Weblog

Build and Deploy a REST API on IBM Bluemix with PHP and MySQL

I’ve been experimenting with IBM Bluemix for some time now and a few weeks ago, I decided to try hosting a custom REST API with it. I built the API using Bullet, a PHP micro-framework, then deployed it to Bluemix and connected it with Bluemix’s MySQL service. It worked out pretty well…as you can see by trying this live demo. In case you’re interested in learning how I went about… Read More »Build and Deploy a REST API on IBM Bluemix with PHP and MySQL

Configure URL Rewriting for Framework-Based PHP Applications on IBM Bluemix

A few weeks ago, I was introduced to Bluemix, IBM’s new cloud infrastructure platform for developers. With a bunch of pre-configured runtimes for Java, Node.js and Ruby, plus MongoDB, MySQL and various other database services, BlueMix provides a platform for quick app development and deployment. Bluemix is currently in beta and doesn’t support PHP (yet) but I found a blog post which suggested it was possible using the Zend Server… Read More »Configure URL Rewriting for Framework-Based PHP Applications on IBM Bluemix

Improve Web Application Security with Zend Framework 2

I’ve been working with Zend Framework 2 for a while now, trying to learn it and map its concepts to those from Zend Framework 1. One of the things that hasn’t changed is the framework’s support for security – it still has a bunch of useful components which let you protect your PHP application from SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, spam, and brute-force password hacking. You don’t need to be using… Read More »Improve Web Application Security with Zend Framework 2

Create a Mobile-Friendly To-Do List App with PHP, jQuery Mobile and Google Tasks

I’ve been waiting to try out jQuery Mobile for a while and a few weeks ago, I finally got the chance. I hooked jQuery Mobile up with the Google Tasks API and built a simple to-do list application that works on tablet and smartphone browsers. The application exposes most of the basic functionality of Google Tasks, allowing you to add new to-do lists, create tasks, attach due dates and mark… Read More »Create a Mobile-Friendly To-Do List App with PHP, jQuery Mobile and Google Tasks

Authentication and Access Control with Sentry 2 (part 2)

As promised, IBM developerWorks has now published the second part of my article on Sentry 2. In this concluding segment, I dive into the Sentry 2 permission model, explaining how to create groups, assign users and permissions to them, and use permission checks to selectively enable application functions. Also on the menu: find out how to harden your application with login throttling and temporary user deactivation, and integrate Sentry 2… Read More »Authentication and Access Control with Sentry 2 (part 2)

Authentication and Access Control with Sentry 2 (part 1)

If you build Web applications, there are a few things you can’t dodge coding: a user registration workflow, a password reset workflow, a login and logout system, and so on. Since these workflows aren’t likely to change much from one project to another, why not package them all up in a set of classes and use the time you save on something more constructive (blowing up some Protoss bases, maybe?)… Read More »Authentication and Access Control with Sentry 2 (part 1)

Use Doctrine 2.3 with PHP and Zend Framework

IBM developerWorks has just published my article on using Doctrine 2.3 with the Zend Framework. Doctrine is a well-known PHP Object-Relational Mapping (ORM) tool for querying and manipulating database content by using objects. It can be integrated with Zend Framework to inject database content into a PHP Web application. The article discusses how to create Doctrine entities and load and use them within Zend Framework 1.x and 2.x action controllers.… Read More »Use Doctrine 2.3 with PHP and Zend Framework

Integrating PHP Applications with Instagram (part 2)

IBM developerWorks has published the second part of my article on integrating the Instagram API with a PHP application. This concluding segment examines Instagram’s OAuth support, demonstrates how to access protected Instagram feeds, and introduces two third-party PHP libraries that ease Instagram API access. Read the full article here.

Integrating PHP Applications with Instagram (part 1)

IBM developerWorks has published my article on integrating the Instagram API with a PHP application. In case you didn’t already know, Instagram is a popular photo-sharing service that enables users to take photos with their smartphone and share them with others through the Web. The article examines the Instagram REST API in detail, using it with the Zend_Http_Client library to rapidly build and deploy PHP Web applications to search for… Read More »Integrating PHP Applications with Instagram (part 1)

Create REST Applications with the Slim Micro-Framework

IBM developerWorks has just published my article on creating REST applications with the Slim PHP micro-framework. Slim is one of the new breed of PHP micro-frameworks, inspired by Sinatra. It enables rapid web application development and prototyping without the performance overhead and learning curve of full-fledged frameworks. The article examines Slim in detail, using it to rapidly build and deploy a REST API with support for authentication and multiple request/response formats.… Read More »Create REST Applications with the Slim Micro-Framework