In conclusion, it is easy to see PHP in 2024 as the forgotten child of web development, while JavaScript is the most popular kid in class. Sadly for PHP, its decline in usage is unlikely to stop any time soon — why would it, when WordPress developers are busy adapting to a new JavaScript paradigm? But at least there is active development at the PHP Foundation.
PHP is great when you use it right. The problem is, most people don’t use it right. That old way of rendering html through PHP, or worse, injecting PHP into html, is antiquated.
IMO, PHP is a great language to use for making your backend API. Use whatever flavor of the week on your front end.
Aren’t you only saying, indirectly, that server-side rendering is “antiquated”?
Unless you mean that mixing logic with templates is bad, in which case I agree.
Well, both?
There’s always a use for server rendered html. Maybe JavaScript is an issue. But it’s usually not. The list is pretty short though.
I can’t think of many situations where I would say yes if I asked myself “if you could re-do the system today, would you still choose server-rendered html?”
I’m sure other people have use cases where it would make sense. I build admin utilities and ERP stuff.
That’s a valid opinion. And I admit that at some point you must move to some form of client-side rendering.
I still haven’t (for some admin panels too, and websites), so I don’t feel the need to switch.
Well, if it ain’t broke, and you’re not getting paid to refactor it, don’t fix it.