Re: [chiPHPug-discuss] In defense of PHP

[Anacreo <an...@gm...>]

I'm kind of afraid of posting first as the bashing can come... but as has
been discussed on this forum almost every language has its place.  For
instance for this PDF flow that I'm doing I'm using bourne scripts, PHP
scripts, and Perl scripts.  They each have their place.  If I want to parse
an XML file and do a bunch of business logic (using large memory arrays) I
choose PHP.  If I want to edit 200mb+ files in a stream binary safe and have
them go out to multiple files I use Perl, and if I just need simple shell
scripts to glue it all together I use bourne.

Where does Python fit into this?  I don't know.  I have found PHP code to be
more readable then Python scripts, but that could just be the author.  PHP
code should be faster but startup could take longer -- Python should have a
smaller engine.  Python should be easier to embed like Tcl, so it gets a lot
more traction as an embedded scripting language.  I've seen Python used in
lots of control frameworks so it would probably be a good way to replace
bourne.

I also seriously doubt that Python has any where near the number of built in
"options" as PHP that make PHP a swiss army knife.  Perl's power comes from
its convenience features which makes it perfect for somethings (quck and
dirty) and horrible for others (large code base projects).

That's my 2 cents, let the bashing fly.

Alec

On 10/1/07, Steven <coo...@ya... > wrote:
>
> This art hosting site that I'm a member of has started a topic on their
> forums announcing that they're going to be redesigning their entire site
> from scratch and that they're looking for volunteers, whether it be coding,
> beta testing, whatever. The current head programmer has decided that they're
> going to do it in Python using the Pylons and SQLAlchemy frameworks.
> Whatever those are. I tried reading some of the Pylons framework's website
> and couldn't understand what the heck they were talking about.
>
> Of course, someone decides to step in and mention that it could simply be
> done in PHP, but much to my irritation, that sparks a debate on the verge of
> a flame war in which every programming staff member of that site bashes PHP
> and considers it a horrible language that "resists being written nicely".
> And since they're so close-minded about it, I of course decide to step in:
> http://www.furaffinityforums.net/showthread.php?tid=12643&pid=218320#pid218320
> (Yes, it's furaffinity. *chuckles*)
>
> What I find strangest is that these programming staff members seem to know
> infinitely more than I do about programming. Yet they are so close-minded on
> PHP that they'll re-write their entire website and forum from the ground up
> using frameworks and a language that's more for PC programming rather than
> in a language designed for the web?
>
> This is confusing. How can someone become as knowledgeable in programming
> as they apparently are yet not see how good PHP is for web things? Do they
> see something I don't?
>
> I'm beginning to wonder if PHP has any merit at all. What does PHP have
> that other languages doesn't that makes it worth using. Does PHP even have
> any advantages to other languages?
>
> You guys are probably the closest to a PHP authority that I have easy
> access to, so I pose the above question to you guys. Reinforce my view of my
> 'native' language being a good one. Or at least give me some grounds to
> stand on should I need to defend PHP in a debate like the one I mentioned
> above.
>
> ~Amaroq Wolf
>
>
>
>
>
>       ____________________________________________________________________________________
> Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? Perfect.  Join Yahoo!'s user
> panel and lay it on us.
> http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This SF.net email is sponsored by: Microsoft
> Defy all challenges. Microsoft(R) Visual Studio 2005.
> http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/vse0120000070mrt/direct/01/
> _______________________________________________
> chiPHPug-discuss mailing list
> chi...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/chiphpug-discuss
>