How do people on here practise their server side programming?

[SpiritualStorms]

I am not sure if this is the right location for my question, but i was wondering if anyone here had a personal server application by which to practise their programming?

The only server application that i know of that is free is Apache, and that is recommended if one wants to test their scripts. My problem is, that i do not know how to run Apache. I have tried several times to look for info online, but a lot of it is so disorganised, and over my head, that i cant get a good grasp of the application. This being the case, i was wondering if anyone here knew of alternative methods by which to test programming scriptes, or languages, like PHP, or PERL?

I would like to go beyond JavaScript, but i do not want to buy a domain name so that i may practise, and test my programming. Does anyone have suggestions? Or am i basically like stuck with like buying Linux, which i am told comes with free Apache, or maybe XP professional which has i think IIS. I really need a server side application on my system for me to advance.

Perhaps someone can recommend books on Apache?

[dswimboy]

ActiveState has ported PERL to windows. check out ActivePerl at http://www.activeperl.com/Products/ActivePerl/

and since when does anyone BUY linux?!? Fedora (http://fedora.redhat.com/) is a free linux distro that has stemmed from the ever so popular Red Hat Linux. if you're interested, i'd check that out.

[hemebond]

You shouldn't have any trouble getting Apache up and running. It comes with an installer, and sets itself up via a wizard.

PHP on the other hand, can be a little tricky. There are a lot of posts on the net that can help though. Any trouble, post back here and I'll try and walk you through it.

[SpiritualStorms]

You shouldn't have any trouble getting Apache up and running. It comes with an installer, and sets itself up via a wizard.


Last time i checked, Apache has to be configured in order for it to be set up correctly, and this part alone sets one back simply because they have to know how the language works in order for one to know why the configuration works as it does.

Is Fedora for Linux itself, or is that for the server application what i was talking about? In other words, is it another Apache?

[Nightfire]

no configuration is needed to get apache running, just download, do the config screen process and it's done. If you wanna practise serverside, then practise using what 99% of hosts use on linux servers, apache.

[SpiritualStorms]

Thats what i am told of Apache. But from what i recall a while back, about 6 months ago, downloading wasnt really enough. This was especially true if one wanted to download PHP. At any rate, i cant seem to get to the point where i can just learn Perl, or PHP, without having to involve additional applications, or what are called IDEs. Java presented a similar problem which i found annoying. Seems like i have spent more time learning about the installation aspects, and the what not, more than the actual programming languages of my interest. I have been trying my hand at JavaScript, Java, PHP, Flash, and Perl, for close to almost a year now, and i havent mastered anyone of them. Makes me feel pretty sad actually. But oh well, thats the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

[Nightfire]

If you want php, mysql, perl/cgi, apache all pre-configured then you can donwload php dev from www.firepages.com.au

[bazz]

I had a long time of difficulty where I couldnt get my head around installng apache on windows. Then a very nice person here whose 'name' I cannot recall, posted a link to www.ricocheting.com There I found a step by step guide which enabled even me to get apache up and running with perl and php plugged in (terminology?).

I still have to find out if there is a part of all this that will test my perl, without me having to decipher the error logs. But it is straightforward enough (if a bit time consuming), to do it that way, to get you started.

Hope this helps.

Bazz

[bcarl314]

Also, a point that shouldn't be forgotten is that both PHP and PERL can be run from a command line (prompt). So you don't need a server to interact with the program, just make the program and run in from your command line.

[SpiritualStorms]

Also, a point that shouldn't be forgotten is that both PHP and PERL can be run from a command line (prompt). So you don't need a server to interact with the program, just make the program and run in from your command line.


I did not know that. Or at least of PHP. Of Perl, i do think i read something somewhere about a command Prompt, but i dont ever recall using it, since i got focused primarily on installing Apache. I was so convinced i need a server application, that for a long time, all i did was try to find out as much as i could about Apache. In the process i had ran into other server applications that were free, but nothing really ever came of my fiddlings, as it were. Not only did i have an overload of memory on my system, but i had a lot ot crashes. This, and the fact that i was dividing my time between different sort of books.

At any rate, i didnt know i could run it through the Prompt. And when you say run it, do you mean like running an actual webpage? Or sort of like Java, which by the way, can also be ran from the command Prompt, but it isnt as effective as using BlueJ. With Java, you had to code in where exactly one was going to get input from, and where the output was going to go. This was ok, if you need a real basic interface for the testing of really cheesy programs, but it isnt effective for testing lets say a pop up window.

On a side note: Here are 2 links for anyone interested in alternate servers:

www.sambar.com

and,

www.xitami.com

[MattJakel]

You cannot test a web page interface with the command line, but it is still very useful. While debugging and testing only with a browser can come to guess and check, using debug at the command line lets you go through your script line by line, print variables at different parts of the script, skip lines, run an extra bit of code, whatever you need for testing purposes.

Matt

[SpiritualStorms]

PHP on the other hand, can be a little tricky. There are a lot of posts on the net that can help though. Any trouble, post back here and I'll try and walk you through it.

OK, i will take you up on the offer. I need the low down on how to install it with both, Apache, or not, if possible.

[Psychoman]

Personally I've always liked Abria's Merlin Server, It's free if you know how to go about it, just need to download the one without support from their technicians.

It basically offers every Server Side Language like PHP, Perl, running under Apache as well as mySQL database and ssl connections. On top of that it has Myphp admin, and a few other database managing options.

I'ts easy to install, all you need to do is click on the installation and its done.

This post may be categorized as SPAM since mostly all you see is how to buy it, but seriously, the second link under the "Merlin Server" category is the one for the free version. It is not a trial, it is just without support from them.

http://www.abriasoft.com/download.php?loginsession=8fc8a224c5e7e7fbc4c7fc14f4e7b7f9

If this is still considered spam, then I appologize.
Ray

[SpiritualStorms]

Which version of the bundle do you suggest? I went to the site you posted, and well, there was several, with each differing in megabites:

If you want php, mysql, perl/cgi, apache all pre-configured then you can donwload php dev from www.firepages.com.au


The list went as follows:

phpdevv1 2.75MB No longer available 6238 downloads + about 2500 leeches.
phpdevv2 5.46MB No longer available 12998 downloads + about 4320 leeches.
phpdevv3 8.89MB No longer available 18283 downloads to date-
phpdevv4 $varMB No longer available yada yada yada
phpdev423 11.5MB 196859 downloads to date-

[SpiritualStorms]

Psychoman:

I'ts easy to install, all you need to do is click on the installation and its done.

This post may be categorized as SPAM since mostly all you see is how to buy it, but seriously, the second link under the "Merlin Server" category is the one for the free version. It is not a trial, it is just without support from them.

http://www.abriasoft.com/download.p...4c7fc14f4e7b7f9

If this is still considered spam, then I appologize.
Ray


You mean lancelot?

[Psychoman]

No I mean the Merlin Server, Lancelot is included there as well.

[Mr J]

I downloaded phpdev423 the other week, installation was dead easy, it installed in seconds.

I followed the instructions, tested to make sure all was ok and it was.

I now have to start learning PHP :D