What Is Fusebox?
Fusebox is a methodology for creating web based applications. The methodology lends itself well to a Model View Controler pattern. The methodology lends itself well to a highly modularized architecture.
Originally written in ColdFusion, the methodology and core files to implement the method have been ported to PHP, one of the most widely available scripting languages.
A typical fusebox appilcation will have a LOT of little files. The main goal of each file, or "fuse", is to do one thing and only one thing. Related fuse files are orgnized into "circuits". Originally, circuits were intended to be portable from application to application by simply dragging and dropping a folder. With the current XML structure, it requires an extra step or two. However, modularity still remains an important concept.
If you're going to check out the amazon books on the subject, definitely read Discovering Fusebox 4. This talks about all of the basic concepts as well as using Fusebox with Flash and other ways to extend the core architecture with plugins and lexicons.
Fusebox 5 gets even more complex and attempts to be completely object oriented. The port from ColdFusion to PHP of this verison is - in this author's opinion - very bloated. I use it on about half of my sites. The other half run happily on version 4. Your milage may vary. Fusebox 5 for PHP will run on PHP version 4, by the way. Don't let the numbers confuse you.
Articles and Resources
- Setting Up the Fusebox 4 for PHP Core Files (Part 1)
- The core files for fusebox don't run "out of the box". This is nice because it's clean and you don't have to strip anything out when starting a project. This is annoying for a first-timer trying out the files. Read this tutorial for help getting started.
- Setting Up the Fusebox 4 for PHP Core Files (Part 2)
- This tutorial covers a few more set-up topics like organization and security.
- Layouts with Content Variables
- This tutorial covers using content variables to make layouts using fusebox. This is a better method than having a global header/footer file.
- PHP Fusebox 4 Wiki
- This is a Wiki for PHP Fusebox 4.
Books to understand Fusebox
Fusebox : Methodology & Techniques, ColdFusion Edition
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009) 
Fusebox: Developing ColdFusion Applications (Voices That Matter)
Amazon Price: $27.57 (as of 07/10/2009)
Discovering Fusebox 4
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Discovering Fusebox 3 with ColdFusion
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
Fusebox 4 & FLiP
Amazon Price: (as of 07/10/2009)
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by philsown
Hi. I'm Phillip Harrington. I've been programming database-backed websites with Fusebox since it was version 2 on ColdFusion. I've followed it closely...
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