A small footprint
Little startup overhead and modest memory usage, well suited to shared servers and low-traffic applications.
Expertise · CodeIgniter
CodeIgniter Development: Maintaining and Evolving Your Applications
Etixio handles CodeIgniter development for your PHP web applications: maintaining and evolving an existing application, adding features, preparing its integrations and, where useful, its migration to CodeIgniter 4 or another framework.
Understanding the technology
CodeIgniter in your project.
CodeIgniter is a PHP framework used to organize a web application around components such as controllers, models and views. When it is part of an existing product, the first step is understanding its conventions, its extensions and how the business rules have been distributed.
Strengths and limits
When should you choose CodeIgniter?
CodeIgniter is a lightweight, unopinionated framework that is quick to learn. It remains relevant for simple web applications, APIs, internal tools or modest hosting environments. For a highly complex business system, Laravel or Symfony provide more structure.
Quick to learn
Minimal installation and configuration, a simple API and clear documentation make it easier for a new team to take over an application.
A flexible structure
The framework imposes few organizational choices, leaving room for your own business breakdown, but it takes discipline to keep the code readable.
Modernization is possible
CodeIgniter 4 adopts Composer, namespaces and PSR standards, paving the way for the gradual modernization of CodeIgniter 3 applications.
Our scope of work
The work we take on.
Code takeover
Map routes, dependencies and business rules before making changes.
New features
Develop controllers, services and data access around testable user flows.
Modernization
Prepare framework and runtime migrations with a review of dependencies.
Our CodeIgniter expertise
The CodeIgniter components we master.
Framework core
CodeIgniter 3 and 4, MVC pattern with thin controllers, routing with parameter validation, route groups and RESTful routes.
Data & models
Query Builder with automatic escaping, Model class for common operations and validation, migrations and seeders on MySQL, PostgreSQL or SQL Server.
Security & validation
CSRF protection, input filtering against XSS, form validation with custom rules, complemented by a reviewed production configuration.
Libraries
Sessions stored in the database, in files or in Redis, SMTP email with HTML templates, URL rewriting and custom routes.
In the field
From technology to real-world use.
To take over a management tool built with CodeIgniter, we map the critical screens, database access and external exchanges. We can then add a feature or replace a fragile process, with tests on the behaviors that must be preserved. This takeover makes it possible to evolve the product without committing to a full rewrite from the outset.
The choices that matter
The choices to review before building.
A migration depends on the actual state of the code, its dependencies and the support status of the PHP environment. Custom adaptations and queries built inside controllers deserve particular attention. We compare gradual improvement and migration based on the work required, not on the framework’s popularity. A technical audit helps decide.
From work to deliverables
Delivery your team can take over.
The scope of work specifies the components to build or take over and the validation conditions. We prepare what is needed to understand the changes, verify them and continue the work.
- Services and API contracts
- Business rule tests
- Deployment procedures
Frequently asked questions
CodeIgniter development: your questions.
What is CodeIgniter and why use it?
CodeIgniter is a lightweight PHP framework built on the MVC pattern. It stands out for its simplicity, small footprint and short learning curve, which make it well suited to simple web applications, APIs and internal tools.
Is CodeIgniter suitable for business applications?
Yes for simple web applications, APIs and internal tools. For complex business systems, Laravel or Symfony offer more structure and components. For an existing CodeIgniter application, the real question is its maintenance and modernization path.
What is the difference between CodeIgniter, Laravel and Symfony?
CodeIgniter is minimalist and lightweight. Laravel is richer and prioritizes speed of delivery. Symfony offers the most control for complex, long-lived applications. The choice depends on the product’s complexity and lifespan.
How do you manage databases with CodeIgniter?
The Query Builder produces automatically escaped queries, the Model class handles common operations and validation, and migrations version the schema. MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite and SQL Server are supported.
How do you secure a CodeIgniter application?
Enable CSRF protection, XSS filtering and input validation, hash passwords, enforce HTTPS and review the server configuration. The framework’s protections are a baseline; the production configuration must be adapted to each application.
Should a CodeIgniter 3 application be migrated?
Active development is focused on CodeIgniter 4; for a version 3 application, compatibility with recent PHP and library versions must be checked. Depending on the state of the code, we propose a migration to CodeIgniter 4, gradual improvement or a migration to another framework, with tests on the behaviors that must be preserved.
How do you optimize the performance of a CodeIgniter application?
Enable OPcache, optimize queries and reduce their number, cache suitable pages or fragments and monitor response times. Measuring real user flows makes it possible to target the actual bottlenecks.
Can AI features be added to a CodeIgniter application?
Yes. A call to an AI model, document search or an assistant can be added as an application service, with access rights and logs. See our AI solutions for business.
What engagement models do you offer?
A fixed-price project for a defined enhancement or migration, a dedicated team of French-speaking engineers led by a tech lead to maintain the application over time, or targeted work (performance, legacy code takeover).
Let’s talk about your technical context.
Tell us about your CodeIgniter application, the issue to address and the known constraints. We will review the dependencies and the first scope of work with your team.