PHP C-extension (Phalcon)
• C-extensions are loaded together with PHP one time
on the web server’s daemon start process
• Classes and functions provided by the extension are
ready to use for any application
• The code is compiled and isn’t interpreted because is
already compiled to a specific platform and processor
I don't have a ton of experience with Phalcon, but this has always stood out to me as an option for companies I've worked with who were looking for a capable framework that would give them a boost in performance and versatility.
TBH the most valuable feedback I could get on this is some pros/cons from those who have used it in a production environment.