Language
PHP development
PHP runs a great deal of the web, from small business sites to large applications. We build with it, maintain it, and modernize it. Much of the work is deciding which PHP to keep and which to retire.
- 1,200+ clients helped
- Building since 2010
- 15 services, one team
- 50+ technologies
At a glance
What it is
PHP is a long-established server language that runs a very large share of websites, including WordPress, and many custom business applications.
Problems it solves
Many organizations depend on PHP code that is old, unmaintained, or understood by one person, and are unsure whether to fix it or replace it.
Who it suits
Owners of PHP websites and applications, and teams extending WordPress or a custom PHP system.
How to choose
Keep and modernize PHP that works and can be understood. Replace it when it blocks change, is insecure, or has no maintainer.
What it means
A workhorse language with a reputation to match
PHP is a programming language designed for the web. It runs on the server, builds the page, and talks to the database. It powers WordPress and many other well-known systems.
Its reputation is mixed because older PHP was often written without structure. Modern PHP, with current versions and good practice, is a sound choice for many business sites and applications.
The question is rarely whether PHP is good. It is whether this particular system is in good shape, and what it would cost to improve it against what it would cost to replace it.
What DECHY can do
Working with PHP
Maintain
- Version updates and security patches.
- Fixing faults and watching the site.
Modernize
- Moving to a supported PHP version.
- Adding tests and clearing dependency debt.
Extend
- New features for an existing application.
- Connections to payments, customer records, and other tools.
Replace
- Moving content and data to a new platform.
- Redirects that protect search visibility.
How we assess it
Reviewing an existing PHP system
Read the system
We look at the PHP version, the dependencies, the structure, and whether there are any tests.
What it produces
- Inventory
- Version and dependency report
Check the risks
We look for unpatched components, exposed data, and code that only one person understands.
What it produces
- Risk list
Price the options
We estimate keeping, modernizing, and replacing, in plain terms, with what each leaves you with.
What it produces
- Options with rough cost
Recommend and plan
We recommend one route and set out the first stage, so you can start without committing to all of it.
What it produces
- Recommendation
- First-stage plan
Options
PHP compared with the alternatives
Suits
Content sites, WordPress work, and applications already built in it.
- Trade-off
- Quality varies widely, so the state of the code matters.
TypeScript on the server
Suits
Teams who want one language for interface and server.
- Trade-off
- A younger ecosystem for some business needs.
Suits
Applications with data processing or AI features.
- Trade-off
- Fewer ready-made content management options.
Suits
Large, long-lived systems in enterprise settings.
- Trade-off
- Heavier to start and slower to change for small projects.
Typical uses
Where PHP still makes sense
A WordPress site with custom features
Themes and plugins written to your needs, kept apart from core code so updates are safe.
A long-running business application
A booking, membership, or ordering system that works well and needs steady care, not a rewrite.
A content site on shared hosting
A low-cost hosting arrangement that PHP supports almost everywhere.
A system being moved off an old version
Upgrading to a supported release, with tests added before the risky parts are touched.
Common questions
Questions about PHP
Is PHP outdated?
The language is actively developed. Older systems running unsupported versions are the problem, not the language itself.
Can you work on code we did not write?
Yes. That is most of the work. We start with a review so we both know what is there.
Should we rebuild in something newer?
Only if the review shows a reason, such as security, cost of change, or lack of maintainers. A rebuild for its own sake is rarely worth it.
Do you do WordPress work?
Yes. See our WordPress page.
Have a different question?
Tell us what you are weighing up and we will answer it plainly.
Ask a questionAlready a client? Email support@dechytech.com
Technical depth
How we build with PHP
For your developers and IT lead: our PHP choices on versions and dependencies, structure, and WordPress, and the reasoning behind each.
We target a currently supported PHP release, manage packages through Composer, and watch for security advisories on dependencies.
- Code organized into small, testable classes instead of long page scripts.
- Database access through prepared statements to avoid injection flaws.
- Configuration and secrets outside the code.
- Logs that show which request failed, so problems are traced in minutes, not days.
For WordPress sites we keep custom code in plugins and child themes, so core updates do not overwrite it.
Tell us about your PHP system
Describe what it does and what worries you about it. We will review it and say whether to improve, extend, or replace it.