Page 1 of Apache servers, mySQL, PHP

Hi

Im doing a website as part of a project at university and im thinking of using php to do it. Ive never used it before but ive done some research and it seems i need an apache server and mysql as well. I dont really know how to go about setting these up and wondered if anyone can give me some help or recomend a good site to help me? Ive used html and java script before but i dont know how helpful that is going to be.

Cheers

If you want a database in the background then yes you`d need MySQL as well (or some other DB of your choosing).

Apache can be run on loads of platforms (Windows/Linux/UNIX etc.) and you can get it freely from:
www.apache.org/
(This is the web hosting server part)

PHP install (this is really just a set of binaries):
www.php.net/downloads.php
(The web scripting part)

MySQL - an install, but its really just a set of binaries and then a service.
dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/4.0.html
(The database server)

I`d suggest also getting the MySQL Control Center - where you can maintain the database easily (well, a lot more easily than the MySQL command line, unless you`re a DBA!)
dev.mysql.com/downloads/other/mysqlcc.html

If you search around you might find some packages that do all 3 for you as one install, but I`ve never used them.
If you`re confident with configuration changes, then a seperate installation is fine, since Apache requires some config to work with PHP (not a great deal - just a bit of playing)
MySQL will just work.

As for using them, the main PHP website has an online manual (www.php.net
Other than that, just do a google search for "PHP example scripts" and you`ll see tons of examples which should get you started. Once you start using it you`ll see its pretty easy (especially if you`ve done JavaScript before).

HTH
Miles

This item was edited on Monday, 18th October 2004, 09:35

ditto what Miles says. Though because you`re new to it I think you`ll find it easier to use one package that installs all three items: PHP/MySQL/Apache and lets you run it all with one file.

When I developed MySQL stuff, I used PHPDev from:
http://www.firepages.com.au/

It installed without problem and worked flawlessly too on Windows 2000.

I started developing with Dreamweaver and there are good tutorials on the Macromedia site about setting up PHP/MySQL connections and working on your website with this. You`ll find though that you`ll eventually start to hand code your site as it`s faster and neater than Dreamweaver, which likes to insert all kinds of superfluous stuff. Still, it`s a good place to start learning. :-)

Here`s another resource worth taking a look at:
PHP Freaks

I think you`ll find that once you start using PHP/MySQL you`ll be amazed at how flexible it really is. Like anything, it`ll take some perserverence to get to grips with starting with it, but take it from me, it`s worth it! Plus it`s all free and easy to move to webhosting, should you go down that route. :-)

HTH and good luck!

Anil
___________________________________________________
Anil Khedun
Reviewer, DVD Reviewer
The UK`s BIGGEST Online DVD Magazine!

This item was edited on Monday, 18th October 2004, 19:47

Thanks a lot for the help guys