There are numerous PHP frameworks out there to use when you’re building your next application, but CodeIgniter remains one of the most popular. It has proven it as one of the most preferred frameworks for the web developers to build highly scalable and robust websites.
It is an open source PHP framework with an MVC framework that allows users to build powerful web applications quickly and efficiently. It’s remarkably easy to use and very flexible, so there’s no wonder why CodeIgniter is the best choice for web development. But in order to streamline the development process and increase productivity developers should know its major advantages as well as disadvantages. It will also help to hire CodeIgniter developer based on your project requirements.
Here are some pros and cons that you should consider when deciding if CodeIgniter is right for your business in 2022.
What is CodeIgniter?
CodeIgniter is a powerful open source PHP framework created by EllisLab. It aims to make developing websites easier by simplifying common tasks used to program a website.
One of its greatest features is that it has been designed to work out-of-the-box, meaning you don’t need to configure anything or write any code – just upload it to your hosting provider.
Pros of CodeIgniter PHP Framework in 2022
1) Based on Open Source
One of CodeIgniter’s biggest advantages is that it’s open source. That means developers can view, copy, modify and distribute it under a BSD license.
This makes it easy for a CodeIgniter developer to build new themes and plugins, and share the same with other developers who may find it useful. If developers prefer to add some functionality, so, can add it as per the project preferences.
2) Ease of use
The framework offers an easy-to-use interface and is easy to learn by the developers. Web coders are familiar with object-oriented programming concepts. The syntax of CodeIgniter is natural and intuitive, that makes it easy for developers to write code that is clear and readable.
3) Database-Agnostic
One of CodeIgniter’s most powerful features is its Database-agnostic ORM (object-relational mapping). It means that developers don’t have to be a database administrator or experienced SQL developer to get data into and out of your database. That frees you up from having to deal with custom table configurations and allows focusing on building the app instead.
4) Community Support
The CodeIgniter community is large and friendly, with a dedicated team of core developers. There are also dozens of other teams and individuals working on related projects.
In the development process, if developers face any problems or have inquiries, an existing solution will be on the internet. However, coders don’t have to spend much time sorting the issues out.
5) Supports MVC Pattern
CodeIgniter is based on the MVC architecture. The term MVC refers to a model view controller that allows programmers to separate the development process. It helps to speed up the development process.
Cons of CodeIgniter PHP Framework in 2022
Poor Documentation
Whether you’re new to code or not, documentation is paramount if you want to build a solid project. Unfortunately, CodeIgniter doesn’t come with many instructions at all.
Aside from scattered tutorials and information in forums, there’s very little guidance on how to use and implement anything other than basic functions—and even then there’s no clear explanation of how it works.
2) Lacks scalability
Due to its size, new features are harder to implement. The larger a software project becomes, the more difficult it is to work on it and debug problems. If you want an easy-to-use framework that can grow with your needs, then avoid using CodeIgniter.
3) Poor Performance
One of CodeIgniter’s biggest drawbacks is that it is not as robust or fast as other modern frameworks. It does not have a built-in caching mechanism, and it has difficulty handling large data sets. For these reasons, many professional developers recommend using other frameworks instead of CodeIgniter.
4) Not good for large projects
Large projects require large teams, but with a poorly designed architecture and poorly written code, it’s easy to end up in a situation where you need to hire more people just to handle day-to-day maintenance. If a software project begins with CodeIgniter, there’s a very good chance it will outgrow its abilities. Large projects need something with better scalability; options include Laravel or Yii.
Conclusion
CodeIgniter is the popular and most preferred framework that ensures to deliver high quality and secure solutions. As other technologies, CodeIgniter also has its own pros and cons in 2022.
It is based on open source technology, supports MVC ( model view controller) that allows to separate the development process into major parts and simplify the development process. However, CodeIgniter has a lack of scalability and is not suitable for large projects.
Before opting for the CodeIgniter developers should consider both important factors and then choose the one as per the project needs.
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