Since Symfony2 has been stable for quite a while, now is a good time to delve into the framework and learn how to get started with it. In this article, I will introduce you to ProTalk, my new project, and use it as an example to show you how easy it is to get started with this shiny new framework. –by Lineke Kerckhoffs-Willems

SilverStripe is a Content Management System (CMS) first and foremost, but has always had a strong focus on developer ergonomics. So it comes as no surprise that it was built from the ground up with a modular framework powering it. Originally called Sapphire and only available bundled with the CMS download, the framework aspect has now graduated to stand on its own. In this article, we’ll show you why this content management background sets the framework apart from its brethren in the PHP space. –by Ingo Schommer and Sam Minnée

Nowadays, it is increasingly common to find websites with JavaScript enhanced forms. JavaScript allows us to create custom interactions with the usual fields and create complex ways to gather data – for example, allowing the user to attach as many files as they want. These kinds of interactions present some problems we have to address; we don’t know beforehand how many files will be attached, and that affects the processing of the form, the data validation, and the form repopulation in case of error. What about integrating that inside Zend Framework? Sounds hard, but is easier than it seems. –by Christopher Valles

This article is aimed at anyone who finds themselves in the position of answering questions about a software product – be this on IRC, an email list, a web forum, or in person – or anyone that’s involved in documenting a software product. It’s also just a little bit of a rant. –by Rich Bowen

You are familiar with MongoDB, but do you know how to tune and optimize it? In this month’s column, we cover the basics of optimizing query performance in MongoDB. –by Matthew Setter

There is a lot more to being part of this great group we call the PHP community than just learning, sharing and contributing. There is much to be said about our role in expanding PHP’s reach into companies, markets and everywhere else. Every PHP Developer is at their core a PHP evangelist, someone who is ready to raise the PHP flag and defend it. This does not mean your answer to everything is PHP. As a true evangelist, you know the strengths and shortcomings of your own language and when to just say “don’t use it”, but you are also ready to defend it and prove its worthiness when it’s misjudged or just plainly misunderstood. –by Rafael Dohms

How could I decline? Patrick Schwisow (@PSchwisow) asked me on Twitter if I accept requests for fixes. As usual, the answer was that it depends. He came up with something as intriguing as scary – an issue about a DbAdapter with 19 votes and 17 people watching it. From personal experience, I can tell you that this is a //lot// of attention to get for an issue. It means if you screw up when trying to fix it, a lot of people will notice. So I assigned it to me, almost expecting a more ambitious developer to rip it out of my hands, but no one did. So after three weeks of just sitting there assigned to me, it still is, and it needs attention more than ever. –by Bart McLeod

Like Columbus’ proverbial egg, once you know where to look for a solution, it becomes entirely obvious. It’s knowing where to look for the right solution that’s hard. –by Marco Tabini

Frameworks – Lots of controversy, so many options. (And a quick note on Achievement Badges!) –by Elizabeth Tucker Long