What goes with what?
I keep getting confused about different types of application/coding options available and the servers they run on and am wondering if someone could spend a moment to spell it out.
Essentially, the site I work on uses a lot of ASP because our hosts run NT servers only - no PHP or mySQL allowed, so it seems. We've been advised by local in-the-know types that the hosts are amongst the best and not to change. I've also been told that ASP is the way to go because more and more people are moving to NT these days.
So why do people keep telling me we're mad not to be changing hosts so we can use PHP? Is PHP radically better at doing the same thing that ASP does? What is the difference between Perl and PHP - and can either of them ever run on an NT server? How does Coldfusion fit into all of this?! Also, our hosts do support CGI but I'm sure I've been told that CGI running on NT is bad news and to avoid it - does that sound right?
Sorry there's so many questions! Mostly I'd just like to know how it all fits together once and for all.
Yours confusedly
Bug
doublehelix posted this at 13:05 — 8th March 2002.
They have: 117 posts
Joined: Feb 2002
NT is frowned upon as a web server because it has a history of serious security problems.
CGI is not a program, it is a set of standards for allowing clients and hosts to exchange data.
PHP and Perl are two entirely different programming languages, with PHP being the easier of the two to learn, however Perl is far more flexible and powerful and worth knowing in the long run.
All of these languages you mention php, perl, asp, and coldfusion -- and a few you forgot -- java, python, oracle plSQL and even javascript (if configured on the host) are just means of executing programs server-side.
Peter J. Boettcher posted this at 14:00 — 8th March 2002.
They have: 812 posts
Joined: Feb 2000
Well, you'll get passionate debates on both sides of the fence. Which way to go really depends on you and/or your corporate environment.
First off, no, PHP is not radically better than ASP, if anything PHP is going to have to play catch-up to ASP.Net. Where PHP has a huge advantage is it's cost/licensing, it's free. I would avoid using CGI on a Windows box, stick with ASP it's faster a less buggy. If you can't do it with ASP consider using COM+ or ISAPI.
Go with what is most comfortable for you.
PJ | Are we there yet?
pjboettcher.com
Wil posted this at 14:57 — 8th March 2002.
They have: 601 posts
Joined: Nov 2001
< ducking well out of this one >
The only advice I'd give is try to stick to the native environments that you are familiar with you and the machine you are operating is familiar with.
I personally use Perl on a Linux box, as Perl is native to Linux and does the job I need doing, fast. I wouldn't use Perl on a Windows box, mind, as I believe other languages are stronger on their native platforms.
- wil
Want to join the discussion? Create an account or log in if you already have one. Joining is fast, free and painless! We’ll even whisk you back here when you’ve finished.