Validating the choice of technology
PHP is a programming language presenting high level of integration with web server and database. It is specifically designed to work in web-server-database environment (Apache + MySQL). This proved to be a very powerful combination suitable for solving wide range of tasks in web environment. Initially PHP was an open source server-side HTML-embedded scripting language. Now it is developing very actively, the latest fifth version of PHP supports full range of OOP (object oriented programming) features such as encapsulation, polymorphism, inheritance, overloading allowing to deploy complex web applications. For example, Yahoo! search engine and web services are based on PHP engine. Even though, PHP still remains very flexible language that permits developers to mix OOP and procedural programming successfully.
ASP (Active Server Pages), JSP (Java Server Pages), ColdFusion could be an alternative approaches to website development, but ASP ties developer up to Microsoft platform, JSP is cross-platform but can be more a part of the problem than part of solution due to complexity of Java language. ColdFusion is relatively new technology and I don’t have enough knowledge to make any assumptions about it. Unlike all these scripting languages PHP is flexible enough, doesn’t tie the user to particular platform, has relatively simple syntax.
MySQL is a powerful database management system offering excellence performance and reliability at little cost. MySQL is a compact database server ideal for web application. In addition to support of SQL (structured query language) standard, MySQL compiles on a number of platforms and has multithreading abilities on Linux/Unix servers which increase performance. Also MySQL can be run as a service on Windows servers. General license for MySQL server is available at no cost, commercial license is significantly cheaper in comparison with rival product from Microsoft (MS SQL server). By implementing a database into web applications some of the data generated by PHP can be retrieved from MySQL. This moves the site’s content from a static to a flexible, dynamic basis.
In conclusion, Apache, PHP and MySQL are each open source, cross platform applications available at little or no cost. Therefore it would be useful for organizations with limited budget including educational institutions and universities as well as SMEs.
ASP (Active Server Pages), JSP (Java Server Pages), ColdFusion could be an alternative approaches to website development, but ASP ties developer up to Microsoft platform, JSP is cross-platform but can be more a part of the problem than part of solution due to complexity of Java language. ColdFusion is relatively new technology and I don’t have enough knowledge to make any assumptions about it. Unlike all these scripting languages PHP is flexible enough, doesn’t tie the user to particular platform, has relatively simple syntax.
MySQL is a powerful database management system offering excellence performance and reliability at little cost. MySQL is a compact database server ideal for web application. In addition to support of SQL (structured query language) standard, MySQL compiles on a number of platforms and has multithreading abilities on Linux/Unix servers which increase performance. Also MySQL can be run as a service on Windows servers. General license for MySQL server is available at no cost, commercial license is significantly cheaper in comparison with rival product from Microsoft (MS SQL server). By implementing a database into web applications some of the data generated by PHP can be retrieved from MySQL. This moves the site’s content from a static to a flexible, dynamic basis.
In conclusion, Apache, PHP and MySQL are each open source, cross platform applications available at little or no cost. Therefore it would be useful for organizations with limited budget including educational institutions and universities as well as SMEs.
posted by Denis at
11:28 PM
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