What is PHP? I understand that it is a tool for web developing, but what is it? Where should I go to learn more about it?
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What is PHP? I understand that it is a tool for web developing, but what is it? Where should I go to learn more about it?
it's uh, a tool for web developing? :D
It's a neat way to make your webserver do all the dirty work you don't want to, like call up different pages with one template, so you don't have to have the html layout on every single page, or to call up references in a database, like to display images or something.
Like on eoff?
forums are a prime example of php usage. Don't let the .html added to the filenames fool you.
Pufff... not even close to aspx.:)
I realised that PHP was nice when I was looking over EoFF's front page and every file name had PHP at the end. Figured it would be a good idea to try and learn it.
I just killed a kitten because you said this. Happy now? As far as web languages goes, it works off the Zend engine, which is tidy and neat all in itself. It allows itself to be modularized into apache which allows for streamline internal calls making the engine that much more secure. As of last I checked, it was as safe as JSP (minus the head aches) and also had more functionality then the ASP libs (yes virginia) ASP aint worth mentioning as a stand alone language.Quote:
Originally Posted by Discord
The downside to PHP is any idiot can get started on it, which can be a pro and con. IT is a lot like free speech.
I use it, recommend it, and love it.
oh yeah, to answer the question, it lets you use server side code to create dynamic pages. IE a page that saves information per user in a SERVER SIDE SESSION vs browser session (ie httpd) and so on. VERY handy for web programming. I have professionally come across all different uses for PHP, in different stand alone programs as well. It is a very well operated hybrid language, so it naturally makes for a good pluggable script. Especially after the OOP aspects are ironed out correctly. Look out python.
Wow, I don't know what half of that stuff is. I don't know how HTML and CSS work, I just use them, which means I really won't understand this...JSP and ASP. Now, where would the best place to go to learn how to effectively use PHP?
You'd probably be best to stick with html for now then 8) Unless you have a need for PHP, it's just overhead.
I don't, I just like learning new things.
Best way to get started with PHP is to either learn a bit of C or try playing around with the smaller parts of the PHP protocol such as includes and such before you move onto the more difficult parts.
There are a few nice references out there which work well for beginngers :)
SitePoint : New Articles, Fresh Thinking for Web Developers and Designers
These fellas sell books, and give out free sample chapters. Study up off this site, and you will be rocking in no time. I give this site to people for starters, as the books provide the information in a simple, non-jargon infested manner. You will catch on fine.
I think I seen you live in the Minneapolis area or some such Cim, there is a rather large user group that meets up in St. Paul as a sort of forum. That would be over your head, but I am sure it would be worth your time. I can dig around and see what I can find for ya as far as classes and such goe.
Argh, I hate St. Paul. How are they about random kids showing up once and never coming back?
Here's why PHP is awesome. This is a simple select box:
Select your birthday:
It has a lot of options. To generate it with HTML, you'd need the following code:
Code:Select your birthday: <select>
<option>January 1</option>
<option>January 2</option>
<option>January 3</option>
<option>January 4</option>
<option>January 5</option>
<option>January 6</option>
<option>January 7</option>
<option>January 8</option>
<option>January 9</option>
<option>January 10</option>
<option>January 11</option>
<option>January 12</option>
<option>January 13</option>
<option>January 14</option>
<option>January 15</option>
<option>January 16</option>
<option>January 17</option>
<option>January 18</option>
<option>January 19</option>
<option>January 20</option>
<option>January 21</option>
<option>January 22</option>
<option>January 23</option>
<option>January 24</option>
<option>January 25</option>
<option>January 26</option>
<option>January 27</option>
<option>January 28</option>
<option>January 29</option>
<option>January 30</option>
<option>January 31</option>
<option>February 1</option>
<option>February 2</option>
<option>February 3</option>
<option>February 4</option>
<option>February 5</option>
<option>February 6</option>
<option>February 7</option>
<option>February 8</option>
<option>February 9</option>
<option>February 10</option>
<option>February 11</option>
<option>February 12</option>
<option>February 13</option>
<option>February 14</option>
<option>February 15</option>
<option>February 16</option>
<option>February 17</option>
<option>February 18</option>
<option>February 19</option>
<option>February 20</option>
<option>February 21</option>
<option>February 22</option>
<option>February 23</option>
<option>February 24</option>
<option>February 25</option>
<option>February 26</option>
<option>February 27</option>
<option>February 28</option>
<option>March 1</option>
<option>March 2</option>
<option>March 3</option>
<option>March 4</option>
<option>March 5</option>
<option>March 6</option>
<option>March 7</option>
<option>March 8</option>
<option>March 9</option>
<option>March 10</option>
<option>March 11</option>
<option>March 12</option>
<option>March 13</option>
<option>March 14</option>
<option>March 15</option>
<option>March 16</option>
<option>March 17</option>
<option>March 18</option>
<option>March 19</option>
<option>March 20</option>
<option>March 21</option>
<option>March 22</option>
<option>March 23</option>
<option>March 24</option>
<option>March 25</option>
<option>March 26</option>
<option>March 27</option>
<option>March 28</option>
<option>March 29</option>
<option>March 30</option>
<option>March 31</option>
<option>April 1</option>
<option>April 2</option>
<option>April 3</option>
<option>April 4</option>
<option>April 5</option>
<option>April 6</option>
<option>April 7</option>
<option>April 8</option>
<option>April 9</option>
<option>April 10</option>
<option>April 11</option>
<option>April 12</option>
<option>April 13</option>
<option>April 14</option>
<option>April 15</option>
<option>April 16</option>
<option>April 17</option>
<option>April 18</option>
<option>April 19</option>
<option>April 20</option>
<option>April 21</option>
<option>April 22</option>
<option>April 23</option>
<option>April 24</option>
<option>April 25</option>
<option>April 26</option>
<option>April 27</option>
<option>April 28</option>
<option>April 29</option>
<option>April 30</option>
<option>May 1</option>
<option>May 2</option>
<option>May 3</option>
<option>May 4</option>
<option>May 5</option>
<option>May 6</option>
<option>May 7</option>
<option>May 8</option>
<option>May 9</option>
<option>May 10</option>
<option>May 11</option>
<option>May 12</option>
<option>May 13</option>
<option>May 14</option>
<option>May 15</option>
<option>May 16</option>
<option>May 17</option>
<option>May 18</option>
<option>May 19</option>
<option>May 20</option>
<option>May 21</option>
<option>May 22</option>
<option>May 23</option>
<option>May 24</option>
<option>May 25</option>
<option>May 26</option>
<option>May 27</option>
<option>May 28</option>
<option>May 29</option>
<option>May 30</option>
<option>May 31</option>
<option>June 1</option>
<option>June 2</option>
<option>June 3</option>
<option>June 4</option>
<option>June 5</option>
<option>June 6</option>
<option>June 7</option>
<option>June 8</option>
<option>June 9</option>
<option>June 10</option>
<option>June 11</option>
<option>June 12</option>
<option>June 13</option>
<option>June 14</option>
<option>June 15</option>
<option>June 16</option>
<option>June 17</option>
<option>June 18</option>
<option>June 19</option>
<option>June 20</option>
<option>June 21</option>
<option>June 22</option>
<option>June 23</option>
<option>June 24</option>
<option>June 25</option>
<option>June 26</option>
<option>June 27</option>
<option>June 28</option>
<option>June 29</option>
<option>June 30</option>
<option>July 1</option>
<option>July 2</option>
<option>July 3</option>
<option>July 4</option>
<option>July 5</option>
<option>July 6</option>
<option>July 7</option>
<option>July 8</option>
<option>July 9</option>
<option>July 10</option>
<option>July 11</option>
<option>July 12</option>
<option>July 13</option>
<option>July 14</option>
<option>July 15</option>
<option>July 16</option>
<option>July 17</option>
<option>July 18</option>
<option>July 19</option>
<option>July 20</option>
<option>July 21</option>
<option>July 22</option>
<option>July 23</option>
<option>July 24</option>
<option>July 25</option>
<option>July 26</option>
<option>July 27</option>
<option>July 28</option>
<option>July 29</option>
<option>July 30</option>
<option>July 31</option>
<option>August 1</option>
<option>August 2</option>
<option>August 3</option>
<option>August 4</option>
<option>August 5</option>
<option>August 6</option>
<option>August 7</option>
<option>August 8</option>
<option>August 9</option>
<option>August 10</option>
<option>August 11</option>
<option>August 12</option>
<option>August 13</option>
<option>August 14</option>
<option>August 15</option>
<option>August 16</option>
<option>August 17</option>
<option>August 18</option>
<option>August 19</option>
<option>August 20</option>
<option>August 21</option>
<option>August 22</option>
<option>August 23</option>
<option>August 24</option>
<option>August 25</option>
<option>August 26</option>
<option>August 27</option>
<option>August 28</option>
<option>August 29</option>
<option>August 30</option>
<option>August 31</option>
<option>September 1</option>
<option>September 2</option>
<option>September 3</option>
<option>September 4</option>
<option>September 5</option>
<option>September 6</option>
<option>September 7</option>
<option>September 8</option>
<option>September 9</option>
<option>September 10</option>
<option>September 11</option>
<option>September 12</option>
<option>September 13</option>
<option>September 14</option>
<option>September 15</option>
<option>September 16</option>
<option>September 17</option>
<option>September 18</option>
<option>September 19</option>
<option>September 20</option>
<option>September 21</option>
<option>September 22</option>
<option>September 23</option>
<option>September 24</option>
<option>September 25</option>
<option>September 26</option>
<option>September 27</option>
<option>September 28</option>
<option>September 29</option>
<option>September 30</option>
<option>October 1</option>
<option>October 2</option>
<option>October 3</option>
<option>October 4</option>
<option>October 5</option>
<option>October 6</option>
<option>October 7</option>
<option>October 8</option>
<option>October 9</option>
<option>October 10</option>
<option>October 11</option>
<option>October 12</option>
<option>October 13</option>
<option>October 14</option>
<option>October 15</option>
<option>October 16</option>
<option>October 17</option>
<option>October 18</option>
<option>October 19</option>
<option>October 20</option>
<option>October 21</option>
<option>October 22</option>
<option>October 23</option>
<option>October 24</option>
<option>October 25</option>
<option>October 26</option>
<option>October 27</option>
<option>October 28</option>
<option>October 29</option>
<option>October 30</option>
<option>October 31</option>
<option>November 1</option>
<option>November 2</option>
<option>November 3</option>
<option>November 4</option>
<option>November 5</option>
<option>November 6</option>
<option>November 7</option>
<option>November 8</option>
<option>November 9</option>
<option>November 10</option>
<option>November 11</option>
<option>November 12</option>
<option>November 13</option>
<option>November 14</option>
<option>November 15</option>
<option>November 16</option>
<option>November 17</option>
<option>November 18</option>
<option>November 19</option>
<option>November 20</option>
<option>November 21</option>
<option>November 22</option>
<option>November 23</option>
<option>November 24</option>
<option>November 25</option>
<option>November 26</option>
<option>November 27</option>
<option>November 28</option>
<option>November 29</option>
<option>November 30</option>
<option>December 1</option>
<option>December 2</option>
<option>December 3</option>
<option>December 4</option>
<option>December 5</option>
<option>December 6</option>
<option>December 7</option>
<option>December 8</option>
<option>December 9</option>
<option>December 10</option>
<option>December 11</option>
<option>December 12</option>
<option>December 13</option>
<option>December 14</option>
<option>December 15</option>
<option>December 16</option>
<option>December 17</option>
<option>December 18</option>
<option>December 19</option>
<option>December 20</option>
<option>December 21</option>
<option>December 22</option>
<option>December 23</option>
<option>December 24</option>
<option>December 25</option>
<option>December 26</option>
<option>December 27</option>
<option>December 28</option>
<option>December 29</option>
<option>December 30</option>
<option>December 31</option>
</select>
However, to do the same thing in PHP, all you need is the following code:
Code:<?php
$months = array(1=>"January", 2=>"February", 3=>"March", 4=>"April", 5=>"May", 6=>"June", 7=>"July", 8=>"August", 9=>"September", 10=>"October", 11=>"November", 12=>"December");
$days = array(31, 28, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31, 31, 30, 31, 30, 31);
echo "Select your birthday: <select>";
for ($i=1; $i<13; $i++)
for ($j=1; $j<=$days[$i-1]; $j++)
echo "<option>".$months[$i]." ".$j."</option>";
echo "</select>";
?>
PHP is an extremely versatile language. It's mostly used for embedding in HTML code, but it works perfectly well on its own as well. For example, a while ago I wrote an IRC bot in PHP, which was more than capable of holding a conversation over IRC.
ASP fails by default because it's a Microsoft invention (not to mention that it's a terrible language). :p
JSP fails because even though it's a secure language (and part of Java, my main language) maintenance and development is too picky and awkward. For example, JSP servers load all servlets at initialisation, so if you change the code in a compiled servlet you need to restart the server.
That...is...freaking....amazing!! xD
I actually like Microsoft's stuff. The fact that they actually update their projects regularly and the general quality of performance is pretty good too. I mean, eh, is there any other application that can match MS Word or Excel? And don't come to me with the OpenOffice rubbish. *starts placing sandbags around his room*
Mirosoft's ASP library is insanely full of holes. They rarely do update to keep up with actual good industries and their standards. Instead they use there weight to jiggle the industry so much that it has been proven to retard the growth of software development. Their support is minimalistic, with something over 1k known issues for xp still looming out there.
It strives on the fact that people can use it. That anyone can use it. Anyone can program with their languages with little training. That is not a good thing, when something gets so modular and remains a behemoth of speed and lack of quality, you begin to see breaks. This is what the ASP model has gone through, and their IIS can just kiss my ass. I am really against a lot of Microsoft technologies, but I know them, cause I need to. As long as they are able to sell em to management (with commercial appeal) then I better support em .
Word is actually a fairly ok system, but there does need to be better made out there. Open Office is close, and it is getting there. It can mail merge and preform so many office related duties, it is not funny. At a NOREX meet recently, they went over the feasibility of using Open Office in a corporate environment - and there were supprisingly a number of businesses that did so. Really, M$ is just trying to be beside themselves; and in the end, they will reap what the sewed. I am just hoping that Ozzie knows of a good way to turn the company around, cause as far as I am concerned, their old leader ship is nothing but criminals.
I don't like Microsoft's monolithic attitude towards software development. They have dumbed Visual Studio right down so that if you can use a mouse you can 'write' a program. I don't like the .NET framework. I don't like that they felt the need to ruin several perfectly good languages just to say they had their own 'better' versions. You don't see Java making "Java C++".
Really, when you think about it, Microsoft has a monolithic attitude towards everything. They make things like Windows, intended to be the vehicle for everything but they slip in things like IE and WMP which are more or less compulsory if you want to use the operating system.
PHP really is a horrible language. Horrible horrible horrible. register_globals, anyone? magic_quotes, anyone? PHP encourages mixing interface with application logic, which is entirely the wrong thing to do. PHP4's OO system is almost worse than Perl's, and that's saying something. PHP lacks any kind of consistency in the standard API function names and argument ordering and what have you. It's way too verbose a language for things that should be concise. (Who ever decided to have array() be the way to represent an array literal?) Its references sucks. Its function pointers / "callbacks" suck. It's scoping rules (or lack thereof) generally suck. Lack of namespaces sucks. Lack of exception handling sucks. Implicitly auto-casting strings to numerals and vice versa sucks. Confounding hash tables and plain arrays sucks. Lack of concise syntax for regular expressions sucks in a language specifically intended for what's essentially text processing and template manipulation. Etc. etc. PHP5 probably fixed a lot of this but I doubt I can stomach it long enough to find out.Quote:
Originally Posted by o_O
PHP is a good language if 1) you need to learn it because you bought a vbulletin license or need to write a plugin for the PHP-based blog software you use, 2) Your program is 3 pages of code and has no chance to grow, 3) You have no access to your server to install anything better, 4) You don't know anything else and don't want to learn, 5) well, there is no 5, those are about the only reasons I can come up with. PHP is better than writing a hundred pages of HTML by hand, but only just barely. Sorry for the rant, but every time I'm forced to look at PHP code I want to hold my breath until I die.
Ruby on the other hand...
(I wouldn't touch ASP with a 10-foot pole if you paid me.)Code:#!/usr/bin/ruby
require 'date'
puts '<select>'
(Date.parse('January 1st, 2007') .. Date.parse('December 31st, 2007')).each do |d|
puts '<option>' + d.strftime('%B %d') + '</option>'
end
puts '</select>'
HA! google it i say ><
Gah, I hate google.
Customizable php.ini for the win. Better than regedit hacks for IIS.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr UnnePHP really is a horrible language. Horrible horrible horrible. register_globals, anyone? magic_quotes, anyone?Quote:
Originally Posted by o_O
This can also be a necessity for one of PHP's primary reasons of existance, inline scripting and KISS approach, really.Quote:
PHP encourages mixing interface with application logic, which is entirely the wrong thing to do.
This is why PHP 5 was made. It is a growing language :) More than I can say for its competition.Quote:
PHP4's OO system is almost worse than Perl's, and that's saying something.
yeah, a lot of these were addressed, though a lot of things were not. Well, my chief complain is the hybrid approach to the language - that it gains influence from every known language to man (exaggerated, but still). Otherwise, with some knowledge of the system, a few tweaks, and some patience PHP can easily set up one of the greatest server side scripting environments out there. I say almost since I obviously have not used every language.Quote:
PHP lacks any kind of consistency in the standard API function names and argument ordering and what have you. It's way too verbose a language for things that should be concise. (Who ever decided to have array() be the way to represent an array literal?) Its references sucks. Its function pointers / "callbacks" suck. It's scoping rules (or lack thereof) generally suck. Lack of namespaces sucks. Lack of exception handling sucks. Implicitly auto-casting strings to numerals and vice versa sucks. Confounding hash tables and plain arrays sucks. Lack of concise syntax for regular expressions sucks in a language specifically intended for what's essentially text processing and template manipulation. Etc. etc. PHP5 probably fixed a lot of this but I doubt I can stomach it long enough to find out.
fairly accurate. I have yet to completely play with ruby on rails. Half the power of PHP lies in it's simplicity, which directly contradicts its security assets, but w/3. I have a few two year old books on ruby, and did start playing with it - but I got sidetracked by something of no consequence... but yeah. I don't think your novice can pick it up and run with it. IT was a lot of fun though... I think. Perhaps I was playing p-knuckle with some train robbing Pokemon. I can't remember.Quote:
PHP is a good language if 1) you need to learn it because you bought a vbulletin license or need to write a plugin for the PHP-based blog software you use, 2) Your program is 3 pages of code and has no chance to grow, 3) You have no access to your server to install anything better, 4) You don't know anything else and don't want to learn, 5) well, there is no 5, those are about the only reasons I can come up with. PHP is better than writing a hundred pages of HTML by hand, but only just barely. Sorry for the rant, but every time I'm forced to look at PHP code I want to hold my breath until I die.
Ruby on the other hand...
(I wouldn't touch ASP with a 10-foot pole if you paid me.)Code:#!/usr/bin/ruby
require 'date'
puts '<select>'
(Date.parse('January 1st, 2007') .. Date.parse('December 31st, 2007')).each do |d|
puts '<option>' + d.strftime('%B %d') + '</option>'
end
puts '</select>'
Is it just me, or does Dr Unne attach himself to a new language every six months or so?
It is what we programmers do.Quote:
Originally Posted by Meat Puppet
To put it in street talk, "Playaz neva get laxed off of da game, but being pimps, we'zlike to play wit different hoes. Itz like gettin mo bishes, in yo arsenal" I think I may have put too much punctuation in there, but the analogy stands. I rhymed hoes with arsenal, therefore, itis legit street cred yoe.
-the Notorious G.O.E.
:confused:
What's wrong with WMP? The 11er has a good number of neat functions. Of course, you need a good virtual sound enhancer running in the background to make it sound the best, but all in all I really like WMP.
What I don't like is Office 2007. I'm fine with a large number of the new features included, but I HATE the fact that the interface was changed 100%ly. Finding anything is a gladiatorial fight now. Even more so, even if you know where it is, it takes much, much longer to edit a bit of text than it did before, i.e. before: all buttons at hand and customisable; now: all buttons hidden behind a squad of other buttons without any possibility to drag and drop them around.
To be fair though, I like the fact that it now suggest all related functions to the object you're editing now.
Seriously, what the hell is half of what any of you are talking about?
It's not the fact that I dislike WMP (I most certainly do though. :p), but the fact that it comes deep set into the operating system so that for some things it would appear you don't have a choice as to whether or not you want to use it. The same goes for IE. They're so integrated into the OS that Microsoft argues they're necessary for its operation. Really, all they're doing is violating anti-trust laws to try to gain a leg up on competition. Windows N is a testament to that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Discord
PHP5 is leaps and bounds ahead of PHP4. They reportedly have ironed out all of the buffer overflow exploits which were too frequent in PHP4. I can't fault Ruby though, because I think it's a fantastic language.
I like to use PHP because it's simple to create a secure script as long as you have a well configured php.ini (or equivalent for whatever distro you use). The strength of PHP is that you can write a script without having to worry about writing a program.