Someone reviewed v on Jul 5, 2022

Pros: 555

Cons: 555

Bottom Line: 555

JatApp reviewed v8.0.8 on Jul 14, 2021

Pros: Cool!

Cons: Nice

Bottom Line: Thanks

itazev reviewed v7.1.5 on May 10, 2017

I remember Installing and configuring apache + php was a nightmare.
I switched to NodeJS and never looked back.

Karol Mily reviewed v7.0.0 RC2 on Sep 10, 2015

Where are "official" builds for Windows 7+ ...?

uberfly reviewed v5.6.7 on Mar 22, 2015

Dear Betanews, get a handle on the spam or your site will be no better than your typical spam-link blog. PHP is fantastic BTW.

scf reviewed v5.6.3 on Nov 14, 2014

4 stars! great stuff

jcollake reviewed v5.4.3 on May 9, 2012

5.4.3 already .. better check the change log .. Yep:
"PHP 5.4.3 fixes a buffer overflow vulnerability in the apache_request_headers() (CVE-2012-2329)."

This exploit only applies to those running PHP in CGI form, afaik. Use a DSO module in Apache is not affected.

jcollake reviewed v5.4.0 Alpha 1 on Jul 1, 2011

With C & C++ syntax being most natural feeling to me, I always use PHP for web coding tasks. I've actually ended up building fairly elaborate order processing, support, and fulfillment systems with it. To say it is easy would be an understatement. Not only is PHP 'natural' for people like me, but it is very forgiving for people just learning - not quite so strict on syntax, though of course it must have certain syntactical rules. Wonderful language. I'm glad it is continually improved as well.

anandee reviewed v5.3.3 on Dec 14, 2010

I love PHP, so I cannot be neutral... but now 5.x rocks.

AntiochMedia reviewed v5.3.0 Alpha 1 on Aug 1, 2008

UniversityofKentucky: The following PHP based app is free and uses FPDF. It will directly convert an HTML page to PDF which is extremely useful and it DOES do a very very good job:

http://www.tufat.com/s_html2ps_html2pdf.htm

guti reviewed v5.2.6 on May 2, 2008

Lots of nice features natively of by using extensions. Pretty easy web development.

Some bugs exists version after version, due to its complexity, by they tend to be fixed early.

In terms of speed, in the beginnings, it was faster than ASP, and on pair with Coldfusion. Nowadays, it has outperformed Coldfusion, but is not as fast as ASP.NET.

Briantist reviewed v5.2.5 on Nov 13, 2007

You can't find a better language than PHP.

Used to C++? PHP can do your OO programming.

Like your procedural language like BASIC or MODULA2? PHP can do it...

PHP, of course, works brilliantly with mySQL, which gives the world LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP).

PHP is also a great AJAX backend too.

I've used many langages and PHP is all of them!

acey99 reviewed v5.2.3 on Jun 1, 2007

I've used Both PHP & ASP

PHP has most things built in if not you can add it, usually FREE.

ASP relies on MS & other vendors to add to it & usually costs $$$.

PHP = C/Perl Based
ASP = VB Based.

you be the judge.

UniversityofKentucky reviewed v5.2.3 on Jun 1, 2007

Acey - I agree that FPDF is excellent. I use/love it. Only caveat is it hasn't been updated since 12/04. Still I won't complain about freeware.

ds0934 - You are correct about the benefits of various scripting languages. But it's ignorant to rank PHP low b/c you prefer ASP and, as you indicated, you have limited experience with PHP. I have limited experience with ASP, but wouldn't give it a mediocre rating b/c of that.

acey99 reviewed v5.2.2 on May 3, 2007

WRFan: get a clue, dump pdflib in favor of fpdf
free, better, & customizable :)

PHP Rocks!

WRFan reviewed v5.2.0 on Nov 3, 2006

ASP's ability to connect to databases is extremely limited/stunted

ZenoLabs reviewed v5.1.6 on Aug 25, 2006

Cool.

Aegis69 reviewed v5.1.2 on Jan 13, 2006

I have used both ASP and PHP extensively, trust me I cring whenever I come across a project that has to be done in ASP.

ASP's ability to connect to databases is extremely limited/stunted, while PHP is designed from the ground up to facilitate connection to ANY database, whether its a flat file or a server doesn't matter.

ds0934 reviewed v5.1.2 on Jan 13, 2006

I've only dabbled with PHP, I mostly work with ASP and very little ASP.NET. PHP looks really nice and seems to be more robust than ASP. All this squabbling over what's better is stupid. Who cares. Use what you feel works best for you. Opinions are useless. I wouldn't care if there were 1000 web/scripting languages fighting for dominance. Competition is good and keeps everyone on their toes making improvements. If we all used one language it would stagnate.

guti reviewed v5.1.0 on Nov 25, 2005

Great tool.
Unfortunatelly since the first 5.1 betas, and not fixed in 5.1 final, extensions under Windows are always loaded from c:\php5 folder, and not from the one specified in php.ini.

sn0wflake reviewed v5.1.0 on Nov 25, 2005

Nice.

guti reviewed v5.1.0 RC6 on Nov 19, 2005

Both are very clear languages. ASP is VB syntax based, and PHP is C based.

PHP is more powerful than ASP, but with lower POO features than ASP.NET.

Anyway it is portable (probably more than Java!), fast, open source, and free.

HelgeFossmo reviewed v5.1.0 RC6 on Nov 18, 2005

If you find ASP less confusing than PHP, then your brain is malfunctioning

panic82 reviewed v5.1.0 RC6 on Nov 18, 2005

"but I get horribly confused with all these () and {} and [] and things;"

acey99 reviewed v5.1.0 RC6 on Nov 18, 2005

"Reviewer: netean Aug 19, 2005
Version: 5.1.0 RC1

PHP is good, certainly powerful, but I get horribly confused with all these () and {} and [] and things;

personally I actually find asp a whole lot easier to read, comprehend and write."

Well Duh, ASP uses BASIC style language
PHP uses C style language

Basic=Easy, does nothing
C=Powerful, does ecerything

Tell me ONE thing ASP can do that PHP Can't & PROVE IT and I may contimplate switching.

also do it without an extra add on .dll or 3rd party program that you have to pay for.

netean reviewed v5.1.0 RC1 on Aug 19, 2005

PHP is good, certainly powerful, but I get horribly confused with all these () and {} and [] and things;

personally I actually find asp a whole lot easier to read, comprehend and write.

Orbitration reviewed v5.1.0 Beta 3 on Jul 15, 2005

My only beef is that my real webserver that I host my sites on is only running 4.3 and I can only try these version 5's out as trial at home.

I still have to develop realtime in 4.3 (although I 'm thinking of updating my localhost to 4.4)

netwiz562 reviewed v5.0.3 on Dec 20, 2004

php is the best server side scripting language ever created

c0ldfusi0n reviewed v5.0.1 on Aug 13, 2004

For Debian users out here, put this in /etc/apt/sources.list:

deb http://packages.dotdeb.org ./

They always get the PHP packages first.

iamalsohere reviewed v5.0.0 on Jul 14, 2004

I just upgraded from 4.3.7 to 5.0.0 and it is excellent, the new object handling method of the Zend 2 engine is vastly superior and brings it into line with normal programming languages.

Tip : move the libmysql.dll from your PHP directory to the apache\bin directory when enabling the mysql extension!

1o9 reviewed v5.0.0 on Jul 14, 2004

Bloody fantastic! A great day in the world of the PHP and the open source world as a whole.

tasty reviewed v5.0.0 on Jul 14, 2004

what is php? http://www.php.net/FAQ.php

php is wonderful -- as far as asp.net being free? so i download asp.net for free, does that mean i'm ready to go? not exactly... will it work with a free web server? not exactly...

the php project + zend are awesome, and version 5 is even better. complaining about bloat and syntax is ignorance -- learn to compile only the features you want, and read up on v5's new features.

normangerman reviewed v5.0 Release Candidate 3 on Jun 11, 2004

What are the actual files? Is it a compiler/php editor or just documentation?

thoffmeyer reviewed v5.0 Release Candidate 3 on Jun 9, 2004

I am also a big fan of the PHP developers, and let alone from coding in it PHP v5 will become a great new era for the PHP people. They added new functions that will not only help us coders out there, but slim down on code, I mean yes they still have bugs, but damn.. PHP is the choice.

Freeky reviewed v5.0 Release Candidate 1 on Mar 20, 2004

PHP is probably the best choice of dynamic web languages for most people; it's relatively fast, free, well documented and well supported.

Sadly the language itself is pretty mediocre; the API is a horrible mess, the syntax is weak and limiting, and the whole thing just smells of thousands of (often arbitary) compromises for backward compatability dating all the way back to when PHP was a tiny Form Interpreter language.

Of course how bad you find it really depends on your background; C users tend to love it because the syntax is vaguely similar, but if you're used to the likes of Ruby and Python you'll probably hate it because you're spoilt :o

EViL3 reviewed v5.0 Release Candidate 1 on Mar 20, 2004

I'm a great fan of PHP and the developers have worked wonders with v5. Its still a little unstable on Windows with Apache 1.3.29, but a massive improvement over Beta 4 which was constantly crashing. Although it seems the zend 1 compatability is slightly c***ed up, as setting it to "on" actually appears to switch it off (just my system?!). Download and play, you won't be disappointed..

adamdawg reviewed v5.0 Release Candidate 1 on Mar 19, 2004

Always a 5 star download. ;)

k3of4 reviewed v5.0 Release Candidate 1 on Mar 19, 2004

Totally.

cbuck reviewed v5.0.0 Beta 1 on Jun 30, 2003

Schweet.

zulugrid reviewed v4.3.2 on May 30, 2003

PHP continues to be the best scripting language available. The language is 100% free, practically all web hosts support it (unless they do the strict MS crap only thing), and there are literally thousands of free pre-built scripts that use it. (I like ColdFusion, too, but it is costly.. I hate ASP.NET because MS servers just suck too bad..)

Orbit reviewed v4.3.2 RC4 on May 22, 2003

I use this in combination with MySQL, Apache, Perl, phpMyAdmin, on a Windows XP Pro machine to develop php driven sites before uploading them to my server.
This version seems to work just fine. As for 'Recompiling' it, not quite sure what you mean. On Windows, I simply copied all the files into the /php directory, overwriting the others, and put the new php4ts.dll in my System32 folder, set the couple of entries in the new php.ini in the WINNT folder, and off it went. Took right at 5 minutes.

arcticice reviewed v4.3.1 on Feb 18, 2003

I'm a webmaster myself, and believe it or not but I was using normal HTML code till recently... I've heard about PHP before but never really bothered to check it out.

I've done a major server upgrade from only apache 1.3 to apache 2 with PHP 4.3.1 and MySQL.
It is like a new unexplored universe with this new setup!
I love it! And I recommend it to everyone doing a server upgrade!
It can be installed by a 1 year old kid (if he/she could read though)... :o)

guti reviewed v4.3.0 RC1 on Nov 16, 2002

4.3.0 is even faster than previous releases.
This RC has still some stability issues, but looks promissing.

thickey reviewed v4.3.0pre1 on Oct 12, 2002

I started using PHP two years ago, My first "major" project was during my last year at university... I developed a standard shopping cart system.

After Uni I got a job working with PHP/MySQL.. I get paid to write cool things.. in an easy language. I learnt PHP in an afternoon (took about 2 hours).. And now I am in full time employment getting paid (quite) well..

When ever clients come asking about potential projects.. no matter what they are I say without even thinking "no problem.. I can do that". That is because I know that PHP has the power and flexibility to solve the problem with ease.

Thank you PHP.. you have changed my life :o)

aminorex reviewed v4.3.0 Alpha with Zend Engine 2 on Jun 10, 2002

With 4.3, php's integration with Apache 2.* is finally
beginning to come together. If you don't need mod_perl,
4.3's final release will be the first opportunity to
run a stable dynamic-content site using Apache 2, on
Windows 2000 or a Posix system. But if you're running
IIS now, don't wait for Apache 2. Run, don't walk, run,
to fetch php 4.2 and Apache 1.3.24 before you get your
cookies baked by script kiddies.

iax reviewed v4.2.0 on Apr 23, 2002

DigitalSin: The words "Free" and "Microsoft" can't be used in the same sentance or paragraph. Getting in bed with Microsoft costs you licensing, and absolute fealty to anti intelligence sucking beast that is known as M$. PHP has caching mechanisms to you know.

funky303 reviewed v4.2.0 RC2 on Apr 4, 2002

well here we goo.. changed from 3 to 4 @ home.. daaaamn nice xtra speedup...

Zmodem reviewed v4.2.0 RC 1 on Mar 26, 2002

PHP is hands down the best! Though, I wish they would quit changing things around making us web developers have to rewrite our code (ex: 4.0.6 - 4.1 and reg globals) or the HTTP_*_VARS to _*. :(

I wish they would make up their minds. Otherwise, it rocks

ixxologic reviewed v4.2.0 RC 1 on Mar 26, 2002

tho its transparent unlike windowblinds that leaves heaps of processes in the bg.. the claim that StylesXP uses none is quite bull.. no extra process sure.. but it makes the explorer.exe shell that windåze uses use more ram and resources..

neways.. nifty program still.. i still prefer ObjectDesktop with their ObjectBlinds.. IconPackager..etc..stuff.. so imma give StylesXP.. mmmm.. a 3

DigitalSin reviewed v4.2.0 RC 1 on Mar 26, 2002

Great for non-IIS servers. Otherwise use ASP.NET. PHP doesn't hold a candle when it comes to speed. Add ASP.NET's caching and you've the fastest sites, hands down. ASP.NET is free as well.

xtfg666 reviewed v4.1.0 on Dec 12, 2001

Huge speed improvments on Windows platforms ! Fast, fast, fast !

Giz reviewed v4.0.5 on May 14, 2001

tongi:

http://www.php.net/FAQ.php

read and learn

tem0 reviewed v4.0.4 on Dec 24, 2000

The standard for web developers.

captainmarvel reviewed v4.0.4 on Dec 23, 2000

This latest version seems to be very buggy. I uninstalled the previous version and then installed today's version. But it won't open to let me configure it. Needs work before it should be released to the public.

ilasoft reviewed v4.0.3pl1 on Oct 15, 2000

They shouldn't let idiots like the one below post reviews... If you are a LAMER, don't come here! BetaNews is for smart people and smart people ONLY!

tongi reviewed v4.0.1 on Jun 29, 2000

I've already checked their website.And there was not enough information there either.İ don't have to know everything about programming.If they're posting something and if they want us to try their program they have to incl. it's information.I don't need to go their web site and search for information.

quaked reviewed v4.0.1 on Jun 29, 2000

PHP is EXCELLENT! I'm a webmaster/programmer, and i program in PHP/mySQL on my free time, it's just AMAZING.
And thinking that i have to deal with M$ at work... *sigh*

asp_king reviewed v4.0.1 on Jun 29, 2000

Hey tongi? whats your problem mate?, do you allways download blind what you get shuffed in front of you?, If you don't know what it is check out their website.

No need to flush your frustation at these people who managed to get something decent out on the net.

If its that frustrating, save your money and buy a blowup doll so you can get rid of your extra proteins, maybe you'll cut down on the language then..

nirwana reviewed v4.0.1 on Jun 29, 2000

For all you newbies at webprogramming: PHP is the programming language that is used at most webservers.
It is a very nice programming language (I use version 4 myself and really like it) for doing all kinds of serverside things.
I must admit that it would have been nice to say what this "application" is all about.

pbeery reviewed v4.0.1 on Jun 28, 2000

Guys, it would be great if somewhere in your announcement you would indicate what php is. This is just a suggestion.
Posts to Betanews get a lot of viewers that might be interested if they just knew what the heck this thing is.
That aside, I think this package is pretty darn good.

mjk reviewed v4.0.1 on Jun 28, 2000

Psylord, you're an idiot. I recoomend you stop posting so that your stupidity doesn't show as much.

romracer reviewed v.0 on Jun 4, 2000

Being part of iSONEWS I think it's only appropriate I say something here. PHP doesn't slow down websites. Especially in its 4th incarnation. MySQL database accesses slow down websites. Dynamic content slows down websites. For you to try and put down PHP as slow I'd like to see your proof. Sure we could speed it all up by using static HTML but that's not any fun is it? Users request dynamic content and PHP is the best option for that. SSI is close. Perl's interpretor is much slower than PHP v4's. If you have suggestions feel free to email em to me. I rarely check stuff on the new betanews (the old one owned). romracer@isonews.com

jduraes reviewed v.0 on May 23, 2000

Re to PsyLord's comments, again: I really don't understand these comments. A site like BetaNews needs strong scripting and database support. How do you achieve that without using PHP, ASP or Perl? From these three, there is no doubt that PHP in its late incarnation (v4) it BY FAR the fastest. Should I mention then the amazing integration with other technologies? It must be understood that constant use of databases slows down access to the final data - but that's not a PHP engine flaw; it's just a question of necessity... Well done Zend and everyone else. You've really done it this time!

jharlap reviewed v.0 on May 23, 2000

Re: Psylord's comments:
What slows down sites like BetaNews is having a massive database running behind every query. Having had experimented with large db's with both PHP and ASP, I must say PHP works much faster. (I've seen speed improvements when migrating from ASP to PHP of anywhere from 50 to 1000 percent.)

morloi reviewed v.0 on May 23, 2000

God bless PHP! Free, powerful, platform indipendent, OS indipendent, rich, easy.... PHP RULEZ!!
N.B. It works also in Personal Web Server (Ach!) ... This means that's really stable!

aalaap reviewed v.0 on May 23, 2000

I was always repelled by the arcane structure of Perl, a condition which vanished when I heard of ASP. I picked up a great deal of ASP in about an hour (considering my VB/VBS background), but discarded it because I just found out that my website was hosted on RH6. PHP came like ray of light at the end of the tunnel, and since then I've never spent a day coding any other backend scripting language! Nothing is easier, so flexible, and at the same time powerful!

I echo the earlier user's comment - PHP Rulz!

medlir reviewed v.0 on May 23, 2000

I personally like the program as Freeware and it's simplicity compared to similar programs, but let me get this straight... "RAM Optimizer 2.0" has just been given a new name and is now "RAM Idle 1.0"? A name change is a step backwards in development?

mateo reviewed vRC2 on May 10, 2000

php rulez !