Re: Why use PHP? What are the disadvantages? -- WEB400

Tom wrote:
"HTML and Java Script for the interface. This seems to be rarely mentioned when people are singing the praises of PHP. I tried a number of tools to create this for me. But You pay the price of extra overhead and code when you run the application. It seems better to go with straight HTML and java script. "

I'm a little confused. I completely agree that PHP folks tend to forget that IBM i developers may know nothing about HTML or other web scripting languages like Java script. You have to learn HTML to make PHP work (and a little Java script certainly helps). But I missing something in how you get to the conclusion that it's better to go with straight HTML and Java script.

You simply can't do everything with HTML and Java script that you can do with PHP. For example, if you want to do an ad-hoc query against a DB2400 table and return the results as an HTML table, then you're out of luck with straight HTML and Java script. You need something on the server side like PHP or CGI.

Plus, it's not always the case that Java script works equally well on all browsers. The advantage of PHP in this regard is that PHP _always_ sends an HTML file to the browser. The output of PHP will run on everyone's browsers.

Kelly Cookson
Senior Programmer/Analyst
Dot Foods, Inc.
217-773-4486 x12676
www.dotfoods.com

-----Original Message-----
From: web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:web400-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Tom Deskevich
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 8:33 AM
To: web400@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [WEB400] Why use PHP? What are the disadvantages?

I asked a former co-worker this last year. He could not come up with
any.

I would like to compile a list, based on my own experience.

1. The ZEND subsystem sometimes does not come up properly when we
IPL.
I do not have the security to diagnose or change the startup procedure.
So fixing this becomes difficult for me.
But the fact that it usually comes up fine tells me that it is most
likely setup right.

2. Does not seem to be as much help out there on the internet for
the DB2 and I5 commands.
I am trying to sell PHP to the brass, so to speak. I wanted to show them
running a simple program how you can re-use code that is written in RPG
for the 5250 application, VB.NET application and PHP application. I got
the 5250 application done in a few hours. After having a co-worker work
up an example, I can call a stored procedure from the VB.NET
application. Again, just took a few hours. I have been trying to call a
stored procedure from a PHP application for WEEKS. And it is STILL not
working. If I show this to the brass, what if they ask me how long it
took? I don't expect people to program for me. I did puchase and read
The IBM i Programmer's Guide to PHP. I understand that this book cannot
have extensive examples of everything you can do with PHP on the I. And
it did help, but again only took me so for. I thought I could get an
application going without having formal training, but maybe that is what
I need.

3. HTML and Java Script for the interface. This seems to be rarely
mentioned when people are singing the praises of PHP. I tried a number
of tools to create this for me. But
You pay the price of extra overhead and code when you run the
application. It seems better to go with straight HTML and java script. I
have to admit, there is a ton of help out there. But the syntax of this
stuff if really fun, to say the least.

So as I saw somewhere once, try something new, and fail, at least you
are doing SOMETHING. But I just wonder if my efforts may be better spent
on other things.
Especially since I am the only person here who is remotely interested in
PHP. I mentioned earlier about formal training. But how can I sell that?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

And thank all of you for your help and guidance.

Tom Deskevich