# FrankenPHP — Modern PHP App Server Built on Caddy

> High-performance PHP application server with native support for HTTP/3, early hints, worker mode, and automatic HTTPS.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# FrankenPHP — Modern PHP App Server Built on Caddy

## Quick Use
```bash
docker run -v $PWD:/app/public -p 80:80 -p 443:443 dunglas/frankenphp
# Or standalone binary
frankenphp php-server --root /path/to/your/project/public
```

## Introduction
FrankenPHP is a modern application server for PHP built on top of Caddy. It embeds PHP directly into the web server as a Go module, eliminating the need for PHP-FPM. This architecture enables features like worker mode for persistent applications, HTTP/3 support, early hints (103), and automatic HTTPS out of the box.

## What FrankenPHP Does
- Serves PHP applications without requiring PHP-FPM or a separate process manager
- Provides worker mode that keeps PHP scripts in memory between requests
- Handles HTTPS certificates automatically via Caddy integration
- Supports HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 (QUIC) natively
- Enables 103 Early Hints for faster page loads

## Architecture Overview
FrankenPHP embeds the PHP interpreter as a Go module inside Caddy. When a request arrives, Caddy routes it to the embedded PHP runtime, avoiding the overhead of FastCGI communication. In worker mode, a PHP script boots once and handles multiple requests from memory, similar to how application servers work in other languages.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Run via the official Docker image or download a standalone static binary
- Configure with a Caddyfile or use the default settings for zero-config operation
- Enable worker mode by specifying a worker script (e.g., Laravel or Symfony entry point)
- Set environment variables for PHP configuration (memory limit, extensions, etc.)
- Deploy behind a load balancer or use Caddy's built-in clustering for high availability

## Key Features
- Worker mode keeps applications in memory for significant performance gains
- Automatic HTTPS with Let's Encrypt and ZeroSSL certificate provisioning
- Native HTTP/3 and 103 Early Hints support without extra configuration
- Single binary deployment with no PHP-FPM, nginx, or Apache required
- Full compatibility with existing PHP frameworks (Laravel, Symfony, WordPress)

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **PHP-FPM + Nginx** — Traditional setup requiring multiple processes; FrankenPHP is a single binary
- **Swoole** — PHP extension for async processing; FrankenPHP keeps standard PHP compatibility
- **RoadRunner** — Go-based PHP app server; FrankenPHP embeds PHP in Caddy with native HTTPS
- **OpenLiteSpeed** — High-performance web server with PHP support; FrankenPHP has simpler setup
- **Laravel Octane** — Framework-level worker mode; FrankenPHP works with any PHP application

## FAQ
**Q: Is FrankenPHP compatible with my existing PHP application?**
A: Yes. Standard PHP applications work without modification. Worker mode may require minor adjustments for stateful resources.

**Q: How does worker mode improve performance?**
A: Worker mode boots your application once and handles multiple requests without re-initializing the framework, reducing response times significantly.

**Q: Does FrankenPHP support PHP extensions?**
A: Yes. The Docker image includes common extensions, and you can compile custom builds with additional extensions.

**Q: Can I use FrankenPHP in production?**
A: Yes. FrankenPHP is production-ready and used by organizations running Laravel, Symfony, and other PHP frameworks at scale.

## Sources
- https://github.com/php/frankenphp
- https://frankenphp.dev/docs/

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-ef552fa1
Author: Script Depot