A proven language
Stricter typing, improved performance since PHP 8 and static analysis tools make it possible to write more reliable code than a few years ago.
Expertise · PHP
Custom PHP Development: building and modernizing your software
Etixio delivers custom PHP development for your business applications, web platforms and APIs. We build new applications, take over and modernize existing ones, add AI features to them, then handle maintenance, from business rules to integrations.
Understanding the technology
PHP in your project.
PHP is a language used to build server-side web applications. It also powers many frameworks and content or commerce platforms. Etixio works on business rules, APIs and the modernization of PHP applications, taking into account the structure and history of the software.
The strengths for your product
Why choose PHP?
PHP remains one of the most widely used back-end languages. Mature, open source and backed by a large community, it serves business applications and SaaS platforms as well as content sites and online stores. With maintained PHP 8 versions and current frameworks, it is a solid foundation for software that must evolve over several years. We explain why in our article PHP, a language for business applications.
Structuring frameworks
Symfony and Laravel provide an architecture, conventions and tested components, which speeds up delivery without sacrificing readability.
Security through good practices
Prepared statements, input validation, authorization management and regular dependency updates protect the application’s data.
A vast ecosystem
Composer libraries and connectors to CRMs, ERPs, payment services and cloud providers make integration with your information system easier.
No license costs
An open-source language and frameworks, widely available hosting and a broad talent pool keep the application’s total cost of ownership under control.
Our scope of work
The work we take on.
Business application
Structure services, authorizations and functional user journeys.
Legacy takeover
Identify dependencies, cover critical behaviors and plan the migration.
Integrations
Connect data and APIs without scattering business rules across interfaces.
Our PHP expertise
The PHP stack we master.
Frameworks
Symfony for complex, modular applications, Laravel for fast, structured delivery, CodeIgniter and Zend / Laminas for existing applications.
CMS & e-commerce
WordPress and Drupal for content sites, Magento, PrestaShop and WooCommerce for online stores, with custom-built extensions.
Databases
MySQL, MariaDB and PostgreSQL, with careful attention to the data model, indexes and ORM-generated queries.
CI/CD & DevOps
GitLab CI/CD for testing and deployments, Docker for identical environments, Kubernetes when the application needs orchestration.
On the interface side, the PHP application can serve its own screens or expose an API consumed by a React, Vue.js or Angular front end, and exchange data with your existing tools (CRM, ERP, partner APIs).
PHP and AI
Adding AI features to a PHP application.
An assistant in your screens, search across your documents, data extraction from attachments or summarizing a case file: these features are integrated as services of your PHP application, with the same access rights, logging and testing rules as the rest of the code. Libraries such as Symfony AI let you stay within your stack.
We also take over AI prototypes to bring them to production: authentication, monitoring, response evaluation and control of model call costs. See our enterprise AI solutions.
In the field
From technology to real-world use.
When taking over an internal tool, we identify the critical user journeys, database access and scheduled jobs. We can isolate a business rule, cover its behavior with tests, then evolve the interface or integration concerned. Existing data and users’ habits guide the sequencing.
The choices that matter
The choices to examine before building.
Upgrading the language is not the same as modernizing the product. Libraries, extensions and application behaviors need to be verified. We separate the fixes required for technical support from architecture or feature changes, to avoid a migration that is impossible to review.
Our approach
How a PHP development project unfolds.
Scoping
Scope, constraints of the existing system, architecture choices and environment setup.
Incremental delivery
Short releases, continuous integration and systematic code review by the tech lead.
Quality
Automated tests of business rules, functional validation with your teams and static code analysis.
Go-live
Secure deployment, monitoring and performance optimization on real user journeys.
Maintenance and evolution
Fixes, security updates, version upgrades and new features over time.
From work to deliverables
Delivery your team can take over.
The scope of the engagement specifies the components to build or take over and the acceptance criteria. 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
PHP development: your questions.
What is PHP and why use it?
PHP is a server-side programming language used to build dynamic websites and web applications. It underpins CMSs such as WordPress and frameworks such as Symfony or Laravel. It is chosen for its maturity, the delivery speed it enables and the absence of license costs.
Is PHP still relevant in 2026?
Yes. PHP 8 and the Symfony and Laravel frameworks make it possible to build secure, maintainable architectures. The language remains a good choice for business applications that require a balance between robustness, delivery speed and a controlled budget.
What types of projects can be built with PHP?
Custom web platforms, SaaS applications and business tools, online stores (Magento, WooCommerce, PrestaShop), CMSs and content portals. PHP is particularly well suited to projects that integrate with an ERP, a CRM or third-party APIs.
What is the difference between PHP and Node.js?
PHP traditionally processes each request synchronously and offers highly structured frameworks. Node.js is based on an asynchronous model, often used for real time. PHP is frequently preferred for business applications and CMSs; the choice depends on your product and your team. See also our Node.js expertise.
Can an existing PHP application be modernized or migrated?
Yes. An older PHP application can be gradually migrated to a recent version of the language and to a framework such as Symfony or Laravel. We start by covering critical behaviors with tests, then replace components one by one to ensure service continuity.
Which PHP framework should you choose?
Symfony for complex, structured applications, Laravel for quickly setting up a web project, WordPress or Magento for content or e-commerce needs. The choice depends on your goals, your constraints and the product roadmap.
What affects the duration and cost of a PHP project?
Functional complexity, the number of integrations (APIs, ERP, CRM), the state of the existing system in the case of a rebuild and the expected level of customization. Scoping makes it possible to estimate timelines and budget, then deliver the project as a fixed-price project or with a dedicated team.
Can AI be integrated into a PHP application?
Yes. Model calls (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini), document search and agents are integrated as services of the PHP application. We also handle what makes the difference in production: access rights, logs, evaluations and cost tracking.
How does a dedicated PHP team work at Etixio?
French-speaking engineers in Madagascar and Mauritius, with a 1 to 3-hour time difference from Paris, led by a tech lead and integrated into your tools and rituals. It is our delivery model for evolving an application over time: see build your dedicated team.
Let’s talk about your technical context.
Tell us about the PHP application, the issue to address and the known constraints. We will review the dependencies and the first scope of work with your team.