PHP 5.0.2 vs. PHP 4.3.9 - Which is Latest Version!

therealbeale

I'm confused as to which version of PHP is the latest version.

PHP 5.0.2 is listed in the downloads section of PHP.net below PHP 4.3.9. Logic would have it that if PHP 4.3.9 is now obsolete, having been superseded by 5.0.2, then it should be listed below PHP 5, not above.

Can anyone explain this to me as I'm confused as to which version is the one I should be using. Has development of PHP 'forked'? Is PHP 5 so different that nobody's migrating because of major backwards compatibility issues?

All I've heard is that PHP 5 and Apache 2 are a no-no for the time being.

Thanks

Beale

Shrike

PHP 5 is a new release, with alot of new (and somewhat incompatible) features. Zend are still developing PHP 4 because 5 is such a drastic shift. I should think most hosting providers won't upgrade to 5 until it's been thoroughly road tested, and of course people want to use the new features.

Read all about 5 here. I've not heard of PHP 5 being incompatible with Apache 2, though I might be in the dark 🙂

rachel2004

Shrike has already answered the issue regarding PHP4 vs PHP5. After reviewing the change log and barring any problems with backward incompatibility, just go for the PHP 5.02 release. If you're just getting started with PHP, you probably aren't going to be getting into some of the newer syntax or nitty gritty object oriented functions that came about in PHP 5 and for which backwards compatiblity does not exist with v4.3x. As far as Apache 2, there are peple who use Apache 2 and PHP 4/5 and quite happy with it. Unless you plan on using features only available in Apache 2, then use Apache 1.31 to err on the side of stability. And it's an Apache 2 + PHP thing, not an Apache 2 + PHP5 specific issue. Maybe this will shed some light on the subject (or aid with insomnia):
http://www.php.net/manual/en/faq.installation.php#faq.installation.apache2