On July 24, 2003 02:24 pm, Patrick Marquetecken wrote:
> I don't want to start a flame, but i'm wondering whats the best language to
> use with apache. I don't know both and going to learn one. I know that perl
> can be used "standalone" of php i don't know.
perl is amazing. you can write cgi-scripts in it for web forms, write an mp3
player for your car, or, if given enough time, i'm sure some perl-geeks could
write software for exploratory robots on mars. perl is pretty damn amazing
in terms of its expandability with modules, community support and one of my
favourites: string parsing. perl is GREAT at pulling down content from
sites, ripping through it for info and sorting it any way you like.
php is WAY easier to use though. connecting to a mysql db is practically
seemless and there's a huge number of built-in functions that are used all
the time in web development that have to be hand written in perl.
for example, mail() is a php function that sends mail to someone. this
capability is available in perl, but requires much more work on your behalf.
in perl, you have to open a pipe to your mail binary, write to it and then
close the pipe.
i love perl. it's the shiz-nit when it comes to writing log-parsers, or
system administration tools, but for my money, php is just faster and easier
to use for the web.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
php has some serious failings when it comes to programming. it's designed for
sloppy coders, not enforcing namespaces and instead preferring to globalise
your variables etc. if you're looking to learn your first language, don't
let it be php. it gives you some bad habits that can be harder to shake
later on.
my $0.02
--
writing about music is like dancing about architecture.
- frank zappa
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