March Meet up | PHP Oxford | Hosted by Global Initiative & Humand Talent
We were thrilled to be back at PHP Oxford last month for the March meet up. This time, we explored the power and simplicity of static site generation with the brilliant Oliver Davies.
A huge thank you to our venue hosts at Global Initiative for welcoming us into their space once again and keeping everyone fuelled with drinks and snacks.
🌐 Why Static Sites? Why Sculpin?
Oliver’s talk, “Building Static Websites with Sculpin”, provided an insightful and practical look into how this PHP-based static site generator can be a game-changer for developers who want speed, simplicity, and scalability.
Using familiar tools like Markdown, Twig, and HTML, Sculpin enables developers to create fully static websites that are incredibly fast to deploy and serve. And because it is PHP-native, it is a great fit for engineers coming from Symfony or Laravel backgrounds with minimal friction and no need to switch contexts or learn a whole new language.
For many in the room, it was a refreshing reminder that you do not always need a full-blown CMS to build and manage powerful content-driven sites. Sometimes, keeping it simple really is better.
🛠️ Real-World Tips from Oliver
Oliver did not just cover the “what” of Sculpin. He also dove into the “how”. From structuring content effectively to making the most of templates and keeping your build processes lean, he shared plenty of practical advice for developers looking to integrate static site generation into their workflows.
For anyone building personal projects, developer blogs, or even lightweight marketing sites, Sculpin offers a compelling blend of performance, control, and simplicity. This is especially true when compared with heavier CMS platforms.
👥 Missed It? Let’s Catch Up in May
As always, we ended the night with a lively Q&A session and some relaxed networking. It was a great chance to connect with other local software engineers, share ideas, and get inspired.
If you could not make it to this one, no problem. Our PHP Oxford meet up happens every other month, and every session brings something new. Whether you are a PHP veteran or just curious about where modern web development is heading, there is always something valuable to take away.
👉 Visit Eventbrite here for details on May’s event. We have another fantastic speaker lined up!
🎤 Get Involved: Sponsors and Speakers Wanted
We are always on the lookout for engaging speakers and event sponsors who are passionate about the PHP community and the wider world of software engineering. Whether you are a local business, a global brand, or an individual developer with a story to share, we would love to hear from you.
📩 Interested? Drop us a message via hello@humand.co.uk or come say hello at the next event.
Thanks again to everyone who joined us in March. We hope to see you in May.
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