README

A universal zero-dependency PHP 8.5 framework skeleton. Immutability by default, strict types everywhere, and PHPStan max from day one.

Why?

Most PHP frameworks drag in a hundred transitive dependencies and lock you into abstractions. This one is the opposite: a thin, opinionated core with no runtime dependencies, written for the modern PHP 8.5 feature set.

• Zero runtime deps. Only phpunit and phpstan for dev.
• Final readonly value objects — no setters, no surprises.
• PSR-4 autoloading under the Framework\ namespace.
• PHPStan level max passes on the entire codebase.
• Immutable Config with with() for safe overrides.
• DI Container with autowiring via reflection.
• HTTP stack with a tiny router, middleware pipeline, RFC 7807 errors, and exception-aware kernel.
• Production-safe by default — generic exception messages are hidden, opt in to debug mode to expose them. Test count is tracked by CI.

See the CI workflow for the current number.

Requirements

• PHP 8.5 or higher
• Composer 2.x

Installation

composer install

Quick start (CLI)

php bin/framework

Quick start (Web)

php -S localhost:8000 -t public

Set APP_DEBUG=1 to enable debug mode (exposes exception messages and traces).

Then open http://localhost:8000. Try:

Hello, World

use Framework\Http\Request\Request;
use Framework\Http\Response\Response;
use Framework\Http\Router\Router;

$router = new Router();
$router->get('/hello/{name}', static fn(Request $r, array $p): Response
    => Response::text("Hello, {$p['name']}!"));

The router sorts routes by specificity (static beats {param}), and patterns are compiled on Route construction.

Project structure

.
├── bin/framework                 # CLI entry point
├── public/index.php              # Web entry point with demo routes
├── examples/full-app.php         # Echo + JSON example (minimal wiring)
├── examples/auth-app.php         # Login/CSRF/signed-cookie/DTO example (realistic)
├── src/                          # Framework source (Framework\ namespace)
├── tests/                        # PHPUnit tests (Unit + Integration)
├── var/tmp/                      # Project-local tmp dir (gitignored)
├── docs/                         # Reference documentation
├── .github/workflows/ci.yml      # GitHub Actions CI
├── composer.json
├── phpunit.xml
├── phpstan.neon
├── CONTRIBUTING.md
├── LICENSE
└── README.md

For the full module layout, see docs/README.md.

Documentation

See docs/README.md for the full index.

Development

composer test    # run all tests
composer stan    # PHPStan level max
composer check   # both

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md.

License

MIT