title: PHP Framework and ORM vs Stored Procedures
body: <p>I am in the process of picking a PHP framework for a web application I am starting. I have never really used a framework in the past but with this project there is a great need.</p>
  
  <p>I have been debating between the usual suspects; CakePHP, Zend Framework and Symfony. I have been going back and forth about which framework will work best for me and this project. I am leaning towards CakePHP but I am still researching.</p>
  
  <p>My question is not what framework is best. I know there is no real answer to that and there are tons of posts related to this subject. My question is related to the Model and ORM. I have read a lot about ORMs being slow and I am concerned about speed. I am very comfortable writing SQL and in the past have tried to keep all of my database interactions in stored procedures.</p>
  
  <p>I am looking for some feedback about using CakePHP's ORM or Doctrine with Zend or Symfony as apposed to keeping everything in stored procedures. I know stored procedures are going to be faster but what else will I loose if I do not use an ORM? I understand that an ORM will give me database abstraction but in my mind that just helps people who do not write SQL. I also know that I do not know enough about ORMs.</p>
  
  <p>If anyone can give me some feedback about this and which framework might be best based on using or not using an ORM.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks for any help in advance.</p>