PHP 4 or 5

spacetrain · 06-22-2006, 04:01 PM

Hey,

Im planning on coding a web 2.0 site and i know very little php so should i learn php 5 or php 4? Its just that ive heard php 5 is a tad buggy but that was months ago.

Thanks

lpxxfaintxx · 06-22-2006, 04:11 PM

I really, honestly, can not tell the difference between the two. They are almost the same.

RickM · 06-22-2006, 04:23 PM

php5 has many new additions...php5 is now stable and good for production, however it cant hurt to do it in php4, that way you know its a bit more universal.

Dan · 06-22-2006, 07:13 PM

They are both basically the same, with PHP5 having a few more little things.

If you know PHP, you know PHP4 and PHP5..

Also, how can you plan to build a site if you can't code it? (Other than hiring someone..)

lpxxfaintxx · 06-22-2006, 07:16 PM

I guess he wants to learn..

abdulmueid · 06-22-2006, 08:02 PM

I would suggest learn PHP5 mainly because it has a different way of handling XML and has full OOP support. If you want to create a web2.0 site, learn PHP5, it will make your life alot more easier.

Dan · 06-22-2006, 08:29 PM

Can you explain why PHP5 would make his life a lot easier?

abdulmueid · 06-22-2006, 08:59 PM

Here's how:
1. Re-Usable classes - No need to assign variables to data and process it though various functions individually.
2. No more tag checking and parsing individual XML tags with SAX etc. Just use SimpleXML class and have all the data available neatly in array form.
3. PHP5 has better exception handling, making it easier to debug the code.

There are plenty of new features that make life easier with PHP5.

lpxxfaintxx · 06-22-2006, 09:31 PM

I don't think he's up to that level yet. Like he said, he knows very little php.

monaco · 06-22-2006, 10:21 PM

If you're gonna learn, why not learn the latest version? I'd vote for PHP 5. Learning PHP4 would be like learning Java using J2SE 1.4.

Best learn the new features.

scribby · 06-22-2006, 11:29 PM

I say always look to the future quit living in the past! if your coding your scripts for PHP4 then what about in 5 years when everyone is using PHP5..

Peter · 06-23-2006, 12:44 AM

I would personally recommend learning version 4 for the simple reason it is what is mostly used in servers at this current moment in time. php 5 if I remember correctly has been available for about 2 years and as of yet has not taken over from php 4.

Originally Posted by Dan Friedman

They are both basically the same, with PHP5 having a few more little things.

If you know PHP, you know PHP4 and PHP5..

Also, how can you plan to build a site if you can't code it? (Other than hiring someone..)

They are wildly different. php 5 has alot more in it including better handling of object orientation. The reason you may not be able to tell the difference much at the moment is because the majority of hosts set it up so that it will work as close as possible to how php 4 works.

If php 5 is installed as is intended using the main default setup the majority of larger applications just will not run on the server.

abdulmueid · 06-23-2006, 01:55 AM

Originally Posted by lpxxfaintxx

I don't think he's up to that level yet. Like he said, he knows very little php.

Although he's not at that level yet, and I am sure he wont be using much of it at the beginning but the good news is that all of it is easy to learn. Classes are no dragons and SimpleXML is made such that anyone can understand and use it. I learnt PHP5 only, I have no problems working with PHP4 code and whenever I need to jump on PHP5 code, I am always happy to do so.

hanz · 06-23-2006, 02:10 AM

I would suggest you to make it compatible with both. Yes, most of the servers are still using PHP4, but there are already some that use only PHP5.

MixedByDJs · 06-23-2006, 03:33 AM

PHP4.

PHP5 isnt accepted by older scripts/servers ect. You could use PHP5 but id recommend PHP4 for a while. Ive used 5 and experienced problems with a few things, incompatibility being one of them.

spacetrain · 06-23-2006, 04:15 AM

Ok i decided to order a php and mysql book from amazon and this book covers PHP5, if that means paying more to get a php5 host well it will have to do

Amnezia · 06-23-2006, 05:17 AM

I would definately learn php5 if your server supports it, php4 and php5 are miles apart. i learnt 4 and know am having to play catch up to get to grips with version 5

sundaybluez · 06-23-2006, 05:49 AM

PHP4.
Work on to that. if you are coding your own website, keep it simple & easy to code.
No need of OOPS concept for a normal website, procedure based programming is fine.

Also I dont think so that he needs exception handling, SAX at this stage.
Even to process XML their many classes out there on the net which break xml to an array.

Well dude don't just use a latest version because it is new, keep your goal in front of everything else.

Looking for fast, quick output and less time on maintainance then use PHP4.

Also many server still do not have PHP5 on to them.

Prch · 06-23-2006, 02:34 PM

I would say PHP 4 because of versions available on most hosting.

But if you start learning now and if it will take you 2 years to learn and create a site, then start with PHP 5.

stscac · 06-23-2006, 03:13 PM

Site5 provides the option to choose PHP4 or PHP5 through htaccess

**Wants to add affiliate code, but doesn't - because its against the site rules**

-Steve

Dan · 06-23-2006, 06:11 PM

I have PHP4 and PHP5 installed on my computer. I can change back and forth with the click of a button.

I code the same no matter which version I am using, and my code works the same with both versions.

As far as I can tell, the only difference might be more functions and maybe it does some things faster.

I didn't set it up to run anything like anything else. All I did was install it.

stscac · 06-23-2006, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by Dan Friedman

I have PHP4 and PHP5 installed on my computer. I can change back and forth with the click of a button.

I code the same no matter which version I am using, and my code works the same with both versions.

As far as I can tell, the only difference might be more functions and maybe it does some things faster.

I didn't set it up to run anything like anything else. All I did was install it.

Chances are that you're not using the new functions installed with PHP5, which is why it works in both environments.
????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/programming/209852-php-4-or-5-a.html

-Steve

06-22-2006, 04:01 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
spacetrain NamePros Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 133	PHP 4 or 5 Hey, Im planning on coding a web 2.0 site and i know very little php so should i learn php 5 or php 4? Its just that ive heard php 5 is a tad buggy but that was months ago. Thanks

06-22-2006, 04:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
lpxxfaintxx Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 1,082	I really, honestly, can not tell the difference between the two. They are almost the same. __________________ han(sup) yoon - internet entrepreneur

06-22-2006, 04:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
RickM Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Herts, UK Posts: 3,796	php5 has many new additions...php5 is now stable and good for production, however it cant hurt to do it in php4, that way you know its a bit more universal. __________________ RickM Web Design Forums - Over 22,000 Web Designers & Programmers just like you! WSDReg - Affordable Domain Registration. Serving NP members since 2006!

06-22-2006, 07:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
lpxxfaintxx Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 1,082	I guess he wants to learn.. __________________ han(sup) yoon - internet entrepreneur

06-22-2006, 09:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
lpxxfaintxx Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Irvine, CA Posts: 1,082	I don't think he's up to that level yet. Like he said, he knows very little php. __________________ han(sup) yoon - internet entrepreneur

06-22-2006, 07:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dan Buy my domains. Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,796	They are both basically the same, with PHP5 having a few more little things. If you know PHP, you know PHP4 and PHP5.. Also, how can you plan to build a site if you can't code it? (Other than hiring someone..)

06-22-2006, 08:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
abdulmueid Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mozambique Posts: 607	I would suggest learn PHP5 mainly because it has a different way of handling XML and has full OOP support. If you want to create a web2.0 site, learn PHP5, it will make your life alot more easier.

06-22-2006, 08:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
Dan Buy my domains. Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,796	Can you explain why PHP5 would make his life a lot easier?

06-22-2006, 08:59 PM	#8 (permalink)
abdulmueid Account Closed Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mozambique Posts: 607	Here's how: 1. Re-Usable classes - No need to assign variables to data and process it though various functions individually. 2. No more tag checking and parsing individual XML tags with SAX etc. Just use SimpleXML class and have all the data available neatly in array form. 3. PHP5 has better exception handling, making it easier to debug the code. There are plenty of new features that make life easier with PHP5.

06-22-2006, 10:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
monaco NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 689	If you're gonna learn, why not learn the latest version? I'd vote for PHP 5. Learning PHP4 would be like learning Java using J2SE 1.4. Best learn the new features. __________________ My Website \| My Blog

06-22-2006, 11:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
scribby Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Australia Posts: 1,197	I say always look to the future quit living in the past! if your coding your scripts for PHP4 then what about in 5 years when everyone is using PHP5..

06-23-2006, 02:10 AM	#14 (permalink)
hanz onArcade.com Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Estonia Posts: 1,224	I would suggest you to make it compatible with both. Yes, most of the servers are still using PHP4, but there are already some that use only PHP5. __________________ so.ee - really short URLs onArcade arcade script

06-23-2006, 03:33 AM	#15 (permalink)
MixedByDJs Account Closed Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 57	PHP4. PHP5 isnt accepted by older scripts/servers ect. You could use PHP5 but id recommend PHP4 for a while. Ive used 5 and experienced problems with a few things, incompatibility being one of them.

06-23-2006, 04:15 AM	THREAD STARTER #16 (permalink)
spacetrain NamePros Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 133	Ok i decided to order a php and mysql book from amazon and this book covers PHP5, if that means paying more to get a php5 host well it will have to do Last edited by spacetrain; 06-23-2006 at 04:40 AM.

06-23-2006, 05:17 AM	#17 (permalink)
Amnezia Professional Monkey Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Escaped from the zoo Posts: 907	I would definately learn php5 if your server supports it, php4 and php5 are miles apart. i learnt 4 and know am having to play catch up to get to grips with version 5 __________________ Webmaster Words

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

06-23-2006, 05:49 AM	#18 (permalink)
sundaybluez Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Posts: 376	PHP4. Work on to that. if you are coding your own website, keep it simple & easy to code. No need of OOPS concept for a normal website, procedure based programming is fine. Also I dont think so that he needs exception handling, SAX at this stage. Even to process XML their many classes out there on the net which break xml to an array. Well dude don't just use a latest version because it is new, keep your goal in front of everything else. Looking for fast, quick output and less time on maintainance then use PHP4. Also many server still do not have PHP5 on to them.

06-23-2006, 02:34 PM	#19 (permalink)
Prch New Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 10	I would say PHP 4 because of versions available on most hosting. But if you start learning now and if it will take you 2 years to learn and create a site, then start with PHP 5.

06-23-2006, 03:13 PM	#20 (permalink)
stscac A Wealth of Knowledge Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 3,809	Site5 provides the option to choose PHP4 or PHP5 through htaccess Wants to add affiliate code, but doesn't - because its against the site rules -Steve

06-23-2006, 06:11 PM	#21 (permalink)
Dan Buy my domains. Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,796	I have PHP4 and PHP5 installed on my computer. I can change back and forth with the click of a button. I code the same no matter which version I am using, and my code works the same with both versions. As far as I can tell, the only difference might be more functions and maybe it does some things faster. I didn't set it up to run anything like anything else. All I did was install it.