Is PHP really cross-platform ?

Anon

Having written a product in ASP, I am researching PHP with a view to making the next products cross platform (well at least Windows and Linux anyway).

I finally found a windows package that includes the gd libraries, mssql libraries etc. out-of-the-box and was starting to really back PHP.

However, it now appears that there are significant holes in the Windows version of PHP, namely that checkdnsrr, getmxrr don't work at all (and that fact isnt documented so lots of time wasted) under Windows.

But, no matter, I found a script that uses the exec() command to get the information I required.

Ah ... buy yes, exec() doesnt work either!! No output! Others experience this too.

So, my question is, how can I justify PHP to the purse-string holders as a cross platform product? Having attempted to get the ' Validate an email address ' scripts working as my latest research venture, I keep hitting brick walls in the Windows environment.

Dont bother answering with ' Use Linux ' because not all our customers are happy with a Linux solution on their premises.

Maybe 'development' of PHP should stop until the existing functions are fixed across all the platforms ?

tony.

Anon

While I've never written a email address validator, I write a lot of php. I never use exec....instead I used back ticks, but for most people, the problems they have with exec() are because their permissions are not setup correctly and they don't understand how a web server works.

I have my own site (db.etree.org) written in php on linux and I have a product written for work in php running under windows. I have run into no problems with scripts not working on either platform (except when trying to use useful stuff in windows like grep).

I prefer scripting even my scheduled events in php under windows because after talking with 4 MS certified tech people, there is no way to send email from the command line in windows.

If this is your first experience with php, make sure you're using it correctly before assuming it's all php's fault.

Anon

Another solutions would be to get a decent C++ compiler and get the source version and compile it yourself, you should find that all the libraries are downloadable and as they are written in C++ should simply compile without problem.

I use both Linux and NT versions of PHP4 and experience no serious difficulties in development of applications.

Regards
James

Anon

there is no way to send email from the
command line in windows.

As long as you can reach an SMTP server, you can always send your email from PHP by just opening a socket and talking directly to the server. Look for the RFQ regarding SMTP: it's pretty simple to do. Basically, you just open a socket to port 25 on the server, and say:

HELO your_name (arbitrary)
MAIL FROM: <your_email address>
RCPT TO: <addressee>
DATA
email content...
(note you must include any header lines, including From: and To:, that you want to appear in the email.
.

QUIT

Anon

I totally agree, but I was refering to DOS and .bat files. I use php because it offers the abilitiy you outlined here.

Anon

It's very clearly stated that the Win32 version of PHP (and Apache for that matter) isn't as stable as the Unix versions.. No one is trying to sell you PHP -- perhaps ASP is the best solution for you if you're using all Windows servers...

Use what's best for you, not what slashdot trolls say is best.

I'm not a Windows guy for a lot of reasons, I've been using Unix and PHP for many years now so I can't comment on if the problems you have are PHP's fault or yours. Expecting development to stop because exec() doesn't work on Windows OSes (if that's true) is crazy.

If I was a Windows guy, I probably would use ASP or something over, it's just probably going to be more stable than PHP.

Anon

OK,

Firstly, thanks for the honest answers. I am aware now that getting a cross-platform product would be more difficult than I first anticipated, though not impossible. Unfortunately, it wasnt clear to me as a new PHP user that this would be the case. I can honestly say I have only read GOOD things about PHP, with quotes like 'PHP is better than ASP because ...' etc.

It was obviously I little disheartening to find out it isnt -quite- so easy.

I am, however, still determined to get the next Company's product written in PHP instead of ASP. Apart from anything, I would love to remove our Company's dependany of the Microsoft empire.

Other than the 'Windows help' forums, have I missed some vital documentation that does gives clues as to the Windows PHP issues ?

Initially I WILL still be coding for Windows platforms - with PHP I hope to be able to shift to Linux, something you CANT do with ASP !!

Tony.