On the Noupe.com site they've posted an article talking about the WordPress REST API that's been included by default in the project and how it will affect developers on the platform.

With the advent of WordPress 4.4 last year in December, we saw the inclusion of the first half of REST API in the WordPress Core, and the rest of it is expected to be with us in the upcoming major release of WordPress. [...] The community is abuzz with all talks about how important REST API will soon be for WordPress development, and how it is going to change the way developers code and interact with WP.

So, how is REST API going to affect the WordPress users and developers, and what exactly will we be able to accomplish using it?

In the article they talk about the impact that the API will have on the "rise of Javascript" in the WordPress application and the role PHP could play in it all. They also talk about cross-platform integrations the REST API makes possible, the Calypso interface that was recently announced and how it opens up a new world of mobile application possibilities.

In a new post to the SitePoint PHP blog today editor Bruno Skvorc shares a summary of three ways to make desktop applications with PHP that will run across multiple platforms.

PHP as a cross-platform desktop app development language? Blasphemy! Nonetheless, it’s possible. A few years ago, everything those interested in bringing PHP to the desktop had had was the now long abandoned GTK PHP. Since then, new players have appeared, though let’s first answer the “why”.

He answers the "why" question with a list of "several far fetched scenarios" but points out that there's much better tools for the job. He then gets into the three different tools that can be used to make the desktop applications:

• Nightrain
• WxPHP
• TideSDK

He briefly introduces each, explores a bit of what they can do and looks at some of the major hinderances that come with them. He ends with a few links to other, less well-developed options like PHPDesktop, Webinder and PHP GTK.

In this new tutorial from DevShed, they show how to take that PHP-GTK introductory knowledge a step further and create a simple desktop "notepad" application (corss-platform, of course).

If you think building a desktop application such as Notepad is difficult, think again. If you use PHP-GTK, it's almost ridiculously easy. This article will show you how. By the time you're done, you'll have a full cross-platform application in about 100 lines.

You need to already have the latest PHP-GTK version installed and have a basic knowledge of how to make an application before you start. All code is included as well as explanations as to where all of the parts go (including a simple find, time/date output, select all and how to tell if the user has modified the contents of the file).

On PHPBuilder.com today, there's a new tutorial focusing on the development of PHP applications that can be run on different database environments without many changes to the actual application.

There are several options available to interact with multiple database engines with PHP, such as Pear DB and MDB2. However, there may instances where you will be required to develop your own custom database interface that connects to many different database engines using a single unified syntax. This article will address the development of a class that will do exactly that. In addition, we will include the ability to replicate data among several databases in real time.

They create their own abstraction layer that has the ability to make the connection, replicate data between connections, handle some errors and work with database configuration data. The tutorial shows you how to use the script for three different database types - MySQL, Oracle, and MS SQL.

On PHPBuilder.com today, there's a new tutorial focusing on the development of PHP applications that can be run on different database environments without many changes to the actual application.

There are several options available to interact with multiple database engines with PHP, such as Pear DB and MDB2. However, there may instances where you will be required to develop your own custom database interface that connects to many different database engines using a single unified syntax. This article will address the development of a class that will do exactly that. In addition, we will include the ability to replicate data among several databases in real time.

They create their own abstraction layer that has the ability to make the connection, replicate data between connections, handle some errors and work with database configuration data. The tutorial shows you how to use the script for three different database types - MySQL, Oracle, and MS SQL.