Tired of Learning 50 New Concepts to Build a Form? Say Hello to Lighthouse for PHP
Building modern web apps shouldn't require learning 50 new concepts. Sometimes you just want to write PHP.
The Problem with Modern PHP Frameworks
Don't get me wrong—Laravel, Symfony, and other frameworks are incredible. But sometimes you're building a simple web app and you find yourself:
- 📚 Reading documentation for hours just to create a basic form
- 🔧 Configuring dozens of services you don't need
- 🐘 Fighting with complex abstractions for simple tasks
- ⚡ Waiting for slow development servers to restart
What if there was a better way?
Meet Lighthouse 🚨
Lighthouse is a minimal, predictable PHP micro-framework that embraces the simplicity PHP was meant for. It's designed around one core principle: get productive immediately.
<?php // That's it. Your first route. route('/', function() { return view('home.php', ['message' => 'Hello World!']); });
Why Lighthouse is Different
1. Logic Where It Makes Sense
Instead of forcing everything through controllers, Lighthouse lets you handle form logic directly in views—the way PHP was designed:
<?php // views/contact.php $errors = []; if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] === 'POST') { $email = sanitize_email($_POST['email']); $message = sanitize_string($_POST['message']); if (!validate_email($email)) { $errors[] = 'Invalid email'; } if (empty($errors)) { db_insert('contacts', ['email' => $email, 'message' => $message]); $success = 'Message sent!'; } } ?> <form method="POST"> <?php if ($success ?? false): ?> <div class="success"><?= $success ?></div> <?php endif; ?> <input type="email" name="email" required> <textarea name="message" required></textarea> <button type="submit">Send</button> </form>
Self-contained. Predictable. No magic.
2. Modern Stack, Zero Configuration
- PHP 8+ with type hints and modern features
- SQLite for zero-config databases
- HTMX for dynamic interactions
- Pico.css for beautiful, minimal styling
# Get started in 30 seconds lighthouse new my-app cd my-app php -S localhost:8000 -t public/
3. Security by Default
// CSRF protection built-in <?= csrf_field() ?> // Input sanitization included $clean_input = sanitize_string($_POST['data']); // Rate limiting ready if (!check_rate_limit($_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'])) { // Handle rate limit }
4. Database Operations That Make Sense
// Simple, predictable database operations $users = db_select('users', ['active' => 1]); $user_id = db_insert('users', ['name' => $name, 'email' => $email]); db_update('users', ['last_login' => date('Y-m-d H:i:s')], ['id' => $user_id]);
Real-World Example: Authentication in 5 Minutes
Here's how you build a complete login system:
<?php // routes.php route('/login', function() { return view('login.php'); }); route('/dashboard', function() { if (!auth_user()) { header('Location: /login'); exit; } return view('dashboard.php'); });
<?php // views/login.php if ($_SERVER['REQUEST_METHOD'] === 'POST') { $email = sanitize_email($_POST['email']); $password = $_POST['password']; $user = db_select_one('users', ['email' => $email]); if ($user && auth_verify_password($password, $user['password'])) { auth_login($user['id']); header('Location: /dashboard'); exit; } $error = 'Invalid credentials'; } ?> <form method="POST"> <?php if ($error ?? false): ?> <div class="error"><?= $error ?></div> <?php endif; ?> <input type="email" name="email" required> <input type="password" name="password" required> <?= csrf_field() ?> <button type="submit">Login</button> </form>
That's it. No controllers, no middleware configuration, no service providers. Just PHP doing what PHP does best.
When to Use Lighthouse
Lighthouse shines when you're building:
- 🚀 MVPs and prototypes - Get to market fast
- 📊 Internal tools and dashboards - No need for complexity
- 🏢 Small business websites - Contact forms, simple e-commerce
- 🎓 Learning projects - Focus on concepts, not framework magic
- 🔧 API backends - Lightweight and fast
The Philosophy
Lighthouse embraces pragmatic PHP development:
- Start simple - Use logic in views for rapid development
- Refactor when needed - Move to more complex patterns as you grow
- Choose what fits - Multiple approaches supported
- Stay productive - Don't over-engineer simple problems
Getting Started
# Install the CLI bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/max-yterb/Lighthouse/main/scripts/install.sh)" # Create your first app lighthouse new my-awesome-app cd my-awesome-app # Start building php -S localhost:8000 -t public/
What's Next?
Lighthouse is actively developed with a focus on:
- 🔐 Enhanced authentication providers (OAuth, SAML)
- 🗄️ Multiple database support (MySQL, PostgreSQL)
- ⚡ Performance monitoring tools
- 📱 Advanced HTMX integration patterns
Try It Today
If you're tired of complex frameworks for simple projects, give Lighthouse a try. It might just remind you why you fell in love with PHP in the first place.
- 📖 Documentation: max-yterb.github.io/Lighthouse
- 💻 GitHub: github.com/max-yterb/Lighthouse
- 💬 Discussions: GitHub Discussions
What do you think? Are you ready to try a framework that gets out of your way? Drop a comment below with your thoughts on modern PHP development!
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