So, the official PHP Docker image just hit a mind-blowing milestone:

1 billion pulls

Yeah, you read that right – BILLION with a B.

And you know what?

For a “dead” language, PHP sure seems to have a lot of life left in it!

Let’s be real here :

We’ve all seen those “PHP is dead” hot takes floating around Tech X and Reddit.

You know the ones: “PHP is legacy,” “Nobody uses PHP anymore,” “Modern developers don’t choose PHP.”

Well, the numbers tell a different story, and it’s time we talk about it.

The official PHP image is a go-to for developers spinning up PHP environments quickly and efficiently in containers.

It’s been a critical part of countless web applications and services worldwide, including some big players in e-commerce, CMS platforms, and enterprise solutions.

This milestone is not just a testament to the utility of Docker but also to PHP’s continued relevance in modern development​
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Think about it: PHP powers 79% of websites with known server-side programming, including giants like Facebook (yes, still partially PHP-based), Wikipedia, and WordPress.

It remains a pillar of the web development stack, and its popularity is only growing.​

PHP isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving.

Whether you’re team Laravel or a WordPress developer, PHP is a language that’s here to stay.

It’s time to admit PHP still holds a significant spot in web development.

So, let’s leave the “PHP is dead” rhetoric in the past and celebrate the billion-pull milestone as proof that this language isn’t going anywhere.