Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CodeIgniter VS PHPmaker

Compare CodeIgniter VS PHPmaker and see what are their differences

CodeIgniter logo CodeIgniter

A Fully Baked PHP Framework

PHPmaker logo PHPmaker

PHPMaker is a powerful automation tool that can generate a full set of PHP quickly from MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle, Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL Server and SQLite databases.
  • CodeIgniter Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-21
  • PHPmaker Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-17

CodeIgniter features and specs

  • Performance
    CodeIgniter is known for its exceptional performance and fast execution, which is beneficial for applications requiring quick load times.
  • Documentation
    CodeIgniter offers comprehensive and clear documentation, making it easier for developers to understand and use the framework effectively.
  • Easy to Learn
    CodeIgniter's simple and straightforward syntax makes it relatively easy for beginners to learn and start developing applications quickly.
  • Lightweight
    The framework is lightweight and does not impose many dependencies or require a specific server environment, providing flexibility to developers.
  • Community Support
    CodeIgniter has a strong and active community, which means plenty of resources, forums, and add-ons are available for developers.
  • Built-in Security Features
    CodeIgniter comes with built-in security features like XSS filtering and CSRF protection, helping developers to secure their applications with minimal effort.
  • MVC Architecture
    The framework follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture, promoting clean code separation and better organization of the project.

Possible disadvantages of CodeIgniter

  • Lack of Modern Features
    CodeIgniter does not include many modern features found in other frameworks, such as built-in ORM or out-of-the-box RESTful API support.
  • Limited Modular Extensions
    It has fewer modular extensions compared to other frameworks like Laravel or Symfony, which can limit code reusability and scalability.
  • Manual Routing
    Routing in CodeIgniter is somewhat manual and less intuitive compared to other frameworks that offer more automatic and flexible routing mechanisms.
  • Outdated PHP Practices
    Some of the practices and conventions in CodeIgniter are considered outdated with respect to modern PHP development trends.
  • No Built-in Authentication
    CodeIgniter does not come with a built-in authentication system, requiring developers to implement their own or use third-party libraries.
  • Less Emphasis on Testing
    CodeIgniter has less built-in support and emphasis on unit testing compared to other frameworks like Laravel, making it harder to implement TDD or BDD.
  • Lack of Native Composer Support
    The framework's native support for Composer, PHP's dependency manager, is not as robust as other modern frameworks, which can complicate dependency management.

PHPmaker features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    PHPMaker offers a user-friendly interface which allows developers to generate PHP scripts quickly and efficiently. Its intuitive design reduces the learning curve, making it accessible for beginner and intermediate developers.
  • Rapid Development
    PHPMaker automates many tasks involved in PHP development, allowing for rapid creation of web applications. This increases productivity by reducing the amount of manual coding required.
  • Customizability
    While it automates code generation, PHPMaker also allows for custom scripting and tweaking. This provides flexibility for developers to meet specific project requirements.
  • Security Features
    PHPMaker includes built-in security features such as user authentication and access management, which help in safeguarding the generated web applications against common threats.
  • Database Support
    PHPMaker supports a wide range of databases including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle. This makes it a versatile tool suitable for various database environments.
  • Extensive Documentation
    The platform offers comprehensive documentation and tutorials, which can be very helpful for troubleshooting and mastering the tool's full capabilities.

Possible disadvantages of PHPmaker

  • Limited to PHP
    PHPMaker is designed specifically for PHP applications, making it less useful for developers who work with other programming languages or frameworks.
  • Cost
    PHPMaker is a commercial product that requires a paid license, which could be a drawback for developers or small businesses looking for cost-free solutions.
  • Overhead
    The generated code may include unnecessary overhead, which could affect performance and scalability when compared to hand-coded solutions.
  • Learning Curve for Customization
    While the tool is easy to use for basic tasks, mastering its advanced customization options can be complex and may require a significant time investment.
  • Limited Front-End Flexibility
    Although PHPMaker offers some level of customization, it is primarily backend-focused and may not provide the same level of flexibility and design freedom as specialized front-end frameworks.

Analysis of CodeIgniter

Overall verdict

  • Yes, CodeIgniter is a good choice for developers looking for a simple and efficient PHP framework. It's particularly well-suited for projects where performance is a priority, and extensive feature sets found in larger frameworks are not necessary.

Why this product is good

  • CodeIgniter is considered a good PHP framework because it is lightweight, easy to set up, and requires minimal server resources. It offers a straightforward approach to building web applications, especially for developers who appreciate simplicity and performance. Its comprehensive documentation and active community support are additional positives.

Recommended for

  • Developers who need a lightweight and fast framework
  • Projects with straightforward requirements and simplistic architectures
  • Developers who prefer a framework with easy installation and minimal configuration
  • Smaller projects or prototypes that require rapid development
  • Projects with limited server resources

Analysis of PHPmaker

Overall verdict

  • PHPMaker is considered a good tool for developers seeking to accelerate the development process of PHP applications. It is praised for its ease of use and robust feature set, although it may not be as suitable for projects requiring highly custom code.

Why this product is good

  • PHPMaker is a tool designed to generate PHP scripts quickly, making it a good choice for developers who want to automate the creation of PHP applications. It can save time by generating clean and easily manageable code and offers a variety of features such as support for different database types, user authentication, custom templates, and extensions.

Recommended for

    PHPMaker is recommended for developers who are looking for a rapid application development tool for PHP projects, especially when dealing with database-driven applications. It is ideal for those who want to focus more on application logic rather than repetitive coding tasks.

CodeIgniter videos

PHP CodeIgniter tutorial: What is CodeIgniter and why should I use it? | lynda.com

More videos:

  • Review - Laravel vs Codeigniter - A quick comparison for you to decide
  • Review - Review Codeigniter 4

PHPmaker videos

Getting started with PHPMaker 2020 Create Simple Product List #1

More videos:

  • Review - Masino Extensions for PHPMaker 2020 - Overview

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CodeIgniter and PHPmaker)
Web Frameworks
86 86%
14% 14
PHP MVC Framework
63 63%
37% 37
Developer Tools
100 100%
0% 0
PHP Framework
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare CodeIgniter and PHPmaker

CodeIgniter Reviews

  1. A PSR-compliant framework with diverse set of facilities and capabilities

    You can build any kinds of web apps and sites with this framework without consuming substantial server resources.

    🏁 Competitors: Lumen Framework

CakePHP vs CodeIgniter: Which PHP Framework is Best for Development?
CodeIgniter: CodeIgniter was developed by EllisLab and released in February 2006. It is known for its simplicity and speed, designed to help developers create full-featured web applications quickly. CodeIgniter emphasizes a lean and minimalistic approach, providing just enough to get the job done without imposing too many restrictions.
Top 5 Laravel Alternatives
CodeIgniter is simpler to use for the majority of developers. Laravel’s convenience is matched only by its adherence to a small set of standards and guidelines. CodeIgniter also offers improved error handling and more leeway in terms of customization. Overall, in comparison of Laravel and CodeIgniter, CodeIgniter might be the simpler choice for most web programmers.
Framework review: Laravel vs CodeIgniter
Let's start with CodeIgniter first. It focuses on performance and speed. It offers a simple, easy-to-learn syntax, making it ideal for beginners. CodeIgniter uses its own proprietary Active Record implementation for database operations, which provides a simple and intuitive way to interact with data. Unlike Laravel, CodeIgniter does not enforce a specific architectural...
Source: infinyhost.com
10 Ruby on Rails Alternatives For Web Development in 2022
Laravel is a PHP web framework that was built by Taylor Otwell in 2011 as an attempt to replace the older framework CodeIgniter that lacked some important features, like built-in customer authentication and user authorization. The current version of the framework, Laravel 8.16 has a great infrastructure of web development tools that facilitate queue monitoring, server...
The Most Popular PHP Frameworks to Use in 2021
Laravel is billed as “The PHP Framework for Web Artisans.” It was developed by Taylor Otwell, who wanted a framework with elements that CodeIgniter didn’t have, such as user authentication.
Source: kinsta.com

PHPmaker Reviews

We have no reviews of PHPmaker yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, CodeIgniter seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

CodeIgniter mentions (10)

  • 19+ Laravel Best Practices for Developers in 2024
    For history's sake, you should know that Laravel was built in place of the CodeIgniter framework as a modern replacement because the CodeIgniter framework missing important core features such as built-in support for user authentication and authorization. Since its initial launch in 2011, Laravel has implemented built-in support for localization, views, dealing with sessions, routing the request to the specific... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • How to Install Codeigniter on a Local Server in 2025?
    Visit the CodeIgniter official download page and download the latest version. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Top 12 PHP Frameworks For Web Development in 2024
    CodeIgniter is an open-source PHP framework with 18k+ stars and 7.8K forks on GitHub. It follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) architecture and provides a structured way to create and organize code. It provides a set of libraries and an intuitive interface to accelerate PHP web app development. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Why I selected Elixir and Phoenix as my main stack
    Over the years I have tried different frameworks, mostly in PHP, like Code Igniter (2010), ProcessWire (2014) and Laravel (2015). - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • In One Minute : CodeIgniter
    CodeIgniter is an open-source php web application framework created by EllisLab Inc and it is now a project of British Columbia Institute of Technology. The framework implements a modified version of the Model-View-Controller design pattern. It is praised for its performance and the quality of its documentation. It's currently licensed under the MIT License, although the previous version was released under the... - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
View more

PHPmaker mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PHPmaker yet. Tracking of PHPmaker recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing CodeIgniter and PHPmaker, you can also consider the following products

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

PHPRunner - PHPRunner builds visually appealing web interface for popular databases.

CakePHP - The Rapid Development Framework for PHP

Scriptcase - Powerful web low-code RAD platform. Unleash the power of web development and boost your productivity time creating delightful projects with magnificent BI solutions.

Django - The Web framework for perfectionists with deadlines

AdminLTE - Web-based admin dashboard & control panel template. Highly customizable and easy to use.