With regards to 2, I have experienced this. As a solution, I built a websocket server using NodeJS. I then built an API in express that PHP / Gulp used to push

With regards to 2, I have experienced this. As a solution, I built a websocket server using NodeJS. I then built an API in express that PHP / Gulp used to push messages to be sent via websocket. There might be a better way but I'd effectively added support for server push from our PHP app in a morning, with great results. The other thing it provided me was clear evidence of the "best tool for the job" in a shop that demanded PHP. The problem I have with PHP is what is usually touted as it's benefit. It's easy to find PHP developers. The problem: most of them are not very good. To close, there are many more PHP RFCs that internals should approve, e.g arrow lambdas with automatic variable closure, design by contract, etc. These could really bring the language into it's own.