README

The Legend Returns

TigerZF is a powerful continuation of the legendary Zend Framework 1, meticulously updated and optimized for modern PHP applications. Built on the solid foundation of zf1-future, TigerZF brings the battle-tested reliability of ZF1 into the modern era of PHP development.

Why TigerZF?

When Zend abandoned ZF1, millions of production applications were left behind. But great frameworks don't die - they evolve. TigerZF represents that evolution:

• Battle-Tested Architecture: Over 15 years of production proven patterns
• Modern PHP Support: Fully compatible with PHP 8.1 through 8.5
• Enterprise Ready: Trusted by production applications worldwide
• Community Driven: Actively maintained by passionate developers who refuse to let excellence die

Features

Classic Power, Modern Performance

• MVC Architecture: The rock-solid MVC implementation that made ZF1 famous
• Database Abstraction: Powerful Zend_Db with support for modern database systems
• Form Building: Comprehensive form generation and validation
• Authentication & ACL: Enterprise-grade security components
• Caching System: Multiple backend support for optimal performance
• Internationalization: Full i18n/l10n support out of the box

Modern Enhancements

• PHP 8.1–8.5 Compatibility: Fully tested and optimized for current PHP versions, deprecation-free
• Composer Integration: Modern dependency management
• PSR Compatibility: Where it makes sense, without breaking the ZF1 philosophy
• Security Updates: All known vulnerabilities patched and maintained
• Performance Optimizations: Faster than ever with modern PHP optimizations

Installation

composer require webtigers/tigerzf

Or clone directly:

git clone https://github.com/WebTigers/TigerZF.git

Quick Start

<?php
// Bootstrap your application
require_once 'Zend/Application.php';

// Create application
$application = new Zend_Application(
    APPLICATION_ENV,
    APPLICATION_PATH . '/configs/application.ini'
);

// Bootstrap and run
$application->bootstrap()->run();

System Requirements

• PHP 8.1 or higher (tested through 8.5)
• Composer for dependency management
• Web server with URL rewriting support

Documentation

• TigerZF Manual — the full ZF1 reference manual, modernized (available in English and Spanish)
• Migration Guide (Coming Soon)

Why Choose TigerZF Over Other Frameworks?

Stability Over Trends

While other frameworks chase the latest trends and break compatibility every major version, TigerZF values:

• Backward Compatibility: Your ZF1 apps run with minimal changes
• Predictable APIs: No surprises, no breaking changes
• Long-term Support: We're here for the long haul

Real-World Focus

• Production First: Every change is evaluated for production impact
• Enterprise Tested: Used in mission-critical applications
• Performance Minded: Optimized for real-world scenarios, not benchmarks

Community

TigerZF is more than a framework - it's a community of developers who believe in sustainable, reliable software development.

• Contributing: See CONTRIBUTING.md
• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions

The TigerZF Philosophy

"Great software doesn't need to be rewritten every few years. It needs to be refined, optimized, and cherished."

TigerZF embodies this philosophy. We're not here to reinvent the wheel - we're here to make sure the best wheel ever created keeps rolling smoothly on modern roads.

Sponsors

TigerZF development is sponsored by:

• WebTigers - Enterprise PHP Development
• [Your Company Here] - Become a Sponsor

License

TigerZF's own code and modernization work are released under the MIT License (see LICENSE). It incorporates Zend Framework 1, which remains under the original BSD 3-Clause License (see LICENSE.txt); those notices are retained in the inherited source files.

Acknowledgments

TigerZF stands on the shoulders of giants:

• The original Zend Framework team for creating this masterpiece
• The zf1-future community for keeping it alive
• Every developer who chose stability and reliability over hype

TigerZF - Because Legends Never Die

Roar with confidence. Build with TigerZF.