Re: [XPOST from WDSCI-L] Webfacing out, EGL in

[David Gibbs <david@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Joe Pluta wrote:
> Not sure what your point is here.  I don't consider basic PHP to be a
>  viable production web application environment

Lots of people think otherwise.

My point is just this ... PHP is widely used (a lot more widely used than EGL) and *I SUSPECT* that relatively few pay Zend for support.

AFAICT, basic PHP functionality on IBM i is essentially free ... and will remain so (again, as far as I can tell).

For those IBM i based organizations, who use PHP, and do not need / want Zend Enterprise can get support for PHP from the community ... like most other, non i, organizations that use PHP.

> I'm less sanguine about the support received from open source 
> communities.  Sometimes it's very good, sometimes not so good. That's
>  why when I talk about PHP as part of an enterprise environment, I am
>  not considering an environment where PHP.net is your primary 
> resource.  Once you go down the pure open source route, then why not 
> Ruby?  Or Python? The possibilities are endless!

Yes, and lots of organizations are doing just that.

> Some companies may be willing to do that, and I'm not saying it's 
> wrong.  But I'd guess that a lot of companies are unwilling to commit
>  their mission critical systems to a web-supported open source 
> development environment.

Considering how many companies DO use PHP ... I _think_ that statement is incorrect.  I don't have hard numbers to back my opinion up though.

> And that's where the discussion of Java EE vs. RPG-CGI vs. PHP vs. 
> EGL comes into play.

When it comes down to it ... EGL is just *ONE* way for an organization to get an application on the  web.  It's not the _BEST_ solution, it's not the _ONLY_ solution (although it is the newest) ... it's just ONE solution.  There are many others.  PHP, JSP, Python, Ruby, CGI, .net, etc.  Each have their pluses & minuses.  Organizations need to evaluate their needs, consider their resources, review the tools, and make an informed decision.

david