What You'll Need To follow the examples in this book, you'll need the following tools: A Web server application (for example, Apache, Xitami, or IIS) PHP MySQL A Web browser (Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Mozilla's Firefox, Apple's Safari, etc.) A text editor, PHP-capable WYSIWYG application (Macromedia's Dreamweaver qualifies), or IDE (integrated development environment) An FTP application, if using a remote server
The MySQL Versions Versions 4.0, 4.1, and 5 are all major releases of MySQL, adding and changing the feature set. MySQL 4.0 added support for the InnoDB table type, which in turn allows for transactions and foreign key constraints. Version 4 also improved upon FULLTEXT searches and added the UNION SQL command. The major addition in version 4.1 is support for subqueries, a handy concept present in most high-powered database applications. Version 4.1 also changed the way the PASSWORD() function was used, causing problems for many users (the OLD_PASSWORD() function replicates its old behavior). Version 5 of MySQL will bring about three major features: stored procedures, cursors, and views. While these are all useful, they are outside the scope of creating basic Web applications. Later on down the line, MySQL will release version 5.1, where it plans to add foreign key constraints for all table types as well as column-level permissions. |
One of the great aspects of developing dynamic Web sites with PHP and MySQL is that all of the requirements can be met at no cost whatsoever, regardless of your operating system! Apache, PHP, and MySQL are each free; most Web browsers can be had without cost (except for OmniWeb, Opera, and a couple others); and many good text editors are available for nothing. Appendix A, "Installation," discusses the installation process on Windows and Mac OS X operating systems. If you have a computer, you are only a couple of downloads away from being able to create dynamic Web sites (in that case, your computer would represent both the client and the server in Figures i.3 and i.6). Conversely, you could purchase Web hosting for only dollars per month that will provide you with a PHP- and MySQL-enabled environment already online. (There are free PHP and MySQL hosting companies around, but they often leave much to be desired.) |
