Yii2模板选择咨询：开发含移动端RestAPI的Web应用选进阶还是基础版

Hey there! As someone who’s built several Yii2 projects including ones with REST APIs for mobile apps, let me share my take to help you decide.

First, a quick recap of the two templates #

• Basic Template: A single-app structure, super simple and great for small, straightforward projects (like a simple blog or landing page). It has a minimal setup that’s easy to wrap your head around as a beginner, but it’s not designed for splitting code into separate frontend/backend/API sections out of the box.
• Advanced Template: A multi-app structure pre-configured with frontend (your public web app), backend (admin panel), and the flexibility to add an api application with minimal effort. It’s built for larger, more complex projects where you need clear separation between different parts of your system.

For your use case (Web app + Mobile REST API), go with the Advanced Template #

Here’s why it’s the better fit:

1. Built-in separation of concerns: You can create a dedicated api application alongside the frontend web app. This means your API controllers, routes, and configurations won’t get mixed up with your web app code—critical for keeping things organized as your project grows.
2. Less manual setup: Instead of hacking the basic template to add API support (which involves creating custom modules, adjusting routing, and separating configs), the advanced template lets you clone the existing app structure (like frontend/backend) to make your api app in minutes.
3. Scalability: If you later decide to add an admin panel (which most projects end up needing), the advanced template already has the backend app ready to go. No need to refactor your entire project structure down the line.
4. Environment-specific configs: The advanced template comes with pre-set development/production configuration setups, which will save you headaches when it’s time to deploy both your web app and API.

A quick note for beginners #

I know the advanced template looks more complex at first glance, but Yii2’s documentation walks you through setting up the multi-app structure step by step. Once you get past the initial setup, the separation will actually make it easier to focus on building your web app and API without getting lost in a single messy codebase.

If you really want to start small, you could use the basic template and add an api module—but I’ve seen this lead to messy code later on when the project expands. The advanced template’s upfront structure is worth the tiny bit of extra initial effort.

Hope this clears things up! Let me know if you need tips on setting up the REST API in the advanced template.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者Guilherme Silver