What is PHP and MySQL?

[Force Flow]

I've been thinking about setting up a website with a forum (kind of like this one :wink: ). I've noticed that the forums need PHP and/or MySQL. What exactly are they, what do they do, and what are they for?

[aym]

PHP is a programming lanuage used to program dynamic web pages, like forums, webmail sites...
MySQL is a database server, used to store and query information.
Let's say you want to program a forum, so you use MySQL to store user info, threads... and use PHP to store and get info from MySQL, and to show it to the user.

[Statica]

MySQL is a database like MS Access http://www.mysql.com/
PHP is the next best thing since sliced bread : http://www.php.net

[Christoph]

MySQL and PHP are also free to use - you do not have to pay for this. PHP is a very fast scripting language that runs on Windows and Linux.

Christoph

[mairving]

Originally posted by Statica MySQL is a database like MS Access

I just never thought that I would hear something like that from you. Access is a wimpy database that works pretty good on the local machine. MySQL would compare more to MS SQL Server, although better and several hundred $ cheaper.

[Statica]

Ohh that is hitting below the belt!! Where's a moderator when you really need one!!!

Its true though, that is the closest analogy to people who are in the pay-for-software end of things. And even though MySQL and server have become synonymous .. it is still a database not a server. A MySQL server is one type of SQL (and probably the best type of it all); MySQL is an implementation of SQL (structured query language), to access a database.

And if you want an argument on whether Access is wimpy .. you know my stand on it

Originally posted by mairving I just never thought that I would hear something like that from you. Access is a wimpy database that works pretty good on the local machine. MySQL would compare more to MS SQL Server, although better and several hundred $ cheaper.

[doctorgonzo]

mairving, now I am curious: why do you think MySQL is better than SQL Server? The current lack of stored procedures is a problem, in my opinion, though future versions with them should eliminate that major problem.

[Statica]

MySQL comparisons: http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,3959,293,00.asp
http://www.mysql.com/information/crash-me.php
http://www.skippingdot.net/2002/01/30
http://www.mysql.com/information/benchmarks.html (check out the performance of MS SQL)

[mairving]

Originally posted by doctorgonzo mairving, now I am curious: why do you think MySQL is better than SQL Server? The current lack of stored procedures is a problem, in my opinion, though future versions with them should eliminate that major problem.

Better as in performance. Better as in cheaper. Better as in more stable. Certainly PHP/MySQL web performance is better than ASP/SQL Server web perfomance. SQL Server is in my opinion like most things that MS has done, massively bloated proprietary code.

[doctorgonzo]

Don't get me wrong, mairving. I like MySQL, and find it quite stable and pretty easy to use when I fool around with it. For web development, PHP/MySQL certainly wins hands down when compared to ASP/SQL Server. I just think that no product is perfect for every application, and sometimes the things you can do with other products that you can't do with MySQL are more important. Just my 2¢.

[mairving]

No doubt, SQL Server has it's usefulness. I have one running here at work that runs the church database. Not much choice about that one.

The original question was about a combo for the web, which I commented on. One of my first learning experiences of how not to run a web-site and/or a company involved a company that I worked for that was trying to become a dot.com. They used a combination of Cold Fusion and Access for their ecommerce site. It was designed by a guy that had no idea about Cold Fusion and very little database experience nor did he care. Here is an actual conversation that I had with him; "Greg, I just received a web order that didn't have a name, address or any other contact information from the web-site but it was charged to their account". Pause on the other end of the phone, then "Yeah, so". Me "Well it kind of makes it hard to get it to this person and indictates a problem". Him; "It is a Cybercash problem not mine", hangs up. After calling his boss, the problem was then fix. Of course, the perfomance was also terrible.

Ever since them I haven't been able to stomach Access, Cold Fusion or guys named Greg.

[Force Flow]

Thanks, guys! This gives me a place to start.