PHP development

I develop reliable PHP software for new projects, existing platforms, and codebases that have become difficult to work with. The focus is on clear architecture, sensible technology choices, and software that remains maintainable as requirements change.

PHP is a practical foundation for everything from content-driven websites to custom applications and larger platforms. I combine modern PHP with a pragmatic approach to architecture, hosting, testing, and long-term maintenance.

Whether you are starting something new or need help with software you already have, I can work with you to find a sensible way forward.

Why PHP?

PHP has been powering the web for decades, and modern PHP remains a practical and capable choice for building web applications.

  1. Proven & Mature

    PHP has been used in production for decades and provides a well-established foundation for web development. Its mature language, development practices, and ecosystem make it a dependable choice for software that needs to stay useful over time.

    • Mature ecosystem
    • Established technology
    • Long-term stability

  2. Flexible

    PHP works well for many kinds of projects, from content-driven websites and online shops to custom applications, APIs, and backend services. It leaves room to choose an architecture and tools that fit the actual problem instead of forcing every project into the same structure.

    • Web applications
    • APIs
    • Custom solutions

  3. A Huge Ecosystem

    PHP has a large ecosystem of libraries and packages that can take care of common problems without building everything from scratch. Composer makes it straightforward to add, update, and manage these dependencies as part of an application.

    • Composer
    • Libraries
    • Packages
    • Open Source

  4. Modern Development

    Modern PHP provides strong language features and tooling for building structured and maintainable applications. Type declarations, automated testing, static analysis, and modern development workflows make it well suited to professional software development.

    • Modern PHP
    • Type safety
    • Developer tooling

  5. Simple Hosting

    PHP runs on many hosting environments, including shared and managed hosting. This can keep infrastructure simple and cost-effective when a project does not need a complex cloud setup. For many businesses, that means less infrastructure to manage and more attention on the software itself.

    • Shared hosting
    • Managed hosting
    • Cost-effective

PHP has a mature ecosystem, broad hosting support, and tools that make everyday development straightforward. It can support anything from a small website to a complex application without requiring a complicated infrastructure setup.

That makes PHP particularly useful when you want a proven foundation that can grow with the project. The technology can stay relatively simple when the requirements are simple and become more sophisticated when the application actually needs it.

My PHP expertise

I work with PHP across the entire lifecycle of an application, from new development to improvements, maintenance, and migrations.

  1. Custom Development

    I build PHP applications around the requirements of the project, with clear architecture and code that remains understandable as it grows. That can mean starting from scratch or adding substantial functionality to an existing application.

    • New applications
    • Custom software
    • Modern PHP

  2. Backend & API Development

    I develop backends and APIs that connect applications, services, and business processes. From designing new interfaces to integrating existing systems, I focus on clear contracts and implementations that remain manageable over time.

    • APIs
    • Integrations
    • Backend systems

  3. Legacy Modernisation

    Existing PHP applications often contain years of business logic and knowledge that the business still depends on. I can modernise these systems step by step, improving the architecture and code while keeping the functionality that already matters.

    • Legacy PHP
    • Refactoring
    • Modernisation

  4. Performance & Scalability

    When an application becomes slow or struggles with increasing demand, I look for the underlying causes before adding more infrastructure. That can mean improving inefficient code, database queries, or architectural bottlenecks while keeping the solution understandable.

    • Performance
    • Optimisation
    • Scalability

  5. Maintenance & Further Development

    Software needs attention after it has been launched. I maintain existing PHP applications, implement new requirements, reduce technical debt, and keep dependencies and infrastructure up to date so the software can continue to evolve.

    • Maintenance
    • Technical debt
    • Continuous development

  6. Integrations & Technical Challenges

    Some development problems do not fit neatly into an existing solution. I work with existing systems, third-party services, APIs, and unusual requirements to find an approach that fits the environment and the actual problem.

    • Third-party services
    • APIs
    • Complex systems

Every project has its own history and constraints. Sometimes the right solution is a new application, sometimes it is a small change to an existing system, and sometimes the code needs more fundamental work.

I can help with new features, integrations, refactoring, legacy code, performance problems, and architectural decisions. The approach starts with understanding what is already there and what the software needs to do next.

Frameworks

Modern PHP frameworks provide useful foundations for building applications without having to solve common architectural problems from scratch.

  1. Tempest

    Tempest takes a fresh approach to PHP application development, with an emphasis on simplicity, type safety, and a straightforward developer experience. It can be an interesting choice for new applications where a clean architecture and modern PHP are important.

    • Convention over configuration
    • Type-safe
    • Dependency Injection
    • Modern PHP

  2. Laravel

    Laravel provides a productive foundation for modern web applications and APIs. Its conventions, integrated tooling, and broad ecosystem make it a good fit for projects where development speed and long-term maintainability both matter.

    • Eloquent ORM
    • Queues
    • Events
    • Artisan

  3. Symfony

    Symfony is a mature and flexible framework for building robust applications. Its modular components and clear architectural approach make it well suited to complex applications that need to remain extensible over time.

    • Components
    • Dependency Injection
    • Console
    • Messenger

I work with established and newer PHP frameworks and choose them according to the requirements of the project. The framework should make the application easier to build and maintain rather than dictate how every project has to be structured.

Whether you already have a preferred framework or are still evaluating your options, I can help choose a sensible foundation and build on it.

Platforms & projects

PHP is used across a wide range of platforms, from content management systems and online shops to custom business applications.

  1. Kirby

    Kirby is a flexible file-based CMS that provides a straightforward foundation for custom websites. I develop templates, plugins, integrations, and other functionality to adapt Kirby to the requirements of the project.

    • Flat-file CMS
    • Content management
    • Custom websites

  2. WordPress

    WordPress is one of the most widely used content management systems and provides a flexible foundation for many types of websites. I work on custom themes, plugins, integrations, and backend functionality when a project needs more than the standard setup.

    • CMS
    • Blog
    • Plugins
    • Themes

  3. Craft CMS

    Craft CMS takes a flexible approach to content management, with a strong focus on structured content and custom digital experiences. I build and extend Craft projects with custom functionality, integrations, and editorial workflows that fit the project.

    • CMS
    • Content modelling
    • Custom fields

  4. Statamic

    Statamic is a modern CMS built on Laravel, combining flexible content management with the capabilities of a full PHP framework. It can be a good fit for projects that need a polished editing experience while retaining the flexibility of custom PHP development.

    • Laravel
    • Flat-file CMS
    • Content management
    • Modern PHP

  5. Shopware

    Shopware is a PHP-based e-commerce platform for flexible and scalable online shops. I develop and customise Shopware shops, integrations, and extensions to fit the requirements of the business.

    • E-commerce
    • Symfony
    • APIs
    • Headless

I work with established platforms as well as custom PHP software. That can mean adding functionality to an existing system, connecting it to other services, improving its architecture, or building something new around it.

The list of technologies I work with is always going to be incomplete. If you already have a PHP project, the important question is what you need it to do and what is getting in the way.

I develop your PHP software

Planning a new PHP project, extending an existing application, or working with a codebase that has become difficult to maintain? I can help you understand the situation, decide what needs changing, and put the changes into practice.

The work can range from a focused feature or integration to larger architectural changes. The aim is always the same: software that works well today and remains practical to change tomorrow.

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