Currently I do graphic and website design using the programs photoshop, illustrator, HTML, and dreamweaver. I want to learn how to create databased driven websites for ecommerce. PHP and ASP are the two programming skills that I have been told are used for this. I'm looking to buy a new computer. Currently, I use mac and I like. However can you only use the PC for ASP and PHP programming for databased driven websites? Would I be better off with a PC?
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Can you create Databased Driven Websites on a mac?
- Thread starter imike77
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Dreamweaver will support both PHP and ASP on a Mac. PHP has the upper hand on the Mac platform, however, as you can activate PHP and Apache under OS X (already installed on your machine but not active by default)and have your own development server right there on your Mac. Here is a link to an article explaining how to do this (http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/dreamweaver/articles/php_macintosh.html)
PHP works great with MySQL, a free, open source database program. If you are new to both I would suggest getting Larry Ullman's book, "PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Websites." It's a great introduction to creating database driven websites and it has a lot of great examples. I bought it when it first came out and I still use it as a reference in my work.
PHP works great with MySQL, a free, open source database program. If you are new to both I would suggest getting Larry Ullman's book, "PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Websites." It's a great introduction to creating database driven websites and it has a lot of great examples. I bought it when it first came out and I still use it as a reference in my work.
As mentioned, PHP is platform independent, and is already on every Mac you buy (as is an Apache server).
...how's that for easy?
ASP will be a problem, but bites anyway in my personal opinion (and I am not an overly anti M$ person). A Mac, a text editor like BBEdit, Photoshop, and PHP/MySQL/Apache equals design heaven!
p.s. The design industry is predominantly Mac based, don't forget! Also, most servers run a unix base, which Mac OSX is also. A much smaller percentage of the server world is based on windows/asp type technology. A Mac actually puts you closer to the industry playing field, imho.
...how's that for easy?
ASP will be a problem, but bites anyway in my personal opinion (and I am not an overly anti M$ person). A Mac, a text editor like BBEdit, Photoshop, and PHP/MySQL/Apache equals design heaven!
p.s. The design industry is predominantly Mac based, don't forget! Also, most servers run a unix base, which Mac OSX is also. A much smaller percentage of the server world is based on windows/asp type technology. A Mac actually puts you closer to the industry playing field, imho.
I find PHP is easier to understand
I have tired both languages and i find the of the two PHP was the easiest to learn, the documentation is great and there are great books to help in the learning process. I think you would be better off using PHP since it has mySQL support built in... not sure about ASP..
I have tired both languages and i find the of the two PHP was the easiest to learn, the documentation is great and there are great books to help in the learning process. I think you would be better off using PHP since it has mySQL support built in... not sure about ASP..
Stampyhead said:
I am new to this as well .... Can you create a database in MySQL that stores pictures together with info etc?.... Basically a stripped down iphoto but then web accessible. I am currently using Lotus Domino for that but like to migrate to mac (unix) platform.
Hoef said:
You can, however it is not advisable to store the actual image within the database. The best method would be to store the information and let mysql give each photo a unique id number, then store the image in a directory using the id number as the filename.
There are a number of gallery applications written in PHP already however, so you may find you can use them rather than writing a custom one. By far the most popular is Gallery ( http://gallery.menalto.com/ ), although kinda ironically given this thread subject, it doesn't actually use mysql at the moment
Knox said:You can, however it is not advisable to store the actual image within the database. The best method would be to store the information and let mysql give each photo a unique id number, then store the image in a directory using the id number as the filename.
There are a number of gallery applications written in PHP already however, so you may find you can use them rather than writing a custom one. By far the most popular is Gallery ( http://gallery.menalto.com/ ), although kinda ironically given this thread subject, it doesn't actually use mysql at the moment
Thanks Knox ... That is good advice, I'll look into this. Do you also know/use some content management software that keeps track of your website "assets"?