4.1. Development Guidelines

PHP and MySQL Stack

1. Coding Standards

• Purpose and Benefits: We aim for a consistent coding style to improve readability and maintainability, and to minimize bugs.
• PHP-Specific Guidelines:
  • PSR Standards: Stick to the PSR-1, PSR-2, and PSR-12 standards. Use PHP_CodeSniffer to enforce these.
  • Code Formatting Tools: Use PHP_CodeSniffer to keep our code clean and consistent.
• General Practices:
  • Indentation: Use 4 spaces for indentation.
  • Naming Conventions: Use camelCase for variables and methods, PascalCase for classes, and UPPER_CASE for constants.
  • Comments and Documentation: Write meaningful comments and use PHPDoc for documenting methods and classes.

2. Version Control

• Branching Strategy: Use GitFlow or a similar branching strategy that works for the team.
• Commit Messages: Follow a conventional commit format like feat: add new user authentication, fix: correct query issue in UserModel.
• Pull Requests:
  • Review Process: Make sure all code changes are reviewed by a peer. Use a checklist to ensure standards are met.
  • Merge Strategy: Decide on whether to use rebase or merge commits.

3. Code Reviews

• Goals and Importance: Code reviews help us catch bugs early, improve code quality, and share knowledge.
• Review Checklist:
  • Functionality: Does the code do what it’s supposed to?
  • Readability: Is the code easy to read and understand?
  • Efficiency: Is the code as efficient as it can be?
  • Security: Are there any security vulnerabilities?
• Best Practices:
  • Feedback: Be constructive and focus on the code, not the person.
  • Timeliness: Review code promptly to keep things moving.

4. Testing

• Types of Tests:
  • Unit Tests: Use PHPUnit for unit tests.
  • Integration Tests: Use PHPUnit or Codeception for integration tests.
  • End-to-End (E2E) Tests: Use Codeception for end-to-end tests.
• Test Coverage: Aim for good test coverage, but prioritize meaningful tests over just hitting a percentage.

5. Environment Configuration

• Environment Variables: Manage configuration settings with environment variables. Use vlucas/phpdotenv to load these from a .env file.
• Secrets Management: Use tools like AWS Secrets Manager or HashiCorp Vault to securely store sensitive information.
• Configuration Files: Keep separate configuration files for different environments.

6. Logging

• Logging: Use Monolog for structured logging. Make sure logs are stored and searchable.

7. Documentation

• Internal Documentation: Use Confluence or Notion for comprehensive internal documentation.
• API Documentation: Use Swagger or Postman for API documentation. Keep it up-to-date.
• README Files: Write clear and concise README files for all repositories, including setup instructions, usage examples, and contribution guidelines.

8. Security Best Practices

• Secure Coding: Prevent vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF. Use htmlspecialchars() and mysqli_real_escape_string() to sanitize inputs.
• Code Scanning: Use SonarQube or PHPStan to identify and fix security issues in the CI pipeline.
• Dependency Management: Regularly update dependencies and use Dependabot or Snyk to monitor for known vulnerabilities.

9. Performance Optimization

• Profiling and Benchmarking: Use Xdebug for profiling to identify performance bottlenecks.
• Caching: Use Redis for in-memory caching and OPcache for opcode caching.
• Database Optimization: Optimize MySQL queries and indexes. Use MySQL Workbench for query performance analysis.

10. Continuous Improvement

• Retrospectives: Hold regular retrospectives to discuss what went well and what could be improved.
• Feedback Loop: Encourage continuous feedback from team members and stakeholders.
• Professional Development: Support ongoing learning through training programs, workshops, and conferences.

Let’s follow these guidelines to keep our codebase clean, maintainable, and secure. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to bring them up. Happy coding!