Slashdot Mirror
Adopting PHP Code to a UNIX/Windows Environment?
Pointy Haired Programmer queries: "I work for a Fortune 100 company that is currently using a mixture of *NIX web servers and MS web servers. This company is very slow to adopt any new technology that isn't MS. So, we are serving most of our pages either through ASP or some type of CGI. Right now, we are investigating the possible use of PHP on our network due its cross platform abilities. I really want to see this happen for us, as I am an avid supporter of both PHP and Apache. I was wondering what the Slashdot Community had to say about the situation and maybe some of the advantages and the disadvantages of PHP being deployed in such a manner." Not having used PHP before, I'm not quite sure how well the code adapts to changes in its environment. Are there any "gotcha's!" that one needs to worry about when taking PHP code from Unix to Windows and vice-versa? How well does PHP work on Microsoft Servers?
I wouldn't know the comparisons between PHP over Windows and a Nix based machine, but should you want to switch over quickly check out ASP2PHP this way you don't have to write tons of code over. I used to use PHP last year on one of my sites but moved to a hacked version of ePerl since PHP caused high loads with the scripts I had running.
Now what was scary in my eyes was the fact that the scripts were nothing but random image and random quote scripts, and it brought the load on the server extremely high and if you think that the average 6.75 load is not high for nothing but random quotes, and images then your off your rocker since I've got it down to an average of about 2.something. Anyways I guess it depends on what it is your doing.
mod_python is pretty neat for gui based stuff but again it can be a mem hog in its own right. Only way to get a good enough grasp is to just try it out, it certainly won't kill you lest you change all your production machines without testing. (hey I've seen it done)
Another quick note is, stay a bit weary of reviews of ASP vs. PHP or other since no two systems will be configured to do the same tasks, and your always going to get a biased opinion whether its from an ASP developer or PHP developer. I've had my share of reading articles claiming one is better than the other for X reasons. Best case scenario TIYASOYO. (test it yourself and see on your own)
Want Root?
It assumes basic knowledge of PHP, and focuses on Web application developmnent. Problems with cross-platform compatibility. Large scale V. small scale projects. Planning, customizing the Zend engine. I've read about 1/2 of it and I think it's a very good book. From what I've read, this book might be exactly what you are looking for.
Keeping