I have an idea that I want to develop and potientially sell to users. Is php the language I should use or should I be using ASP or something else. I don't know anything about ASP.

It depends on what the idea is. If it's an idea for digitized toasters, you probably don't want to be using PHP.

No it is not a digital toaster, and way better of an idea.

The thinking is that the software would be installed on a clients server where it would be used.

Let's pretend for a moment that it is such a great idea that microsoft would wants it.

again, it depends on what is being served. If it's ordinary HTTP requests that create content that is going to end up in a browser, or it is a web service of some sort, PHP is a great choice.

If you need a server that opens a port to allow raw TCP connections, you're better off using something else.

PHP is usually used for web-based content.

Is there anything specific that you have questions about?

Originally Posted by dgkindy

Let's pretend for a moment that it is such a great idea that microsoft would wants it.

Visions of Windows 8 being written in php It's difficult to comment without more details but it looks as though you're talking about a Windows app?

Hi,

PHP with MySQL is a robust combination for deploying feature rich dynamic applications, but if your idea will result into a very very very huge database generated then you might even think of .NET with MS SQL Server. Traditional ASP is kind of out dated now.

Cheers,

~Maneet

Actually it will really depend on what technology the "Client's server" will be running.

If they run Windows then ASP/ASP.NET would be the first choice. If it is *nix then PHP would be weapon on choice.

PHP would be a better option to start with because it is simple to understand, Supports Object oriented support and most of all it is free and available at no cost.

So is ASP and ASP.NET if you already run Windows!

BTW

"free" and "available at no cost" mean the same thing basically.

If you are familiar with MS Money or Quicken, I assume that these are some sort of db system that do not run on MySQL but are some form of a db. I cannot edit the interface screens and cannot access the backend either.

What is used to create programs like that?

C, C++, Delphi for a full executable, Visual Basic could be used as well along with the redistributable "run-time" DLLs.

Or you could create a .NET framework application with one of the .net languages.

And it is not difficult to create a data file that is specifically for your application.

Originally Posted by chrishirst

C, C++, Delphi for a full executable...

what do you mean by "full executable"?

is there a such thing as a partially executable-executable?


What is meant by this?

A "full executable" (my terminology) would be one that does not require libraries or "run-times" to exist on the target environment.

With C, C++ & Delphi and others you can compile all the code required into a monolithic file especially for such things as console apps and apps that run as a service.

Visual Basic compiles into a "p-code" executable that requires the vbrun300.dll and/or vbrun500.dll to function plus any external code references must be installed and registered on the target machine.

And .net applications require the .net framework to be installed on the target machine

So yes it is possible to have a "partially-executable executable"

nice terminology. Do you think we could use "lightweight" as well?

I guess that would depend on how monolithic that source file is. Kind of confusing terminology, but the way you used it, makes perfect sense. Maybe it'll catch on? lol

You could but the "support files" are anything but

Same with the MFC Library (Microsoft Foundation Class) used in C++ as a "wrapper" to the Windows API.