Why we moved from PHP to Python

Why we moved from PHP to Python

We made a hard decision to move away from PHP to Python for a wider range of possibilities.

testing | setup | infrastructure

For many years, the automated testing project was powered by PHP. It was the backbone of our web driver implementation and selenium access. PHP served us well, after all, it powers a huge portion of the web. But over time, our needs evolved, and we found ourselves bumping into its limitations.

After careful evaluation, we made the switch from PHP to Python. Here’s why.

1. The need for modern development practices

PHP has improved a lot with modern versions, but the code we had did grow without having a stable base. Maintaining it became increasingly challenging. So there was time for a refactoring and the move to a modern framework. So we put also Python on the table.

  • Readable, maintainable code with a clear syntax
  • Modern tooling via pip and virtual environments
  • Rich ecosystem of mature libraries for web, data, and automation

2. Python’s versatility beyond web development

PHP is almost exclusively a web development language. Our team’s needs, however, had grown:

  • We needed data processing and analytics for reporting
  • We wanted to integrate more workflows into our application
  • We were building internal automation scripts and CLI tools

3. Rich framework ecosystem

While PHP has Laravel and Symfony, we wanted a framework ecosystem that extended beyond just web development.

  • Django – Batteries-included web framework for rapid development
  • Flask – Lightweight, flexible web framework
  • fa-solidtAPI – Modern, high-performance framework for APIs
  • Pandas, NumPy, and SciPy – For data processing
  • Playwright and cypress – For automated testing

4. Improved testing and automation

With Python, testing and CI/CD became simpler and more powerful:

  • Native support for unittest and pytest
  • Seamless Selenium and Playwright integration
  • Easy integration with DevOps pipelines

5. Long term maintainability

This was a decision about the future. We wanted a stack that would scale beyond just web pages, allow for modern coding practices, and grow with our ambitions in AI, automation, and data processing.

Conclusion

Switching from PHP to Python wasn’t about abandoning a language that served us well, it was about aligning our technology with our future goals.

Since making the move, we’ve seen:

  • Faster feature development
  • Less errors
  • New possibilities for automation
Why speed matters: The importance of fast websites Playwright vs Cypress