Speed: PHP3 module or PHP4 cgi?

cdpapoulias

Hi all,

I am currently using the PHP3-module version of PHP using FastTemplates for my website.

In the very near future I will need to have the ability to allow people to log-in, to set cookies and show different things based upon whether or not they are logged in.

Speaking strictly in speed: which scenario is faster (and/or better?):

Scenario one:
- PHP3 as a module
- PHPlib 7.2b (for session management and I would convert from FastTemplates to PHPLIB templates)

Scenario two:
- PHP4 as cgi
- FastTemplates
- PHP4 built-in session management

I'm not really sure. I'm using a hosting provider, communitech.net, so I don't have a huge amount of flexibility and really need some advice here.

Thank you,
Dinos Papoulias

jbardin

Well, Another thing to add to the side of using the cgi version is that you can use it as a shell script... which allows you to extend your php coding into the crontab area.. Which allows you to preform some routine updating without having to have the site go down or cost a user page to load longer... So I would pick the cgi version for a hosted enviroment. Albeit there are some disadvantages to cgi i.e security, user permisions etc etc..

-Jon

cdpapoulias

Jon-

One vote for the cgi version, thank you!

What about "cleanliness"? It's my understanding that modules in apache are better. Would you mind expanding upon your list of disadvantages for the cgi version for me?

In your view...are the speed increases from PHP4 worth the security trade-offs?

Also, are the features that PHP4 has over PHP3 worth the securiy trade-offs?

Thanks again,
Dinos

Anon

if you have memory intensive apps i would suggest php4 becouse of it's refrence counting and the use of output buffering and compression can realy make the diffrence in loading times.

Anon

what about:
php4 (module), and phplib for template purpose (supposed to be faster than fast tempates).