ASP vs. PHP

[idaho]

Ok, I've somehow managed to land a freelance job doing a web site for a University. I haven't done this since 1996 so I know that things have changed a litttle and I have some learning to do.

My question is this...Which is a better ASP or PHP? Let me rephrase that so we don't end up with a Mac vs PC or a ID vs Quark type of battle here.

What are the differences between the two? Does one offer something better than the other? How about 'ease of use' and learning curves???

[JPnyc]

In my opinion, ASP, using VBscript, is the easiest serverside scripting option there is. Not only is it more verbose (based on real english words) but you don't have to spit out all your HTML in write statements (echo statements in PHP). You create your static HTML page, then right within the page you add <% active scripting goes here %>, and you just save it with a .asp extension. Piece-a cake. However you also need to consider the database and host you'll be using before selecting a language.

[Ulysses]

I've only used php myself ... the advantage of php is that it can run on any server platform (not sure if asp relies on Windows). As such, running on a Linux server, the hosting costs tend to be noticably cheaper ... bugs with the Linux platform are also fixed sooner and everyone loves to hack and bring down Windows systems (though this is debatable really, as to whether this doesn't apply to Linux too).

Both php and asp are very similar in their ease to learn though from what I've been told. I personally think the real decision, is what hosting platform you have/intend to persue developing for. You can always learn the other later on ... but I'd focus on the one that you can get stuck into and use now. I definately know php can be ported between Windows and Linux though ... so it doesn't matter if you change server platform from project to project ... this was a big deciding factor for me, as I host most of my work on Linux, but have also worked on other projects where the client already had decided on and implemented, a Windows paltform.

I'm sure someone else can provide some more practical comparative knowledge though.

[Ulysses]

you don't have to spit out all your HTML in write statements (echo statements in PHP). You create your static HTML page, then right within the page you add <% active scripting goes here %>, and you just save it with a .asp extension.

php supports this too ... you just learn to include html templates in your code (instead of actually writing the html using echo/print statements - which, do make php quite messy, very easily) with various custom <? ?> tags in your html templates (which can thus be edited in Dreamweaver as normal html page, if you're not comfortable editing html source code directly) , which php uses in exactly the same way. There may be a speed difference though ... I know php can become slow if you go overboard with includes. Slim and efficient hard-coding is always the most important thing when it comes to performance though, whatever the language.

[Mynock]

Here's what I found just using a good ole google

PHP vs ASP (http://marty.anstey.ca/programming/php_asp.html)
PHP versus ASP Comparison Why we code in PHP rather than ASP (http://www.netconcepts.com/php-vs-asp.htm)
ASP vs. PHP (http://www.monstersmallbusiness.com/plan/article-ecommerce-asp-php.asp)
ASP vs. PHP - Which one is right for you (http://www.pointafter.com/Archives/nl0203.htm)
PHP and ASP.NET Go Head-to-Head (http://www.oracle.com/technology/pub/articles/hull_asp.html)

Hope you find something there that will help you

[Mynock]

List of resources about asp vs php

http://phpfreebies.com/resources/asp-vs-php.php

[JPnyc]

We use php includes in these forums which works very nicely, but it requires a declaration etc. which ASP does not. If he's looking for the easiest learning curve, it's ASP. That is unless you're already acquainted with the C, C++, Java family of syntax, which PHP is similar to. But for the novice who's not programmed before, it doesn't get much easier than VB syntax.

[Ryan8720]

I prefer PHP because it's fast, free, and cross-platform.

However, there really isn't anything one can do that the other can't.

[JPnyc]

The only one that's noticeably slower than any other is Java.

[Ulysses]

Imagine it: Java-generated websites. Ugh .. reminds me of all the e-commerce sites of yesteryear, with their Java menus, which would never work on most people's machines (being that most people only had access to University or work computers, and thus didn't have it enabled).

Looks like the choice is yours, idaho.

[JPnyc]

That was my serverside training, java servlets. I never wrote a single one after graduating. Not one.

[idaho]

Well it appears that everything has been decided fo me. The university is a Windows/ASP/ASP.Net only network and flat out refuses to make any exceptions or changes Even though PHP will run just fine on their network. They won't even set up a SQL database for me. I can only use MS Access.

I hate bureaucracies!

[JPnyc]

Well that's that then. But I guarantee you'll find this stupid easy. There just is no easier serverside technology. If you don't, come back here and give me heck. I'll help.

[Ryan8720]

Yeah, I don't like Java. I had a Java class last year. Good for learning the basics of programming, but other than that it is quite useless. Slow and doesn't run on many computers. I know I keep it disabled.

[JPnyc]

I have applets disabled in my browser. I have java enabled on the pc itself.