Is PHP Really Dead? Unpacking the Myths and Market Realities

Recent social‑media posts have revived the claim that PHP is dying, citing a leaked screenshot from a user named ErLang that suggests Zend’s CTO Zeev is leaving the company he co‑founded.

Zend Management Changes

Zeev and co‑founder Andi Gutmans built the Zend Engine, the core of PHP, after joining forces with PHP’s creator Rasmus Lerdorf. Andi moved to Amazon AWS two years ago, and Zeev has not disclosed his next plans.

Zend, founded in 2005, was acquired by RogueWave Software in October 2015 and later by Perforce Software in June 2019. It has produced products such as Zend Studio, Zend Engine, Zend Framework, Zend Guard, and Zend Optimizer.

2015‑10: Acquired by RogueWave Software.

2019‑06: RogueWave acquired by Perforce Software.

A chat log with Chinese PHP core developer 惠新辰 reveals that RogueWave’s shifting business strategy and plans to move non‑US developers to Estonia prompted Zeev and his team to prepare a six‑month departure.

PHP Application Market

Debates around the Gutenberg editor in WordPress fuel the “PHP is dead” narrative, yet many developers agree that PHP remains the best choice for startups and SMEs.

When Might PHP Die?

Articles claiming PHP’s death have circulated since 2011. Some coding bootcamps hype other languages, but PHP still powers a large portion of the web.

In the PHP community, developers maintain healthy interaction with language creators, ready to make open‑source decisions.

Data from 2018 shows that nearly 80 % of internet sites run on PHP.

PHP’s Mythic Success

Despite criticism of its extensibility, major sites like Wikipedia and Facebook rely on PHP. In China, platforms such as 360, Baidu, and many e‑commerce sites use PHP‑based solutions like Discuz, phpWind, DedeCMS, and ECShop.

Older PHP versions were slower, but PHP 7 offers performance up to three times faster than Python.

Highlights of PHP Projects

For enterprise websites, PHP‑based CMSs (e.g., DedeCMS, phpCMS, Drupal, Joomla) are cost‑effective. Advanced frameworks like Laravel and Symfony handle complex business logic and integrate well with modern front‑end stacks (React, Vue, Angular).

PHP also suits content‑driven sites, small programs, and e‑commerce platforms, offering low development costs and abundant talent.

Commercial Advantages

With 80 % of sites on PHP, there is a large pool of developers, making hiring easier and reducing the need to reinvent the wheel.

Hiring PHP developers is relatively easy.

Abundant open‑source projects lower development costs.

Developer Perspectives

Senior engineers provide broader vision; experienced PHP developers can deliver high‑quality MVPs faster than less seasoned “senior” developers.

PHP’s Nine Commandments

The article hopes to end 2019’s PHP‑death rumors, emphasizing that PHP’s longevity and ecosystem make it a practical choice for rapid product development.