PHP: Declared Dead, Still Alive
Every few years, someone declares PHP dead. And every year, PHP continues to power roughly 77% of websites with known server-side languages. But PHP in 2025 is a fundamentally different language than the PHP of a decade ago.
Modern PHP Capabilities
Performance Revolution
PHP 8.x introduced JIT (Just-In-Time) compilation, delivering 2-3x performance improvements for computation-heavy workloads. Combined with OPcache and preloading, modern PHP applications rival the performance of compiled language alternatives.
Fibers for Async
PHP Fibers enable cooperative multitasking, allowing frameworks like Laravel to handle concurrent I/O operations efficiently. This is particularly impactful for applications that interact with multiple external APIs or services.
Type Safety
Union types, intersection types, readonly properties, and enums have transformed PHP into a language with strong typing guarantees. Modern PHP codebases are more maintainable and less error-prone than ever.
PHP and AI Integration
PHP applications are increasingly integrating with AI services. Whether calling OpenAI APIs, running inference on local models via FFI, or orchestrating AI workflows through queue workers, PHP's ecosystem is well-positioned for the AI era.
At HerzSoft, PHP remains at the core of our technology stack. When combined with Laravel's elegant architecture, modern PHP delivers the performance, type safety, and developer experience that enterprise applications demand.
