I’m exploring how PHP can be used to build an on-demand service platform where customers submit requests and service providers can accept and manage them.
The application would need features such as user accounts, service listings, provider availability, request assignment, real-time status updates, notifications, payments, and location-based services.
For PHP developers who have worked on similar systems, what architecture would you recommend for keeping the backend reliable as the number of users and service requests increases?
Would a PHP application with REST APIs, a separate mobile frontend, and a real-time service such as WebSockets be a practical approach? I’m also interested in how developers would handle provider matching and concurrent service requests without creating conflicts.