PHP vs ASP/Classic

Hey everyone,

I've been using Classic ASP with Javascript for all of my serverside programming, simply because I already knew Javascript.

I'm considering learning a new language, and I know that most of the other coders here use either PHP or ASP.NET. Which one should I learn?

What are the benefits and drawbacks to your preferred language?

Here's mine:

Classic ASP (JavaScript)

Benefits:
Easy to learn, can use the same syntax and logic in browser-side scripting (Javascript) as well. Offers easy ways to re-use code with functions.

Drawbacks:
Little support for image/file manipulation without plugins. Hard to create true objects, and Windows hosting can be a headache.

Suggestions? Comments?

 

php

Its simple and you can do just about anything with it.

its really easy to learn

ex:

PHP:

<?php
echo('hello world!!!');
?>

just copy-paste that into a .php file, visit it, and you have learned hello world >.>

has image manipulation functions (LOTS of them, all included in php)

php runs on every kind of host
php is easy to use with mysql

you could really make a ton of things with it.

its easier then visual basic after you learn a few functions.

 

The image manipulation is really what I've been liking about PHP.

Examples?

 

PHP is the best choice I would say. Its also really easy to learn.

 

just go to php.net theres a whole function list

broken down into catagories or just search, image manipulation, imagepng, etc. doesnt really matter, a whole bunch of functions will come up on the left side.

 

PHP, though vastly supported, is only supported on servers with the correct modules installed. Just thought I'd chip that in.

I've never really looked in to ASP / JScript, but PHP is a great language for serverside development. I've also heard things about ColdFusion. My recommendation? Try all of them. Spend a month or two just looking in to different languages and find which one you like the most.

 

I've seen a far greater amount of web hosting plans support PHP, which made me curious as to why it is so popular.

I've also heard of JSP pages, which is in Java.

Anyone know what a .ws page is written in (RS apparently uses it as well)?

 

The .ws file extension stands for Windows Script last time I checked. I'm not sure if there's a specific language you would use it for.

 

I think with most PHP installations you can configure what file extensions are parsed as PHP files (I'm pretty sure I read this somewhere but can't remember for sure).

I didn't think Runescape's website was coded in PHP but now that I take another look at it their links they seem to look like PHP links....
Example: http://www.runescape.com/redirect.ws?mod=billing_core&dest=paymentoptions.ws

PHP has been around a little longer than ASP (since 1995 and ASP appeared a year or so later). Also, PHP is open source so there is a huge community involved in the development and progresssion of it in contrast to ASP which is just maintained and updated by Microsoft. Another advantage is that PHP takes a lot of its form from other very popular languages like C, Java, and Perl while ASP is mostly shaped from Microsoft based languages which narrows its appeal.

I've found that ASP tends to be more popular in industry because businesses are more likely to trust the big brand name that is Microsoft than just another free open source project out there on the market.

 

http://www.fileinfo.net/extension/ws

.WS file:

 

Anyone can copy and paste a link + definition... Trying doing a little more work next time and you'll actually gain some knowledge. I'm pretty sure they aren't even using Windows Scripting though..

 

PHP, it's simple, and useful.

That's basically it.

 

I don't really use anything other then the pre-installed stuff. (It comes with tons of things already installed, just need to edit php.ini correctly)

Theres new things being developed all the time by microsoft. PopFly, ASP, Visual C++, C#, VB, Web Developer, etc.

I think they really need to just make a good language that works on both web and platform. D:

What I see when I look at the two languages and see how to do one thing.
The less code, the less chance of bugs. (PHP)
The most code, more of a chance of bugs. (ASP)

Also, Microsoft is gay because they dont put semicolons, parenthesis (if, for, do, while, else, elseif), or brackets in their code. They also start out all their code with <% and end it with %> which looks weird as well.

Makes it seem noob-friendly but it cant do as much as php. I would imagine connecting to a database harder to do in ASP then PHP.

Also:
response.write
echo

I think echo makes alot more sense and is alot faster to type out then response.write

IMO without the semicolon.. I think it would have a harder and longer method of parsing through things.
Probably cant make all your code one line and still have it work either.. (Some text editors do this)

 

If you weren't so used to it, <?php ?> and <? ?> would look just as gay as <% %>.

Although I've never tried, it would be my guess that connecting to a database SHOULD be simpler in ASP since Microsoft actually has their own database softwares like Microsoft Access, Microsoft SQL server, etc and PHP simply works with companies that have database softwares.

 

Ive been learning PHP for about 2 weeks now and im finding it very easy and there are a LOT of tutorials etc to help you learn, also there is a big PHP community within the RS cheating community who offer there help from time to time as well.

 

That's only if you use VBScript, ASP can also be used with JavScript (which i prefer).

EX:

Code:

 if(x==10)
  {
     blah;
     blahblah();
   }
  else
   {blah;}

 

Speaking of PHP and ASP.NET...

Go to here: http://www.sythe.org/showthread.php?t=480518

I'ts a web language I've been working on for quite a long time.

 

In the php.ini file I believe you have the option to enable those for PHP
Anyway, I suggest PHP @ op.