Posted by Csaba Gabor on 05/06/06 23:17

Kim André Akerø wrote:
> sagar wrote:
> > I want to know if it is possible to develop a browser based
> > application for the local desktop (running win XP) without the need
> > for a web server.
> >
> > This should be something like google desktop search. I should be able
....
> Google Desktop Search actually runs a small web server on your PC
> that's not available to anyone outside the computer. A web server can
> also run on any port; the one for Google Desktop Search runs on port
> 4664.
>
> In short, to make a browser-based application that utilizes PHP, you
> will need to run a web server as well. A light-weight web server that's
> able to run PHP scripts will do.

This is not, strictly speaking, true. There are different
architectures for creating browser based applications. For example,
using VBScript it is possible to have a program that monitors whenever
a new instance of IE is invoked, and even whenever any new page is
loaded. And since PHP 5 does COM, client side PHP can do the same
thing, including event driven interaction with a browser page. Because
the script is empowered (trusted), it can interact with the desktop,
too, so that there is no reason for a server. All the same, there is
scant documentation on this - I recommend having a local server as a
better option.

Csaba Gabor from Vienna

[Back to original message]