Web2bb 0.0.9 Released
Posted: Tuesday, October 27 2009
This is the latest update to the WEB2BB Framework and includes a simple fix for an error that failed to catch an exception. The WEB2BB framework is a fully functioning MVC style framework that utilizes the best features of PHP 5.3 and above. By making use of the latest additions to PHP, the WEB2BB framework is able to provide sleek code and optimal performance. It does not try to be all things to all people and so the codebase is kept to a minimum.
nWire Eclipse Zend Plugin Review
Posted: Monday, October 19 2009
PHPRO.ORG receives many emails requesting reviews for magazines, web sites, application development tools, applications, books etc. Now and again, one of these catches the eye and deserves further inspection. Recently, a request for a product called nWire arrived which allegedly "accelerates PHP development by helping developers navigate through their code and better understand the architecture of their application". Here is a closer look at nWire.
PHP 5.3 Released
Posted: Wednesday, July 1 2009
Today marks the release of the much awaited 5.3.0 version of PHP. The release contains many of the features that the development community have been requesting for some time, along with a plethora of bug fixes and optimizations to boost reliablity and performance.
WEB2BB 0.0.7 Released
Posted: Tuesday, June 16 2009
This release sees the completion of the namespacing. All classes now belong to the web2bb namespace, allowing users t o create their own namespaces without risk of collisions. This release also sees the addition of a configurable error 404 controller. The default behaviour can be adjusted to use any controller should a page not be found. Configurati on is based on an ini option in config.ini.php.
WEB2BB 0.0.6 Released
Posted: Monday, June 15 2009
From this release on, namespaces have been introduced. The benefits of namespaces are multiple but needless to say, the greatest benefit will be to those developing with multiple libraries, or those who wish to swap out or replace existing libries in the system. This is a simple to achieve by creating a namespace alias. The implementation contains a single system wide namespace named 'web2bb'
WEB2BB 0.0.5 Released
Posted: Saturday, June 13 2009
This release shows the framework beginning to take shape from its humble beginnings. By utilizing some of the feature s in PHP 5.3 and PHP 6, the size of the code base has been reduced and much of the complexity removed. It is hoped th at the core functionality from this release will remain for all future releases. As always, feedback is welcomed.
When Tutorials Attack
Posted: Thursday, May 21 2009
In a recent series of tutorials released by SUN Developers Community a few notable omissions glared back from the web page. Like many PHP tutorials that pollute the web, there was a little, or no error checking, or error handling in the provided code examples. These omissions are paramount to development in any language, particularly for those who's livelihood relies on the strength of perceived enterprise readiness of the technology. To the new comer, these tutorials are the source of truth, and quality code examples are required if these new comers are going to produce quality code.
Creating Secure Passwords
Posted: Tuesday, May 19 2009
The greatest security risk to password protection, is the user who created the password. Most developers have at sometime needed to create a system where passwords were required. Password protection comes in various implementations, from accessing a single file, or gaining entry to a system, or administration panel. The protection provided by passwords however, is only as secure as the password itself. A password that is predictable, or easy to guess can leave your security model less than adequate. However, it is not just end users who are at fault, as there is plenty of finger pointing at developers who permit insecure passwords to be used.
Farewell To Anthony Rumble
Posted: Monday, May 18 2009
Today I joined a veritable who's-who of the Linux and open source community to farewell one of its champions. Anthony Rumble, who passed away on Friday May 8, 2009. Anthony was a founding member of the Sydney Linux Users Group (SLUG) and AUUG and founder of Everything Linux.
Embedding PHP In CSS
Posted: Monday, April 13 2009
Perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects of using PHP with websites, is getting variables into CSS. Having variables stored in an ini file, config file or even a database can make the updating of the look and feel of a site simple, however, CSS files, by default, do not parse PHP. Of course, the web server could be told to parse CSS as PHP in the same way it does for HTML. AddType application/x-httpd-php .css With the addition of the above line in httpd.conf or in a .htaccess, the web server will now parse PHP code that is within the CSS files. This is one solution, but a better method may be at hand.
Difference Between isset empty is-null
Posted: Sunday, March 15 2009
Quite often in code reviews I have come across code that checks for empty or null values, or if a variable is set. Many of these checks fail as the wrong function is being used to assert the correct value. While it is important to be checking values, it is equally important to understand the difference between the different methods of checking and testing values for empty, null, or if they are set.
SUN Sets On MySQL Monty Leaves SUN
Posted: Saturday, February 7 2009
The sale of MySQL to SUN was greeted with mixed sentiment by the open source community as was reported on PHPRO in This article. However, this had little or no impact on the adoption numbers for MySQL and many could see the positive aspects of the sale as the MySQL development would continue to be headed up Monty Widenius. Now however, things have changed.
Materialized Views And Cache Tables
Posted: Friday, December 26 2008
The use of Materialized Views in master slave replication environments provides an excellent method of reducing load on the master database server. However, this process seems to be finding its way more and more into single database design under the new name of Cache Tables. Does it have a place or is this redundancy breaking third normal form?
Zend Framework Example Site
Posted: Wednesday, December 3 2008
The Zend Framework has now attracted a small community of developers and more and more new comers are attracted to it. The Zend Documentation is plentiful, yet vague. Without any real guidance or specific examples to get a site up and running. This example site hopes to introduce the newcomers to Zend Framework in a friendly way, by providing a simple modular site layout and can have the newcomer up and running in minutes, rather than the long hard yard of sifting through docs which might as well be hieroglyphics to the those new to the framework. This is release 0.0.1 of the example site, with new additions in the planning and user feedback and requests welcomed.
Application Configuration
Posted: Wednesday, November 5 2008
Application configuration values are kept in a variety of formats and accessed in a variety of was. This article presents the reader with four options, ini file, xml file, php array file, or database. Each configuration method has its strengths and weaknesses and each is presented here. This article has been extended to include some indicative scaling when the number of config options is taken in thousands. This is not for production, but to test which of the confuguration options scales best.
Namespace Changes Separator Again
Posted: Sunday, October 26 2008
The introduction of namespaces into PHP has been a long and complex task that has taken many twists and turns. Sometimes issues with PHP namespaces simply run into a brick wall and new solutions need to be found. With the push to get PHP 5.3 out the door, the PHP developers have been working long and hard to get namespaces functional and usable in time for release.
Pro PHP Book Review
Posted: Saturday, September 20 2008
First time author Kevin McArthur has launched his first book directly at advanced PHP users. In the face of many other PHP books circulating now, what does this new venture have that others do not? Named Pro PHP it is not immodest and promises much but what does it deliver? See what the all the hype is about.
Agile Development Meets User Centered-Design
Posted: Tuesday, September 16 2008
Agile development and User Centered Design have long been diametrically opposed models for delivering software. Each has its own benifits and by finding common ground the two can not only live side by side, but produce a new model that embraces the best each has to offer.
Web Accessability
Posted: Monday, September 15 2008
How often have you heard developers spouting cliches such as "best practices" and "accessibility" and "web standards" in a bid bolster their position. Certainly many developer, myself included, do indeed try to create web sites that are both compliant and accessible. A recent task I undertook to develop a web site for the blind and visually impaired, left me humbled at how difficult it can be to put into practice those cliched paradigms.
PHP Jobs Do We Need Recruiters
Posted: Friday, September 12 2008
PHP job vacancies have bucked national trends by increasing in number despite the global economic slowdown. With more vacancies and a limitted pool of developers, has produced the emergence of recruiters set to cut themselves in for a slice of the PHP pie.
The Future Of PDO
Posted: Sunday, August 31 2008
A recent surge in the number of developers willing to work on PHP database extension and PDO means great changes ahead for the database extensions and for the future of PDO. Leading the push with the PDO-MySQLnd driver is SUN/MySQL who have provide much code and testing to get the PHP extension up to speed.
SUN MySQL PostGreSQL Adoption
Posted: Sunday, August 17 2008
In January of 2008 SUN Microsystems announced its intention to purchase MySQL. This announcement was met with mixed reactions with some seeing this as a positive move and reason to migrate to MySQL while others saw it as a threat to the Open Source movement and migrated to other databases. With a little number crunching some anecdotal evidence can be gained to see how adoption levels have changed since that time.
Apache Status Codes And Error Codes
Posted: Sunday, June 22 2008
The Apache web server provides information to regarding its status in the log files. These log files can be benificial when debugging scripts. Most folks know what a 404 error code is, but what of all the other apache status codes and apsche error codes. This short article spells them all out for use when debugging.
MySQL Dispelling The Where 1 Myth
Posted: Wednesday, June 18 2008
Recently a fellow developer explained that MySQL queries could be optimised, or made faster by appending "WHERE 1" to them. Essentially this would provide a condition that is always boolean true. True to the PHPRO.ORG style, we put this myth to the test.
SUN MySQL Clears The FUD
Posted: Monday, June 9 2008
The recent aquisition of MySQL by SUN Microsystems set the open source community buzzing and jumping for alternatives and more often, to incorrect conclusions regarding the future of the open source giant, MySQL. Have we all been enveloped by the Fear Uncertainty and Doubt that has been part of the hysteria regarding this issue? In response to a recent PHPRO article on the matter, the MySQL/SUN camp has replied to clear the FUD and give an insight into what the future has in store for MySQL/SUN
Zend Framework Lead New MVC
Posted: Tuesday, June 3 2008
Former lead developer of Zend Framework, Mike Naberezny has now headed up a new maintainable framework that is gaining in popularity among developers who insist on a small footpring for their code base. Named the Maintainable Framework in comes ready to build any application where MVC is a requirement.
50 PHP Tips
Posted: Friday, May 23 2008
A refreshing look at tips and tricks that have been around for some time and in need of updating. PHP coder HM2K has taken the list to task and added some new tips and tricks and optimizations of his own.
Companies Using PHP
Posted: Saturday, May 17 2008
Often times the question is raised, what major companies are using PHP. The PHP language is used by many companies, large and small, to various degrees. In some it is a major component of their structure while others use a multiplicity of languages, including PHP, as part of their total IT solution. Here are some major companies known to be using PHP.
How To Become A Coding Guru
Posted: Saturday, May 3 2008
If you have ever sought the help of a fellow coder or programmer, you will know there are many self appointed guru's out there. But just how do you get to Guru status. One would think the answer lies in hard work and a successful career, nothing could be further from the truth
Whats Hot And Whats Not
Posted: Tuesday, April 29 2008
An article here tells whats not hot. Whats hot will follow but it is time to clear the air of some old net buzzwords that have fallen into disuse, yet some persist in thinking they are cool. Dont get caught using these terms or risk being labelled as something equally outdated.
Google App Engine
Posted: Friday, April 25 2008
Google has recently opened up their API for a selective ten thousand developers with many tens of thousands more lined up to get access to what is the hotest access in town. But many are not so sure that the Google offering is all it seems to be, and comparisons to a wolf in sheeps clothing abound with concerns that this may be just another bid by Google to access cheap applications without the added cost of in house development.
SUN MySQL PgSQL
Posted: Thursday, April 24 2008
It is no secret that SUN have recently purchased the MySQL database and have plans which include closing source on code they develop for it. This is well within their rights, however, should the open source community continue to support MySQL in its new Enterprise incarnation?
Google Summer Of Code 2008
Posted: Wednesday, April 23 2008
Google have released the final assignments for the 2008 Google Summer Of Code. 2008 features some heavy weight additions to teh GSoC and is sure to put in a good performance.
eZ Components Alpha Release
Posted: Saturday, April 12 2008
The eZ Components team has release a new alpha package which includes many new additions to the already feature rich component library. Along with bug fixes and optimizations eZ is set to maintain its lead in web componentry for web applications.
Fixing The Internet
Posted: Wednesday, April 2 2008
In a recent article, internet developer Noel Forbes outlines what the problems with internet is and how a new path forward may be found within already existing technologies. Not content with simply whining about incosistencies with various among Internet developers, Forbes shows a model for a new Internet. Could we be seeing the first murmurings of Web 3.0.
Microsoft Purchase Yahoo For 62 Billion
Posted: Tuesday, April 1 2008
The heat in the internet advertising just got turned up to eleven as Microsoft finally put pay to the resistance of Yahoo and settled on a price reported to be 62 Billion Dollars (USD). This is not a merger, this is a hostile take over, but what to the pundits think? Will Google respond with predatory pricing?
eZ Components Cache
Posted: Friday, March 28 2008
The team at eZ Components are once again pushing PHP technology to the limit. The functionality and flexibility of the eZ Cache component is set to be extended to increase performance at several different levels.
eZ Components Brings Video and Photo Sharing To The Arab World
Posted: Thursday, March 20 2008
Al Bawaba has launched a new Arabic photo, video portal with a social networking site that is set to take the Arabic communities in the Middle East and Arabic commmunities around the world together in a way that we now take for granted. Al Bawaba has used open source PHP tools, including eZ Components to put it all together
Highlight Search Words
Posted: Saturday, March 15 2008
This article shows the use of two methods of highlighting seach text using PHP. A comparison is included using strings and regex for achieving this. This functionality used on many sites to show search words to make easier navigation for the user.
PHP v NET
Posted: Saturday, March 1 2008
Why is it developers and organisations choosing PHP over .NET. The .NET platform has some redeeming features yet is constantly beaten in the numbers game when compared to PHP. Is it just a trend or is PHP set to stay the course?
Custom 404 Error Page
Posted: Monday, February 18 2008
How many times have users visited your site and landed on a 404 error page. Now you can have a custom 404 message displayed and perhaps keep those users on your site. This article provides the basic tools for creating your own custom 404 pages.
Why is sqlite so cool and why should I care
Posted: Friday, January 25 2008
With the introduction of PHP 5 came many new and exciting features for PHP. Not least among these was the inclusion of SQLite database.
MySQL Error Codes
Posted: Saturday, September 1 2007
When developing sites or applications with PHP and MySQL you have probably recieved at some time an error message or error code that is seemingly meaningless. Here is a table of MySQL Server error codes and thier error messages. Client codes and messages
Swedes Cant Code
Posted: Sunday, August 5 2007
With the growth of the internet many countries have shown great technological advances. Some however, have languished behind in a turgid miama of code. This may not be their own fault and other factors may come into play.
PHP4 End Of Life
Posted: Saturday, July 14 2007
Exactly 3 years since the release of PHP 5 and the news has come that PHP4 is headed for the chopping block at the end of the year. Web hosts and develpers have just six months to get into the new way of PHP life.
Zend Framework
Posted: Wednesday, June 27 2007
What is all the buzz about at Zend. The long awaited framework has been a long time in the making and many see it as the new way forward for web development. In this article we take it for a test run and see what Zend has to offer.
PHP Docs Evil Plans
Posted: Tuesday, June 26 2007
Evil Plans(tm) are in the making for the PHP documentation translations. Could your language be the next on the chopping block? Here we reveal why the docs effort is on a downhill slide.
Finding A Developer
Posted: Tuesday, June 19 2007
Many have been through the hoops of finding a PHP developer. Many also find themselves running into cut and paste kiddies or programmers from countries at five bucks an hour. How to seperate the good from the bad and how to get what you pay for.
Microsoft Purchases Zend for 113 Million
Posted: Tuesday, June 19 2007
At 10:00am today Zend issued a press release stating its intention to sell a controlling majority of its stock to Microsoft (MSFT). Previous rumours about a bidding war between Oracle and Microsoft had been played down in the Zend camp with zero output re
Tainted Love
Posted: Monday, June 18 2007
A proposal from Wietse Venema from IBM Research has set the PHP internals tongues wagging. Wietse is the man responsible for such legendary applcations as Postfix and is co-author of the Coroner's toolkit, SATAN, and is also the original author of TCP Wra
PHP6-Preview
Posted: Monday, June 18 2007
With Development well on the way for the new PHP6 release we thought we would sift through some of the rumours of what we can expect from this big release as the release date drifts closer.
Coverty Report
Posted: Sunday, June 17 2007
The long awaited Coverty Report has finally surfaced and contains a good report for PHP.
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