While controller classes are a necessary part of development under CodeIgniter, models and views are optional.

[6] CodeIgniter can be also modified to use Hierarchical Model View Controller (HMVC[7]) which allows the developers to maintain modular grouping of Controller, Models and View arranged in a sub-directory format.

[8][9][10] In a critical take on PHP frameworks in general, PHP creator Rasmus Lerdorf spoke at frOSCon in August 2008, noting that he liked CodeIgniter "because it is faster, lighter and the least like a framework.

[16] On July 9, 2013, EllisLab announced that it was seeking a new owner for CodeIgniter, citing a lack of resources to give the framework the attention they felt it deserved.

[17] On October 6, 2014, EllisLab announced that CodeIgniter would continue development under the stewardship of the British Columbia Institute of Technology.