A Refactoring Diary, Part 3: Zend Framework

In latest installment of his refactoring saga, author BartMcLeod tries a third approaching to rebuilding his site using ZendFramework.—by Bart McLeod

A Bit of a Git

Distributed Version Control Systems (DVCS) were the flavor ofthe year in 2007, with all the “cool kids” and several high-profileprojects moving to them. This article focuses on Git and how youcan use it as part of your workflow.—by Travis Swicegood

Migrating PHP, Part I: the Server Environment

On August 8th 2008, the Summer Olympics will begin in Bejing.On the same day, PHP 4 support will finally be discontinued. Now isthe time to migrate your legacy PHP applications to PHP 5.Migration, however, is not only about the code itself. There aremany different ways to install and configure PHP, so you shouldstart by analyzing and understanding your existing system beforeplanning your new installation.—by Stefan Priebsch

PHP Stream Filters

There’s a file. It contains data encoded in ISO-8859-2; it’sbeen compressed using zlib and encrypted via Blowfish. Did you knowyou could read that data using file_get_contents() and have PHPhandle the decryption and decompression transparently? You couldeven convert that data to UTF-8 on the same pass. Let Richardunleash the power of PHP stream filters for you.—by Richard Harrison

/etc: NDAs and Non-Competes

As a PHP programmer, if you have ever worked on a projectthat is even remotely interesting, then surely you have come intocontact with a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). If you have everbeen employed in a medium to large sized company, then quitepossibly you have been presented with a Non-Compete Agreement. Itis vitally important to your career that before you sign thesedocuments, you understand the implications they may have for yourfuture endeavors.—by Hunter Jensen

Test Pattern: Searching the Code

Code searching is a fundamental skill of professionalprogramming. But is this reflected in the tools available to PHPdevelopers?—by Jeff Moore

exit(0): You Need Us As Much As We Need You

Looking for a PHP developer? Please, help us help you bypublishing sane job postings we can actually relate to.—by Sean Coates