title: "PHP CUI Frameworks" description: "Overview of frameworks and libraries for building CLI applications in PHP"
PHP CUI Frameworks
Overview
PHP, widely used for web application development, is also an excellent choice for CLI tool development. Package management with Composer, rich library ecosystem, and concise syntax enable efficient building of development tools, automation scripts, and administration tools. It's particularly utilized for CLI tools integrated with web projects, deployment tools, and task runners.
Major Libraries
Symfony Console
The most popular CLI component developed as part of the Symfony framework. It provides advanced features, excellent documentation, and extensive community support.
Laravel Artisan
A CLI toolkit integrated into the Laravel framework. Based on Symfony Console, it provides Laravel-specific features and integration.
CLImate
A simple and expressive CLI library. It makes it easy to implement beautiful output, progress displays, tables, padding, and other features.
Commando
A lightweight CLI library with a fluent interface. Features intuitive option definition through method chaining.
GetOpt.PHP
A library providing GNU getopt-style option parsing. It enables implementing standard Unix-style argument processing.
Silly
A CLI library with a microframework approach. Integrated with Pimple container and supports dependency injection.
Selection Guide
When to Choose Symfony Console
- Enterprise-level applications
- Need complex command structures
- Rich features and helpers
- Excellent testing capabilities
- Large community support
When to Choose Laravel Artisan
- Integration with Laravel projects
- Database migrations
- Queue processing integration
- Leveraging Laravel ecosystem
- Convention-over-configuration development
When to Choose CLImate
- Easy creation of beautiful output
- Prefer simple APIs
- Lightweight solution
- Visual elements are important
- Want to reduce learning cost
When to Choose Commando
- Prefer fluent interfaces
- Minimal configuration
- Small to medium projects
- Intuitive code
- Rapid development
When to Choose GetOpt.PHP
- Standard Unix style
- Compatibility with existing tools
- Simple argument parsing
- Lightweight implementation
- Traditional approach
When to Choose Silly
- Microframework approach
- Leveraging dependency injection
- Integration with Pimple container
- Minimal boilerplate
- Functional command definition
In PHP CLI development, Symfony Console has become the de facto standard, adopted in many projects due to its rich features and maturity. Meanwhile, lightweight libraries like CLImate and Commando are suitable for simple tools.
GitHub Star Comparison
| No | Name | GitHub Stars | Description | Trend | License | Official Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Symfony Console | ⭐ 9.8k | The Console component from Symfony framework. Makes it easy to create beautiful and testable command line interfaces. | The de facto standard for PHP CLI development. Adopted by Laravel, Composer, and many major PHP projects. | MIT | Official |
| 2 | Laravel Zero | - | A micro-framework for console application development. Brings Laravel's elegance to CLI applications. | Popular among Laravel developers, used for developing standalone CLI tools leveraging Laravel features. | MIT | Official |
| 3 | Silly | - | A micro-framework for creating CLI applications in PHP. Based on Symfony Console, provides a simpler API. | Chosen by developers who want to quickly create simple CLI tools, can be started with minimal configuration. | MIT | Official |
| 4 | CLImate | - | A terminal output library for PHP. Makes it easy to create beautiful CLI output with colors, padding, formatting, and more. | Popular among developers who care about terminal output appearance, often used in combination with other CLI frameworks. | MIT | Official |