Why Should One for Open Source Development Strategies?

It is well known with open source development technologies flooding the market that most people opt for it while some don’t. But it is good if you prefer open source, since there are many advantages in it for you.

The prominence of open source in the market is huge. But there are people who ask for the right reason to opt for open source technologies. Many argue about why one should prefer open source for development.  Convincing the board of the organization to opt for open source is tough sometimes. Here are some reasons why open source makes absolute sense in terms of a strategic business option.

Limited Risk-:
Many companies fail and suffer severe losses since today’s volatile market is extremely unpredictable. It is hence important to limit risk by not depending too much on costly technology. Closed-source software involves a huge amount of risk. With open source software, the risk is totally zero. Even if the sourcing company fails, you can still use the product.

Importance to quality-:
Open Source software is not limited by number of developers on staff like that of their closed source counterparts. Many developers can resolve bugs easily and add new features too. Open source software is usually maintained by dedicated developers of a community and many end users participate in the activity too. There are extremely limited numbers in developers who can actually change the product and alter the course of the software but the community members keep identifying bugs and offer tips to each other while also submitting patches. Many eyes on the source leads to higher quality in the end product and software.

Cost-less Development-:
Cost-cutting is hugely important today and is critical to the success of any business.  Bug-fixes, addition of features, and product documentation also take up cost. With open source technologies, these requirements are met by the community. Any issue which has not been addressed in the community before can be addressed if you yourself get involved and get the work done.

Pay as you go and when you need-:
Open source Web Development software is a big investment in effort. It is implemented rapidly and the cost involved is minimal. But many organizations would still ask for support for the open source products. Enterprise level software products in an open source environment are backed by organizations that provide support.

Always ask for the best talent-:
Always opt for developers who are hugely productive compared to their peers because they are skilled and passionate in what they do. The open source community includes all such passionate developers who are ready to take the plunge if the project is exciting enough. Get going for roping some of these highly skilled individuals to boost overall productivity.

Transparency in Product Development-:
If you are developing a product, it should involve transparency. Bugs are found and new features are discussed at length in forums and communities. This helps in keeping your organization informed about the latest in the field and get inputs related to strategy.  Open source software is not tied in to vendor constraints but flourishes with market demand.It is not that the proprietary software is way costly or unreasonable, but open source software products are viable options to consider.

PHP Development and Its Relevance in the IT World

PHP Development is one of the most popular Open Source Development technologies which can help deliver adroit applications for multiple purposes. Its relevance has had far-reaching effects in the IT world too.

With many software frameworks striking a chord with the users, the competition is tough. The PHP Framework makes use of the MVC framework which is simple to work on and extremely helpful for PHP developers. The MVC architecture includes Smarty Tags, XML Parsing, multilingual support and payment gateway integration.

One of the most famous PHP Web Development frameworks is Drupal which is an open source content management system which has customized themes and modules. Drupal service providers can build add-ons and features depending on their clients’ requirements.

Alternatively, PHPBB is an Internet Forum Package based on PHP Application Development which is used for adding several functionalities related to forums and discussion boards. WordPress, on the other hand, has several blogging functionalities and has several theme changes. Joomla, like Drupal offers multiple CMS capabilities has a variety of templates in its offerings.

Magento is one of the latest entrants in the CMS development arena which is quite popular all over the world. The package is used for installation of diverse modules depending on the needs of clients worldwide.

There are several frameworks which developers prefer while using PHP for their applications. CodeIgnitor is one such open source applications Web application Framework which is fantastic for writing PHP codes and has a swift process of development. It is effective and efficient and hence one of the best PHP Frameworks. There are a lot of features and advanced attributes in CodeIgniter which is preferred by beginners too, due to ease of understanding. CI follows an MVC model using conventional PHP Application Development coding. The simplicity and the pace of development of CI make it one of the favorites among developers and programmers and also preferred by beginners. Here are some of the features offered by CI

• Impressive user guide and comprehensive documentation
• Extremely simple and easy to use
• Easy to clear much of the development using controllers and uploading of libraries
• Mime standard SQL queries with the use of simple, uncomplicated commands
• Data validation is one of the critical aspects of CI

Symfony is another framework written in PHP Application Development which takes course of the MVC model. Zend is also an open source framework which is implemented in PHP 5 and newly licensed under the BSD license.

However, it is not easy to choose an efficient offshore software provider who can be cost-effective as well as experts in implementing and deploying PHP applications Development. Programming requires perfect synchronization and transparency, especially in PHP development. The requirements need to be met on a regular scale combined with a sound software coding sense.

Hiring a niche domain-specific PHP developer is even difficult than finding an efficient provider. With the rising costs and the standard of living at sky-high prices, it is difficult to find the right provider. It is important that the software development providers who provide PHP development services need to have a team which is competent enough to counter the most difficult problems. Additionally, project managers need to repeatedly consult with their clients so that the project can be streamlined and planned clearly.

LAMP Development - Introduction and Growth Trends

LAMP development relies on a viable web server which can conduct operations in a seamless manner. LAMP is pretty versatile for web development and preferred by many of the sites too.

The LAMP development platform varies as per different web programming languages. LAMP developers utilize different languages like PHP, Perl or Python and OS including Windows, Mac OS, etc as per the requirements posed by clients. LAMP is open source and hence the development of LAMP web applications is quite easy, cost-effective too and preferred by the developers.

Some of the benefits offered by LAMP programming

• Compatible web apps with majority of web browsers
• Easy coding to get apps running in minimum time
• Easy development and local deployment.
• Robust Linux architecture for secure development

There are many offshore software development companies who offer Open Source Application Development services for various industry verticals. The software development services include e-commerce solutions and custom programming solutions. Most of the software development teams will prepare test cases and development flowcharts before commencing on the actual coding and development part. Regardless of the size of the project, most offshore providers attach great importance to quality.

There are some companies which offer varied open source web based solutions depending on LAMP for a variety of clients and their centers. The developers and engineers need to be experienced in handling Linux, Apache, PHP MySQL Development, PHP programming for developing the custom applications as per the requirements posed by relevant clients. You can either create a simple site or a full-featured one for all types of companies. You can even integrate an existing database as needed.

Here are some facts about LAMP that everyone should know before opting for it.

LAMP  is basically an amalgamation of Linux + Apache + MySQL + PHP and the platform of choice for rapid web development since it is cost-effective, scalable and secure. LAMP can be instrumental for creating performance-intensive applications too.

The four parts of LAMP have distinct characteristics. Linux is an operating system which can operate on old hardware well and is considered well secure by many. On the other hand, Apache is a well known web server which can be run on different OS types. MS-SQL is reliable and freely available. PHP is one of the most critical development frameworks utilized since it has a number of built-in features which can be used with MySQL. Perl, Python and other programming languages also form a part of LAMP technologies. 

The LAMP application Development framework has the ability to unlock many new possibilities without imposing any licensing restriction and hence widely available all over the world.

PHP Application Development using CodeIgnitor

PHP Development has always been popular since its advent. Using CodeIgnitor it can be leveraged with better features. With many software frameworks being made available and with many of them striking a chord with the users, it becomes extremely important to check out the complete features of each of these frameworks. The PHP Framework is in vogue because it is simple to work on and extremely easy to use for developers. There are many advantages of using PHP framework and PHP Application Development:

• Quick and  easy application development
• Simple to debug and find errors
• Secured and safe to use
• Easy to install and deploy
• Perfect for creating applications for different platforms

CodeIgniter (CI) is one of the best and the most effective PHP Frameworks. It features a lot of advanced features and is simple enough to be used by beginners. The CodeIgniter follows an MVC (Model View Controller) pattern for easy use and also uses conventional PHP coding. The simplicity with which it works and the pace at which it can be implemented makes it a favorite among developers and definitely good for beginners.

Some of the striking features and capabilities of CodeIgniter includes:

The CI has a very impressive user guide and the documentation is comprehensive to say the least CodeIgniter is extremely simple and easy to use which helps in clearing a major portion of the work with the help of controllers and uploading of libraries. It is quite easy to understand it and can be easily implemented too. One can mime standard SQL queries with the help of some simple commands. Data validation is a pivotal aspect when working on models. There are many other advantages of using CI:

• Migration from one server to another server can be easily done and without any hassles. Even the installation on the server can be easily done!
• CI is extremely easy to handle and is open to customization. If there is the need to add a new functionality then it can be applied without having to tweak on the existing customization
• With the help of MVC based framework, the CI is quite flexible to use and can be easily managed by different sets of users
• The feature of active record implementation is fantastic and can be easily remembered
• Configuration and customization of the config files can be done easily that is why it is quite popular with various types of developers.
• It has a huge collection of libraries which is quite good enough for most purposes.
• The user guide documentation is quite comprehensive which makes it easy for the user to understand

All you can do with Lamp Development

Lamp development is one of the most flexible open source platforms used for web application development. It is widely used for organizing database. With its advance features, it has won the hearts of web developers. Lamp development is of great help when it comes to creating a comprehensive database that can be traced, organized and is secured, too. It has served to be an effective solution because it gives developers the freedom to perform plenty of activities in website design. It gives the ability to design database and web pages that are creative. Thus, being user-friendly it has now become of the preferred choices for web designers.

We at http://www.elantechnologies.com provide complete solution to offshore LAMP development. With our years of industry experience and expertise we work together to help you achieve goals.

Increasing popularity of PHP SQL development (LAMP)

LAMP (Linux/Apache/MySQL/PHP) platform is one of the most successful substitutes to business software for developing and working dynamic and excessive performance web systems. PHP has emerged as the leading open source player in the field of web development services since last 3-4 years. This unique blend of PHP with MySQL database has materialized thousands of applications meeting the requirements of clients in satisfying their business necessities.

LAMP, in fact, is a combination of software that comprises of Linux as the operating system, Apache as HTTP server, MySQL is used as a part of the database and Perl/PHP/Python is the programming language. While selecting this software package, client gets a chance to choose programming language from Perl, PHP or Python based on their project requirements. Developing the central part of your web application, LAMP stack offers a concrete, modern, object-oriented programming platform to build extensible web application solution.

The market trend of web development has change a lot in last few years as more and more companies are turning towards PHP SQL development - LAMP stack. LAMP is used for developing a small application like a Content Management Site (CMS) as well as many huge applications including well-known applications. Wikipedia, one of the most loved sites in the world has the user interface portion developed using PHP. The popular social networking site Facebook, and a fantastic social bookmarking site like Digg have all benefitted from the LAMP technology. Development of these giant applications using PHP open source has proven the capabilities of LAMP stack.

Advantages of PHP SQL Development (LAMP):

• Free of cost
• Open source
• Trouble Free adaptability
• Easy and swift coding
• Effortless deployment of LAMP by utilizing Apache server
• Facility of developing application offline (on local server) and can be deployed on live server later
• Cost effective software solution because of the availability of inexpensive hosting facility

All types of web applications like, eCommerce solution, Content Management Systems (CMS), Blogs, Forums, Bulletin Boards, Mailing Systems, Shopping Carts, Back End Administration Panels, Online chat applications, and many other applications can be built easily and cost effectively using PHP MySql Development (LAMP).

The application certainly has a lot in it to offer. The preference of the overall software market has changed a lot and is leaning towards using LAMP stack more due to the above mentioned advantages of the application and types of applications that can be developed easily and swiftly with the use of this development stack.

Elan Emerging Technologies is an Offshore Software Development Company provides PHP Development and ASP.NET Development services. We have skilled ASP.NET Programmer and PHP Developers who provides best solutions for your website needs.

Open Source Customization with PHP Development

What do look for, in a website? Nowadays, open source CMS and software packages are the best ways to build up a website at low costs. These are available for free and extremely effective. PHP is the widely used scripting language and there are many packages which come up with new and effective templates which can be used as needed.

PHP is part of the LAMP bundle which is an effective alternative to other commercial software for high performance systems. Some of the applications which are in vogue under PHP Development are WordPress CMS is a highly effective and efficient open source blog publishing application which is finding its niche as a Content Management System. It is popular because it is extremely user-friendly and its architecture is very simple. It has a huge and advanced template system in place. The best feature is the ease of use in managing the content.

Joomla is one of the better open source systems in place which has won multiple awards. You can build and customize different types of applications along with dynamic websites easily.  Joomla is again, a highly user-friendly CMS that easily allows users to manage their overall content. Your websites can be managed easily by a non-techie who is unaware of the technical details of web development. The main advantage of Joomla CMS is that it is extremely easy for anybody and everybody to manage content.

Drupal ‘s open source content management system (CMS) is based on different modules for administrators who can manage content and customize the theme and appearance. The admin can manage and set routine tasks. Drupal is one of the rare open source frameworks which can easily allow for any user with easy access to source code of the website for free.

Magento is also a popular open source ecommerce development platform based on PHP MySql Development which provides online merchants with amazing features along with superb flexibility and control. One can easily change the look, content and functionality of their store and integrate it with a variety of payment gateways as needed.

For more information of Open Source Development and ASP.NET Application Development visit: www.elantechnologies.com

Getting Started With PHP Development: Tips for the PHP Developer

If you're just taking your first steps into PHP Development, here are some things that I would like to share:

1. Use PHP Core Functions and Classes

For common tasks, there are chances that there is already an existing PHP function or class that can be used for your present task. Check the PHP manual before starting coding manually. You can just use the trim() function if you want to remove the white space instead of creating a function from scratch!

2. Create a Configuration File

Instead of scattering your database connection settings scattered everywhere, create one master file that contains the overall settings and utilized them in PHP scripts. Using a config file is also a pattern that many use and which makes your code more modular and easy to maintain.

3. Always Clean up Data That Will Go into Database

Sanitizing your database inputs is very important. One needs to have a good understanding of what SQL injections actually are, and learn about SQL injection attacks and SQL injection cheat sheet.

There is a PHP function that can clean up the database for you: mysql_real_escape_string. mysql_real_escape_string

The function will take a regular string and sanitize it for you. If you use the function along with htmlspecialchars, it converts some reserved HTML characters and thus safeguard your database and your app against cross-site scripting attacks.

4. Leave Error Reporting Turned On in Development Stage

When building your application, it is essential for the PHP Developer to leave error_reporting and display_errors turned on which can facilitate him or her to see run-time errors and identify them.

The reason behind this is simple, you will know the errors cropping up sooner than expected and chances are, that you can fix them quickly. After building the application turn the feature off and then set their values as in it is ready for production.

5. Don't Over-Comment Your Code

Proper documentation of the code with the help of comments is good but do not over-comment them as good code is self-explanatory most of the times. Bad commenting makes your code look unstructured and will make your error fixing task tedious.

6. Keep your Essential Code Snippets Handy

You need some code snippets sometimes which might come in handy more than once in your career. Keeping them always available saves a lot of time. Most IDEs such as Eclipse and Dreamweaver have the ability to store code snippets. Using an app like DropBox will do the needful too!