On the Zend Framework blog they've posted the roadmap and latest updates on the work being done for the next major version of the framework: Zend Framework 3.

In October, while at ZendCon, I presented a talk on Zend Framework 3 entitled "Components, PSR-7, and Middleware: Zend Framework 3." You can view it online, but this post discusses current status, details some decisions, and points to the work still to be done. It's a long read; grab a warm beverage, maybe some popcorn, and take your time.

They start by outlining some of the major concepts that ZF3 integrates and are key to how it will handle requests:

• the component-based system it's built on, making major use of Composer-style packages and installation techniques
• using the PSR-7 standard for handling of HTTP requests and responses
• the use of middleware to modify the request/response and add logic

Finally, they get into the overall view and roadmap for the framework. They talk about the ServiceManager/EventManager, the role middleware plays in the request dispatching and the goal of reducing dependencies. The post ends with a look at the improvements they're striving for with new and better documentation and the next steps in the roadmap for the coming months.