UPDATE: As per community demand, we've since moved our focus primarily to JavaScript.

As a developer platform, Tatum offers numerous options for developers to get started. Among such options are the SDK (software development kit) packages, including the PHP Tatum SDK. Tatum works tirelessly on improving and optimizing such SDK packages to help developers obtain a more wholesome development experience. This article’s focus will be on the potential and strengths of the PHP SDK.

Need to familiarize yourself with PHP? Tatum will provide all the necessary information to start your journey with the updated and improved PHP SDK v2.0. An easily navigable interface with broader blockchain coverage and a more streamlined learning experience.

If you want to see the potential of picking up PHP development with Tatum, Sign Up with us for a free API key and install the PHP SDK with the help of this guide. You’ll find the path to starting your code much closer than you imagine!

What’s so special about PHP SDK v2.0?

The 2.0 of Tatum’s PHP SDK uses a Fluent Interface, allowing you to navigate the SDK through method chaining easily. This will guide your process by providing you with a contextual list of choices to proceed with so that you’re never lost on what to do!

Check out the installation process found here to see how quickly you can get started. It has also broadened its coverage for wallet generation and support among numerous blockchains, including BSC, Harmony, and Polygon, among many others.

On top of that, getting started is even simpler with the PHP SDK. This is because it has no outside dependencies, just the PHP installation, and some common extensions. This makes it run cheaper in cloud environments and distributable through commonly used Open Source Software such as WordPress plugins. The requirements can be found listed here.

This may sound overwhelming at first, but that is where the Tatum PHP SDK makes its most meaningful impact. Using the API endpoints provided by Tatum, you can let the SDK handle the more complex processes of building an app regardless of the blockchain/s you choose. This will let you direct more focus on the overall direction and vision of your project. More information regarding the API endpoints and the startup process can be found on the Read Me page.

Other deployment concerns, such as version compatibility, are also covered by the automatically generated Tatum SDK repository. This tests deployments across previous PHP versions to prevent any unpleasant incompatibility surprises in your work.

If you’ve still got any doubts in your mind as to how smooth the journey can be, rest assured you do not have to walk it alone. Our technical support team is available all day to help you with any issue you come across and for additional information.

The first step is always the hardest, so let’s explore such a step together in the form of creating a BTC wallet through the PHP SDK. A simple but significant start:

<p> CODE: https://gist.github.com/tom11ca/807bec07d0c0601baaf541995793050c.js</p>

This function can also be performed through local cryptographic libraries. This process would not require an API key but is only supported on these listed blockchains. For the sake of comparison, here is how the same process can be done locally without the need for an API key:

<p> CODE: https://gist.github.com/tom11ca/a05399231b2c947747b838a2e5ebc2d3.js</p>

What Else to Expect?

The Tatum PHP SDK has been through some major changes regarding accessibility, blockchain coverage, and optimizing the learning experience.

For starters, SDK debugging services are now fully integrated with PHP. This not only allows the debugging tool to produce logs with which we can help you more efficiently. However, it also cleans up the logs of any private information such as API keys, Mnemonic phrases, and private keys. These logs are sent to the terminal output but can also be saved locally to any file on disk.

You should also note that the debugger can be configured on separate networks, such as the mainnet and testnet. This would give you some more flexibility in limiting log output on the mainnet. This is in case you want to limit the saving of logs based on application ID or user ID.

Aside from that, we also now support CLI examples, allowing you to run examples based on the most recent OpenAPI specifications. It can be run directly without setup, but you can only do so from a command-line interface to limit security issues.

With that, you can look forward to more developments and optimizations in the future!

Looking For More Information?

If you’ve encountered an irregular situation with PHP, don’t hesitate to post any issues on the PHP SDK GitHub Repository; we will respond ASAP.

For more general discussions and questions, join our Discord Channel to find all manner of support personnel and like-minded blockchain enthusiasts.