Time for me to weigh in
- Every framework is perfect for some group of developers, and CodeIgniter has a core set of those There is no single framework perfect for every situation.
- Much of the criticism directed towards CodeIgniter a few years ago was justified ... it was in limbo, with an unclear direction.
- Much of the criticism directed towards CodeIgniter these days feels like sour grapes, in much part because CodeIgniter doesn't bundle the same addins as many (most?) of the others, but also because of the history a few years ago.
- Some of the criticism feels like "hipsters" complaining that CI is not jumping on the latest (good or bad) bandwagon, like PSR compatibility or your favorite authentication package. We're not trying to be hipsters!
- Some of the CI community use different frameworks for different projects, based on suitability ... smart choice.
My personal feeling is that CodeIgniter4 is going to be an eye opener for many of the CI detractors, with its flexibility at the same time as its leanness, remaining true to the CI core values. Time will tell, of course, but to paraphrase a North American advertising slogan from some time ago, "I liked it so much I adopted the project"
James Parry
Project Lead