource for finding archived answers, frequently asked questions, and getting answers to immediate problems.
login to add a comment