In the following section, we went through when to use a Web Framework instead of a CMS? In short, when developing a system and not a website such as an intranet, CRM or something that does not have a typical website appearance and typical functions that a website has.
In our business area, the agency, we have chosen to focus on the web framework Laravel. So what is Laravel and why have we chosen to build systems in this particular web framework?
Laravel is a popular Open source framework based on the PHP programming language, in fact the most popular PHP framework.
Laravel follows the MVC (Model-View-Controller) architecture, which helps to separate logic, presentation and data management in systems. Below are some points about Laravel and its advantages.
Key Features of Laravel
Elegant Syntax
Laravel is known for its elegant and expressive syntax, which makes the code easy to read and write. This improves developer productivity and code maintainability.
Eloquent ORM (Object-Relational Mapping)
Eloquent is Laravel’s built-in ORM, which provides an easy way to interact with databases. You can work with the database using PHP syntax instead of writing in SQL.
Blade Templating Engine
Blade is Laravel’s built-in templating engine, which allows developers to use simple and easy-to-read syntax to create dynamic interfaces. Blade also supports reusable components and layouts.
Routing
Laravel offers a flexible and powerful routing system that makes it easy to define routes for your application. You can easily create RESTful routes and group routes for better organization.
Migrations and Schema Builder
Laravel migrations make it easy to create and modify database tables in a version-controlled manner. Schema Builder lets you create and manipulate tables using PHP instead of SQL.
Artisan CLI
Laravel’s command-line interface is called Artisan, which helps developers automate repetitive tasks, such as generating code, migrating databases, and running tests.
Middleware
Laravel’s middleware allows tasks to be performed on incoming HTTP requests before they reach your system. This is useful for authentication, logging, and other filtering tasks.
Queueing System
Laravel has a built-in queueing system that allows heavy operations to be run in the background, improving system performance and user experience.
Scheduled Jobs
Laravel offers a simple and elegant way to schedule recurring tasks, such as sending out reports or performing data maintenance.
Security
Laravel has many security features built in, including protection against SQL injections, Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) protection, and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) protection.
What are the benefits of Laravel?
Rapid Development
Laravel is designed to speed up the development process with its elegant syntax and rich set of built-in features. Laravel is often called a lightweight framework, and this results in rapid development and thus lower costs for clients.
Strong Ecosystem
Laravel has a great ecosystem, with many official and third-party packages that can be used to extend the functionality of your systems.
Large Community and Documentation
Laravel has a large and active community, which means there is a lot of support available. The documentation is comprehensive and easy to follow.
Scalability
Laravel can be used to develop everything from small to large systems and offers tools and features that make it easier for developers to create scalable solutions.
Modularity and Reusability
With its modular package system, you can easily use and reuse components in your projects, which reduces code duplication and improves maintainability.
Cost-effective for the expertise
Competence in Laravel usually has lower costs in Sweden than e.g. .NET or Java.
In summary, Laravel is a powerful and flexible lightweight framework used to develop web-based systems such as portals and CRM. It is Open Source based, has a large community and is time-efficient when developing systems.