Portability of PHP from windows to Linux

[seth]

Hello,

I am new to the open source environment. We have to develop a web
application using Apache/PHP/MySQL on Windows (A component that we want
to use is available only on Windows for now). Later when the component
is available on Linux, we would like to move the code.

The web application is a simple one - collects data, does some simple
validations and stores in the database.

I would like to know how portable the code will be. Do we need to
rewrite a lot of code when we move from Windows to Linux? What are the
issues I need to be aware of?

Thanks for your help,
seth

[ZeldorBlat]

Probably not too bad. The main thing would be adjusting any hard-coded
paths to files -- both in the code and in php.ini (since the filepaths
in Linux use / to separate directories). You will probably need to
check permissions on directories and files that the application
requires.

The other place you might run into trouble is connecting to any
databases -- only because modules and extensions are loaded differently
under Linux than they would be on Windows. That's more of a PHP setup
issue than a code problem.

There are probably also differences in how you might interact with the
operating system -- especially the file system. Opening and writing to
files, etc. might have slight different requirements or limitations
under a different OS.

I'd say that it shouldn't be too difficult, but be prepared to spend a
little time adjusting your PHP configuration and make some minor code
changes. Above all, test it first!

[Kenneth Downs]

seth wrote:

Hello,

I am new to the open source environment. We have to develop a web
application using Apache/PHP/MySQL on Windows (A component that we want
to use is available only on Windows for now). Later when the component
is available on Linux, we would like to move the code.

The web application is a simple one - collects data, does some simple
validations and stores in the database.

I would like to know how portable the code will be. Do we need to
rewrite a lot of code when we move from Windows to Linux? What are the
issues I need to be aware of?

Thanks for your help,
seth

If it is simple what is the component that will only work on Windows?

It is usually the case that all of the really nifty components are more
readily available on Linux, because PHP is really just an interface into
the many libraries available on that platform.

--
Kenneth Downs
Secure Data Software, Inc.
(Ken)nneth@(Sec)ure(Dat)a(.com)

[Nicholas Sherlock]

seth wrote:

I would like to know how portable the code will be. Do we need to
rewrite a lot of code when we move from Windows to Linux? What are the
issues I need to be aware of?

The code I wrote that works fine on my local EasyPHP testing server
(Windows) failed on a commercial server (Linux) because table/field
names in the MySQL database were apparently case sensitive on the server
(Worked fine here). Watch out :). All lowercase names is a good standard.

Cheers,
Nicholas Sherlock

[NC]

seth wrote:

I am new to the open source environment. We have to develop a web
application using Apache/PHP/MySQL on Windows (A component that we want
to use is available only on Windows for now). Later when the component
is available on Linux, we would like to move the code.

The web application is a simple one - collects data, does some simple
validations and stores in the database.

I would like to know how portable the code will be. Do we need to
rewrite a lot of code when we move from Windows to Linux? What are the
issues I need to be aware of?

Generally, PHP code is portable with zero rewrites, unless OS-specific
extensions are used. For example, shared memory and semaphores are not

available on Windows, while COM is available only on Windows. So an
application relying on shared memory or semaphores will not work under
Windows, while an application using COM will work only on Windows.

Check the documentation for extensions you are using for any
OS-specific
notes.

Cheers,
NC

[Peter Fox]

Following on from seth's message. . .

I would like to know how portable the code will be. Do we need to
rewrite a lot of code when we move from Windows to Linux? What are the
issues I need to be aware of?

Not a big issue, in fact I would say just the same as going from one
version of something to another: There might be odd niggles which cause
frustration but nothing to cause you to do any serious rewrites. You'll
just find that something that worked fails possibly with an error and is
fixed by trivial tweak to paths, filenames and permissions. This might
be due to different versions of PHP, mySQL, Apache and sillynesses with
config files.

Bottom line is assume it will work as-is but be prepared for some
tweaks.

--
PETER FOX Not the same since the statuette business went bust
pe******@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html
2 Tees Close, Witham, Essex.
Gravity beer in Essex <http://www.eminent.demon.co.uk>

[Al Kolff]

"Nicholas Sherlock" <n_********@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:df**********@lust.ihug.co.nz...

seth wrote:

I would like to know how portable the code will be. Do we need to
rewrite a lot of code when we move from Windows to Linux? What are the
issues I need to be aware of?

The code I wrote that works fine on my local EasyPHP testing server
(Windows) failed on a commercial server (Linux) because table/field
names in the MySQL database were apparently case sensitive on the server
(Worked fine here). Watch out :). All lowercase names is a good standard.

Cheers,
Nicholas Sherlock

I have had the same experience. The bigger problem was different versions of
PHP and MySql on the Windows and Linux servers. Usually the Linux servers
seem to be running newer versions.

Al Kolff

[Andy Hassall]

On 31 Aug 2005 00:43:46 -0700, "NC" <[e-mail]> wrote:

For example, shared memory and semaphores are not
available on Windows

Actually shared memory is available through: http://uk2.php.net/shmop
The example script runs fine here on Windows 2000.

But presumably you were referring to the System V IPC stuff.

--
Andy Hassall :: an**@andyh.co.uk :: http://www.andyh.co.uk
http://www.andyhsoftware.co.uk/space :: disk and FTP usage analysis tool

[seth]

People,

Thanks for all your replies. The information you have provided is
really helpful. I really appreciate you all for taking time to respond.

It started me thinking.
Can PHP call APIs in a 'custom windows dll' as effectively as ASP?
Looks like there could be some issues here, based on some of the posts
I saw.

Thanks,
seth