bybjorn.com | Bjørn Børresen - freelance web developer » PHP

PEAR DataObjects vs. Propel vs. EzPDO vs .. Java!

Bjørn Børresen — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:36:48 +0000

Using an object perstistence layer can be greatly benefitial for any medium to large size project. Or, any project at all some would say. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’ll give you a quick example. Usually, in PHP we would do something ugly-bugly like this to retrieve info about a certain item in the database:

$res = mysql_query(“SELECT * FROM article WHERE ID=5″); if($row == mysql_fetch_assoc($res)) { echo $row["title"]; // do something here }

Compare it to this:

$article = new Article(5); echo $article->getTitle(); // do something here

Ah, the beauty of OO.

My first experience with this was the PEAR DataObject package. I was amazed – it could generate classes based on the tables found in my database automatically, and I could start using them instantly! Yummy!

Lately I’ve been having a look at Propel. You see, I know the Symfony guys chose Propel, and after listening to a podcast with an interview with one of the project leads there, I’m convinced that the guys behind symfony are smart. Smart people choose the best frameworks, so my logic tells me to look at Propel

I haven’t tried it yet – but at first glance it looks better than PEAR DO. Why? Well, Propel will generate 4 classes for each table in your database. Overkill you say? Well, read this from the Symfony Model documentation:

Why keep two versions of the data object model, one in model/om/ and another in model/?

You will probably need to add custom methods and attributes to the model objects (think about the ->getName() method that outputs the FirstName and LastName together). But as your project develops, you will also add tables or columns. Whenever you change the schema.xml, you have to make a new call to symfony propel-build-model to generate the object model classes. The Base architecture allows you to keep using the symfony propel-build-model command even after you added custom code to your classes. Here is how it works: the Base classes kept in the model/om/ directory are the ones generated by Propel. You should never modify them since every new build of the model will completely erase these files. But if you need to add custom methods, use the regular object classes of the model/ directory that actually inherit from the previous ones.

Of course, you could just extend the PEAR DataObjects created but it just … well, it just doesn’t seem to be encouraged. I like when a framework encourage me to do stuff The Right Way(TM).

So, Propel it is, I thought – but that was before a co-worker of mine suggested EzPDO which supposedly had a bit of a different approach. They brand themselves as “A simple solution for PHP Object Relational Mapping and Data Persistence” and they seem to be worth a look.

The final solution I’m looking at for solving this issue is using Java combined with PHP. Using the new Zend Platform it’s possible to use Java objects, in PHP code – is that great or what. A little illustration for you, which I found here.

That way the db stuff can be handled in EJB’s maybe, everything is transferred via SOAP and I can use objects in PHP like I would with Propel etc. It’s all a bit sketchy, but it’s something I’m looking at.

Comments anyone? I’d love to hear some feedback from people who have actually done this ..

PHP is the Devil!

Bjørn Børresen — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 20:27:39 +0000

I’m a big fan of podcasts, and recently I stumbled upon this jewel. It’s not a podcast per se, but eight audio files containing presentations from Carson Workshops entitled ‘The Future Of Web Apps’. I’ve listened to three of them by now, and here’s what I’ve learnt so far:

Joshua Schachter, Delicious [mp3]; Don’t write for scalability, you won’t know what breaks before it breaks. People will molest your server.
Cal Henderson, Flickr [mp3]; Write an API, use an open system; let users know that they can export their data if they don’t want to use your service anymore (it will get you more users!)
David Heinemeier Hansson, 37 signals and one of the developers behind Ruby On Rails [mp3]; Flexibility is overrated, and PHP is the Devil!

Great stuff! Can’t wait to listen to the next five. And since I’m going to Manchester this weekend (or, stoke-on-trent to be precise, but that’s almost Manchester isn’t it) there should be some travel time to listen to some of this r

The Java community retaliates – "PHP is …"

Bjørn Børresen — Wed, 08 Mar 2006 20:32:30 +0000

Ok, it’s time to let the people of #java on Ef-net let us know what they thought of PHP in the period from July to December 2005 (read: yes, I’ve done a grep -iH “php is” on my #java irclogs). Of course, we all know the PHP developers had strong opinions on Java, so this will be interesting.

< @Tenchi> php is terd < @aut> straight php is faster than using php to transform xml < waz> don’t forget “PHP is slow!” < pr3d4t0r> waz: “PHP is slow! Use Perl.” < AstroIvan> and php is slow < jjava> and php is slow < tomh> so php is faster when you dont use clusters? < @joeblowgt> and php is fine for many types of websites < @jwzrd> BoZo, no you are not. Php is not something you program. < @jwzrd> deigo, php isn’t coding < @top^> a bunch of if statements? now that’s why php is not java < SouljaGoD> PHP is fairly easy for this kind of thing < mele> php is nice < pr3d4t0r> kinabalu: PHP is like a gun. < mele> Tenchi: php is fun < @GnarlyBob> php is more scalable < eth-> you think PHP is understandable? hahaa < @boxed> you know, php is pretty much like java except with a chaotic standard library and a billion $’s thrown randomly in the code < jjava> but php is able to defy gravity < @jwzrd> hahaha php is such a configuration shithole < @jwzrd> PHP isn’t allowed < Jippi> i know – php5 got oop as a ‘bonus’ hehe.. php isnt orignally a oop language < @jwzrd> PHP is annoying though < CnfsdKid> php is forever horrible. < CnfsdKid> DeanC: php is retarded. < Number-6> php is quite retarded. < tonicxt> Php is nice as it has build in user-input sanitization automatically enabled on all user-input -=- < CnfsdKid> geerd: maybe php is more your style. < gripe> geerd: php is for semi-literate high school kids to write blogs with < porc> php is simply not an enterprise class language < geerd> and PHP is for the web, you dont listen for any keys

Well, we see they have humor; “PHP is slow, use Perl” is of course a reference to the idiotic “Java is slow, C is better” which these developers hear too often. So, they throw it over to the PHP community, where it, of course, is just is stupid.

Also, notice how few opinions about PHP in #java there are compared to the number of opinions on Java in #PHP in the same time period; Java coders are too cool to care about PHP. I mean; they’re coding Java, enterprise applications. They don’t kid around. It’s real OO, not “We kind of .. uhh, well, got some OO in the latest PHP5 release guys, uuh..” (Zend).

In case you’re wondering I consider myself a Java developer foremost, and a PHP developer second .. but “times, they are a-changin’” as Bob Dylan sings.

The IRC community speaks out – Java vs. PHP

Bjørn Børresen — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 21:00:57 +0000

Welcome to my new column. It’s basically a grep of all mentions of java in #php from July to December 2005.

The nicks have not been hidden to protect the guilty.

This is what the people in #php on ef-net think about Java as a programming language:

< Johnboyo> java is awful, im a symbian programmer by trade and i avoid it at all costs
< @feti> better than a low-level language. and java is high-level
< nforbes> LOL JAVA IS SLOW
< tWiZtEr> java is slow and gay
< dreamache> java is so unbelievably slow, i mean.. have you ever visited sites with java menus? my gawd
< vvortex3> C# vs Java is such a bitter debate
< SouLShocK> java is medium?
< @Dragnslcr> Java is one of the best languages for GUI apps. Not to say that it’s all that good
< paladin`> what phek is trying to get at is, php “executes” code serverside, whereas java is handled and interpreted by the client. what you are likely looking to do is to add a tag such as onload=”function();” to your html.
< m0O> da_ – programming java is nice thou - the funnest to program especially using hte eclipse interface, makes it even more fun
< Inkvenom> java is a resource whore…
< +ronny_fro> java istn drag and drop necessarily
< pulse__> if you’re looking for retards, #java is the place to go
< leterip> i hate how java is a programming lanugage becasue they use the guise of compiling
< Idle`> Java is… C# is MS’s java killer, although theyll never admit it
< planetxm> we all know java is a beautiful language for OOP.. and the fact they took c# syntax is no suprise coming from M$.. c# is like ‘the perfect language’
< badz> java is popular … you couldnt build a os out of it… c is just the real thing.
< Chr|s> but to say that Java is useless is a bit of a stretch
< kainam> java is ass
< @feti> hindog: because Java isn’t extensible, C/C++ are
< +dreamache> java is like so horribly slow
< slacker_> i know java is
< +SunTzu> god java is a resouce hog
< aonic> but java is a resource whore
< Chr|s> Java isnt that bad, depends on what you’re intended use is
< stutter-> Chr|s: i guess if your intended use is fat slow application – java is good
< @feti> i bet you guys couldn’t name one reason why objective C is better than Java. and if you can you’re an idiot, cause you use the tool for the job. and you probably don’t even know WHY java is used so much, let alone have room to talk why it sucks.
< @Dragnslcr> Java is a good language for a lot of stuff, but some of the things it does are really annoying
< fietronic> Dragnslcr: the thing with java is that it runs on most everything new
< phek> java is good as a non web based programming language
< el_taco> java is so portable.
< fietronic> m-00kie: java is a web application…
< Yaeyama> crayola: that’s because java is teh suck and the community would be up the creek without those kinds of submissions
< +YorT> Rhasta, java isnt truly cross platform either
< Colloid> ok i don’t mean to spam, but i’m a java hater and this one is too good: “Saying that Java is nice because it works on all OS’s is like saying that anal sex is nice because it works on all genders”
< MovieTrai> Colloid, just because java is to hard for you doesn’t mean it sucks
< +dreamache> java is unbelievably slow
< sp0n9e> java is nothing but OO and some things are such a pain
< Two9A> And it’s probably more efficient because every array access in Java is automatically bound-checked
< +Shadda> and java is nothing but overflowing with documentation on OO design
< zenogais> Java isn’t helly-slow
< hindog> pretty fuckin sweet.. I use PHP + Java for my latest project, where java is the actual engine.. and php is the “front” to the engine
< hindog> h4x012, java is good.. .NET is good
< +SunTzu_> java is a hog
< Woxxy> SpydaByte: speed is relative. whereas c++ has better performance, java is faster to code
< Asmodeo|p> dunno your opinnion but i think java is gay
< @Shai-Tan> java is a mess
< _crayola> the only real java is java because its platform independent.
< @w0lfy> < ?php echo 'java is gay kthx'; ?>
< codepoet> java is so damn annoying
< @horros> Java isn’t slow.
< +YorT> lod, you do realise java is fucken fast right?
< hindog> java is not interpreted at the source-code level
< segosa> java is not js
< Inkvenom> Shadda: do you think java is or isn’t a resource whore?
< Inkvenom> ron_frownZendar: do you disagree that java is a resource whore, it has it’s benefits, but you have to admit that
< +SunTzu_> im sick at thinking java is the way
< @Dragnslcr> Java is mostly OO, but it still has non-object basic data types (integers, reals, etc.)
< +feti> anybody that tries to relate PHP to Java is a complete idiot to begin with
< InkLaptop> java is a resource whore….
< putopaul> java is the best right now
< ftzdomino> writing servers in java is fun. hopefully they fixed all of the connect() timeout stupidity
< Meritt> because java is the devil.
< Meritt> PHP is an efficient scripting language modeled after C. Java is a cannabilistic ogre woman.
< nomopofom> java is like uber pro style?
< m0rales> java is huge but comparing java to php would get us nowhere
< m0O_> java is elite
< m0O_> java is elite!
< m0O_> .NEt/JAVA is slower I assume
< baloo_> java is meant for you, php is meant for us
< m0O_> so powerfull, java is in ur hands when programming
< Arrakis> java is just plain suckage
< Flixi> cdg: First it was in the html head. Not I copyed the java code to a other file and instead of the script tag I got < ? include menujava.php ?> and it’s the same java code both places.. I thought it would just copy the java code in to the html file because php is server side and the java is client side
< m0O_> Im in 4th year university, and java is sick We just handed in a EJB application yesterday, group of 5, 10 gorups in class, and only my groups finished it. And I was the only person in the group who did it , the rest did the report since they new shit
< @ronny_poo> I think in general java is a glimpse at where things are going, but theres just too much shit thats half assed in java frameworks
< _piker_> #java is worthless anyways’
< sp0n9e> java is ass
< @Shadda> java is great…when coded right
< +noc`> Java is good
< zid`> java is insecure shit on windows
< rza> java is actually good
< syc> java is nicer to work with. in my opinion.
< sp0n9e> java is more than a language
< syc> java is an addiction to platform independant code!
< SunTzu> java is cool just wish they would get the garbage collection sorted out
< Chr|s> Java is so much nicer in that regard… ;-P
< virax> digitok: All java is bullshit.
< syc> java is good.
< _m0O> still java is the ruler
< +noc`> and java is the OO king dammit
< _m0O> java is the king of OO
< _m0O> all I said is java is king
< sp0n9e> java is getting better at memory management

That’s it! Tomorrow we’ll have a look at what the #java people think of PHP. Fun, huh?