Get real about PHP4 vs. PHP5!
I am repeatedly frustrated by seemingly reputable people in the PHP industry marginalizing and downplaying PHP5 in favor of the ever aging and antiquated PHP4.
Recently I visited the community forums of the osCommerce project to help me out with some issues I was having with a new installation. The first thing I discovered was that register_globals had to be turned on. This was my first clue that things were about to go down hill. As I read further into the forums, I read posts by osCommerce people that recommended users to avoid PHP5 and MySQL5 with a spin that suggested they were still in a beta-like status! Well, that ended my osCommerce experience quick.
I’ve been running many web sites for myself, my partners, and my clients on PHP5 for years. When we switched from PHP4 to PHP5 we had to simply change a single method name that collided with a new PHP5 feature. And, I’m not talking about small applications. I’m talking about a complete online fantasy sports systems. Content and product management, e-commerce, integration systems and many custom modules for very large companies in the construction and industrial manufacturing industries. Company names that your kids probably know, but names that probably shouldn’t be mentioned in my little rant here out of respect.
PHP5 is here already, and many of its’ versions are completely stable for the vast majority of people. And, soon PHP6 will be here whether other people like it or not. So, why not get ready? It seems to me that folks are happy living in their PHP4 bliss. They’re not concerned with preparing for the changes that will likely render their software completely obsolete. Newsflash! There are already companies out there that have embraced PHP5 and are eagerly awaiting PHP6, like myself. PHP4 projects are going to get run over and left behind by more cutting edge and proactive organizations that have no problem realizing the benefits of a more modern and progressive language. They’ve educated themselves and are already writing stable PHP5 code that will also be ready for PHP6 with ease.
PHP5 represents a massive step in the right direction to support enterprise level methodologies and still not scare away Joe Smith who wants to setup a gallery to show pictures of his marble collection. It’s our job as PHP supporters and professionals to embrace and promote advancements in PHP. If we don’t, then we better start learning to spell “Ruby”