Yii vs Zend Framework: What are the differences?

1. MVC architecture: Yii follows a convention-based Model-View-Controller (MVC) approach which makes development faster, while Zend Framework allows for more flexibility in choosing components and libraries for each layer of the MVC architecture. 2. Performance: Yii is known for its high performance and faster load times compared to Zend Framework due to its lightweight nature and optimization techniques. 3. Community support: Zend Framework has a larger community and a longer history in the PHP ecosystem, providing more resources, tutorials, and plugins for developers, while Yii has a more focused community but offers strong support and documentation for its users. 4. Extension and plug-ins: Yii has a robust extension system that allows for easy integration of third-party tools and libraries, while Zend Framework relies more on composer packages for extending functionality. 5. Code generation and scaffolding: Yii provides powerful tools for code generation and scaffolding, making it easier to bootstrap projects and generate repetitive code, while Zend Framework supports more manual coding approaches but offers flexibility in customization. 6. Learning curve: Yii is considered easier to learn and has a shallower learning curve compared to Zend Framework, which is more complex and requires a deeper understanding of its architecture and components.

In Summary, Yii and Zend Framework differ in their MVC architecture approach, performance, community support, extension system, code generation tools, and learning curve.