ASP vs PHP

I stumbled into the long running debate of which server side programming language is better, PHP or ASP.  Here is how we looked at it when discussing which technology to use for a recent project.

PHP:

Pros:

1.  Speed:  PHP's ability to process complex pieces of programming is very strong when run in a Linux environment.

2.  Object Oriented:  PHP is now considered to be a fully object oriented programming language.

3.  Community:  PHP is supported by a quite large and powerful community.

4.  Cost:  PHP is free, linux is free, total costs are hardware and setup.

Cons:

1.  The developers involved in this project are not as strongly skilled in PHP as ASP.

2.  Requires more tinkering to properly connect to SQL Server.

3.  To take full advantage of PHP's speed, must use Linux based OS.

ASP:

Pros:

1.  Windows platform:  Less intensive setup.  Many would argue this, but realistically 90% of all computers use windows, it is more familiar to more people than Linux.  Which means that you can readily find more people capable of setting up a windows based web server than windows.

2.  Designed to seamlessly work with SQL Server.

Cons:

1.  Cost:  Windows.

2.  Speed:  Performs quickly, but never as fast as a properly configured Linux web server.

3.  Abandoned Language:  No telling what version of IIS will no longer support asp pages.

Conclusion

Based on what I have written here, most readers would scream PHP.  We chose ASP.  We decided that although PHP is the better language in the long hull, it would severely delay our entrance to market, which is a critical thing.  If we chose PHP, we would be breaking new ground in setting up a highly secure web server which would have slowed us down.  Not to mention the developers involved could probably be rated a 6 out of 10 on PHP and a 9 out of 10 on ASP, which means a learning curve.  We are definitely using SQL Server as the DB and we had trouble getting connected to a remote SQL Server.

So ASP was our choice, and I completely know that this is a highly debated issue and I welcome all comments.  As their may be information that might make my pro con list more robust.

Chris

HowTo: Repair Adobe CS3 Installation (Application has unexpectedly closed)

I was running Adobe CS3 for about a week after upgrading to Mac OS X Leopard when all of a sudden  I could not open Dreamweaver.  The application would open, make it to my welcome screen, and then crash.  Annoyed, I attempted to open every Adobe CS3 application in my Master Suite, every app has crashed.

I fixed it using the same fix as my 'apple+c' fix that I wrote about previously.

1.  Navigate to /applications/utilities/

2.  Open Disk Utility

3.  Choose Repair Disk Permissions

4.  Reboot

All set.

HowTo: Restore Copy & Paste Commands on Mac OS Leopard

So I am running Leopard and I had a strange error.  I began to experience the strangest thing, my 'apple+c' command stopped working.  I tried to use the copy and paste from the edit menu but still no dice.  So I searched Google and found this fix.

1.  Navigate to /applications/utilities/

2.  Open Disk Utility

3.  Choose Repair Disk Permissions

4.  Reboot

All Set.

HowTo: Backup Mac OS X

I recently sent my laptop in for diagnosis as I was experiencing wireless issues.  They kept the laptop for approximately 20 hours and then called me.  They notified me that the issues were software related and recommended that I did an archive install or a fresh install.  I opted for the fresh install, so here is my backup HowTo / Checklist for Mac OS X Leopard.

Backup Safari Bookmarks:

Backing up Safari turned out to be much easier than expected.

1.  Navigate to /library/safari

2.  Copy the file named bookmarks.plist

Backup Address Book

1.  Choose File --> Export --> Address Book Archive

2.  Choose a name for the file, and select where you want to export the file to.

Backup Mozilla FireFox

1.  Open FireFox.

2.  Choose FireFox --> Advanced -->  Clear Cache Now

3.  Completely exit FireFox

4.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/library/application support/firefox/profiles/

5.  Copy the folder titled xxxxxxxx.default

Backup VMWare Fusion

1.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/documents/virtual machines/

2.  Copy your desired virtual machines from here

Backup iTunes

1.  Open iTunes --> Store --> DeAuthorize

2.  Quit iTunes

3.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/music/

4.  Copy iTunes folder

Backup Command & Conquer: Tiberium Wars

This will backup your maps and saved games, surprisingly enough this was my most important backup :D

1.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/library/preferences/Command and Conquer 3 Preferences/

2.  Copy p_drive

Backup Mail

1.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/library/

2.  Copy Mail

3.  Navigate to /users/(your username)/library/preferences/

4.  Copy com.apple.mail.plist

DONE!  I hope this helps anyone else.

Chris

HowTo: Use GTalk on Mac

So when I first bean to be a mac user I was upset that there was not a version of GTalk available on Mac OS X.  So I gave up on the issue for a while, just using gmail's web based chat until the other day.  I found out that you can use iChat to connect and chat with your GTalk account.

To do this:

1.  Open iChat.

2.  Choose iChat --> Preferences --> Accounts

3.  Choose + --> Google Talk Account under account type -->  Google Account name --> Password --> Done

All set.  Now this was done on Mac OS X Leopard, I believe you use a jabber account as the account type for older versions.

Chris

HowTo: Connect to a pptp vpn on Mac OS X Leopard

I recently setup a Windows based pptp vpn and had the necessity to connect to it from my PowerBook running Mac OS 10.5 aka Leopard. It is really quite simple.

1. From your dock click system preferences --> Network.
2. Click the little + sign in the lower left. Cick on interface and select vpn.
3. Select pptp in vpn type, give it a name and hit create.
4. Now select your new vpn connection on the left hand side.
5. Enter the server address and the username.
6. Click authentication and select password, then enter the password for the username you entered earlier and hit ok.
7. Hit apply, then connect and you are connected.

I hope this helps. For more info on setting up a pptp vpn, read my earlier post.

Chris

HowTo: Setup PPTP VPN using Windows 2003 Server

Have you ever come across the need to access files remotely, either at work or at home? Well this is a quick way to setup a vpn.

1. On your server, click start, then Manage Server. Add or Remove a Role. Select Remote Access/VPN Server. Then click next.
2. Follow Prompts, when it asks what type of server select custom configuration if you only have one network card.
3. Once your vpn server is working, then right click my computer, select manage computer.
4. Local users and groups. Select the user that you want to allow remote access or create a new one and select properties.
5. Click the tab that says Dial Up Access.
6. Then select allow remote access.
7. Last but not least, you need to port forward port 1723 on your router, as well as enable vpn passthrough for pptp. Now this is where the difficulty occurs. Linksys routers are notorious for not supporting pptp properly, but not supporting the gre authentication protocol on port 47. Make sure your router has the most up to date firmware.


All set.

Chris