build executable

gaucho

Hello,
I was wondering where I could get more information on how to get my scripts (own php application) compiled to an executable binary to be able to let it run as a stand-alone outside a server.
I searched here for something different, and found some postings remaking that this could be done, but no one explained how.

I'm running php on a Win32 machine.

Thanks in advance

Regards

Gaucho

ozzythaman

if you have some simple c experience, you can modify the source to

make it stop requiring startup parameters (for source file)
instead of reading the source file with fread or whatever, make it read it from an array, and that array's (char's) contents should be your .php sourcefile
make sure that no external libraries are required (you must provide 'em too then)
keep in mind that sending parameters you need for your program may be tricky..
important: DISABLE startup parameters (there's one that shows the source of the file... thus revealing your precious code..
And remember that there's a potential risk of beeing able to see your code by examining the executable and the memory, because your source is stored as a string (i'm not very sure about the risk in executables. there are exe scramblers to make it more difficult to see stuff inside.. )... and as for memory, it should be stored quite readable... but you should'nt care unless you're working on something top secret..

gaucho

Hello ozzythaman,

foa thanks for your reply.
I was searching a little myself, and for the point of the sources being seen by others there seems to be a solution by using an encoder. I've seen on some places, that people recommended the Zend encoder. I didn't go further into that matter yet.
The point with the fread, etc, to tell you the truth, I think I didn't really understand what you mean.
Let me ask you some questions if you don't mind.
The scenario is like this:
I have made web based application for a friend of mine that uses it locally on one PC. I wrote it like usual in php, the input forms are called from a browser, the data is stored in a database. To make it run I had to install a web server on his machine, php and the db-server. I was thinking about a way of getting rid of the web server, which means I need to execute the code somehow, having no problem displaying the forms.
Researching th web, I found PHP-GTK, but to tell you the truth again, I'm not really happy with this solution.
If it would be possible to throw the forms into the browser for input like when using the web server would be great, but if not possible, this would mean that I would have to rebuild the GUI, I think. Or am I wrong?
Now to your proposition, let me see if I got it at least a little right. You said I should create an array that contains my code, do you mean the whole code, HTML and logic or only logic, producing the HTML or whatever I need as GUI in a different language, like C, C++, eg in Visual Studio.
Should I then recompile php including my code so when executing php it calls my application?
I think this would turn the things a little complicated, it would then be easier to port the code directly to C or C++ and build a standalone version from the scratch.
If I misunderstood, just tell me, a little snippet showing the difference would also be nice, but just if it is not too much work for you.

Thanks in advance

Gaucho

ozzythaman

I came up with my modification because i didn't need much interaction with the program, but still needed it to be mobile and so that i could send a single executable to people and beeing sure that it wouldn't depend on anything.. and another concern was that i didn't want anyone to read my source easily..

i'm not exactly sure about the zend encoder, whether it is supposed to be used as a standalone program or if it still needs a web server...

but if it is as a standalone program, like my mod. don't expect any graphical interaction with the program, like fancy forms and graphics like in an ordinary web script.. all parameters and interaction will then be done through the command line (my mod is so anyway)

i think that the encoder that zend provides probably does the same as my modification, but it comes with the cost...

but this is as i've understood not what you want...

if you want to use html for design in your program -> you need to use a browser

making your program portable (and independent of a webserver) AND using html is a combination that i really dont see possible

you've found one little gap in the world of computers that would change a lot if fixed..
all what is needed browsers that can send parameters to local executables and beeing able to show the output from the program....

jeremuck

why don't you like GTK-PHP ?
it looks very promising to me...

gaucho

Hi again ozzythaman,

what the Zend encoder does, is only to protect the code from being easily seen, nothing more, nothing less (as far as I remember). I agree with your opinion concerning the use of HTML (forms & output), it really seems not to be possible to use the code "as is" to produce a standalone application without having a web-server running.
But to tell you the truth, you made me a little curious about the modifications you did. I mean, if you don't mind sharing your knowledge with me or maybe others. If you do mind, no problem at all, it is yours, and you might be able to make a good buck out of your idea.
The way it looks right now, at least for me and my project, I might keep it the way it is for right now, and then I might port it to C or C++ sometimes, if somebody really isn't happy with having a web server running on his local machine, at least as long as I don't find a better solution. Maybe the only thing needed is to write a HTML-parser that could be bound to a browser, something like the Flash plugin, etc. Well I don't know yet, future will show.
For right now thanks for your comments, and like I said, if you don't mind sharing modifications, I wouldn't mind giving them a try. Maybe they could build a base for further developement and research (perfectioning).

Hi jaremuck,
I also agree with your opinion, PHP-GTK really looks very promising, but it does not really match my needs. I also had really bad times to compile it in order to bind it to my dev-environment. I use PHP 4.2.4 dev, and it doesn't work with it the way it comes packed right now, at least on my machine. It just throws out many errors before the application starts, and as far as I understood, I would have to rebuild the GUI anyway if I use it, I mean I'm just able to use my program logic, and that's it. OK, conerning the platform independence, this might be worth it, but this is not on top of my priority list at the moment, because using a web server has the same effect at the moment + being able of multi-user support, Intranet & Internet capabilities, and this without having to change a piece of code. If it would be possible to combine all of this in my code, without really having to change a lot, fine, but I really don't mind if I have to leave it the way it is. Who knows, maybe a further developement of PHP, or a new developement of something like a plugin for browsers or whatever might fill the gap. I'll do some more research in the future, for sure, but my top of the list priority is to get a complete application to work, and I'm quite finished.

OK, thanks again to both, as soon as I find a solution or have an idea, I'll post it.

Best regards

Gaucho

ozzythaman

hi again, i've noticed that i haven't answered your last question..

the thing is, i dont mind sharing my thoughts..

if you want to to what i described, make sure you are fully qualified in c programming... otherwise dont bother... (i know c but didn't want to crack my head with this task, so i told a friend to do it for me)

simply: change the source so that the program reads the source from an char array instead of a file...

gaucho

Hi ozzythaman,

thanks, for the posting, I havent been here for a few days so sorry for the delay.
I think I know what you mean now.
Instead of making scripts, I should implement the functions into an array directly before compiling PHP, and change the code of the php executable in that way that it doesn't read the php scripts but the array compiled into the code.

Am I right now? I mean, that would make sence to me.

Thanks again, and just tell me if I'm right. This would be a solution, but to tell you the truth, I'm not nearly good in C, I'll checkt taht option as soon as I have time. Right now I'm just too busy.

Best regards

Gaucho

ozzythaman

completely correct mi amigo

gaucho

Hi ozzythaman,

so I got it right, well, thanks for this tip, this is really a good idea.
The only thing that I would have to solve is the thing about the interaction with forms.

Well, thanks again.

Greetz

Gaucho

ppera

I thinking about same thing currently.

My idea is to use php.exe and pass parameters via command line.
Need to see how exactly that pass goes...

Of course it is very limited, but can work for simpler things.