HOUSTON PHP DEVELOPMENT
Custom PHP development in Houston
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DESSS is a PHP development company in Houston that designs, builds and supports custom web applications. Our PHP development services in Houston cover new builds, rebuilds of aging applications, API development and long-term maintenance.
PHP still powers a large share of the web, from content sites on WordPress and Drupal to business applications built with Laravel and Symfony. Custom PHP development in Houston makes sense when you need an application that fits your workflow, integrates with your existing systems and stays affordable to host and maintain.
Our team works from our Houston headquarters on Wilcrest Drive, and we also support clients across Texas from our Austin office. If you need advice before you build, our PHP consulting team can review your plans or existing code first.
What we build
Web applications, portals, APIs, e-commerce extensions and content-driven websites written in PHP.
Frameworks
Laravel and Symfony for applications, WordPress and Drupal for content, with Composer-managed dependencies.
Where we work
Houston headquarters and an Austin office, serving clients across Texas and the United States.
After launch
Support plans for bug fixes, PHP version upgrades, security patches and new features.
WHAT WE BUILD
PHP development services we deliver
Most of our PHP development in Houston falls into six types of work. Many projects combine several of them.
Custom web applications
Business applications built around your data and workflow, with role-based access and audit trails.
APIs and integrations
REST and GraphQL APIs that connect your PHP application to ERP, CRM, payment and shipping systems.
Customer and partner portals
Secure self-service portals for orders, documents, invoices and support requests.
E-commerce extensions
Custom checkout, pricing and integration work on PHP-based e-commerce platforms.
Rebuilds and upgrades
Modernizing legacy PHP code, upgrading to supported PHP 8 versions and moving to a current framework.
PHP TECHNOLOGY
The PHP technology we work with
We choose the framework that fits the project, not the other way around. These are the tools we use most often.
Laravel development
When do we use Laravel? Laravel is our default for most new business applications. Its routing, Eloquent ORM, queues, scheduling and authentication let us deliver features quickly while keeping the code readable.
–Eloquent ORM and migrations
–Queues and scheduled jobs
–Authentication and authorization
–Livewire or Vue front ends
–Automated tests with PHPUnit or Pest
Symfony development
When is Symfony the better choice? Symfony suits large, long-lived applications that need strict structure and reusable components. Many PHP projects, including Drupal and Laravel, use Symfony components underneath.
–Reusable Symfony components
–Doctrine ORM
–API Platform for APIs
–Long-term support releases
WordPress and Drupal
Can a CMS be part of a custom PHP project? Yes. When content editing is central, we build on WordPress or Drupal and add custom plugins, modules and integrations rather than starting from scratch.
See our WordPress development and Drupal development pages.
–Custom themes and blocks
–Plugins and modules
–Headless CMS with an API
–Editor workflows and permissions
Databases and APIs
How do PHP applications connect to other systems? We design the data model first, usually on MySQL or PostgreSQL, then expose REST or GraphQL APIs and consume the APIs of the systems you already use.
–MySQL and PostgreSQL
–Redis caching
–REST and GraphQL APIs
–Webhooks and message queues
Deployment and hosting
Where do we host PHP applications? We deploy to Linux servers, Docker containers, AWS or Azure, with automated pipelines so every release is tested and repeatable.
–Docker containers
–CI/CD pipelines
–AWS and Azure hosting
–Monitoring and backups
HOW WE WORK
How a PHP development project runs
Six steps take a PHP project from first conversation to a supported application.
STEP 01
Discovery
We map users, workflows and integrations, and agree what the first release must do.
STEP 02
Architecture
We choose the framework, design the data model and plan the integrations and hosting.
STEP 03
Build in sprints
We develop in short sprints and show working features every two weeks.
STEP 04
Test and secure
Automated tests, code review and a security check run before anything goes live.
STEP 05
Launch
We deploy through an automated pipeline, migrate data and support your team on launch day.
STEP 06
Support
We fix issues, apply PHP and framework updates and add features as you grow.
RELATED SERVICES
More development services from DESSS
PHP is one part of what we build. These related services often support a PHP project.
WHY DESSS
Why choose DESSS for PHP development
A PHP development company should leave you with an application your team can understand and grow.
Houston-based team
Our headquarters is in Houston, so planning sessions and launch support can happen in person.
Code you own
You own the source code and documentation, and we follow common PHP standards so any developer can work on it.
Tested before release
Automated tests and code review are part of every sprint, not an extra at the end.
Support after launch
We stay on to handle PHP version upgrades, security patches and new features.
A PHP development company designs, builds and maintains web applications written in PHP. DESSS builds custom applications, APIs, portals and CMS websites for Houston businesses and supports them after launch.
Yes. Modern PHP 8 is fast, well supported and backed by mature frameworks such as Laravel and Symfony. It remains a practical, cost-effective choice for business web applications.
WordPress is a PHP content management system. Custom PHP development builds an application around your specific workflow, often with Laravel or Symfony. We use WordPress when content editing is the main need and custom PHP when business logic is.
Yes. We assess the code, upgrade it to a supported PHP 8 release, replace outdated libraries and, where it makes sense, move it onto a modern framework in stages.
PHP releases receive active support for about two years and security fixes for a further two. PHP 8.1 reached end of life at the end of 2025, so applications on 8.1 or older should be upgraded.
Yes. Our team is based in Houston with an office in Austin, and we work with clients across Texas and the United States.
HOUSTON PHP DEVELOPMENT
Planning a PHP application?
Tell us what you need to build. We will suggest an approach, a framework and a realistic first release.
RELATED
Related Development Pages
Other DESSS web and application development services, and our PHP consulting team in Houston.