Practical articles on PHP systems architecture, automated refactoring with Rector, and database layer modernisation.
AI tools are making smaller dev teams viable — but only on clean, well-structured codebases. If your PHP system is legacy, cutting headcount first will cost you more than it saves.
Read articleHow to write custom Rector rules using AST node visitors to automate refactoring of proprietary patterns in legacy PHP codebases that standard rule sets don't cover.
Read articleWhy PHP systems that mix domain logic with infrastructure code become impossible to upgrade — and how to separate them using ports and adapters, repository patterns, domain services, and purpose-built tools like Migrator, Indoctrinate, and View Converter.
Read articleHow to safely migrate raw SQL queries scattered across a legacy PHP codebase to Doctrine ORM using Indoctrinate: the dual-path pattern, repository introduction, and incremental cutover without big-bang risk.
Read articleA practical guide to upgrading PHP 7 to PHP 8 using Migrator for pre-flight assessment and Rector for automated transformation: configuring rule sets, running safe batches, and handling edge cases your tests won't catch.
Read articleThe service container offers powerful features — but do you always need them? Removing it from console applications leads to simpler, more testable, more minimal code.
Read articleA practical, actionable process for upgrading PHP projects: from risk assessment and roadmap implementation to cleanup and documentation, with Migrator, Rector, PHPStan, and ECS.
Read articleHow to manage the risks of migrating a PHP application as an SME: establishing what risks exist, developing a realistic roadmap, and iterating safely toward a modern codebase.
Read articleClean code and refactoring are hard to justify to non-technical stakeholders — but the business case is straightforward once you frame it as cost reduction rather than technical hygiene.
Read articleWhy Symfony's Asset Mapper is a better choice than Encore for most projects — no Node.js, faster compilation, native ES module support, and automatic cache busting.
Read articleReducing development headcount to cut costs is tempting — but without a solid technical foundation, the remaining team will struggle. Here's why upgrading first makes the economics work.
Read articleIf your business is held hostage by a single developer or a dysfunctional tech team, there is a way out. Here is a structured approach to analysing, prioritising, and incrementally recovering your application.
Read articleA zero-legacy development approach means continuously reducing technical debt before it becomes load-bearing. Here's why over-complex systems are becoming unaffordable — and what to do about it.
Read articleWhat static analysis tools are available for PHP, how to install and configure Rector, PHPStan, and Easy Coding Standard, and how together they create consistently high-quality code with minimal effort.
Read articleWhy Doctrine's ArrayCollection is a better choice than plain arrays when working with typed domain objects in PHP — and how it enables filtering, mapping, and finding without type gymnastics.
Read articleHow to use the Doctrine ORM QueryBuilder to write short, efficient, reusable SQL queries with DTOs — and why PHP-based queries can be analysed with PHPStan and Rector in a way raw SQL never can.
Read articleIf your PHP application shows signs of legacy decay — old PHP versions, poor documentation, endless maintenance — here is a practical framework for breaking the cycle and building toward something maintainable.
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