Framework or freeshard?

Recently, there have been many applications for freelance, where customers set tasks by type: creating a Laravel online store or creating a platform for auto-generation on yii2, etc. But there is one problem - most of these people are simply horrified by the prices for developing web applications using frames, often giving up on this idea altogether.

The problem isn't the bounce rate, it's that most people don't understand the key difference between developing an application on a framework and developing the same application on a freeshard.

In today's article, we will discuss the topic: what is the difference between developing an application on a framework or freeshard. We will also try to explain the difference between a framework and a freeshard.

What is the difference between a framework and a freeshard?

Let's start with the difference between technologies. If you delve into the task of web development, you may not see the difference between a freebie and a frame. Everywhere the same server (apache, nginx) + logic describing actions and response to user actions (php + js + html + css stack). In fact, it is. Everywhere the same technologies (meaning standard tasks. Of course, the stack may differ towards python or even C ++, java).

Then why, when visiting one site, we see excellent performance and optimization, and on the other, a long and tedious work of scripts that sometimes do not even try to optimize. It is at this moment that it is necessary to look behind the scenes. And there we will see the structure of this application + database. Here you can minimally see the difference between a frame and a freebie.

For a programmer who knows the three keywords: polymorphism, encapsulation and inheritance, and understands why the basic principles of OOP are applied at all, there is no problem to see the key difference.

And the average user needs to figure it out a bit. Let's go back to the customer we talked about at the beginning.

Having heard or read somewhere that it is much easier and easier to implement the project we have conceived. With euphoria in our heads, we find a freelance exchange and look at the average statistics on prices for projects of this type. Let's say we have an online store Comfy. We look that the average base rate for an online store is 5000 UAH. And of course, since it’s easier to do it on a frame (it will work faster than those that they do on freebies), of course, we bet 4500 UAH!

And what will be our surprise when, instead of thousands of applications for a project, a lot of amenities like "low budget" pour in. And for some reason, thoughts like “Greedy freelancers who only know how to steal money from us!” immediately arise. We forget about the project, saving our 15-sheet TOR for creation just in case (what if).

This concludes the story of this customer's acquaintance with freelancing. Perhaps in the future he will return and reconsider his positions and eventually receive his cherished application. But the fate of this customer does not interest us anymore. So we're going back behind the scenes and figuring out app pricing policy.

How much does it cost to develop an application on a framework or freeshard?

The key is, of course, the complexity of the site.

The difference in price for a business card site built on WordPress and a business card site built on a frame will differ only if it is necessary to implement a backend (admin panel). For a “programmer” working on WP, the main task will be to install a ready-made application that will be automatically created for him by the frontend + backend. The next task will be to integrate the layout (visual display) and implement the functionality. Usually the last moment is implemented by installing ready-made solutions (plugins) that are optimized in some way, if at all.

What difference does it make to our "programmer"? The key is getting money. And as a result, we get an unoptimized application (website) that, if not at the moment, lags, then in the near future, when trying some kind of extension, it will critically lag. It would seem that we have achieved the goal: a beautiful theme (cover) and an admin part that allows you to manage this cover. But one has only to look behind the cover for the customer and everything becomes clear at once – they just ripped off his money!

In general, our task now is not to consider all the fates of the "programmer" who has been working with WordPress for 5 years (experience (sarcasm)). Our task is to understand the difference between the applications and make each one his own choice. And for this it is necessary to consider the other side of the coin – frameworks.

What is the difference between developing an application on a framework or freeshard

In the case of a framework, upon installation, we get the most common set of libraries and a simple web page. It does not interact with the server. There are only ready-made solutions from the library for the implementation of any absolute functionality. But it has the main thing that is necessary for the qualitative implementation of any project and its subsequent expansion. These are the principles of OOP! You will be interested in reading this article: what is OOP?

Although WordPress allows you to use the principles of automation. That is, a simple user can install and distribute plugins. But these frameworks give rise to dinosaur programmers who do not delve into the principles of interaction at the bytecode level with the machine (server). And just sculpt whatever. At least minimally aware that WordPress — this is for the blog! Encoding for the database, optimization at the level of queries to the database, and so on – all this is built from the logic that a blog will be launched on the engine. It's just a series of articles, rubrics and comments. And that's it!

As a result, it turned out that it was wordpress that gave rise to such a language as php. But, he himself fell into the abyss. By releasing plugins like woocommerce now, developers are well aware of their trouble. Optimization and no OOP. Yes, there are, of course, sites, and there are OOP principles in the logic of the freebie itself. But programmers who work with it do not use these principles. Because of this, unfortunate programmers get tons of code, which subsequently requires more resources from the server. Thus the king of the ball is born – lag. 

And the framework will not allow you to deviate from the principles of OOP. Rather, it is possible. You can use the same constructions with operators on the side of templates. But, these designs will not allow further expansion of this project, and the unfortunate programmer will be calculated very quickly. Thus, we see that in order to work with frameworks, a programmer needs to improve his – learn the basic principles, namely OOP. And where the basic principles are, there is expansion, growth as a specialist. Perhaps they will get to the apache documentation.

Output:

Thus, we have the formation of a price for development:

1. Wordpress – suitable for blogging. Does not have the ability to expand to the level of a quality application. The advantage is that most freelancers can handle the implementation of simple applications. Because of this, there is a lot of competition and price dumping.
2. Yii2, angular, laraver (etc) – the frame is suitable for heavy web applications, corporate and commercial areas. The application layer depends entirely on the knowledge of the programmer. The better, the more room for expansion. A basic understanding of OOP, programming language syntax and constructs is required.

Only one thing remains to be clarified: the more logic and functionality in your application that requires direct interaction with users (filters, forms, generators), the more difficult it is. Yes, based on the principles of OOP, it will be easier to implement it (the logic is higher), but it will require high-quality support and a lot of knowledge.

This is how it turns out that quality work will cost more money. As in all other aspects of our life with you.

You will be interested in reading the article: Why use a framework in development?