Why Cakephp Framework is Best Choice for Website Development?

Cakephp is an open source programming language that helps to develop efficient and potential websites and its applications. Now-a-days, it is the first choice for most developers and programmers to develop a website fast. Now question arises, if there are so many other PHP frameworks available for web development, why several developers and programmers still trust on Cakephp? So, here are the features that make Cakephp highly noticeable from other frameworks:

Open Source

Open source in terms of computing is stands for: 

Similarly, Cakephp is an open source website development platform that ensures users for free availability and modification of code. Many cakephp developers use it to develop customized CMS and websites. One main advantage is most of the big Cakephp Communities like Github offers updates, codes and plug-ins for free use.

Model-View-Controller (MVC) Architecture

Cakephp is based on the Model-View-Controller pattern that isolates the business layer from the presentation layer.  Therefore, model is responsible for database connectivity and saving data to the database. The view processes data in supported format and layout. The controller handles the user request. 

Code Reusability

As we discussed previously Cakephp is an open source framework, hence several communities provides freely available codes which is reusable and can be modified. Thus, it makes CakePHP website development faster as CakePHP developers can use already existed code. It also increases efforts and potential of developers regarding optimized logic and structure in developing the web applications for a website.

CRUD

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CRUD stands for Create, Read, Update and Delete. CakePHP provides CRUD concept based on Active Record design pattern. The Active Record design is an approach to access data from database. It’s built-in to wrap the database table and row in a php class itself. So, CRUD is an easy act for cakephp programmers to create, modify and delete entities from the system.

Easy to configure and Built-in Libraries

The best part of Cakephp framework is easy configuration and installation. You just install it from Cakephp.org and use it with some initial modifications like database connectivity and change in security files. It saves developers time configuring the CakePHP as it can automatically detect most features and settings. It has many in-built validation rules or libraries that can be easily used for particular uses.

3 Shopping Cart Plug-ins For Cakephp Website Development

You can find several shopping cart plug-ins online, but here are three popular ones, everybody should know:

1. Cakephp Shopping Cart

A simple PHP Shopping Cart built with CakePHP PHP framework.

• CakePHP 2.4 rapid development php framework
• CakePHP DebugKit
• Bootstrap 3 front-end framework with Mobile Friendly Responsive design
• jQuery, jQuery UI JavaScript Library,
• Authorize.net Payment Gateway for Credit Card Payment
• PayPal Express Checkout
• Google Checkout
• AJAX functions for search autocomplete, shopping cart updates
• Product Brands
• Product Categories
• Product Tags
• Product Options

Note: Its status is still showing “INCOMPLETE” Tag.

To download its ZIP, please Read here: https://github.com/andraskende/cakephp-shopping-cart

2. Cakecart - Shoppingcart Plug-in

CakeCart is a shopping cart built on-top of the CakePHP framework. Currently it is in the pre-alpha stage.
Its purpose will be to allow anybody familiar with the CakePHP framework to customize and easily launch an e-commerce website. Currently has authorize.net support and later scheduled to add in Paypal and Google checkout support.

For Installation, Read here: https://github.com/samanz/cakecart

3. Kaching - Shoppingcart Plug-in

Kaching is tailored for developers that want full control on building their online store. Kaching provides the store administration and lots of features (see project page). You build the store's look and feel interacting with our controllers. Kaching is also distributed under the MIT License.

For Installation, Read here: https://github.com/mfriesen/kaching-php

4 Steps To Make Registration Form In Cakephp

Before starting to learn about how to make registration form in Cakephp, I want to make it clear that you should read abo MVC model in Cakephp.

Step 1 - Create Table and fields

In first step we create table in database then create fields that are generally included in registration forms (like username, password, email id etc.)

Database query to create table: Create table ‘tablename’
Database query to create field:
CREATE TABLE tablename (
ID INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
PRIMARY KEY(ID),
username VARCHAR (50) NOT Null,
password VARCHAR (50) NOT Null,
email VARCHAR (100) NOT Null,
firstname VARCHAR (25),
lastname VARCHAR (25),
)"; 

Note: - You can write any suitable name in place of “tablename”.

Step 2 - Create Model

Model is the part that takes care of the database logic. Create model with “tablename.php” in app/models as we defined name of table is “tablename” in first step. To make action on “tablename” we have to declare name (like name) because it uses in controller to save data. Code looks like: $this->name->save(data).

Code to create model: 
<?php
class tablename extends AppModel
{
var $name=' name ';
}
?>

Step 3 - Create View

View is the part that presents data received from model. Create view ‘register.ctp’ in app/view/tablename. We are creating form here in HTML although you can use helpers provided by cakephp to create form too.

Code to create view:
<html>
<form action="../tablename/register" method="post">
<p>Register your account.</p>
<label>Username:</label><input name="username" size="40" />
<label>Password:</label><input type="password" name="password" size="40"/>
<label>Email Id:</label><input name="email" size="40" maxlength="100" />
<label>First Name:</label><input name=" firstname " size="25" />
<label>Last Name:</label><input name=" lastname " size="25" />
<input type="submit" value="register" />
</form>
</html>

Note: Always remember the input name should be same as column name of our table.

Step 4 - Create Controller

Controller is a part that responds to user with combined action of model and view part. Create ‘tablename_controller.php‘ in app/controllers.

Code to create controller:
<?php
Class tablename_Controller extends AppController
{
function register(){
if (!empty($this->params['form']))
{
if($this->name->save($this->params['form']))
{
$this->flash('Registration Successful','/tablename/register’);
}
else
{
$this->flash('Not succeeded','/tablename/register');
}
}
}
}
?>

How above codes work?

First user open registration form here, "tablename/register/" in his browser. User fills the registration form details and click on register button. In controller it will check for the register function as we mentioned the action of form as ‘../register’ .

Register function in controller will save the data of form by using given statement
$this->name->save($this->params['form'])

This statement create insert query in database, i.e.
Insert INTO
Tablename(username, password, email, firstname, lastname)
Values
(‘mike’,’mike123’,’mike@gmail.com’,’mike’,’hussy’)

After insert command, a message pop-ups on your window “Registration successful” and you are done!

Resource: W3schools.com

Read CakePHP Features for Website Application Development

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CakePHP is an open source framework that allows developers to write codes in less time and effort from other frameworks. Many developers move to CakePHP platform to build websites in a new and progressive manner. CakePHP allows a basic system to the developers to construct, establish and manage a collection of web applications.

Support PHP Versions
Now days, CakePHP totally supports most recent versions of PHP programming language. It can be used to build the future web applications and also capable in integration of particular functionality to fulfill the requirements of client. The advanced features of Cakephp also help to improve user experience for the web applications.

MVC architecture
The architecture consists of three elements, i.e., model, view and controller. Model is used to communicate with various data sources, and View is used to handle the website layout and design. However, the Controller will permit you to operate the working of model and view based on the directions received from clients. Each layer can be used separately to make the web development process easier and smoother.

Security

The strong security features of CakePHP stands it higher than other frameworks. It contains Object Relational Mapping (ORM) framework that helps to configure SQL queries easily. However, you can also use database commands like Create, Retrieve, Update, and Delete for user security in less time and effort. The in-built shell of Cakephp framework permits to integrate CLI (Command line interface) too.

Templates
CakePHP is well-known framework among web developers because of its variety of fast and flexible templates. Here you can also design custom CakePHP templates to modify the visuals of the user interface of your website application. There are several CakePHP professionals in the world that can provide a number of customized templates to earn money. 

Other Features

It doesn’t end up here. CakePHP offers some more functionality to make website application development more eminent and easier. Along with support all database functions; it supports the functionality of code re-usability. So developers can comfortably setup the system without writing extended codes. The framework provides other features like rich query APIs and shorten URL syntax.

5 Do’s of CakePHP Web Development That A Developer Usually Bypasses

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Most developers are confident of being 100% familiarized with each part of CakePHP Website Development. Actually, developers are well known with the development process. But, many of them actually don’t aware from what they should need to do during project development process. This post explains five such things which every developer should remember at the time of development:

Web standards
Web standards are made to provide the quality, movability, availability and usability to your application. When we ignore these standards, it impacts the application process adversely. Your applications must be in compliance with these web standards or should be W3C validated. Therefore, follow the standards for all web programs so that you don't repent in future advantages.

URL Optimization
Search engine Optimization (SEO) is a crucial factor of the online accessibility of each website and URLs play a vital role in building a site SEO-friendly. While working, developers normally forget to optimize the URLs structure that suits for search engines. So, don’t leave the site URLs without optimization. Always optimize the URL structures of your CakePHP website by including all necessary keywords.

Organize Content
Website content is a significant part as it attracts several customers and it should be organized orderly on a site. So, don’t ignore the elements like titles, sub-titles, paragraphs, keywords and bullets to include as it impacts website traffic flow.  Also check the grammatical mistakes twice to make your content error prone. Assure that your placement of content should be at right place where it best suits and describes application functionality.

Application Testing
Don't leave your site before testing your application. It is important for CakePHP developers to understand that testing application is a part of their work regime. If they don’t test application, it may be possible that workflow of an app will corrupt, which impact adversely on your site performance. Therefore, test all necessary parameters including performance, quality, bug-issues, and security of application. Other solution is to hand over the task to a quality-assurance team in your company.

Test Coding
It is important to test the code once written as it helps to miss the last minute hassle. Most developers don't check codes before leaving the website. It puts them sometimes in trouble at important occasions. So, it is recommended to grasp the importance of checking and re-checking their code.

Five Best Sources to Get Assistance for Cakephp Web Development

The CakePHP framework has been introduced in 2005 and it is open source. To learn cakephp, people generally go through various tutorials and blogs. In learning phase, people need assistance of experienced developers or programmers, working in cakephp web development for several years. There are five sources I found very helpful in cakephp web development:

Google Groups or Community
The Google group is a community where people regularly ask several questions, post topics and discuss their problem to get appropriate solution or conclusion. I really found it interesting and informative for cakephp web development issues. You can easily access this group by simply sign in with your Gmail account and ask your queries regarding cakephp. People here will love to answer the best of his knowledge and experience for each question you ask. You can also create a group on Google.

Stack Overflow
Stack Overflow is a question and answer website for web programmers and developers. You don’t need to register or login to ask questions and give answers for any topic relevant to your interest. You can ask your cakephp related questions here. This Q&A site allows people to vote up and down for any good or bad answer. Also, people can choose an accepted answer if the concept can work for them, suggested by the developer on stack overflow.

Github
Found in 2008, Github provides a platform to share code with friends, co-workers and others. This helps to simplify the code and offers major help by more than four million people active on github. People can download github software on their laptops and mobiles to comment on the code and report issues. The best thing of github, it has millions of repositories which contain code and solutions of several programming issues for cakephp framework and other.

Cake expert
Cake experts is the best place to find cakephp developers and companies’ details expertise in cakephp web development. You can find a list of cakephp freelancers and development teams here. Also you can   list or add your company details here. The aim of this directory is to provide and organize a list of cakephp developers and organizations at one place.

Geek list
Geek list is a combination of social network and community for developers. You can share your work, links and resources relevant to your expertise and work field (i.e. cakephp website development) here. You can connect with people and hire developers from geek list. The community of geeklist is a helpful hand for programming issues, job listings and updates of new technologies. What you need is just register yourself and meet up several developers and companies CEO of your niche.

One that I missed is W3Schools.com (a good online tutorial and guide to learn cakephp programming basics). This is all what I thinks as useful resources. If you know some other good sources to learn cakephp or anything that helps people in cakephp website development, please feel free to share here.