PHP Frameworks are really starting to come into their own, and the leaders of the pack are starting to emerge. One of these go-getters is the CakePHP Framework, an MVC-based approach to developing web applications. In this new article on SitePoint.com today, they take a look at this framework and help you take that impotant first bite.

At the same time, at least one person gave up on the idea of totally cloning Rails in PHP, but instead, decided to borrow its structure and basic concepts to make PHP more organized. This is what makes CakePHP not only different, but one of the most popular frameworks for PHP: its modest, yet important goal is to provide an appropriate structure for PHP applications.

They go on to introduce the MVC architecture CakePHP uses, including how those parts fit into the framework's overall directory structure. They step you through the installation process and even help you create a sample application - a "note manager" to create/add/edit/delete notes stored in a database.

Finally, they have a few FAQs about some of the other handy features that CakePHP natively supports (such as the Sanitize class, using the debugging mode, and the default helpers).