Rediscovering PHP: Modern Practices Beyond Legacy

PHP powers over half of the web, yet many developers recall it as outdated spaghetti-code. This presentation demonstrates how PHP has transformed into a modern platform featuring JIT compilation, strong typing, attributes, and a robust ecosystem. The talk dispels persistent myths—such as the absence of object-oriented features—and explores contemporary best practices that align PHP with mainstream languages.

Key topics include PHP 8+ features (JIT, union types, attributes, constructor property promotion), ecosystem tools (Composer, PSR standards, static analysis), framework highlights (Symfony and Laravel), and integration with modern development practices. The presenter bridges the gap between the PHP community and wider development world, positioning PHP as a valuable addition to any polyglot developer's toolkit.