Rogue Wave is updating its open-source framework for developing Web applications and services. According to the company, this is the first major release in four years. Zend Framework 3 features support for PHP 7, middleware runtime and performance enhancements.

The newly released support for PHP 7 aims to simplify how developers create, debug, monitor and deploy modern Web and mobile apps in PHP 7. “This is an exciting time to be a PHP developer,” said Zeev Suraski, cofounder of Zend and CTO of Rogue Wave. “With Zend Framework 3, we’re continuing our quest to make creating PHP applications simpler, more accessible and faster.”

(Related: Zend Server 9 supports PHP 7)

In addition, version 3 of the framework features an architectural structure that allows developers to use components within Zend Framework apps or any other framework in order to reduce dependencies, and to enable reuse within the PHP ecosystem.

Another key update to the solution is a new middleware runtime. Expressive is designed to focus on simplicity and interoperability, and it enables developers to customize their solutions.

“I’m extremely proud of the work we’ve done with Expressive,” said Matthew Weier O’Phinney, principal engineer and Zend Framework project lead at Rogue Wave. “Expressive signals the future of PHP applications, composed of layered, single-purpose PSR-7 middleware.”