To create a responsive and interactive website, one of the best programming languages to use is PHP. It has been developing and growing since 1996 and powers thousands, if not millions of websites on the internet. Its effectivity and flexibility provided web developers, countless options to create customized products and meet of today’s rising need in site development.
To turn your idea and plans in a competitive, dynamic and functional website, you should hire web developers that specialize in PHP programming language. Let’s see how to find them and share a few valuable consideration, tricks and tips along the way. PHP is one of the fastest growing server-side scripting languages, with more or less 200 new websites created every day.
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Why you need to use PHP
PHP is formerly known as Personal Home Page, now known as hypertext processor, is a server-side programming language to develop both dynamic and static sites. It is not only the most widely used scripting language with at least 80% of sites powered by PHP, but it is also the oldest since it has been in the market for over 20 years.
Some of the websites you probably visited that uses PHP programming, scripting language include Wikipedia, Flickr, Tumblr, Yahoo, Aliexpress, MailChimp, Facebook, and sites created using WordPress. Here are some of the benefits you can gain when using PHP.
Open-source
You can freely use the language, and there is no need to purchase additional software. Not only that, the PHP developer’s community is vast, and everyone in the community is always sharing information and upgrades, as well as code libraries. If you want to know how the PHP community stays connected, click here.
Cost efficient
Besides being free and open-source, this language is equipped with a variety of integrated solutions. There are also no licenses required, no restrictions, and you don’t need to pay additional fees. It helps to reduce the cost of development of websites.
Scalability
PHP scripting language is very adaptive to the growing and fast-rising traffic. It is also excellent when it comes to integration. The websites that are using the language can run on most platforms like MacOS, UNIX, Linux, Windows, or RISC OS.
It also supports significant web servers like Microsoft Internet Information Server, Apache, and Personal Web Servers. Not only that, but it also supports servers like iPlanet, Netscape, Caudium, and most web browsers. When it comes to speed, PHP is one of the fastest programming languages because it has it’s a dedicated memory aimed at lowering the loading and the data processing time.
Despite the misconception about PHP’s low-security level, it shares the same disadvantage and vulnerabilities as other scripting and programming language. And lastly, when it comes to customized development, PHP has a wide range of features and options at hand.
To know more about the built-in web server used in PHP, visit http://php.net/manual/en/features.commandline.webserver.php.
Use of PHP
When you are looking for a functional programming language, you need to understand that it is all about the development. The main areas of its use include website, web, desktop, and a command line application. It also has handy features like collecting; reading and processing form data; receiving and sending cookies; creating new graphics; working with significant databases like dBase, MySQL, and Oracle; working with HTML; producing a page content; create, read, open, and write files on the servers; managing the user-access; and encrypting user data.
PHP developers
The main task of PHP developers is to write, maintain, and test the codes for web pages. The PHP developers are responsible for creating as well as implementing programs, websites, and applications. They are going to work with frameworks like Yii, Codeigniter, Laravel, Symfony, CakePHP, Zend, Joomla, and Kohana. In short, PHP developers are website developers.
Today’s group of PHP experts can work on projects with different level of complexities and solve related errors and problems. When you are planning to hire one, you need to pay attention to their skill level. If the skills they listed is lower than what you know, it is best to find someone more qualified.
PHP experts should have knowledge of PHP programming and scripting language, work with CSS and HTML, know anything about SQL and MySQL databases, have adequate knowledge of Javascript and knowledge of SVN and Git control system.
They should also have experience with frameworks like Symphony, Laravel, and YII2. Not only that, but developers should also proficient with CMS like Joomla, Drupal, and WordPress. And lastly, they should know OOP or object-oriented programming.
Hiring process
Hiring a PHP developer is the same when employing any designer or software engineer, but with any particular skills in mind. It requires meticulousness, time, energy and technical knowledge. To optimize time, effort and break it down into stages, hiring a PHP developer usually goes in order of:
HR preview – First selection among qualified candidates should have an interest in the job, based on their resume, portfolio, and references.
Interview – a personal interview is needed to find out how they fit the team, their views on corporate ethics, goals, and idea.
Technical test – This is a crucial step to check whether they have the required technical skills to work with your organization. A preferred test is to give them a task similar to your everyday routine.
Decision-making – After you verify their technical skill written in their portfolio and checking their past projects, you should decide whether they fit in your organization or not. When you are in doubt, you can offer an additional task or ask them to apply in later date or time.
You can also check websites like https://www.imensosoftware.com/technologies/php-application-development/ for any tips and tricks on hiring PHP experts.
Interview questions
The questions should be related to the working process and the technical aspects awaiting a candidate. It allows the company to check whether they are ready for the job or not. Here are some simple questions you can ask your candidates:
What are the functions required and include commands?
What are the most common problems or errors encountered when using PHP?
What are the differences between unlink and unset?
Which database do you usually use and why?
What does MCV mean? What do its components do?
How does PHP work?
To learn more about the candidate and their experience, ask about the most exciting projects they worked on, the biggest challenge they experienced, how they overcome those challenges, and what is their overall view about PHP.
