On Reddit.com there's a recent post that asks the community as a whole why they use frameworks in their applications...and if "everyone" uses them or not.

I've been programming php for about 1.5 years. I've heard lots about different frameworks and now I've been set a task by a potential employer to redesign some of my site using silex (http://silex.sensiolabs.org/). I've never used a framework before and I guess my question is why do you? Does EVERYONE use them or is it an "us vs them" kind of thing?

Comments to the post point out several different ideas around framework and their usage such as:

• A framework doesn't have to be an MVC framework
• There's nothing wrong with not using a framework
• Frameworks as a toolbox
• The increase in time-to-market speed they provide
• Consistency when other developers work with the code