Exciting news for Symfony fans, Symfony 4 is here!
For a while now we have been preparing for the new features and updates that were to come with the new release of Symfony framework.
If you are a Symfony developer, you will love all the improvements. The keynote at the Symfony Con in Romania was a great intro to all changes in the new version, and now that it’s finally released, we can look into it in details.
What’s new in Symfony 4?
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Automated package installation with Symfony Flex
Symfony Flex is all about automation and improved developer experience.
As Fabien explained in his keynote in Cluj, Symfony Flex is to help developers automate boring tasks. You can add dependencies when you need them and there are no third party dependencies/bundles.
When Composer installs (or updates) other dependencies, Symfony Flex looks for an associated recipe on the Symfony Flex server and executes it. You can see Symfony Flex in action via the logs it adds to the Composer output.
The way Symfony Flex works make it extremely easy for beginners to get started with their projects. Read more about Symfony Flex and see how to use it to manage applications.
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Auto-registered & autowired services
Symfony 4 brings features that are designed to automate configuration to make the development easier and faster too.
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Many more features are coming with Symfony 4
First to mention is the Maker Bundle that is coming as an improved bundle of the popular Sensio Generator Bundle that has been downloaded for 20+ million times. Commands are different although the usage is similar, thus read more about it. New features are not enabled by default, so configure your files to use them. Many bundles are already updated and will work on Symfony 4.
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Symfony 4 comes with a new smaller directory structure
For instance, non-PHP files are in their own directories. The framework is easier to navigate and it’s lightweight. New standards are implemented to meet the needs of industry:
Application bundles are gone, config parameters are now environment variables, the application directory structure is easier to navigate and hundreds of other small improvements that will make you love Symfony.
Read more about the new features on the Symfony website.
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Symfony 4 is 70% smaller than Symfony 3
New applications created with Symfony 4 are based on a micro-kernel and contain 70% less code and files.
With less code and files, you can start small with any project and grow it as the project scales and at your own pace. The result? Easily build knowledge networks or complex platforms and social marketplaces that scale fast.
The migration of the apps to a new version is easy and safe, though not mandatory.
Interested in finding out more Symfony project examples that have transformed the industry? Make sure to follow our blog for more updates on Symfony.
