Zend Framework chunks

Ever wanted to use just one part of ZF? Instead of deploying the whole ZF, now you can have just the dependent files thanks to Jani. More here.

Zend Framework and Smarty

I am about to start a new project based on ZF, the library looks like a beast to be tamed at first sight, i still need to learn a lot about it. I was doing some preliminary investigations how to use Smarty with its Zend_View component. A lot of info on the web looks outdated, but i found a great blog here (and old version here). Jani is a young Finnish developer-jedi, and i really like his writings about ZF and templating engines, just to list a few of them:

• Different PHP template engines
• Introduction to Zend_Layout (updated for ZF 1.5!)
• Client-side validation with Zend_Form

After all, i am still not sure which way to go. Shall i force Smarty as a View extension? Shall i completely leave out View component, and use Smarty manually from the controllers? Shall i forget Smarty and stick to the default View and Layout components in ZF using the ugly php syntax?
During my investigations, i also came across the blog of Matthew Weier O'Phinney, who is an actual developer of ZF, so it might be worth keeping an eye on him:)