FrankenPHP, an innovative PHP application server developed in Go, is reshaping the web development landscape. With advanced features such as native HTTP/3 support, automatic HTTPS certificate generation, and compatibility with leading PHP platforms, FrankenPHP stands out as a powerful, user-friendly tool designed for exceptional performance.
A Modern and Simplified Approach
FrankenPHP’s simplicity is its greatest strength: one service, one binary, and no need for external dependencies like PHP-FPM. This makes it an ideal solution for developers seeking to deploy PHP applications efficiently and securely. With just five lines of configuration, you can have a production-ready server equipped with modern compression (Brotli, Zstandard, and Gzip), automatic HTTPS certificates, and HTTP/3 support.
Built on Caddy, a state-of-the-art web server, FrankenPHP supports PHP 8.2+ and popular extensions like OPcache and XDebug. Additionally, its seamless integration with Kubernetes and modern cloud platforms simplifies deployments in complex environments.
Key Features
FrankenPHP introduces innovative functionalities designed to optimize PHP application performance and streamline management:
- Worker Mode: Initializes PHP applications just once, keeping them in memory to drastically reduce response times. According to the developers, this mode is up to 3.5 times faster than PHP-FPM for applications built with API Platform.
- Early Hints: A unique feature that improves website load times by up to 30% by sending early indications to browsers about the resources needed to render the page.
- Real-Time Support: With an integrated Mercure hub, developers can push events from their PHP applications directly to connected browsers, enabling interactive experiences without relying on external technologies.
- Comprehensive Compatibility: FrankenPHP supports frameworks and platforms like WordPress, Laravel, Symfony, Drupal, Sulu, and API Platform, ensuring developers can seamlessly use their preferred tools.
- Effortless Deployment: In addition to being Docker-compatible, FrankenPHP allows PHP applications to be packaged as standalone, self-executable static binaries, eliminating the need for additional server configurations.
Security and Performance in One Package
Security is another standout feature of FrankenPHP, offering automatic HTTPS certificate generation and renewal via Let’s Encrypt or ZeroSSL. It also supports structured logging, Prometheus metrics for monitoring and tracing, and zero-downtime deployments with graceful reloads.
A Tool for the Future
Created by Kévin Dunglas, a Symfony Core Team member and creator of API Platform, FrankenPHP positions itself as a visionary solution that blends modern technologies with the power and versatility of PHP. Designed by Laury Sorriaux and backed by Les-Tilleuls.coop, this tool is both functional and accessible for developers of all skill levels.
With its focus on simplicity, performance, and security, FrankenPHP is a must-have for developers looking to take their PHP applications to the next level. While still a relatively new product, it promises to become a standard for modern web development.
For more information and tutorials, visit the official website at FrankenPHP.dev.
