In a new post on his blog today, Davey Shafik has information ("from scattered news sources") that Zend is on the verge of releasing their own PHP framework - a parternship with Eclipse to challenge the giant that is .NET.

It seems there is some confusion about whether or not Zend (etc.) are trying to compete on both an API Framework or an IDE/Workflow framework. Both of which are offered by the .NET/Visual Studio solution.

I will admit, I have mixed feelings about this move either way. First and foremost, I think it is obvious, that any pairing with Eclipse will ultimately mean that there is going to be an IDE switcheroo in the Zend camp. [...] I also believe, that whatever Zend does create, will be a commercial product (or at the very least, have a very much advanced commercial variant, similar to the current ZDE situation).

He continues, talking more about the Eclipse "situation" and his general dislike for it - especially in comparison to the software that is Zend Studio. The framework could be interesting, but it could mean that there's a lot of hard work that's been done that would be nulled out by its introduction.

I think that the main thing Zend needs to remember in this process, is the community. Don't keep the process hidden, include the community when you can and sift out the gems from the chaffe of all the amazing brains that are floating around in it to include in a community solution.