Introduction
The January 2025 issue of php[architect] offers a diverse mix of deep dives, practical advice, and inspiring stories for PHP developers. This review highlights the standout articles, shares my takeaways, and offers reflections on how these insights can shape our daily development practices.
1️⃣ Implementing the MySQL Protocol in Pure PHP: Are You Ready to Dive Deep?
This article explores the intricacies of the MySQL protocol, demonstrating a raw implementation using “PHP sockets”. While the deep technical dive is admirable, I found the blocking approach outdated. A modern, non-blocking example would have been way more interesting. Despite being a great exercise for learning, I struggle to envision anyone applying this in a real-world project without additional benefits.
private function decodeValue(
string $bytes,
array $column,
int &$offset = 0
): int|string {
$length = self::decodeUnsigned($bytes, $offset);
$offset += $length;
$data = substr($bytes, $offset - $length, $length);
if ($column['type'] === self::LONG_DATA_TYPE) {
return (int) $data;
}
return $data;
}
Conclusion:
✅ Educational deep dive into MySQL protocol.
❌ Lacks modern, non-blocking implementation.
2️⃣ Programmer’s Guide to Legacy Upgrade: Part 2
Part 2 of the critical read for every quality-focused developer! Tomáš Votruba emphasizes that legacy upgrades should be “fun from start to end. Not easy, not boring, but challengingly fun.” The practical guidance on maintaining quality gates and the use of tools like tomasvotruba/type-coverage is extremely valuable. Could be a baseline for every dev! I’ll reintroduce the rector —dry-run approach to my projects. The quote of the magazine issue for me: “We always aim for the state of the art in 2024 (the current year). What would a project you’ll start today look like?”
Conclusion:
✅ Essential strategies for legacy project upgrades.
✅ Best practice quality gates for every project!
✅ Highlights the importance of simplicity and speed in quality gates.
3️⃣ Chat Boxes
Maxwell Ivey provides an eye-opening perspective on how blind users interact with chat boxes. The reminder to build accessible experiences is essential. A practical guide to bridging the gap between usability for all users and modern design practices.
Conclusion:
✅ Raises awareness about accessibility in web design.
✅ Offers practical advice for inclusive development.
4️⃣ Internet and Situational Awareness
The comparison of the internet and public wifis with a PVP zone is spot on!
A PvP enabled zone is any environment where you must assume any and all other actors are malicious and wish you harm.
The final takeaway is a strong reminder: “Understanding what you’re trying to do and who might be capable of interfering with your activity is critical.” This piece reinforces the importance of situational awareness when connecting to public networks.
Conclusion:
✅ Emphasizes the importance of online security awareness.
✅ Provides relatable analogies to convey critical points.
5️⃣ My Favorite Books
Chris Tankersley’s curated list of must-read books is fantastic. His recommendations of Joel Spolsky’s works are now on my reading list. Special candy of the article are some (of my favorite) quotes, emphasizing how small issues can lead to significant problems if left unchecked.
To correct the problem, Microsoft universally adopted something called a zero defects methodology. Many of the programmers in the company giggled since it sounded like management thought they could reduce the bug count by executive fiat. Actually, zero defects meant that at any given time, the highest priority is to eliminate bugs before writing new code.
— Joel Spolsky, “Joel on Software”, page 21
When I see a schedule measured in days or even weeks, I know it’s not going to work. You have to break your schedule into very small tasks that can be measured in hours. Nothing longer than sixteen hours.
Joel Spolsky, “More Joel on Software”, page 158
And one thing I live by professionally, regarding the broken window theory:
Don’t live with broken windows.
Conclusion:
✅ Offers valuable reading recommendations for developers.
✅ Highlights the significance of maintaining code quality.
6️⃣ PHP4.0: The Era of Dynamic Web Applications
A nostalgic journey into the history of PHP, particularly PHP 4. It took me back to the days of using Java “in” PHP. A reminder of how far the language has evolved and why keeping an eye on history helps us appreciate modern practices.
Conclusion:
✅ Provides historical context for PHP’s evolution.
✅ Encourages appreciation for modern development practices.
7️⃣ Feature Flags
While the article introduces the basics of feature flags, it fell short of my expectations. It would have been valuable to connect feature flags with modern frameworks, trunk-based development, and continuous integration strategies. Still, a decent starting point for newcomers.
Conclusion:
✅ Good introduction to feature flags.
❌ Lacks depth on advanced implementation strategies.
8️⃣ Embracing Cloud Databases
A simple yet important reminder of how effortless database operations have become. A stark contrast to the laborious processes of decades past. The story telling how the process was in a time far far away 😉 made me appreciate the modern tools we have at our disposal.
Conclusion:
✅ Highlights advancements in database management.
✅ Encourages leveraging modern cloud solutions.
9️⃣ Max Level PHPStan
Oscar Merida’s insights into PHPStan were enlightening. His assertion that “static analysis may reduce the need for unit tests” aligns well with my philosophy of always developing against the highest PHPStan level. And I absolutely agree with him. The article’s conclusion reinforces the value of pushing static analysis as far as possible.
Conclusion:
✅ Advocates for rigorous static analysis in development.
✅ Provides practical tips for maximizing PHPStan’s potential.
🎯 Conclusion
The January 2025 issue of php[architect] is packed with actionable insights and inspiration. From maintaining high-quality codebases to ensuring inclusivity and security, the magazine continues to be a valuable resource for PHP developers. If you haven’t read it yet, grab your copy and start implementing these ideas into your work!