[emuobo]

Hello everybody,i just began php yesterday and i've gone far cos i'm deep in html, but when i open my .php file in my browser from my disk, it does not show.Can anybody give me a hint on it?I'll be grateful

[CrazeD]

Unlike HTML, PHP needs a webserver to run its interpreter.

Download a WAMP (preconfigured package containing Apache MySQL and PHP for Windows) such as AppServ or XAMPP or such.

Once you have a webserver installed, make sure Apache is running, put your .php files in the correct folder (for AppServ it is C:\AppServ\www by default) and then go to http://localhost/yourphpfile.php in your browser).

[emuobo]

CrazeD, u're good.U see, iam a complete php noob and dont know what a WAMP is.can you please explain it and where to download it?i've downloaded and installed php5.Should i also download and install mysql?i'm ready to learn them.Thanks alot

[CrazeD]

Well you can't just download and install. You also need Apache, and then to configure the PHP package with Apache, and then configure PHP/MySQL to work together.

If you wish to install it all separately, I can try to help or you can check out one of the many guides. However, I recommend, since you're a beginner, to install a WAMP.

A WAMP is Apache, PHP, and MySQL all preconfigured, so you just install one thing and everything works like a charm.

AppServ
XAMPP

[kmote]

I haven't tried AppServ but XAMPP is a very quick, easy way to get it all started up and working on windows and has a nice control panel.

[Dr.House]

Originally Posted by kmote

I haven't tried AppServ but XAMPP is a very quick, easy way to get it all started up and working on windows and has a nice control panel.

Xampp is good for the people getting started out, but when you get a good grip on PHP, you should look into working with installing it from scratch, its a good learning experience and helps you get to know PHP settings in php.ini which you can even tweak from individual scripts when needed (yay ini_set())

Anyway, thats just a little positive thing I thought might peak your interest, if you ever want to pursue that I can give you step by step (ive done XP and Vista setups for Apache, PHP, MySQL more times than i care to mention :-P)

Give me a hollar if your interested,

Dr. House

[CrazeD]

Originally Posted by tertiaris

Xampp is good for the people getting started out, but when you get a good grip on PHP, you should look into working with installing it from scratch, its a good learning experience and helps you get to know PHP settings in php.ini which you can even tweak from individual scripts when needed (yay ini_set())

Anyway, thats just a little positive thing I thought might peak your interest, if you ever want to pursue that I can give you step by step (ive done XP and Vista setups for Apache, PHP, MySQL more times than i care to mention :-P)

Give me a hollar if your interested,

Dr. House

Agreed.

It also allows you to install custom packages and other stuff more easily, like Perl and Python and stuff.

[Dr.House]

Originally Posted by CrazeD

Agreed.

It also allows you to install custom packages and other stuff more easily, like Perl and Python and stuff.

I wholly agree with that, I remember trying to get GD and a few others up and running, just had to move a .dll file in the right place and restart Apache and vua la! Magic

Good stuff

[kmote]

Oh yeah, I would never use XAMPP in production, it's just a dev tool really. I think that it even says as much in the documentation.

[Dr.House]

Originally Posted by kmote

Oh yeah, I would never use XAMPP in production, it's just a dev tool really. I think that it even says as much in the documentation.

It is true, you should never use something like that.

I guess that is it