14 Mar
What’s The Next PHP Stack?
Most developers who have worked with PHP for any significant period of time have heard of the LAMP application stack. Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP. This is probably the most common PHP application configuration out there, and I’ve been giving application stacks a lot of thought these days for a variety of reasons. First of all, I’m giving a talk on application deployment at Open Web Vancouver, and the stack plays a big role in that. Secondly, I’m always looking at new technologies and trying to figure out where they might fit in.
Thirdly, there seems to be a trend towards providing “drop-in-place” PHP stacks for developers trying to figure out things locally. I’m talking about things like MAMP and Wampserver.
So the next thing I’ve been wondering about is about what future PHP stacks will look like, at least on the open source side of things. Have we gotten to the point where this is as good as it gets? I know for my own personal stuff, I’ve started moving away from the AMP part of LAMP, instead using Postgres for database stuff and nginx as my webserver. So, what is that now? LNPP? That doesn’t roll off the tongue as nicely as LAMP.
Also, are we limiting ourselves in the description of a stack by just going with PHP as part of LAMP? With the rise of Javascript on the client-side and the increasing use of frameworks by developers (I’m *not* getting into that MVC argument again) do they need to be considered as part of the stack now?
So, my question to my readers is this: what do you see as the future stack for PHP? Is LAMP the combination likely to continue to see the most usage? To spark things off, here are some of the PHP stacks I’ve been working with lately:
- CakePHP + PHP + Apache2 + Postgres + Gentoo Linux
- jQuery + Code Igniter + PHP + Apache2 + (eXist + Postgres) + Debian Linux
- jQuery + CakePHP + PHP + MySQL + nginx + Gentoo Linux
Let me know your thoughts about the PHP application stack in the comments. I mean, are we going to see something like an application server for PHP (like Mongrel for Ruby folks) or is mod_php or FastCGI (for the nginx + lighttpd folks) as good as it’s gonna get?
Article Tags >> LAMP || PHP || stack
Posted by Makea on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
Not a future stack, but a stack you don’t see too often:
zeus webserver + opensolaris +phpfcgi + mysql
We’ve just migrated away from this to a more ’standard’ stack:
apache + solaris 10 + mod_php +mysql
Posted by kabturek on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
Postgre (i don’t have to tell you the advantages but … its *real* sb server - no offence mysql)
Lighty/nginx - apache is flawed , its bloated like hell - i dont know anyone that sits in front of apache httpd.conf and thinks “ok now a little bit of configuration”
*BSD - i’m a linux guy myself but can see the advantages of *bsd on servers (my eyes were opened @ FOSDEM by some BSD guys)
and what is left - the *P* - i like PHP, work with PHP and live with it but i can see that Python can be more suitable for the ‘bigger’/more complex apps, plus the language is more mature itself
so BLPP or FLPP (if we take FreeBSD) … even worse that your acronym
Posted by Nathan Smith on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
Interesting take on the concept of “the stack.” I’m not sure JavaScript belongs in there, but if so, jQuery definitely has my vote. It’s my JS library of choice, by far.
Posted by Dieter_be on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
Your link to exist is broken.
I prefer Lighty for serving static content, but haven’t gotten away from apache2 yet for php. Okay it’s a bit bloated but also pretty advanced…
Posted by Pacifists on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
Interesting thoughts on the ’stack’ part. I believe that the LAMP will be the most popular choise atleast for few more years. I think if many of so called ‘rockstar’ developers will start promoting other choises then in time people will follow, because we’re always searching for the greener grass.
P.S. link on the eXist is broken
Posted by Pablo Godel on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
Chris,
have you seen these projects? :
http://code.google.com/p/appserver-in-php/
http://www.vl-srm.net/index.php
They seem interesting… not sure where they are headed yet, but the concept is interesting.
Posted by PAMP User on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
How about PAMP - Personal Apache, MySQL, PHP
for Nokia S60 phones?
http://wiki.opensource.nokia.com/projects/PAMP
Posted by EllisGL on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
FreeBSD, Lighttpd, MySQL, PHP, Perl, Python….
FLMPPP - Sound like a communcation protocol… Flaming Point to Point Protocol….
Posted by EllisGL on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
Hmm - How about FLMPPPP - A 4th P for Postgres - for people that like it better. =)
Posted by Ted on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
I’ve been to a few lectures on LAMP by crusty veterans. They always say the ‘P’ stands for php, perl or python.
Posted by Mark on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
Maybe you’d like to have a look at http://www.bitnami.org They have php, java and ruby stacks, with applications included (ie, Drupal Stack, Trac Stack, Alfresco Stack)
Posted by Donald Organ on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
Andromeda Database Framework + PHP + Postgres = APP
Andromeda takes the business logic out of PHP and puts it into postgres, and you dont need to know either SQL or PHP to use this framework, only to extend it.
You get a 0 code data interface just by defining the database itself with all business logic in the database definition.
http://www.andromeda-project.org/
Posted by James Coletti on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
What about the Zend Framework? I see you’ve tagged it a few times, but you didn’t mention working with it. While it’s component-based and not a full stack, components like Zend_Build will add the ability to create a base project with simple CRUD and other code generation features. One could easily package it into a full stack. I’m interested to see how well it’s adopted; the 1.5 release is looking sharp.
Posted by Chris Hartjes on 14.03.08 at 3:31 pm
@James
Yes, I have worked with Zend Framework. I did some work with it about a year ago (for a cool IPTV project that never saw the light of day) and I helped create the Zend_Service_Audioscrobbler module for Zend Framework.
Besides, Zend_Build is where ‘cake bake’ was, I dunno, more than a year ago?