[eluser]k2zs[/eluser]
[quote author="Phil Sturgeon" date="1240428428"]I have found that using CI has made my native PHP much better. Compare my native PHP now to my native PHP pre-CI and the difference is amazing. It is all perfect OOP and much cleaner, faster and more effective.
You need to take what CI teaches you and apply it elsewhere. If you cant apply the coding methods itself or you dont know how, do what I do and steal it. I have managed to integrate the CI form_validation class into my day-jobs legacy systems which has replaced my need to work with the old Smarty validation, THANK GOD!
TBH I do not know anybody using native mysql commands and the like. Everyone uses some form of abstraction layer for things like that, if it is not CI's active record it is Creole, ADODB, etc. And as has already been said, it only takes a quick google or flick through of your reference book to remember.
If you did it once, at least you remember what needs to be done even if you forget the exact syntax.[/quote]
I know this is an old post but I have to agree with Phil,
Prior to starting with CI just a few months ago I thought I knew a good deal about PHP. Truth be known I had never written a function or a class on my own. I was totally dependent on DreamWeaver CS3 to make all of my database connections and write all of my database calls.
Since starting with CI I have abandoned CS3 all together and now use a real php editor (PhpED from NuSphere) and write all of my own code. If I had to build something from scratch without using a framework like CI I would still favor writing classes to do what I needed.
Bottom line is that CI didn't "dumb down" my knowledge, it enhanced it 10 fold.
Thanks CI