How to Use the Command 'php yii' (with Examples)

php yii is the command-line interface for the Yii Framework, a high-performance PHP framework best-suited for developing web applications. This command-line tool is used for a variety of development tasks ranging from serving applications, generating code, managing database migrations, and much more. The use cases provided here illustrate some of the most common functionalities you will need in Yii application development.

Use Case 1: Starting the PHP Built-In Web Server for a Yii Application

Code:

php yii serve

Motivation:

One of the most efficient ways to quickly test your Yii application during development is by using PHP’s built-in web server. This allows you to avoid the often complex setup associated with traditional web servers like Apache or Nginx. By simply executing a command, your application is served over HTTP, enabling rapid development and testing cycles without the need for intricate server configurations.

Explanation:

• php: This part of the command is calling the PHP executable on your system. It is the backbone necessary to run PHP scripts and commands.
• yii: This indicates that the Yii framework’s command-line tool is being invoked.
• serve: This is the action taken by the Yii tool to start PHP’s built-in web server, which allows your current Yii application to be accessed via a web browser for testing and development.

Example Output:

Upon running this command, you might see an output similar to:

Server started on http://localhost:8080/
Document root is "/path/to/your/app/web"
Quit the server with CONTROL-C.

You can now open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8080/ to see your Yii application in action.

Use Case 2: Generating Controller, Views, and CRUD for a Model

Code:

php yii gii/crud --modelClass=ModelName --controllerClass=ControllerName

Motivation:

The Yii framework offers the Gii module, which accelerates development by scaffolding code for common tasks like Create, Read, Update, and Delete (CRUD) operations. Using this command saves considerable time and effort by automatically generating your controllers, views, and other relevant files associated with a specified model class. This is particularly useful when you’re developing applications that interact with databases, as it ensures standardized and error-free code.

Explanation:

• php: Again, this calls the PHP executable.
• yii: Invokes the Yii command-line tool.
• gii/crud: This triggers the code generator tool of Yii (Gii) to create CRUD operations.
• --modelClass=ModelName: Specifies the model class for which you wish to generate the CRUD operations. Replace ModelName with the actual model associated with your database table.
• --controllerClass=ControllerName: Defines the name of the controller class that should be created. Replace ControllerName with the name you desire for your new controller class.

Example Output:

Running this command may result in output suggesting that certain files are being created:

Controller 'ControllerName' was created at 'path/to/controllers/ControllerName.php'.
CRUD for model 'ModelName' was generated successfully.

This output confirms the successful creation and placement of the necessary files to facilitate CRUD operations for the specified model.

Use Case 3: Displaying Help Information

Code:

php yii help

Motivation:

Developers often need to recall or learn how a command is structured or identify available options within a tool. The help command allows you to access the documentation directly from the command line, providing a quick reference without the need to search through external documentation. This enhances productivity by keeping you focused within the development environment.

Explanation:

• php: This starts the PHP interpreter.
• yii: Runs the Yii CLI tool.
• help: This command lists available commands and provides a description of their usage.

Example Output:

Executing this command provides detailed information about available commands:

The following commands are available:

- yii migrate
- yii cache/flush-all
- yii help <command-name>
...

Use yii help <command-name> to get more information.

This output lists the name of the commands available and may offer brief descriptions of what each does, directing you on how to access further details for each specific command.

Conclusion:

The php yii command-line tool is a versatile interface with the Yii framework, simplifying tasks such as serving your application, generating repetitive code, and seeking help. Mastering these commands will increase productivity, enhance your development workflow, and facilitate the rapid creation of robust web applications using the Yii framework.