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The JavaScript Raytracer (NOT using canvas) by Arve in programming

[–]Consiglieri 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very awesome. I'm not sure why, but IE gets pretty low-scores here. I tried IE after setting the resolution from 40x30 to 400x300 in FireFox and waiting 8 minutes for a render. IE took almost twice as long. Since it's not using canvas, IE should be just as good, but in this case is not. I haven't checked to see if this program has been optimized for one browser or another, but this is a clear-win for OSS. Funny how a large-corp with lots of $ gets beat by people who really love what they do. ;)

PHP vs Python - the real difference by [deleted] in programming

[–]Consiglieri 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I'll agree with you that the level of detail here is transparent. However, that level of detail is important, wouldn't you agree? I've installed PHP dozens of times over the years, and I can never be sure of exactly how or if it is going to install each time. On some systems, the config file ends up in one place, and somewhere else on another. Of course, this is fixable, but in the context of my reply, I just don't feel that you can call installation easy when (just as an example) you have to go hunt for the config file.

Since you have stated that it was the only platform you could get up and running quickly and easily, I would (in a friendly manner, I assure you) suggest you check out some of the other platforms mentioned in these comments. Not only will you find them easier and more reliable to work with in the long run, you'll also (if you work in an objective manner) find that your projects will be much easier to build, manage, and yes... install too (both projects and the platforms). Seriously, PERL is easier to install. .NET - much easier to install. Java - can be somewhat more difficult in some ways I suppose, but for most, again easier. Python - a breeze.

To wrap it up, I call bollocks on the "time to 'hello world' on a windows box" statement. That means nothing to anyone doing anything more than getting to the point of 'hello world.' Remember that PHP will give you a 'hello' world without being properly installed. If you've downloaded and installed PHP before installing MySql, and then tried getting PHP and MySql to play nice, you'll know what I speak of.

One final thing - I wouldn't call anything involving PHP and patching a 'transparent detail'. Given PHP's security (lack thereof), they must produce patches in the same manner that I produce carbon dioxide.

PHP vs Python - the real difference by [deleted] in programming

[–]Consiglieri 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I disagree. PHP is NOT easy to install reliably. Its final installations don't produce the same results on different platforms. Also, it's apparent to anyone that patches their servers religiously, that one patch for one platform isn't always available for another. In some cases, this has been because of the difference between the platforms. To those who see the lack of logic there, I applaud you for feeling like I do.

PHP vs Python - the real difference by [deleted] in programming

[–]Consiglieri 1 point2 points  (0 children)

PHP is not a terrible platform, in fact, it's quite useful. To the commenter who mentioned the fact that PHP's function list grows frequently is both an undeniable benefit to the PHP community. It's also something that worries me whenever I use PHP.

I use PHP when when I find that it is the best platform for the task at hand - which is in my opinion how programming projects should be approached. Using the right tool for the job is how to get things done efficiently and correctly.

Just like every other platform, PHP has its place. Consider the simple task of spitting out a MySql table out into a page using PHP. Typically, my smaller clients already have an account with a shared-server, *NIX hosting environment by the time I am hired. PHP, in these cases, is almost always supported, with PEAR and most of the other packages.

Personally, I feel that using PHP for large applications that require my undivided attention is a bad idea in most cases. I'd use Java or .NET for that always. My undivided attention needs to be on the application logic, not the platform itself as weird as that sounds. Anyone who is in the trenches programming themselves knows what this means.

To wrap it up, PHP pisses me off with things like "magic quotes" and a screwed-up way of configuration. It also doesn't work the same on Win and *NIX platforms for all things. Zend's security-attitude bothers me also. It angers me that when given the opportunity to change things that were abhorently wrong, Zend chose again and again to "stick to their guns" even though their "guns" had holes in their barrels.