i've been doing php for like a year now using the main functions that come with php but i remember someone once told me that if i used a framework i would be up their with the big guys. is it worth programming under a framework? if so which one should i try out? (for php)

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If you're comfortable using PHP without any framework, then sure it might be time to sample the differences between that and working with frameworks. There are many, many out there to try and for the learning experience it would be better to have a good go at as many different ones as possible.

I'd ignore the person that told you that using a framework would make you be u there with the big guys. Just like using jQuery doesn't make you an expert JavaScript coder, using PHP frameworks won't make you any better a PHP coder. A framework is just a tool, and it's up to your experience to decide which shape the tool should be for any particular job—or if you need one at all—so give a variety of frameworks (don't just stick to the more popular "MVC frameworks" out there) a go.

I am also new to php but after going through couple of tutorial on internet i decided to try a framework. i first tried my hands at cakephp but now i am learning Zend Framework. if you are programming for a year then most probably you are already using some kind of framework developed by you.In my viewpoint basic framework is preset files you would start with when you begin an application. frameworks have some advantages as well as disadvantages. if you know what is framework doing behind the scenes you will definitely improve your programming skills

frameworks are basically built on reuse of code for rapid development of applications. what i have learned that not a single framework is suited for all kind of applications. it depends on your needs as Salathe also pointed out that you may not need anyone of them.

in simplest terms there are many kind of vehicles but it is upto you to decide which one to use to accomplish your task.

i am following 2-3 Zend Framework tutorials. At first i was unable to understand lots of things but slowly i am catching up with it. I recommend that you go through overview of any framework to know what it can accomplish for your needs.
hope it was helpful.

waiting for responses from more accomplished developers for their views on this interesting topics.

sorry for any mistakes(please point out) in English as i am not a native speaker.

I don't think it will make you a better coder in most ways, nut in some ways it will. Intact, coding things for your self without one may help you more. I just coded my own framework and it helped alot but im still going to use code igniter

Here i found one link regarding frameworks comparison
http://www.avnetlabs.com/php/php-fra...zend-framework

hope it helps.

I would advise not using any type of framework until you are quite comfortable with all aspects of PHP. Reason being is you should know how to use your language at a low level before you star using high level functions.

As for me, I don't use any frameworks. I am very much a minimalist when it comes to progrmaming, so I never start with anything I don't know I will need. If need comes for a framework, I will use it, but I never start saying "I have X framework, how can I find a way to use it." I have found that almost all programming needs can be met without a framework of any kind.

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