EvolvePHP 2

2.x is the designated EvolvePHP 2 development branch and the GitHub default branch.

master remains the preserved EvolvePHP 1 legacy branch for historical reference and explicitly approved legacy maintenance. EvolvePHP 2 development and proposed changes must not target master.

Phase 2.7B completed the external governance transition. Repository rulesets actively protect both branch lines: master remains preserved, and 2.x now receives default-branch development changes.

EvolvePHP 2 is not an in-place refactor, replacement or rewrite of the EvolvePHP 1 runtime history.

The current EvolvePHP 2 repository contains package boundaries, Composer workspace setup and quality-tooling foundations. Runtime framework implementation is not yet complete, and the packages are not yet published.

EvolvePHP 2 requires PHP 8.4. The current workspace quality pipeline is verified by GitHub Actions on PHP 8.4 and PHP 8.5 for the current workspace, quality tooling and package foundation.

Project Overview

EvolvePHP is a lightweight, component-based PHP framework project for building structured web applications.

The EvolvePHP 2 line redesigns the framework as a modular package architecture with explicit contracts, dependency boundaries and workspace-owned development tooling. The current focus is the foundation for later runtime implementation, not production framework usage.

Current Status

• EvolvePHP 2 development branch: 2.x
• GitHub default branch: 2.x
• Legacy line: EvolvePHP 1 on master
• Repository rulesets: active for master and 2.x
• master ruleset: pull request requirement, deletion protection, force-push protection, required approvals remain zero, conversation resolution is required, and there are no bypass actors
• 2.x ruleset: pull request requirement, deletion protection, force-push protection, required CI status checks, strict/up-to-date status-check policy, required approvals remain zero, conversation resolution is required, and there are no bypass actors
• Required 2.x checks: Policy (PHP 8.4), Workspace quality (PHP 8.4), Workspace quality (PHP 8.5)
• Runtime implementation: not yet complete
• Package publication: packages are not yet published
• PHP baseline: PHP 8.4
• CI verification: current workspace quality passes in GitHub Actions on PHP 8.4 and PHP 8.5

Requirements

• PHP 8.4
• Composer
• Git

The preserved EvolvePHP 1 line has different historical requirements. Use master only when intentionally reviewing or maintaining EvolvePHP 1.

Repository Layout

evolvephp/
|-- docs/rfcs/       # Accepted EvolvePHP 2 RFCs and governance index
|-- packages/        # EvolvePHP 2 package skeletons and package documentation
|-- tests/           # Root policy, architecture and documentation tests
|-- workspace/       # EvolvePHP 2 Composer workspace and quality tooling
|-- composer.json    # Preserved EvolvePHP 1 root Composer manifest
`-- README.md        # EvolvePHP 2 branch entry point

The legacy EvolvePHP 1 runtime files remain in the repository for preservation and maintenance history. They are not the EvolvePHP 2 package structure.

Getting Started

git clone https://github.com/josiahking/evolvephp.git
cd evolvephp
git branch --show-current
composer --working-dir=workspace install
composer --working-dir=workspace quality

The normal clone path starts on 2.x because it is the GitHub default branch. For an older local checkout, verify the branch with git branch --show-current and run git switch 2.x only when the checkout is not already on 2.x.

The EvolvePHP 2 workspace owns dependency installation and quality checks. Use workspace/README.md for detailed Composer, PHPUnit, PHPStan, PHP-CS-Fixer and Deptrac guidance.

Developer Experience

VS Code support is optional developer tooling for contributors. It is not framework runtime configuration, and it does not replace terminal PHP or Composer execution.

The repository includes a portable .editorconfig foundation and committed VS Code recommendations, settings and tasks. No machine-specific executable path is committed. Contributors with multiple PHP versions must make PHP 8.4+ available to their VS Code integrated terminal and local environment before relying on the tasks.

The VS Code tasks are convenience wrappers around the canonical Composer workspace scripts owned by workspace/composer.json. EvolvePHP 2: Quality, EvolvePHP 2: Tests, EvolvePHP 2: Architecture, EvolvePHP 2: Static Analysis, EvolvePHP 2: Style Check and EvolvePHP 2: Root Policy are normal non-mutating checks. EvolvePHP 2: Install Workspace Dependencies installs local dependency content. EvolvePHP 2: Style Fix is explicitly mutating.

Runtime debugging configuration is deferred until the EvolvePHP 2 runtime implementation is complete.

Quality Checks

The main EvolvePHP 2 validation command is:

composer --working-dir=workspace quality

Root documentation and architecture policy tests continue to run from the repository root while the EvolvePHP 2 workspace matures.

Package Architecture

The current EvolvePHP 2 package set is documented in packages/README.md.

The package architecture uses explicit namespace ownership and inward dependency direction. Runtime contracts and framework behavior will be added through later implementation phases.

EvolvePHP 1 History

EvolvePHP 1 has been used as the foundation of Africa Global Export Market, a live business-to-business export platform serving more than 5,000 users.

That production-use background belongs to the preserved EvolvePHP 1 history. New EvolvePHP 2 work happens separately on 2.x, and EvolvePHP 2 changes must not target master. New production applications should not start from EvolvePHP 1 without a detailed security and compatibility review.

Phase 2.7B completed the external governance transition without replacing history. master has not been renamed or deleted, no branch was renamed or deleted, no main branch has been created, and no 1.x branch has been created. Any stable-release branch rename or promotion is deferred, and Phase 2.7 does not replace the legacy history.

See the legacy overview, known risks and limitations, support policy and security policy.

Roadmap And RFCs

The authoritative RFC index is docs/rfcs/README.md.

RFC 0001 defines the accepted EvolvePHP 2 vision, scope and non-goals.

Author

Josiah Gerald

Senior Backend Engineer specializing in PHP, Laravel, REST APIs, payment integrations and production business platforms.

• GitHub: github.com/josiahking
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/josiah-g-0919763b

License

EvolvePHP is available under the BSD 3-Clause License.