Is Apache 2.0 Worth the Switch for PHP?

An anonymous reader writes "It seems like some of the members of the Apache Software Foundation are a little angry with the PHP Community because they don't recommend using Apache 2.0 with PHP. Since PHP is installed on half of all Apache servers this is a major issue for them. A number of high-profile PHP community members such as John Coggeshall and Chris Shiflett have blogged about this decision in light of a recent posting by Apache Software Foundation Member Rich Bowen which called PHP's anti-Apache2 stance FUD. Is there any real reason for the PHP community to start recommending Apache 2.0, especially when the 1.3.x series of Apache is rock solid and proven? Note Rich did later commend PHP for being a great product, so it's not all flames."

Comments

Why are there two??

[jdavidb]

Can anyone point me to a succint explanation of why there have been an Apache 1.x line and an Apache 2.0 line for years? This to me has always seemed like an implicit statement from the Apache people that I should not yet move to 2.0.

I checked the front page of Apache and there were release announcements for the latest version of both lines. Neither announcement carried a statement indicating when you should use it over the other. The front page does not appear to link to anything addressing the issue, and the FAQ does not appear to handle it, either.

Re:Why are there two??

[jdavidb]

I have no problem with that policy at all. But there is nothing at all on the front page to answer the question "Which Apache version should I use?" Even if the answer is not a simple "Use 2.0" or "Use 1.x," there needs to be answers to "Why would I want to use 2.0" and "Why would I want to use 1.x."

I have been interpreting the continued maintenance of the 1.x line for years as a statement that 2.0 was not ready for prime time. I'm pretty sure this was the case at one time. The website needs to just come right out and say, "If you are starting with Apache for the first time, please use 2.0. The 1.x branch continues to be maintained for existing users who need to remain with an older version." Couldn't that at least make it to the FAQ?

Re:PHP used to be an ASF project

[iamlucky13]

From the blogs, it sounds to me like the php guys haven't recommended not using Apache 2, but rather have not recommended it. Although they haven't stated any harms aside from it's an unproven platform, they haven't found any benefits, either. So they said why bother.

Although on the surface that sounds pretty neutral, I can certainly understand Apache being concerned about this, considering how closely affiliated the two are (as the grandparent noted). I like analogies so imagine bringing home a couple of girlfriends over the years for Mom and Dad to meet. Then you meet an even better girl whom you invest a lot of effort into impressing and you're sure they'll love her, but instead they say, "what was wrong with your last girlfriend?" While your parents haven't said anything against your new lady friend, they've implied they're not impressed. I admit, dating is a poor analogy for some of the regulars here, but at least it was fun while lasted, right?

I agree that it sounds somewhat petty. Why not say something a little more friendly like, "We've seen great things from the Apache Foundation, and while we're not prepared to fully endorse version 2, we're anxious to see how it performs?" It's simple, generic, non-committal, open-ended, political-style BS, but it keeps people happy.