Difference with ASP, PHP, CF, and more

when it all comes down to it, theyre all pretty much the same. ASP has some microsoft activeX and visual studios .net things, Cold Fusion has a IDE and is very tag-based like HTMLScript was, and (i think) hard to work with. all in all, php, perl, asp, cfm, python, etc can all do the same thing, no single one has a unique feature so great to warrant using it, its all personal preference.

php makes alot of things easy that the others dont, though. if youre looking to learn, go with php.

Do you know some good resources for php?

Thanks
Bryan

does PHP use MYSQL, or SQL (never quite understood the difference)

you can use php with any db, I believe. MySQL is a type of database, as is SQLServer (MS db).

php.net is a good reference, but I'd recommend picking up a book on the topic.

Quote: Originally posted by R0B
Cold Fusion has a IDE and is very tag-based like HTMLScript was, and (i think) hard to work with. all in all, php, perl, asp, cfm, python, etc can all do the same thing, no single one has a unique feature so great to warrant using it, its all personal preference.

php makes alot of things easy that the others dont, though. if youre looking to learn, go with php.

Disagree.

Sorry that was pretty blunt but consider that in CF you have to write about 75% less code than in PHP or ASP. Now I don't fully know the PHP language but I could be wrong so lets have a challenge!

Write code to do the following:

Select 1 item from a table using SQL that has been passed within a variable called ProductID
Output that the name, model and colour of that ProductID using the language of your choice.

Here's how to do it in CF:

'

Tell me thats not quick, simple, effective and shorter than anything else out there!!!

I'll probably get proved wrong now I've laid my neck on the line

That works for MySQL and PHP... and that assumes you are connected to the DB... does CF require a connection? like mysql_connect() in PHP?

I'm guessing Flipper was using a DSN connection (Data Source Name). I've always hated DSN connections. When I program in ASP with SQL server, I always use DSNless connections.

What is the difference betweeen DSN and DSNless

When using DSN connections, you refer to the Database by using a pre-determined name. The computer (or server) then chesks it's tables for the specific connection info (host, user, pass).

On WinXP:
Start > Settings > Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Data Sources (ODBC)
The first tab is "User DSN". Click "Add...", pick your DB type, then specify the connection info.

DSNless connections is just using a standard connection (similar to what is normally done in PHP). The only language I've used both methods in is ASP. I briefly tried using DSN with Java, but gave up before I got it working.

Oh no, what have I started!

It can also be done with a DSN less connection. Just declare the DSN in the application.cfm file so it can be called on any page like so:

'

The CFQUERY section changes slightly to :

'

I think at the end of the day, you should use which ever language you feel most comfortable with but I am still of the opinion that CF is easier to learn....

So there....

I got a new question. This is a dumb one, but I am completely lost on it. I understand one way of connecting with databases Via ASP, PHP, or CM is through Access database files, I believe .mdb or something extensions. I have heard though, that this can cause problems since the file must be opened online (or something) and sometimes can be corrupt or damaged, especially in a database of 1000's of items. There is also the way of SQL or MYSQL (not sure the difference) but how is that put together. Is there a program that allows you to manage your queries/tables/forms ect.., or is it done using a standard text file. This is where I have gotten confused. With Access, you create your mdb file, upload it, tell your .php,.cm, .asp file to located the particular database file, and match the criteria. What is the NON-ACCESS way.

Thanks in advanced. I am just thirsty for knowledge:)

Bryan

r u talking about phpmyadmin?

I think of Access more of a desktop database for individual use. But, of course, people do use it in a larger scale.

"MySQL is the world's most popular Open Source Database, designed for speed, power and precision in mission critical, heavy load use." -- from the mySQL site. Something I like to brag about: NASA switches from Oracle to MySQL

(SQL) "Microsoft SQL Server ... is the complete database and analysis offering for rapidly delivering the next generation of scalable e-commerce, line-of-business and data warehousing solutions." -- from the Microsoft site.

You really can't compare Access to the other large scale DBs. Access uses non-standard datatypes, contains the whole DB in one file, incorporates 'forms', has a really funky format for queries, and yadda yadda yadda.

Something else which distinguishes Access... one file = one database.
Both mySQL and MS SQL are server. And each server can contain many databases. Just as an IIS or Apache server can contain many VirtualHosts.

Also, mySQL and MS SQL have no concept of 'forms'. Real database servers aren't used for formatting/presenting data. You do that yourself using whichever technology you use to query the DB.

MS SQL and mySQL aren't single files that you manipulate with managing software. Rather, their services (for windows) or servers (for unix), which are running continuously (similar to IIS or Apache).

To administer a MS SQL server, you run a program (forgot the name) on a client and connect to a SQL server. It has a full GUI interface which allows you to administer everything.

To administer a mySQL server, you typically log into a telnet or SSH session. Then run `mysql -u root -p`. This will give you a mySQL prompt which will accept written sql commands. mySQL doesn't come with a GUI. But you can use the popular web based GUI called phpMyAdmin.

Thank you so much, finally a clear explanation. I bought Ben Forta's Learn MYSQL in 10 minutes, and couldn't figure out where I could start preparing a database

Dumb question, but how do I know which database I need to download from mysql.com?

I run Windows 98.

Thanks
Bryan