Lightweight PHP5 based template class/system

Question

Looking at using a template system for a new project, it\'s only a small site and don\'t want to use the overhead and \'complexity\' of smarty. I don\'t really like template

Answer 1

PHP by itself is already a template engine. So why not cut out the overhead a template engine written in a template engine brings with it and just use PHP then?

If you need added functionality, consider using ViewHelper, e.g. small functions that encapsulate stuff like adding links names or translating, e.g.

 $item): ?>
    


        
id); ?>
        
description); ?>
    

If that's too verbose, have a look at HEREDOC and NOWDOC syntax and if this is still not what you are looking for, here is a list of some template engines:

• http://www.webresourcesdepot.com/19-promising-php-template-engines/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_template_system#Server-side_systems

Or, if you feel experimental, have a look at XHP, Facebook's extension approach to a Template engine:

• http://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook-engineering/xhp-a-new-way-to-write-php/294003943919
• http://toys.lerdorf.com/archives/54-A-quick-look-at-XHP.html
• https://github.com/hhvm/xhp-lib