Why is DealerStar built in PHP and JavaScript?
□ Speed - PHP is considered to be the fastest of the scripting languages. You can really feel the speed when you implement scripts live on the web. Normally when you try to connect a database and fetch certain data, it takes time to connect the database, execute the statement and get the data across. Because of its high performance in terms of speed, PHP is being used for some of the important Web server administration such as mail functionality.
□ Open Source - PHP is open source. This means users are given a free license to remodel or recode PHP, according to their wishes. You might wonder how this is possible without source code but source code is shipped with PHP - it is open source.
□ Multi Platform - PHP supports various Plat forms, which means PHP can be installed on almost all operating systems such as Windows-x and Linux, just choose the appropriate version to download and follow the instructions given in the Manual accordingly.
□ Easy Syntax - PHP syntax is quite easy to code. It is similar to that of the C language. If you are new to the programming environment however, getting used to the syntax may be a bit difficult.
□ PHP works native with Apache: It can be compiled as a module or directly into the Apache binary. But running on Apache means that, with PHP, you can take advantage of whatever server investments you've already made, because Apache runs on Windows, Linux, Solaris, and various other Unix platforms. Also, going with a web server with Apache's track record means security remains a top priority. And, finally, PHP has a smaller code path, meaning there's less server-side code executed to parse and execute your PHP page, which results in more efficient memory and usage and faster execution.
PHP is a server-side scripting language. A server-side scripting language is one, which has the capability of executing the script on the server and serving the output as an HTML file. Server-side scripts have the main advantage of interacting with databases like DealerStar’s mySQL database, as well as performing all types of server manipulations directly. Server-side scripting languages can manipulate the data which is received from web forms, anywhere on the Internet. As dealership groups grow, the Internet can often be the most logical way to enable each dealership to communicate back with a centralized accounting and administrative office. But this is not the case with client-side scripts such as JavaScript and VBScript. However, there are exceptions where, client-side scripts can also be used for server-side scripting, but this is limited to some extent.
In addition, DealerStar uses some HTML code. By using DealerStar’s PHP, we have a server-side interaction with the DealerStar’s MySQL database which is used to manipulate and fetch a certain type of data based on the query which is given out. If we displayed this data using only PHP, the quality of the output, regarding such criteria as: font-face, font coloring and display areas all are disturbed, and painful to locate and place the data. If HTML is used to present this data, the outlook of the data exhibited can be easier for the user to see and understand.
You can very well run DealerSTAR’s PHP scripts on Windows machines. PHP is a cross-platform support language, which means, PHP can run on various platforms such as Linux, Windows etc. Web servers such as PWS, IIS and Apache can be configured to work with PHP. You can also reduce costs by using thin clients, Openoffice, and other savings ideas.
If you are aware of programming concepts and the application of the logic, then, you will find it relatively easy to code any programming language by understanding the syntax. PHP's functions are similar to other scripting languages. The only thing that matters is your requirement, how you are going to apply the logic and code php to your logic. The main consideration when migrating from a different language lies with the syntax. PHP syntax is similar to that of the C language. People with a basic understanding of C will find it very easy to migrate to PHP. If you are blind to programming then it may be difficult to learn PHP, as you will need to learn the programming concepts, understand the logic and troubleshoot the programs. If you happen to know at least one programming language, then it is very easy to learn PHP. PHP it is pretty easy compared to other scripting languages. We also use a number of code generators and editors to make customization of DealerStar easy for the dealership's IT department and technology providers.
How fast is PHP compared with other scripting languages?
PHP is believed to be fast when compared with other programming languages, Because of execution speed. In the case of large interactions with the database, PHP really plays a good role of execution in performing the interaction. Now a days major web sites have been migrating to PHP, because of the performance.
PHP is open source; will this work properly?
PHP is the only scripting language, which has won the hearts of many web servers and has been moving on enormously day-by-day, The main advantages of open source software is that, if there is a problem, that particular problem is shared by millions of programmers across the world. But in the case of licensed version scripting languages, it is very limited to a set of a small community. Because innovative ideas are studied by many programmers across the world, new ideas are implemented then and there, making the language strong. There is no problem in using PHP, which is open source.
□ Error Handling - When it comes to error handling, it is believed that PHP has a very poor ability but even this disadvantage can be over come using a feasible advantage solution. Since DealerStar was designed to be supported by a dealership’s IT department, the level of required error handling is reduced and the advantage of speed outweighs this shortcoming.
Use of MySQL as a storage manager for DealerStar offers several benefits.
□ MySQL integrates easily with Web servers like Apache through any of a number of languages, such as Perl, PHP, Python, Java, and Ruby. This allows you to provide a interface to your DealerStar MySQL database with the language of your choice.
□ In addition, the interface can be accessed by browsers on many types of machines, providing a platform-independent entryway to your information. All of these components can be obtained for free--MySQL, Apache, and the languages just mentioned have been released as Open Source. You can also obtain them in packages that include support.
□ Multiple-user access. MySQL, easily handles many simultaneous users. It was designed from the ground up to run in a networked environment and to be a multiple-user system that is capable of servicing large numbers of clients.
□ Management of large databases. MySQL can manage hundreds of megabytes of data, and more.
□ Security. When databases are stored locally, anyone can walk up to your Windows machine, launch your database, and gain access to your tables. It's possible to assign a database a password, but many people routinely neglect to do so. When your tables are stored in MySQL, the MySQL server manages security. Anyone attempting to access your data must know the proper user name and password for connecting to MySQL.
□ Backup management. If you work in an organization that supports many migrating data to MySQL provides a benefit for backups and data integrity. They're all backed up using the regular MySQL backup procedures that already exist at your site.
□ Cost. MySQL can be obtained for free. Providing other means of using your database (such as through a Web interface) can reduce your dependence on proprietary software and lower your software acquisition and licensing costs.
□ Hardware choices. MySQL runs on several platforms.