Posted by Nicolas Verhaeghe on 09/28/05 23:09

> Newbie here, and wondering which one would be the best to implicate a job
> board? How do I go about putting up a job board?
>
> I've seen stuff for php and asp but what's the difference? As a newbie
> what
> would be the easiest to start with?
> I'm looking for a an easy cut and paste solution.
>

As a programmer who uses both languages, here is in a nutshell:

Syntax:
ASP is a Microsoft product based on the very ackward Visual Basic syntax
(Example: If / End If).
PHP is a C-Like, very compact and well organized. Some ackwardness, but it
makes it more romantic ;)

Hosting:
ASP works better on Microsoft servers. There is a possibility to run ASP on
Linux and BSD but I would not recommend, because of the fact that ASP relies
a lot on external components that often come in the form of DLLs that you
need to physically register on the server.
PHP works fine on both environments but a Linux/BSD server will run your
scripts faster than a Windows box because of the overhead (or lack thereof).

Out the box solutions:
Both languages are popular but PHP for some reason has more Open License
solutions that you can implement for free or for a donation if you are a
good guy (usually if your project makes you richer, you are supposed to give
back).

Toolbox:
PHP can be easily installed with a very large number of tools such as image
manipulation, upload, email, etc...
ASP requires the registration of components to do that and very ackward
object declarations. Most of these components are not free.

Speed:
ASP is very slow. Darn slow. Not suitable for traffics of thousands a day.
Many ASP Web sites evolved towards either PHP or Dot Net when they became
popular.
PHP is way faster. Dot Net (ASPx) is now faster but really not popular.

Database connectivity:
ASP works better with SQL Server and Access. I have not used it with MySQL,
because it does not make sense.
PHP works very very well with MySQL (PostGreSQL as well, but I know nobody
who uses it). It works fine with SQL Server and Access if you really really
want to use these database systems, but Access is slow. SQL Server is
costly.

Simply put:
If you have to use a Microsoft server, then use ASP/SQL Server.
If you have to use a Linux or BSD Server (or anything Unix), then use
PHP/MySQL.

I have 3 ASP clients and the three have a substential budget. They spend
hundreds of dollars a month just in hosting fees. Their databases are SQL
Server in the three cases.

All the others (a bunch) are PHP clients, people on a budget for the most
part, who don't care what solution is used as long as they have a nice Web
site with the bells and whistles that they need.

Windows hosting is now a lot more affordable (try Crystal Tech, for
instance -I have no stock), but really I would go PHP if I were you, because
as far as Web boards are concerned, you have some awesome products out
there, like PhpBB (Open License), vBulletins (OL), YABB (OL), Invision
(Paid), to name a few...

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