One of the more challenging things I’ve run into while doing PHP development is effectively separating presentation from program logic. In many projects, I felt I was doing a great job until I had to do a markup change and jump through a lot hurdles to make it happen. In my recent projects, I’ve starting using the HTML Template IT extension in PEAR, and its made things a lot easier.

The HTML Template IT extension provides a solid template system that allows complete separation of code and presentation. Rather than placing markup in your PHP files, the markup is contained within separate template files. Within the markup of these templates are variables that can be replaced by dynamic data when the template is parsed.

It’s easy to identify the replacement variables and the file is simple for a designer to edit. As long as the references are there, they will be replaced when the template is parsed. The main goal here is to provide a method for changing the HTML ma

Object-oriented programming is well and truly in fashion, and PHP is no exception. So you’ve adopted the proper design patterns, built your site on the latest PHP framework, and have your database access abstracted so far that you’ve forgotten SQL.

What’s Going On?

When you first move towards object-oriented programming, the first thing you might notice is that you can give yourself a headache trying to follow the execution path through your code and the framework it’s built on.

The next thing y

The following is republished from the Tech Times #165.

When interviewing a PHP developer candidate for a job at SitePoint, there is one question that I almost always ask, because their answer tells me so much about the kind of programmer they are. Here’s the question: “In your mind, what are the differences between good PHP code and bad PHP code?”

The reason I like this question is because it tests more than just a candidate’s encyclopedic knowledge of PHP’s functions. Zend’s PHP certification does a good job of that (as does the test that Yahoo! issues to applicants for its PHP developer jobs, apparently).

Rather,

Via digg: Our current feature article about developing for the Facebook Platform with PHP is extraordinarily timely, given the recent announcement from venture capital firm Bay Partners on Tuesday that they will be offering cash prizes for the best Facebook applications.

Dubbed the “AppFactory,” the program will grant awards of US$25,000 to $250,000 to Facebook developers using a fast-track approval process. The company hopes to make up to 50 such awards, Salil Deshpande, a partner at Bay Partners, told the E-Commerce Times.

Given that Facebook has just clocked 30 million members, there’s never been a better time to make your app even more s