Too soon for php5?

[one_mind]

Hi,

I have used php 4 alot and haven't attempted php5 yet. From what i can tell, not alot of web servers have made the transition and all my clients ask for php unkowingly running a php 4 server so any php 5 stuff wont work for them.

Is it too soon for php5? When will php5 become mainstream do you think?

Any insights would be great.

Thanks :)

[henry0]

PHP5 has many advantages.
I you are aiming at using many OOP PHP5 will be the one

Most of your app will work on 5 if you are coding for register_global turned off

The new object model offers many new features such as:
Constructors and destructors
Objects as references
Cloning objects
Private, Public and Protected keywords
Interfaces
Abstract classes
__call
__set and __get
Static members

Here is an article about migrating to php5 [zend.com]

and another [zend.com]

also look here [webmasterworld.com]

You just need to practice, load PHP5 on your local and test all your scripts.

[one_mind]

Thanks Henry,

I am already a good oop programmer and know about the new features ect, basically what i am asking is about the present day real world of php dev. Do most devs still use 4 when working for clients? ect

[henry0]

I used it since its almost very first days
and had to fight to get it on my server.

I use a couple of well-known hosts for dedicated servers; both use it or at least do offer a choice.

Among the advantages PHP5 is said to offer a better security, although the coder write it safe or not!

I do not need to move the sites I manage (I did it for a few about 9 months ago) while I looked around I checked quite a few hosts, among my requirements PHP5 was a most have, I never found any reputable hosts that were not PHP5 running or ready.
The major problem lies in too many "borrowed" scripts that the user is not capable to understand or modify
as such many ISP are very reluctant to fire a mandatory PHP5 due to too many scripts in risk of breaking. Anyway if not today it will happen tomorrow so better be ready than sorry.

The ISP could really not offer both for one needs to run as a CGI module a such one of the two version will have some limitations.

This reflect only my opinion
I'll love to hear more on the topic from other members

PS) Sorry I did not realized that you were experimented :)

[inquireorenquire]

ISP are very reluctant to fire a mandatory PHP5 due to too many scripts in risk of breaking

Migrating versions of PHP etc. is very difficult for an host as many (read most) clients think that once their site is running they can leave it running, unchanged, forever. They don't take kindly to their host telling them it's time for them to hire a programmer again and modify their system - or buy new licenses and migrate to new software versions.

I use PHP5 on my local machine here and it's been fine, to be honest I've not seen the difference....