Publisher review:PHK Application is a PHP-oriented package/archive system. PHK is a PHP-oriented package/archive system.
Basically, you can consider it as a PHP-oriented equivalent of the Java jar format. As jar, PHK allows to distribute and run a library or an application as a single file.
It also provides a lot of higher-level features such as an autoloader, integrated unit tests, meta-packages, CRC, digital signatures.
PHK stands for PHp pacKage. It is a package/archive system for PHP. Unlike most formats, used only for software distribution, a PHK application runs directly from its package file, without any file extraction, providing a PHP-oriented equivalent of Java's jar features. But PHK goes much further than a raw jar-like package builder, providing application maintainers with a whole set of high-level features, making it very easy to switch an existing application to PHK.
Such high-level features include an integrated class autoloader, standard locations for package information, path-based access protection, and certificate-based digital signatures.
Features:
- No runtime software : you don't have to install any runtime software before using a PHK archive, as it contains its own runtime code. Any PHP interpreter (version 5.1 or more) is ready to include/execute a PHK archive without any modification.
- Supports libraries, applications, plugins : a PHK archive can contain a library or an application (an application is a library with an entry point). PHK archives can also be used to design a plugin system.
- Unlimited number of subfiles : a PHK archive can contain an unlimited number of subfiles and directories. A subfile can contain up 2 Gbytes of binary data. Every subfile can be, on a file by file basis, compressed (gzip or bz2), and/or filtered through php_strip_whitespace() (shrinking PHP source code).
- Webinfo mode : the webinfo mode is a built-in introspection tool. In webinfo mode, the archive file behaves like a small web site, allowing the user to display every information about the archive, and the content of every subfile.
- Standard locations for 'administrative' information : PHK provides standard locations for information like the package's name, author, license, copyright, etc. It also allows to specify an icon file and a reference URL. All these information are displayed in webinfo mode.
- Built-in CLI commands : several built-in CLI commands are available. These commands are the equivalent, in CLI mode, of the webinfo mode. They allow to display every information about the PHK archive's structure and content.
- Meta-packages : PHK supports the concept of meta-packages, allowing a PHK archive to be incorporated as a subfile inside another PHK archive, along with other regular files. This feature is useful in advanced cases, as when integrating unit tests in the archive (see the Zend Framework demonstration packages for an example) or to build meta-libraries (incorporating several libraries, but without mixing them together).
- Web path protection : When accessing a PHK archive directly through a web server, the subfiles are automatically protected from incorrect or unauthorized access. The legitimate entry points are explicitely identified, making the package easier to secure.
- CRC checksum : A PHK archive includes a CRC checksum mechanism. Depending on the package's options, this checksum can be verified every time the package is mounted, or on user's request.
- Digital signatures : A PHK package can be digitally signed (using a digital certificate). This feature allows users to check whether they can trust a package.
- Optional accelerator extension : A PHK accelerator extension is available. This extension is used transparently when is is present and allows to speedup the PHK runtime code by a factor of up to 90%. As PHK_Creator, this extension is freely available on every platform PHP currently supports.
Autoload:
The Autoload mechanism is presented apart from the other PHK features because, although it is embedded in PHK, it is not limited to PHK, and can be used without it.
Here are its main features :
- Automatic source file analysis : Autoload automatically analyzes PHP source files and extracts their symbols to a map file.
- Supports every symbol type : Autoload supports the following PHP symbols: constants, functions, classes, and interfaces.
- Optional directives : in addition to the process of automatic symbol indexing, some optional directives allow to explicitely ignore or add symbols during the indexing process.
- Transparent integration with PHK : Autoload automatically registers itself in the native PHP autoload system when a PHK archive is included.
- Unlimited number of Autoload maps : Just as PHK supports an unlimited number of archives mounted at the same time, Autoload supports an unlimited number of maps loaded at the same time.
PHK Application 1.1.0 is a PHP script for Development Tools scripts design by F. Laupretre.
It runs on following operating system: Windows / Linux / Mac OS / BSD / Solaris.
Operating system:Windows / Linux / Mac OS / BSD / Solaris
PHK Application 1.1.0 script details 
