PHP Developer Jobs on Windows

Windows as a skill for PHP developers refers to building, deploying, and maintaining PHP applications on a Windows Server environment. While Linux (LAMP/LEMP stack) is more common, many enterprise environments rely on Microsoft infrastructure, creating a consistent demand for developers proficient with running PHP on Windows, often as part of a WIMP (Windows, IIS, MySQL, PHP) or WIMP (with SQL Server) stack.

The Windows Server Environment for PHP

Developing for Windows requires familiarity with Microsoft-specific tools and configurations. This includes using Internet Information Services (IIS) as the web server instead of Apache or Nginx, managing application pools, and configuring PHP using FastCGI for optimal performance. Developers often use tools like Web Platform Installer and must understand Windows file permissions and security models.

Key Skills and Technologies

A PHP developer working in a Windows environment should be proficient with:

• Configuring and managing PHP applications on IIS.
• Connecting PHP to Microsoft SQL Server using drivers like sqlsrv or pdo_sqlsrv.
• Writing PowerShell scripts for automation, deployment, and server management tasks.
• Debugging PHP applications within a Windows environment, potentially using tools like Xdebug with Visual Studio Code.
• Integrating PHP applications with other Microsoft services, such as Active Directory for authentication.