PHP Language - php - What a Let-Down

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php - What a Let-Down

Steve Welch

2005-08-16, 10:00 pm

After seeing all the references to "PAM", MySql, Apache, I decided to give
it a try:
MySql - Great database, downloaded the binary for Solaris 10 from the
site, installed it and was building databases in just a few minutes.
Apache - Super, got the (already installed with Solaris 10) 2.0 server
up and running without too much difficulty, no downloads involved, just a
few configuration changes.
PHP - What a LET-DOWN! I downloaded the compiled php5.0.4 from
sunfreeware.dom and had it up and running, again without too many problems
UNTIL I tried to access MySQL via php. It turns out that unless you are a
complete computer G

with all of the C, C++, gcc (and half the acronyms in
the alphabet) software and programmer skills, FORGET IT.

Even with the compiled binary from sunfreeware, php5+ can't access any
database that's available to an "average" user without re-compiling (AND the
database MUST be on the local machine to do that). Opps! I take that back,
if you get the Window$ binary, it appears to be as simple as un-commenting a
line or two in a configuration ini file. How come you guys are making the
Windows version easier to use than the Unix/Linux version?

Looks like I'm going to have to try ODBC (or 'shiver, shiver' JAVA)!

Just a thought for all you g

s - Wonder how much money Bill Gates would
make from a program like this?
(Hint-Hint I don't think even he would try to market a dog like this without
putting something together that could be installed and used "out of the
box").

You people need to get your head out of the clouds and start putting
something together that can be USED!

Wonder if I'll get any responses to this one, I sure didn't when I looked
for some help earlier!

Michael Vilain

2005-08-17, 4:02 am

In article <BPCdnb2qPq8AAp_eRVn-oA@comcast.com>,
"Steve Welch" <steve-welch@comcast.net> wrote:

> After seeing all the references to "PAM", MySql, Apache, I decided to give
> it a try:
> MySql - Great database, downloaded the binary for Solaris 10 from the
> site, installed it and was building databases in just a few minutes.
> apache - Super, got the (already installed with Solaris 10) 2.0 server
> up and running without too much difficulty, no downloads involved, just a
> few configuration changes.
> PHP - What a LET-DOWN! I downloaded the compiled php5.0.4 from
> sunfreeware.dom and had it up and running, again without too many problems
> UNTIL I tried to access MySQL via php. It turns out that unless you are a
> complete computer G

with all of the C, C++, gcc (and half the acronyms in
> the alphabet) software and programmer skills, FORGET IT.
>
> Even with the compiled binary from sunfreeware, php5+ can't access any
> database that's available to an "average" user without re-compiling (AND the
> database MUST be on the local machine to do that). Opps! I take that back,
> if you get the Window$ binary, it appears to be as simple as un-commenting a
> line or two in a configuration ini file. How come you guys are making the
> Windows version easier to use than the Unix/Linux version?
>
> Looks like I'm going to have to try ODBC (or 'shiver, shiver' JAVA)!
>
> Just a thought for all you g

s - Wonder how much money Bill Gates would
> make from a program like this?
> (Hint-Hint I don't think even he would try to market a dog like this without
> putting something together that could be installed and used "out of the
> box").
>
> You people need to get your head out of the clouds and start putting
> something together that can be USED!
>
> Wonder if I'll get any responses to this one, I sure didn't when I looked
> for some help earlier!

Yep. To use PHP, you have to know how to program. No GUI, just a bunch
of text files.

Reload XP onto your PC and don't bother with Solaris. You're wasting
your time.

--
DeeDee, don't press that button! DeeDee! NO! Dee...

Phil

2005-08-17, 9:05 am

Steve Welch wrote:
> You people need to get your head out of the clouds and start putting
> something together that can be USED!
>
> Wonder if I'll get any responses to this one, I sure didn't when I looked
> for some help earlier!

Maybe it's your attitude.

I'm not a programmer. I had a LAMP platform up and running in an hour, with
the PHP scripts logging on to a MySQL server running on a different machine
on our home network. The failing here is yours, not PHP's.

You might want to invest in some basic books if you're that clueless.
However, if you're so incapable of even the most basic scripting (which is
all that's needed to connect to and use MySQL) then you should probably
give up now.

Kimmo Laine

2005-08-17, 5:00 pm

"Steve Welch" <steve-welch@comcast.net> kirjoitti
viestissä:BPCdnb2qPq8AAp_eRVn-oA@comcast.com...
> After seeing all the references to "PAM", MySql, Apache, I decided to give
> it a try:
> MySql - Great database, downloaded the binary for Solaris 10 from the
> site, installed it and was building databases in just a few minutes.
> apache - Super, got the (already installed with Solaris 10) 2.0 server
> up and running without too much difficulty, no downloads involved, just a
> few configuration changes.
> PHP - What a LET-DOWN! I downloaded the compiled php5.0.4 from
> sunfreeware.dom and had it up and running, again without too many problems
> UNTIL I tried to access MySQL via php. It turns out that unless you are a
> complete computer G

with all of the C, C++, gcc (and half the acronyms
> in the alphabet) software and programmer skills, FORGET IT.
>
> Even with the compiled binary from sunfreeware, php5+ can't access any
> database that's available to an "average" user without re-compiling (AND
> the database MUST be on the local machine to do that). Opps! I take that
> back, if you get the Window$ binary, it appears to be as simple as
> un-commenting a line or two in a configuration ini file. How come you guys
> are making the Windows version easier to use than the Unix/Linux version?
>
> Looks like I'm going to have to try ODBC (or 'shiver, shiver' JAVA)!

As if making a jsp server would be any easier. I tried that once at school
when we were studying setting up the tomcat system to run java and jsp. That
was no different from building a php server. And we never even got to
working with databases...

> You people need to get your head out of the clouds and start putting
> something together that can be USED!

Well, for people who are all thumbs, theres always Microsoft with IIS +
MSSQL + ASP. Is it better combination, that I can't tell but from my
experience no. It's just easier to set up. For a WAMP
(Windows+Apache+MySQL+PHP) there are installation packages that make
creating a working server not so painful and difficult.

As for your problem... MySQL support has been nuilt-in in php for some time
now, one should not need to configure it separately.

The thing is that when you are working with Solaris, you do realize that you
are in a tiny tiny minority. Most people have Linux boxes, or the ones
who've sold their soul to old Bill, Windows systems. Solaris is not the most
popular pick, and asking help for it may not produce as many usefull
comments as asking about a Linux server would.

I sincerelly hope that you do not abandon php just because installing it
doesn't work like a charm. Surely you have a good point, when you say that
configuring the system should be easy. But once you've gotten the pieces
together, it'll be easy from that point on...

--
SETI @ Home - Donate your cpu's idle time to science.
Further reading at <http://setiweb.ssl.berkeley.edu/>
Kimmo Laine <eternal.erectionN0@5P4Mgmail.com>

2005-08-17, 9:59 pm

Steve,
Personal experience has taught me that by making something so easy to
use that just about anybody can use it not only detracts from the power
it could have, but also breeds errors and security holes. I have been a
Windows programmer for many years and after making my move to the
unix/linux world, I have been first amazed at how stable and robust the
environment and applications are, then so humbled by the truly expert
environment it is.

I can relate to your frustration, but if you stop comparing this new
world with the old windows world, you will be able to focus more on the
task at hand - learning a new, and awesome environment. I'm sorry I
can't offer any helpful advice - I'm still learning this stuff - other
than, don't give up. With so many incredible php sites out there, it's
obvious it can be USED.

Just a side note: Bill constantly markets dogs, they just install really
easily. I'd much rather have a little diffculty up front ( which I have
found has always been due to my own loack of understanding ) and have a
stable and robust product.

Tom

Steve Welch wrote:

>After seeing all the references to "PAM", MySql, Apache, I decided to give
>it a try:
> MySql - Great database, downloaded the binary for Solaris 10 from the
>site, installed it and was building databases in just a few minutes.
> apache - Super, got the (already installed with Solaris 10) 2.0 server
>up and running without too much difficulty, no downloads involved, just a
>few configuration changes.
> PHP - What a LET-DOWN! I downloaded the compiled php5.0.4 from
>sunfreeware.dom and had it up and running, again without too many problems
>UNTIL I tried to access MySQL via php. It turns out that unless you are a
>complete computer G

with all of the C, C++, gcc (and half the acronyms in
>the alphabet) software and programmer skills, FORGET IT.
>
>Even with the compiled binary from sunfreeware, php5+ can't access any
>database that's available to an "average" user without re-compiling (AND the
>database MUST be on the local machine to do that). Opps! I take that back,
>if you get the Window$ binary, it appears to be as simple as un-commenting a
>line or two in a configuration ini file. How come you guys are making the
>Windows version easier to use than the Unix/Linux version?
>
>Looks like I'm going to have to try ODBC (or 'shiver, shiver' JAVA)!
>
>Just a thought for all you g

Nomicon

2005-08-19, 4:13 pm

s - Wonder how much money Bill Gates would
> make from a program like this?
> (Hint-Hint I don't think even he would try to market a dog like this without
> putting something together that could be installed and used "out of the
> box").
>
> You people need to get your head out of the clouds and start putting
> something together that can be USED!
>
> Wonder if I'll get any responses to this one, I sure didn't when I looked
> for some help earlier!

Compiling Apache/PHP & MySQL or PostgreSQL is cumbersome, but it's not
rocket science--especially after you do it a few times. Do a google
search for compiling apache and PHP. The answers will be at your
fingertips.

The nice thing about PHP is that it encourages code resusability. I have
coded routines for DB connectivity, directory reading, image display and
even security.

RK
>
>

Tony

2005-08-20, 6:56 pm

"Steve Welch" <steve-welch@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:BPCdnb2qPq8AAp_eRVn-oA@comcast.com...
>
> You people need to get your head out of the clouds and start putting
> something together that can be USED!

I use PHP all the time, with IIS & apache on XP, on Linux boxes, with MSSQL
and with MySQL - no problems.

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