Every year someone writes that PHP is dying. Every year PHP powers 77% of all websites with a known server-side language. MySQL remains the most deployed relational database in the world.
For most business websites, PHP and MySQL are not a compromise. They are the right choice.
Why PHP Still Makes Sense
cPanel hosting, which runs most South African business websites, has native PHP support. WordPress, which powers 43% of all websites, runs on PHP. The deployment pipeline is simple: write code, upload via FTP or Git, it works. No build step. No container. No cold start.
For a business website, this operational simplicity is a feature, not a limitation.
When JavaScript Frameworks Win
Single-page applications with complex interactive UIs. Real-time features. Applications where the frontend is the product. React, Vue, and Nuxt are excellent tools, for the right problems. They are not the right tool for a 10-page company website that needs to load fast and rank well.
What We Use and Why
PHP and MySQL for WordPress sites and custom business tools. Astro for marketing sites that ship zero JavaScript by default. Vue/Nuxt for client-facing applications with real interactivity. The right tool for the job.