PHP or Java

Anon

Hi,
I'm working on a big project and I'd like to know what is better.
Linux Java/JSP with Mysql ou Linux PHP with Mysql.
Thanks
Gonzalo

flipis

Depending on how big is the proyect. PHP is a good option.

fLIPIS

Anon

As fLIPIS said, it all depends on the size of the project and a little bit of personal preference. I personally use PHP instead of JSP not just 'cause it's faster to code and run, but because it connects directly into the database server (not needing a ODBC or JDBC driver) removing a possible source of trouble.

The other reason I chose PHP is it's documentation. All organized and easy to use, as no other language I've seen so far. Most of your questions can be answered with just a fast visit to php.net.

AS I said...

It all depends... they say that java and JSP are better for big projects but I've never had any problem with PHP and C++.

I sugest you take look at PHP's manual as well as your servlet engine's manual (Are you thinking about using Tomca??)..

[deleted]

Don't forget that Java also needs a very resource-hungry (and quite buggy and slow) runtime system.

From a maintenance point of view: every text editor can edit PHP files and the changes are active immediately. java must be compiled before it can be executed

And for the future, if you do it in java, it can only be maintained by someone who knows java. So you have to hire a java programmer, which are expensive/scarce. PHP is much easier to learn and thus much easier to maintain. (anyone who knows PERL knows PHP too)

One argument for java: it has a very rigid structure, it is very easy to make well-structured programs. PHP's loose structure lets you create crap scripts in no time at all. But then again, how good your scripts are depends on your qualities as a programmer, not on the language that you use.

smarlowe

Depends on what kind of project really. PHP is great for user interface intensive coding and such, but lacks some of the more esoteric features people like to put into the backend of a project.

But I would recommend switching from MySQL to Postgresql or another real RDBMS if you can, as MySQL isn't really built for heavy load, especially heavy load with a lot of writes going into the database.