The actual version of the framework was designed for PHP 5 and uses the object oriented features introduced with this PHP version like Interfaces and Iterators.

The framework supports the developer beside it's main function, even controlling the applications flow, implementing I18N, validation of the user data, to pay attention for the system architecture. The framework does not, against many other frameworks, provide functionality for the model (handling the database) or building the GUI part of an application. struts4php only covers the controller part.

This is intended, because as a result of this, the developer is free to use any database layer or template engine, and there are many really good out there, that fits best for the actual requirements. Nearly all would fit perfectly together with the framework. This gives the developer a maximum in flexibility using the best fitting software components.

System requirements

• Windows or Linux
• PHP 5.x
• optional a PEAR installation

Installation

As mentioned above, the framework consists of several packages. This packages have to be inside your applications include path. Therefore the installation can be done in two ways.

PEAR installer

The easier way is to use the PEAR installer if possible. The PEAR installer does all necessary things for you. It downloads packages, extracts them and copies the source files to the PEAR directory on your computer. The PEAR directory is usually in your include path what means that there is nothing more to do.

To install the framework with the PEAR installer it first is necessary to discover the PEAR channel for struts4php. Afterwards the packages can be installed from the newly discovered channel.

Open the commandline and enter the follwing: