Introducing DVC: A Lightweight PHP Framework for Modern Web Development

If you're a PHP developer looking for a simple, fast, and intuitive way to build web applications without the bloat of massive frameworks, meet DVC (Dave’s View Controller).

DVC is a lightweight PHP framework designed for developers who want:
✅ Minimal setup – No complex configurations
✅ Clear MVC structure – Without unnecessary abstractions
✅ SQLite-first – Perfect for rapid development
✅ PSR-compliant – Where it matters (PSR-4, PSR-7-inspired)

Let’s dive into what makes DVC special.

What's DVC?

This project uses DVC – Data, View, Controller. It’s a simplified take on MVC that still includes a model layer, just with a bit more clarity around roles.

Data covers both:

  • DTOs – dumb data containers used to move info around.
  • DAOs – smart components that handle storage and retrieval.

Models sit between the data and the controller. They contain business rules and logic—just not database plumbing.

Views are for rendering—HTML, JSON, whatever the app needs.

Controllers take user input, call the right models or DAOs, and hand off to the view layer.

DVC is all about staying modular and avoiding the do-everything model mess. Data is clean, logic lives where it belongs, and each part does its job.

SQLite as a First-Class Citizen

DVC embraces SQLite for lightning-fast development:

  1. Set the db_type to sqlite
  2. Run the query
$users = (new bravedave\dvc\dtoSet)("SELECT * FROM users");

No need for MySQL/MariaDB unless you scale—perfect for prototypes, APIs, and small-to-medium apps.

Modern HTTP Handling (PSR-7 Inspired)

DVC’s ServerRequest simplifies HTTP interactions:

$request = new \bravedave\dvc\ServerRequest;
$id = $request->getQueryParam('id'); // GET param
$name = $request('name'); // POST param

Getting Started in 60 Seconds

1. Install via Composer

composer require bravedave/dvc
vendor/bin/dvc make::application

2. Create Your First Module

vendor/bin/dvc make::module blog

This generates:

  • src/controller/blog.php (Controller)
  • src/app/blog/views/ (Templates)

3. Run the Dev Server

php src/app/application.php

Visit http://localhost:8000/blog – you’re live!

Who Is DVC For?

✔ PHP devs who miss classic ASP’s simplicity
✔ Developers tired of framework bloat
✔ Startups/prototypes needing SQLite speed
✔ Anyone who prefers PHP over templating engines

What’s Next?

  • Explore the Docs: GitHub Repository
  • Try the Tutorial: Build a blog in 10 minutes
  • Contribute: DVC is open-source!

Final Thought

DVC isn’t trying to be Laravel or Symfony—it’s a lightweight alternative for developers who want control without complexity.

Give it a spin and let me know what you think! 🚀

🔗 GitHub: github.com/bravedave/dvc