PHP, ASP or Perl?

[Ben Stones]

I've just had a look at the PHP5 book which I have that has been gathering dust for the last year, and I'm quite tempted since it looks alot easier than ASP.

Plus, I've finally discovered that SQL Server 2005 doesn't like to list dates in the correct order...

One suggestion: rip your book 500 times, throw it in a bin and learn online! Much simplified and its quicker to learn this way too.

[jazzy639]

I've just had a look at the PHP5 book which I have that has been gathering dust for the last year, and I'm quite tempted since it looks alot easier than ASP.

Plus, I've finally discovered that SQL Server 2005 doesn't like to list dates in the correct order...

Unlike most (maybe everyone) here, I code in ASP, its just becauase thats what I started on. Its really like a 2nd language to me, I can write really anything I want. Having looked at PHP, it looks more complicated.

[flesso]

Unlike most (maybe everyone) here, I code in ASP, its just becauase thats what I started on. Its really like a 2nd language to me, I can write really anything I want. Having looked at PHP, it looks more complicated.

I know what you mean. ASP is like a second language to me as well, but I just find it a little too annoying needing this that and the other to make it function correctly.

[MikeB]

Mainly use ASP as that's what we use at work.
Trying to get into ASP.Net but just don't have time to sit down and work it out!

When we re-did our website in 2000 it was done in perl, as that's what our new web-developer knew! I taught myself all from a book.
Hardly touch perl now as the website has since been re-done in ASP.

I've dabbled with PHP on my personal websites, but I find it tricky and "more complicated" than ASP as I don't know PHP.

What I find I end up doing is getting my languages mixed up, putting Javascript in as ASP, or trying to put ASP code into VB.net for example.

Plus, I've finally discovered that SQL Server 2005 doesn't like to list dates in the correct order...

Have no problems with SQL Server 2005 and dates with our stuff at work.

[flesso]

Have no problems with SQL Server 2005 and dates with our stuff at work.

Please tell me more. For me it likes to group them into idividual weeks and put them in the completely wrong order. I did read somewhere that it wasn't able to list dates properly at all...

[Ben Stones]

Mainly use ASP as that's what we use at work.
Trying to get into ASP.Net but just don't have time to sit down and work it out!

When we re-did our website in 2000 it was done in perl, as that's what our new web-developer knew! I taught myself all from a book.
Hardly touch perl now as the website has since been re-done in ASP.

I've dabbled with PHP on my personal websites, but I find it tricky and "more complicated" than ASP as I don't know PHP.

What I find I end up doing is getting my languages mixed up, putting Javascript in as ASP, or trying to put ASP code into VB.net for example.


Have no problems with SQL Server 2005 and dates with our stuff at work.

I can understand your point, I couldn't grasp the fundamental stuff in PHP (like the logic) until about January this year. ASP and PHP logic is different due to the way code works in both languages but certainly PHP, with all the functions it has, is quicker and easier to use and there's less time burning your brain to try and get the logic in any ASP application.

I do like the way Microsoft-based programming languages work, as in the code, much easier to read - if it was completely free, and had functions for everything you need just like PHP, I'd switch to ASP; or rather I would of used ASP in the first place.

There are no differences in what PHP, ASP and Perl can do except the length of code to do one thing or another and of course the language logic. Without the thousands of PHP functions available, or for the functions I use a lot in my PHP applications - I don't know how people could code in ASP to do specific tasks in such applications.

I think the main issue people have when they try and learn PHP is the functions and the way you use them - and I must admit, PHP's documentation is better than any other documentation be it Sun's Java documentation, etc. You need to know a handfull of functions if you want to create secure applications in PHP, for instance; but in ASP, you don't - you just need to know the logic behind the code to create secure applications.

And the transition between SQL Server and MySQL may be a little confusing as personally I don't know about "ADO.NET" or whatever system ASP uses for connection to databases but the advantage of functions in PHP is that you can connect to, and communicate with databases with functions PHP has.

I do recommend moving to PHP if you want to create personal applications, for instance for your personal site as really you're using the same logic in PHP in multiple applications - so there really isn't anything new to learn for every new application you make, but of course the features PHP has are amazing.

But really, if you're fine with ASP I see no need to move to PHP except if you want to create applications really quickly and easily. But that is from my perspective taking into account I don't know ASP so your perspective may be vice versa.

[Ben Stones]

And for anyone that can't decide between PHP, ASP or Perl you can always consider changing the file names

[bobxbobx]

A friend of mine suggested go for PHP because it can be used with more stable Linux.

[Catherine]

A friend of mine suggested go for PHP because it can be used with more stable Linux.

Yes, if you have PHP sites, Linux is a good option as it has several advantages. HTML, Perl, Curl, .JSP etc. are also supported on Linux hosting platform and hence if you have sites developed in these programming languages, you can opt for Linux platform