Which is faster: asp or php ?

They have: 140 posts

Joined: Nov 2003

Is it my imagination or am I correct in saying
that scripts written in asp run faster than those
in php.

I am looking at some message board scripts
and the ones written in asp seem to run faster...

..... or is it something else entirely different than
the programming language. Seems to be that way
on every script I've seen.

yes... no....?

Suzanne's picture

She has: 5,507 posts

Joined: Feb 2000

It's your imagination.

Suzanne's picture

She has: 5,507 posts

Joined: Feb 2000

More specifically, you'd have to look at server usage, type of server, memory, et cetera, number of people, size of the database, connection to the web, et cetera.

mairving's picture

They have: 2,256 posts

Joined: Feb 2001

I would say that it is your imagination also. A lot of things can greatly effect forum speed, how many sites are hosted on the server, how many posts are in the forum database, the amount of RAM, etc. As a general rule, I have found that PHP/MySQL/Apache runs faster than ASP/SQL Server/IIs Servers on equal hardware. The reason is that it takes more muscle to drive SQL Server/IIs since there is more sytem overhead from running Windows Server & SQL Server, than there is from running a 'nix server/MySQL.

Then again it is very difficult to measure performance across different platforms like this. From my own (biased) experience of running both platforms, I would say that the 'nix combo is faster and certainly more stable.

Mark Irving
I have a mind like a steel trap; it is rusty and illegal in 47 states

They have: 461 posts

Joined: Jul 2003

mairving is right. a result of the overhead is that he php/nix will always be faster when everything else is the same, just due to the os. and there's some others. i know one person personally tha tknows both, he prefers php because the parser is more optimal, meaning that it actually is more efficient. supposivley the difference is rather small, but that when you have a server that's being taxed, you'll see it.

consider it this way: asp has a small set number of developers working 9-5 to improve it. php has an unlimited number of developers working 24/7 to keep it completely secure, increase the efficiency etc etc.

given that, and given that zend is constantly looking for ways to make it better, which is more likely to be a faster, more powerful scripting lang?

POSIX. because a stable os that doesn't have memory leaks and isn't buggy is always good.

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.