register | login

mario 301829 years ago
A PHP framework (MVC) in 400 lines of code?

---

Is anybody aware of a (working) minimalist MVC framework/library for PHP whose source code is 300-400 lines or even less?

Clearly I am thinking about a truly minimal one, here:

- urls handling
- a basic architecture for controllers
- php templates

- ego-free
- hype-free
- does nothing beyond MVC

Nothing spectacular; I am after something that is more an alternative to vanilla PHP than an alternative to other frameworks.

mario 301479 years ago:
I was thinking about this idea a little more.

After having built my personal "lightweight" MVC framework (8,000 lines) and having used it on some mid-sized projects (including glorum), the idea of a truly essential MVC framework begins to show some appeal to me.

With the development I typically do, most of the saving in web development effort I get from an MVC framework comes from the MVC architecture, not from the framework itself.

The convenience of using an MVC architecture to me is substancially a much delayed and lighter refactoring.
To look at it in another way, I can have "prototypes" which are not that bad. They have a reasonable organization at no cost.

When I start a project, I can have a reasonably precise idea about how many files I need, what folders, where to put what, how to name things.

Even when I need to reorganize things, it often tends to be a much more trivial effort than it would have been with another type of architecture.

Less appealing, but still important, I am enjoying some *unplanned* reusability of controllers, templates and models. Again, it looks like it is coming from MVC, not from the framework.

Here is the big idea: I don't need 8,000 lines of code if I only want that.

The problems you would solve with a small framework that provides most of the value of a big framework are too many to list.

stiian 301234 years ago:
I've also got a need for a minimalistic mvc framework. This stage, the best I've came across was Code Igniter (www.codeigniter.com), but is still way too big. I basically need a GOOD "starting point" with base objects for models, views and controllers, then work from there and build on it using my own modules.

mario 301101 years ago:
Exactly what I am thinking about, stiian. Being able to cleanly build on it is the key.

Something of that kind could maybe allow a small family of domain-specific frameworks and CMS with a common core to be developed.

A pear-like library developing around a very light framework would be interesting, too.

nano 297788 years ago:
I will try to quickly put the idea into code in the next 3-4 days. glorum will host the
project.

Discuss it: http://www.glorum.com/tag/nano.php
(bookmark or subscribe to http://www.glorum.com/rss/tag/nano.php )

Stay in touch: http://www.glorum.com/user/nano
(bookmark or subscribe to http://www.glorum.com/rss/user/nano )

-
Mario