IBM i and multi-Platform
Rapid PHP Web Development

Develop PHP apps in 5 minutes over DB2 or MySQL files

New to PHP or to the IBM i? Not sure how to start coding database driven PHP applications that use HTML and CSS? Want to use RPG programmers and/or PHP developers? Need tight PHP and IBM i integration?

WebSmart PHP is your solution

See How WebSmart PHP Reduces The PHP Learning Curve Top 3 RPG skills that shorten your PHP learning curve (and improve your RPG apps) View all webinars

WebSmart PHP is used to create PHP applications that run on the System i and other PHP supported platforms such as Windows, Linux and Unix. It is the most productive tool for RPG or PHP programmers to create PHP applications. WebSmart PHP is more than just an IDE and editor, it is a rapid application development tool that generates nonproprietary PHP code and includes:

• Intelligent DB2/400 and MySQL Application Templates and Wizards that guide you through creating fully functional professional looking PHP web applications. The templates do the ground work for you and let you focus on the business logic unlike other IDEs that start with a blank slate.
• System i Centric PHP Extensions that help you leverage existing RPG code and skills.
• Complete IDE with PHP syntax checking, Intelliprompting and organization of 5,000+ PHP functions.
• Visual HTML Editor as well as built in MVC which separates the HTML from the PHP.
• Database Repository for defining your business and presentation rules at the file level.
• Uses same IDE as WebSmart ILE and Clover Query.
• Includes Free Nexus Portal which provides a secure deployment framework for your PHP apps including secure log in and dynamic menuing system with drop down menus and menu trees.
• Includes Free SmartCharts to visually represent database information in Flash Charts (bar, pie, gauges...)for KPIs and Executive Dashboards.
• Supports anything you can do in PHP including Web Services for SOA, XML, Ajax, Google Maps...
• Unlimited World Class Technical Support during your evaluation and while on maintenance. Your call will be answered by a person who will be able to help you with your question.

BCD - Your System i and web development experts

We’ve put our extensive web app development tool experience into creating WebSmart PHP, the same experience that gained the confidence of 2,000+ organizations and earned 13 Industry Awards for WebSmart ILE. BCD has over 30 years of experience in the System i and midrange marketplace and we understand how System i developers and IT shops think and work. Our technical support team is here to ensure that you succeed and our Professional Services team is available if you do not have the resources available to develop your own apps or to work in tandem with you.

"WebSmart PHP has been a great asset in our PHP development. It has served two purposes: (1) It shortcuts the coding process by providing you with an easliy modifiable working module once you complete the wizard and (2) it is a great learning tool because it teaches you lots of PHP techniques just by looking at the code that is generated. In addition, your technical support is the best I have ever dealt with in our industry and I've been at this for over 28 years!"
Ken Watson, Sr Programmer Analyst - Columbia Machine, Inc.

"WebSmart PHP is great for quickly developing PHP applications. The templates, the 5,000+ organized PHP scripts and other features that BCD has included are perfectly designed for rapid application development. I am very pleased with WebSmart PHP and BCD's excellent support."
Bob Anderson, IT Director - Kent Sporting Goods

WebSmart PHP Articles, Case Studies & News you can use !

• Top 5 Reasons RPG Programmers like PHP

  Given that IBM put a lot more money and effort into promoting Java to RPG programmers than they did with PHP, that got me wondering why PHP appears to have been so much more successful among RPGers than Java. The following briefly summarizes my current thoughts on the subject... By Jon Paris

• Reduce the PHP Learning Curve with WebSmart PHP

  PHP is a great language for us RPG programmers to learn because it can be written using constructs familiar to RPG programmers. For example, in RPG, we have subroutines and subprocedures. In PHP, we have functions. However, there's still a significant learning curve to creating web applications with PHP. That's one reason BCD created WebSmart PHP--to reduce that learning curve and get you productive building robust, commercial-quality web applications quickly. By Duncan Kenzie

• Companies Put PHP to Work With BCD's WebSmart

  Find out how your peers have successfully used PHP Web development to reach different types of goals with different types of skill sets being used by the developers. We've heard much about the popularity of PHP for developing Web apps on the IBM i. It's always good to read about completed projects. By Robert Gast

• The Ongoing Rise of PHP

PHP on IBM i goes back at least five years, and even back in 2006, PHP and a treasure trove of open source applications caught the imagination of our industry. Since then, PHP, along with Zend's frameworks and tools and IBM's support, has not only evolved, but thrived. At least, it sure seems that way. Let me explain. By Chris Maxcer