My PHP + MySQL Stack for Small Business Software in 2026
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Everyone asks why I still build with PHP and MySQL in 2026. The answer is simple: my clients are small businesses, and small businesses need software that is cheap to host, easy to maintain, and fast to build. For that job, PHP + MySQL is still hard to beat. I build lead management tools, courier tracking systems, agency management software, and e-commerce stores with this stack. Here is exactly how I set things up. 1. Plain PHP, organized like a framework I don't reach for Laravel