using php to check software version

ironlynxtk

The company i work for has a software which we update constantly.

We have to send out updates to all out clients on a regular basis and it is very tedious.

Is it possible to create a version checker through PHP to check for the softwares version?

i.e.

Our programmers release a new version (version 1.1)
Client with verision 1.0 goes to our website and clicks update button
PHP script checks version info and then informs client whether to update or not.

basically like how you go to microsofts website for system updates.

is PHP the tool for this? or should I be looking at another scripting language.

laserlight

From what I understand, the software would be stored client side (i.e., this is not a web based application). PHP cannot perform such a check since it involves looking at the client's local files. You could request that the user upload a version info file, but that defeats the purpose of the script as it would be easier for the user to look up the version number from the software itself.

Weedpacket

Unless the software itself had enough of an http client built into it that it could connect to the website and ask what the latest version is. Then it compares the latest version with its own and from that decides whether to tell the user about an upgrade.

Of course, the server doesn't have much to do: output the current version number.

laserlight

Unless the software itself had enough of an http client built into it that it could connect to the website and ask what the latest version is. Then it compares the latest version with its own and from that decides whether to tell the user about an upgrade.

Ah yes, but that is probably best done in the programming language the software was written in.

Weedpacket

Goes without saying, that.