Dreamweaver - PHP, JSP, ASP, PERL, or CF on Apache/Linux

Author

PHP, JSP, ASP, PERL, or CF on Apache/Linux

Gabe

2004-03-30, 8:13 pm

For those of you that are running Apache on Linux, what would you suggest
using as the server side scripting language?

I know a lot of people use PHP. Any reason why people prefer that over JSP,
PERL, or even ASP and ColdFusion (besides the fact that PHP is open source
and free)? :-) Is there a steep learning curve with PHP? Or would it be
similar to something like ASP?

My company is considering switching web servers from IIS to Apache/Linux and
I'm just starting to consider the options for server side code.

Thanks!

middletree

2004-03-30, 8:13 pm

I wouldn't recommend trying ASP on Linux.

"Gabe" <fake@aol.com> wrote in message
news:c3v5hl$7uh$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> For those of you that are running Apache on Linux, what would you suggest
> using as the server side scripting language?
>
> I know a lot of people use PHP. Any reason why people prefer that over
JSP,
> PERL, or even ASP and ColdFusion (besides the fact that PHP is open source
> and free)? :-) Is there a steep learning curve with PHP? Or would it be
> similar to something like ASP?
>
> My company is considering switching web servers from IIS to Apache/Linux
and
> I'm just starting to consider the options for server side code.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>

Chris In Madison

2004-03-30, 8:14 pm

PHP is a lot easier to work with than Java, in most cases. PHP feels a lot
like ASP, in my opinion. The language makes sense, and it's pretty much
all-inclusive. I like it because it has a lot of functions designed
specifically for web applications, whereas VBScript (ASP) is a more
generalized scripting language and you often have to write a lot more code
to do the same job as some built-in PHP functions.

You can run JSPs for free on most environments with a number of no-cost Java
servers, most notably Tomcat. It can take a significant amount of setup,
however, to get Java servers running.

Many people prefer ColdFusion because it's a lot less complex than a lot of
scripting languages. But it's an expensive purchase if you want to buy and
host it yourself. But most hosting providers offer it at the same cost as
any other server model.

Best regards,
Chris

Alexandru COSTIN

2004-03-30, 8:14 pm

Hello,
PHP has a lot of advantages against ASP, except for the price.

1. First of all - its learning curse is incredibly lean - and you will
be able to get started really quick
2. It has a LARGE user community that extend it continuosly, and it
includes APIs for almost anything you want - LDAP, IMAP, PDF, etc
3. Has a maturing PEAR PHP classes repository
4. PHP version 5 with real OOP support is just around the corner (errr -
this is actually more like 2-3 months :)
5. It is used a lot in companies - see
http://www.interakt.ro/index_art_11.html

Good luck

Alexandru

Gabe wrote:
> For those of you that are running Apache on Linux, what would you suggest
> using as the server side scripting language?
>
> I know a lot of people use PHP. Any reason why people prefer that over JSP,
> PERL, or even ASP and ColdFusion (besides the fact that PHP is open source
> and free)? :-) Is there a steep learning curve with PHP? Or would it be
> similar to something like ASP?
>
> My company is considering switching web servers from IIS to Apache/Linux and
> I'm just starting to consider the options for server side code.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>

--
Alexandru COSTIN
Chief Operating Officer
http://www.interakt.ro/
+4021 312 5312

Joe Makowiec

2004-03-30, 8:15 pm

On Thu 25 Mar 2004 12:40:02p, Gabe wrote in macromedia.dreamweaver:

> For those of you that are running Apache on Linux, what would you
> suggest using as the server side scripting language?
>
> I know a lot of people use PHP. Any reason why people prefer that
> over JSP, PERL, or even ASP and ColdFusion (besides the fact that PHP
> is Open Source and free)? :-) Is there a steep learning curve with
> PHP? Or would it be similar to something like ASP?

Dunno - how long does it take to learn to ride a bicycle? I learned C some
time back, and I like it. PHP seems very C-like to me, and I picked it up
quickly. I find it's a lot cleaner and easier to read than VBScript. As
to skills transference - language constructs are language constructs. If
you can write ASP/VBScript code, given a little time with the manual, you
should be able to write PHP.

Gary White

2004-03-30, 8:15 pm

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 12:40:02 -0500, "Gabe" <fake@aol.com> wrote:

>For those of you that are running Apache on Linux, what would you suggest
>using as the server side scripting language?

PHP.

>I know a lot of people use PHP. Any reason why people prefer that over JSP,
>PERL, or even ASP and ColdFusion (besides the fact that PHP is open source
>and free)? :-) Is there a steep learning curve with PHP? Or would it be
>similar to something like ASP?

If you can do ASP, you should have no problem picking up PHP. As far as
ASP, it would require a third party application server like ChiliSoft to
run ASP and it won't be 100% compatible with all ASP code. PERL is a
rather cryptic language that could be a problem for someone to learn,
but might not be too difficult for an experienced C/C++ programmer. I've
not used JSP or CF, so I can't tell you much about them.

One thing to watch when/if you make the switch. Linux is case sensitive
for file and directory names. So myfile.html is not the same as
Myfile.html.

Gary

Gabe

2004-03-30, 8:15 pm

Thanks for all the posts. It definitely sounds like from all of you that
PHP would be what I should check into first.

Thanks for your opinions!

"Gabe" <fake@aol.com> wrote in message
news:c3v5hl$7uh$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> For those of you that are running Apache on Linux, what would you suggest
> using as the server side scripting language?
>
> I know a lot of people use PHP. Any reason why people prefer that over
JSP,
> PERL, or even ASP and ColdFusion (besides the fact that PHP is open source
> and free)? :-) Is there a steep learning curve with PHP? Or would it be
> similar to something like ASP?
>
> My company is considering switching web servers from IIS to Apache/Linux
and
> I'm just starting to consider the options for server side code.
>
> Thanks!
>
>
>

Gary White

2004-03-30, 8:16 pm

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 14:23:43 -0500, "Gabe" <fake@aol.com> wrote:

>Thanks for all the posts. It definitely sounds like from all of you that
>PHP would be what I should check into first.
>
>Thanks for your opinions!

You're welcome. Good luck. Post back if you need help.

Gary

tomc-440music

2004-03-30, 8:22 pm

Why one over the other:

ASP is fine if you set-up the server to work with it,.
PHP is better then Perl/CGI because it is less CPU dependent
JSP is my choice because it offer cross platform compatability, is less
dependent on CPU and is easier to find help.

Alan

2004-03-30, 8:22 pm

> ASP is fine if you set-up the server to work with it,.

if talking about the original question of a Linux/Apache box, using ASP on
it means using SunOne or whatever it's currently called. It's not exactly
like ASP on an MS box, and many things won't work in that setup without
being adjusted.

ASP on Linux != ASP on MS

Gabe

2004-03-30, 8:24 pm

So when you say "cross platform compatibility" do you mean that I can take
JSP code that resides on an IIS box and move it to a Linux/Apache box and I
won't have to modify the code at all?

"tomc-440music" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:c41krt$jub$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Why one over the other:
>
> ASP is fine if you set-up the server to work with it,.
> PHP is better then Perl/CGI because it is less CPU dependent
> JSP is my choice because it offer cross platform compatability, is less
> dependent on CPU and is easier to find help.
>