How Do You Convert a Page-Based PHP Application to MVC?

Question

I\'ve been struggling for some time now with exactly how to recode a page-based PHP application using an MVC framework. Just for background, I am having to move the app into MVC

Answer 1

In making a move like this, you're not just changing the implementation of a particular site, but rather changing the way in which it's perceived. You're going to have to do a hefty bit of recoding anyway, but you have the advantage of understanding the concept and having experience in how to do it.

My suggestion would be to sit down and pretend you know nothing about how to implement the site, but everything about what issues are associated with the kind of site you're working on--its requirements and its gotchas. Create an MVC-based conceptualization of how to do the site, and then try to reuse as much code that you have as possible. Code reuse may not ultimately be feasible, but on the bright side, at least you've solved many of the same problems before, so it shouldn't take as long to implement.

Don't forget that you can always use routing to maintain a sensible URL structure for something like a series of form pages using different controllers, allowing you to use different controllers, actions, and views while still being able to borrow from the same layout or template.