Can We Use Pure PHP with Laravel?

Yes, you can use pure PHP alongside Laravel. Integrating pure PHP and Laravel can provide flexibility and enhance the functionality of a web application. This article will explore how to integrate pure PHP with Laravel, including routing, service providers, composer autoloading, shared configuration, and database connections. Additionally, we will discuss considerations related to maintainability, performance, and testing.

How to Integrate Pure PHP with Laravel

Routing

You can create routes in Laravel that call pure PHP scripts. Laravel routes can be set up to include pure PHP files. Here is an example of how to do this:

use IlluminateSupportFacadesRoute;
Route::get('/custom-script', function () {
    // Your pure PHP code here
    include 'path/to/pure_php_';
});

Service Providers

Laravel allows you to create service providers, which can include pure PHP logic and make this logic available throughout your application. Use the `Service Provider` feature to encapsulate pure PHP logic with proper Laravel conventions.

namespace AppProviders;
use IlluminateSupportServiceProvider;
use AppPurePhpClass;
class PurePhpServiceProvider extends ServiceProvider
{
    public function register()
    {
        $this->app->bind('purePhpClass', function () {
            return new PurePhpClass();
        });
    }
}

Composer Autoloading

If you have pure PHP classes that you want to use within your Laravel project, you can leverage Composer's autoloading feature. Ensure that your classes follow the PSR-4 standard and are correctly autoloaded. Here is an example of configuring your `composer.json` file:

"autoload": {
    "psr-4": {
        "App": "app/",
        "VendorPurePhpNamespace": "path/to/pure/php/codes"
    }
}

Shared Configuration

Zend's configuration files can share settings between Laravel and pure PHP scripts. You can access Laravel's configuration values using the `config` helper function. Here is an example:

$configValue  config('your-config-key');

Database Connections

Laravel's Eloquent ORM can be used alongside pure PHP database operations. You can use Laravel's database connection settings in your pure PHP scripts to interact with the database seamlessly. Here is an example of using Laravel's database connection in pure PHP:

use IlluminateDatabaseConnectorsConnector;
$pdo  Connector::createConnection(['mysql:hostlocalhost;dbnamecourse"]);
$client  new Client($pdo);
$result  $client->query($sql);

Considerations

Maintainability

Mixing pure PHP and Laravel can lead to maintainability issues if not well-organized. It is essential to have clear boundaries and documentation on how the two parts interact. Create well-defined interfaces between the two components to ensure easy maintenance.

Performance

While integrating both can be practical, be mindful of potential performance implications, especially if there are many calls between Laravel and pure PHP scripts. Profiling and analyzing performance issues can help you optimize your application.

Testing

Ensure that both parts of your application are tested adequately. Laravel has robust testing tools, and you should consider how your pure PHP code will fit into your overall testing strategy. Use appropriate testing frameworks and methodologies to cover both Laravel and pure PHP code.

Hybrid Development Approaches

Whether you choose to use pure PHP with Laravel depends on the nature of your project. For smaller, fast-developed projects, using Laravel and its ORM can be advantageous:

Create routes, service providers, and use the framework's scaffolding tools for quick development.Ensure that your application remains clean and maintainable through proper structure and documentation.

For enterprise-level projects, you might need to plan more thoroughly:

Discover the domain either using Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD) or Domain-Driven Design (DDD).Translate the domain into plain PHP objects with no framework a framework for the domain and then integrate with Laravel or another framework for the web or API.

Using a hybrid approach can provide flexibility, but it is essential to weigh the benefits against potential complexity. Ensure that the mix of technologies and methodologies will support the long-term needs of your project.