Q: Comparing VB & PHP

[cometburn]

if I am in the wrong thread Please move this topic....

Whats more convenient to use?

VB & mySql OR PHP & mySql?

I'm asking this because i wanna know which of them consumes lesser bandwitdh when mySql is on a server. Any other conclusions or statements is welcome...

Please help me because this will be my report.

[leinad31]

More often than not, its how the language is used/coded and not the language per se which determines bandwidth usage.

[JRSofty]

It would also determine on what you want your application to do?

Personally when using MySQL I prefer to use PHP because the connection support is part of the language, but only if I want an application that multiple people can access at the same time from anywhere in the world.

However, if I want an application that is run locally or on an internal network then I would use VB.NET or a .NET language and most likely SQL Server.

I know that it is possible to connect to a MySQL database via VB but I think you need to have some sort of ODBC driver (clarification needed!).

The first step before you decide on what programming language you want to use decide what the application will do and how you want to do it.

[Hack]

Answer this question:

Is the application you are going to develop using MySQL going to be desktop based on Web Based?

If the answer is web based, then use a web language, i.e., PHP

If the answer is desktop based, then use a desktop language, i.e., Visual Basic

The number of people that attempt to use Visual Basic 6 for web based applications never cease to astound me. *shakes head and rolls eyes*

[cometburn]

is the application you are going to develop using MySQL going to be desktop based on Web Based?

Actually, the program is through LAN only. The number of people that will be accessing the databse is around 30 persons above.. So, what do you guys think about this?

[Zach_VB6]

PHP & MySQL :P

[cometburn]

Mau i know your side Zach_VB6? Why use php & mysql?

[Zach_VB6]

Visual Basic 6 is 10 years old...

PHP is fast and is my favorite language.

[cometburn]

Ok. Zach, can you tell me how to deploy a program developed in php which will be accessed through LAN only?

[Zach_VB6]

Sorry

[chemicalNova]

Ok. Zach, can you tell me how to deploy a program developed in php which will be accessed through LAN only?

A local webserver. PHP is cross-platform.. what if a user on your LAN brings their MAC into work? Your VB6 program won't last very long..

Not only that, but you can get Linux distros now that come pre-packaged as a websever (can't remember which ones.. I'm pretty sure CentOS 5.1 is one..), with a MySQL server and PHP ready to go.

chem

[cometburn]

Thanks Chem! Got to take note of that.

You see, i will be reporting this and through this report, we'll gonna be developing a program and deploy it through LAN.

FYI, Were using Windows here.

[DigiRev]

It'd be nice to know what kind of application you're making...

PHP on a webserver that is configured to not allow remote connections (outside of LAN) via a router or whatever, will work. VB can work just as well.

But there are definitely things I'd rather use PHP for instead of VB, and vice versa.

They are 2 completely different languages run on completely different systems for completely different purposes.

[Hack]

Actually, the program is through LAN only. The number of people that will be accessing the databse is around 30 persons above.. So, what do you guys think about this?

Then I would definately suggest VB.

However, may I ask why VB6 rather than VB.NET?

[penagate]

Actually, the program is through LAN only. The number of people that will be accessing the databse is around 30 persons above.. So, what do you guys think about this?

Makes no difference. The key difference is whether you encapsulate the database with a service interface (such as a web service) or not. If security is of no concern, you can just connect directly to the MySQL server and use whatever you please on the client side. If any form of access control is required you should create a server-side service and restrict client operations to those provided by your service API. You can still use whatever you please on the client side, as long as it can do HTTP (or whatever other protocol you want — HTTP is just easiest).

PHP can be used to make either web services or web-based interfaces. So can ASP.NET or any other server-side programming language. You could use VB6, but it would be like opening a can of fruit with a screwdriver.

[Hack]

Actually, the program is through LAN only. The number of people that will be accessing the databse is around 30 persons above.. So, what do you guys think about this?

Does this mean that it is desktop based only.....no web parts at all?

[chemicalNova]

I would personally still go with the Intranet-style web-based approach.

chem

[mendhak]

The advantage of developing it in PHP (or ASP.NET for that matter) is that any changes you make will occur in one place, on the web server. Users only need to have a browser to access your application. This saves you the trouble of deploying updates to all the machines on the intranet or troubleshooting installation issues as the 'installation' (browser) already exists. Even the pointless Macs have web browsers.

[leinad31]

For web applications, more bandwidth is used more so if page is content heavy, if only bandwidth is to be considered.

[cometburn]

It'd be nice to know what kind of application you're making...

it's a fixed asset monitoring system.

Then I would definately suggest VB.
However, may I ask why VB6 rather than VB.NET?

Vb.net is a totally new language, im still studying on it.

Users only need to have a browser to access your application. This saves you the trouble of deploying updates to all the machines on the intranet or troubleshooting installation issues as the 'installation' (browser) already exists. Even the pointless Macs have web browsers.

Mendhak has a big point here... since Vb6 or Vb.net needs installation.

Thanks for the reply guys. Tomorrow i'll be reporting this to my Boss. If there are still things that you guys can add, Please do. I'll be checking this thread from time to time. Again, Thank you guys for the support!

[KiwiDexter]

It would also determine on what you want your application to do?

Personally when using MySQL I prefer to use PHP because the connection support is part of the language, but only if I want an application that multiple people can access at the same time from anywhere in the world.

However, if I want an application that is run locally or on an internal network then I would use VB.NET or a .NET language and most likely SQL Server.

I know that it is possible to connect to a MySQL database via VB but I think you need to have some sort of ODBC driver (clarification needed!).

The first step before you decide on what programming language you want to use decide what the application will do and how you want to do it.

Nope just hook into it, there's surprisingly a whole forum site devoted to vb6 and MySQL. You can of course even have your MySQL db on a remote Linux server which is kind of cool.

iIn terms of vb classic keep in mind no longer supported by M$ which means in essense it may or may not work with future versions of windoze.