Installing PHP.

[Fr0ZeN]

Well Im a complete and utter newbie when it comes to PHP and I need help. I brought book but I can't understand how to install from that. I found a site which i can understand but I'm just wondering do I need apache? :hopes to god no:

[fredricknish]

Try this tutorial - http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/00/44/index4a.html?tw=programming

[scoutt]

yes you need apache and why would you hope to god tha tI said no?? it is free and only take a second to setup.

[jollyfactory]

Apache is good!! Hey, if you are having trouble installing apache/php/mysql.. there is an easy to install program I found
http://download.com.com/3000-2165-6474268.html?tag=lst-4-1
I have never tried the program myself but I am told that it is good for a very easy install of apache/php/mysql.

I suggest you only use this if you find it impossible to do it manually. It's actually beter to install apache/php/mysql manually but the link is there if you need it!

[Fr0ZeN]

because it says I need a host that supports PHP4 and I don't eant to buy my host yet but I still want to be able to run php on my computer. It asks for severadmin name and other stuff

[Inch]

If you want PHP on your oc but without the hassle of having to configure it yourself, just go to:
http://www.firepages.com.au/dev4.htm
and download whichever package you wish to install. It is all configured for you, and works instantaneously. Only problem is that it can be a lengthy download, but should give you everything you need.

[Horus_Kol]

you don't need an Apache server

if you are running at home on Windows you can use Microsoft IIS - built-in to 2000 and option pack for NT4

and go to www.php.net (http://www.php.net) because it is these guys who made it, and they know what to do with it - they have a pretty good online manual, too.

[scoutt]

php4 is the norm these days. every host has it so there is no reason to worry.

so sure you can use IIS or even PWS (Personal Web Server) but I think Apache is th best one to sue. IIS and PWS are harder to setup and configure, well maybe to me cause I don't run them, :) but I have read so many people have issues with it.

but what ever you decide, you will still need a server ifyou want to run php in the browser, if you run it from the comand line you don't need a server but then again you are very limited to the output of the script.

[Horus_Kol]

when I setup PHP to run with my IIS, i only had to set one item in the IIS manager - and that was to tell it to parse PHP files with the program, and not as HTML.

All my trouble came from the php.ini files and stuff like that - got over it though, with a lot of help from you guys ;)