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Setting
Up A Computer For PHP Web Programming
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| Web
Servers |
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Depending
on which Operating System you are using you will be
using either Microsoft's IIS (Internet Information
Services) or Apache.
If you are using Windows 95, 98 or Me you can't use
Microsoft's IIS and I wouldn't recommend using Microsoft's
Personal Web Server. There is many reports about PWS
and PHP having problems working together. I would recommend
installing Apache if you are using Windows 95 or 98.
If you are using Windows NT, 2000 or XP you will be
using Microsoft's IIS or Apache. If you are only trying
to setup your system to develop PHP pages and not as
production server I would go with Microsoft's IIS,
much faster to install and manage if you have little
experience with web servers.
If using Windows 2000 or XP, IIS is already on your
Installation CD. To Install it go to your Control Panel
and select Add/Remove Programs. Then click on Add/Remove
Windows Components. Then check off Internet Information
Services.
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| Databases |
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PHP
can be setup to work with any database, but the most
popular database to using is MySQL. PHP has built in
support to
MySQL, all other databases you would have to setup
by yourself.
To learn how to install MySQL on a Windows platform
click
here. |
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| PHP |
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There
are two different ways to install PHP on a windows
platform system. One is to use the self-installer
version, the other is to use the manual zip file
version. If you are using IIS and are only setting
up a developer
system I would recommend the self-installer. The
self-installer is a CGI version of PHP. If you are
building a production server install PHP using the
manual zip file. The module version of PHP has better
performance and security.
You can download all versions of PHP from www.php.net/downloads.php
Even if you are only installing PHP from the self-installer
I would download both the self-installer and zip
file version. The reason for this is because the
self-installer only installs the basics. If you
need to setup PHP to link to a databases other then
MySQL
you will need the zip file to get the dlls libraries.
Also there is many other libraries in the zip you
may need
later.
There is a FastCGI add-on you are download to increase
your CGI version PHP 4-8x if you want.
[click
here] |
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| Web
Development Tools |
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There
is many great web development tools on the market today.
One of the best is Macromedia's Dreamweaver Mx. Macromedia
also makes a great little graphic tool
called Fireworks.
Download a 30 days evaluation copy here:
Or
go to Macromedia Homepage: http://www.macromedia.com
Other great PHP web development tools are PHPEdit and Zend
Studio. PHPEdit is a free PHP editor with many great
features. Zend Studio is made by Zend Technologies also
the company that develops the zend engine that runs PHP
itself. The Zend Studio is a great editor with many
advance features like a debugger and CVS support.
You may want to download a free FTP program to help better
manage your web sites on the remote server. I would recommend
LeechFTP.
Download here: http://download.com.com/3000-2356-10122208.htmll
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