Did anyone use oracle+php?

blackhorse

My friend (An oracle guy) suggested me check out oracle+php. http://www.oracle.com/technology/getting-started/php.html (Oracle express is free too.)

Did anyone use it before? Is there any reason to pick oracle+php rather than mysql (or postregsql) + php.

I used to use Interbase (Firebird) + php, now the major reason I am moving away from it because my client had hard time to find major hosting companies support Interbase and FireBird (Which I don't understand why, if you have it other hosting doesn't have it, meaning you will have the business other people will not have). Maybe it is because interbase/firebird lack of the tools such as phpmyadmin?

Anyway, I assume Oracle will be more powerful. But I still want the exact reasons for the situations that I should pick up oracle+php instead of mysql (or postregsql) + php? And also if I use oracle + php, will I run into the problems that not so many hosting support oracle as database? Any license limitations of using free oracle as database?

jheitz

I have not used Oracle and PHP together but separately. I would very much encourage you to use that combination for a few reasons (bearing in mind I was not aware of there being a free version of Oracle: Oracle Express):

Oracle is one of the most used RDBMS (Relational DataBase Management Systems) and one of the most powerful. Therefore it has many features that other systems lack. Again, unsure as per the free "express" version you mention but Oracle has for example "jobs" which are basically scheduled tasks that to my knowledge do not exist on MySQL.
Since it is so widely used I would assume it would be widely supported & document, to a similar extent as MySQL.

blackhorse

http://www.oracle.com/technology/products/database/xe/index.html

With oracle express (free version) there, what are the affects to MySQL and Postregsql?

Last time when Borland made the Interbase free and open source, I jumped to it and many hosting supported it. And then later on Borland made the Interbase not free any more, even with firebird continued the open source and free updates, not so many hosting support interbase/firebird any more. I hope it wouldn't happen again.

But no matter what, get a chance to play with free Oracle version is good.