Keeping track of points

Please excuse the title, I wasn't exactly sure how to word it.

Anyway...On my site, I want to have a system where users can earn points, and then use them later to get stuff (kinda like neopets.com or pogo.com). Do you have to use PHP to keep track of each person's points, or can you use something else? I'm thinking that with PHP, each person could have a username and password, but is there anything else you could do that with?

The first thought that comes to mind is a username password with a database or flat file. If you use it with cookies only, when a user deletes their cookies they would delete points essentially.

With a username password database you could have an additional field that is for points and just update the database with the points they have earned or used.

That would be the simpliest way I can think of, otherwise you are stuck using a flat file (text file).

Security would be your main problem with this system.

Anyone with a little knowledge is going to try and hack the system.

MYSQL would be a good option as you would be able to log events and keep track of everything that happens.

The text file method is okay but slow if you want to compare users results.

MYSQL is usually installed on a server with PHP, they sort of go hand in hand.

You're right about MySQL. I was planning on using that once I get everything figured out and sorted with my site. Thanks.