losing $_SESSION variables

[tjmitoraj]

I am trying to use PHP as a Shell scripting language.

First, I created a simple snippet of code and accessed it as a typical php file through my browser. This simple code justs echos my user id, which is stored as a $_SESSION variable. The output is "Your user id is: Tom"

Next, I tried to convert the file to a PHP script, which I can execute from the command prompt or from calls by other php files.
To do this, I just added the shebang statement:
!#/usr/local/lib/php
The script executes without errors, but now the ouput is just:
"Your user id is: "

It can't seem to access the user id variable in the $_SESSION array.

The code I am using in both cases is:
echo "Your user id is: ".$_SESSION['uid'];

Both files are the same, except that my shell script version has the shebang line added at the top.
Both files also have session_start() at the top.

I would be happy to hear if anyone has any suggestions on how I can track down the missing data contained in these variables!

[sneakyimp]

I'm not certain at all as I don't have much experience with PHP from the command line, but I think that the session variables get lost because PHP might not be able to maintain a session ID unless you are using a browser???

session management between PHP and your browser is handled by passing a session ID back and forth either via cookies or as GET or POST or something...i'm not sure exactly how it works, but the browser and the web server share a unique session id that lets the webserver keep track of which session you are talking about.

if you're running from the command line, there isn't really any POST or GET or COOKIE stuff going on.

does anyone else know what might be up?