Hi,
Why is it better to use Apache, MySQL, Php on Windows instead of
Lunix even if on Lunix it’s easier et better ? ie : why WAMP and not LAMP ?
Many thanks.
Don’t know if it’s necessarily “better” persay, but more of an option. Some people may want to test pages on a windows machine, without having to have access to a linux server to do it. I have to co-workers with that kind of setup.
mikey,
I’ll buy that!
it’s a matter of what you have available and feel comfortable with. There are far more WinDoze boxes out there (I’m on one too) than 'nix boxes for any number of reasons. HOWEVER, I won’t use a WinDoze box online (production server) and I believe they don’t have the security that a Linux server has.
IMHO, it’s a combination of what’s available and personal preference.
Regards,
DK
On Windows you can run vmware and install LAMP. The Windows env is too limiting for me to work on and because my production servers all run Linux, I want something as similar to them as possible, and that rules Windows out.
I personally won’t install AMP on a desktop that is also for general use, even if that desktop runs Linux. It’s just a matter of convenience mostly. It’s either on a dedicated server for the work or a virtual machine.
Anyway, David is spot on: it’s a matter of personal preference and what you’re comfortable with. To me, the vast array of tools available on Linux (from the CLI) is what attract me to it.
i’m kinda new in AMP. but i’ve heard about vmware but never tried it. as for starter, can i consider installing vmware on a busy windows xp machine (one im using now) without having hassles when i uninstall it afterwards? i haven’t tried deep into PHP MYSQL either. i usually upload my php pages into a server to test it. but nevertheless I’d like to explore more and somehow run my own server.
MrLeche,
My test server IS my XP WinDoze box where I use Dreamweaver and various other programs that (to my knowledge) are not yet available in the 'nix world. For me, it’s simpler to test immediately and locally rather than risk a stupid change on the live server.
Use the FREE chapter of Kevin Yank’s book to lead you through the setup on your system (then get the book 'cause it’s a good intro).
Regards,
DK
I use Parallels now instead of VMWare as the resource usage is lower.
There are plenty of Dreamweaver-equivalent programs in *nix and you can also run Dreamweaver in *nix. Which other programs are you thinking about? From my experience, *nix has far more utilities for webdev than Windows. I bet for every Win program you mention, I can point out that it is either already available in *nix or there are plenty of (often better) alternatives. 
Most of them come with the OS (or in one of the included repositories) and you don’t have to look around the web to download or buy them.
As you mentioned this:
For me, it’s simpler to test immediately and locally rather than risk a stupid change on the live server.
Mate, once you’ve discovered rsync and the utils based on it (e.g rsnapshot, unison) you’ll love them for that purpose (and those related to it). Yesterday I had a relaunch organised for this client’s website, in which I needed to migrate all the changes I’ve made to zillions of templates on the development server to the production one. I told them it’ll take 30 mins (to cover my butt) and I’ll need to temporarily disable their site. “No worries” they said, and were impressed that it’d only take 30 mins. In truth, it took just under a minute (maybe 2 if you count the cache regeneration). It went like this (on the live server):
# rm -f /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/sitename
# apache2ctl graceful
# rsync <switches> <root@dev-server:/path/to/design/> </path/to/design/>
# <runs clear cache script>
# ln -s /etc/apache2/sites-available/sitename /etc/apache2/sites-enabled/sitename
# apache2ctl graceful
That beats FTPing from Windows eh? Best part about rsync is that it can preserve numeric IDs for file ownership and permission, and it only updates what it needs to, so it won’t screw up my version control.
Then there’s rsnapshot, based on rsync, which you can use to back up and restore the system with lots of great options. Restoring from it is very fast too. Client made a mistake deleting a few things the other day. I didn’t even need to know what it was. I just ran a rsync from the latest rsnapshot backup back to the client’s webtree. Took literally 2 seconds.
Sorry that was a fair bit off topic. 
Generally, I think it is “better” to actually use those programs on Linux as opposed to Windows simply because, from what I understand, they were initially intended for and more well suited to run under Linux/Unix type OS. That is not to say they will not run well under Windows. Same reason IIS, MSSQL & ASP would likely be “better” in a Windows environment.
Regarding development purposes, running under Windows is usually just a convenience - but there are times when Linux is required for certain features. For example, the archive feature of vBulletin, as far as I know, only works in Apache under Linux. For certain things it is very convenient to be able to test out scripts on the same workstation you are using.
j2,
Ditto the time functions as my Apache on WinDoze can’t read the clock.
Regards,
DK
eWeek just did a feature on different application stacks and WAMP showed up pretty good. (Although the W was Windows 2003 Server.) Interesting stuff
I’m sorry for my laten reply.
I uh, had a chance to run linux when I was requested by a friend to format his PC. and since for about years now that I almost memorize sequencially what to do when formatting in windows because I never had any OS before other than MS’s, I knew I could easily reformat the PC once i get to play around a linux distro.
What do you guys mean when you say windoze and 'nix? is that a slang for the OSes? or another thrid party OS liike Lin-Dows? pardon me for the ignorance.
back to what I experimented. so I unpartitioned the whole drive, then rebooted the PC through CD boot. using centOS 4 distros. I’ve downloaded months ago (4 CDs).
then maybe just like everyone else, this new thing to me had me on a wow. it looks really nice. btw, i’ve had damn small linux on CD so I kinda tried booting an old cyrix when not doing anything on a bootable DSL-CD.
I was expecting a similar face or skin or Graphic interface, whatever is formal. the centOS is very neat. so then i finally installed everything. and since I’m new, I installed everything on the package. not the Typical. so i can see the full OS.
then for about an hour I dunno what to do. of course, i didn’t expect that it could detect device drivers and plug and plays like windows does but it caught me by suprise. I knew this thing is the next for me to learn.
I got a little upset though coz I can’t do technical stuff with it. I’m just like a baby reaching a candy without even knowing how to stand or climb a chair.
it said that through “samba” i can have “my network places” coz the first thing that comes to my mind is set up the web server and start running it. took me a while to find where samba is. its not located in the “my programs” list (linux version of it i forgot what "my programs’ " linux equivalent)
I just don’t like the idea that I have to share files or do cross-transfers using FTP… its way too slow. then I can’t do anything. i don’t know how the file structure works. in windows, files are in drives. C: D: on however you’ve partitioned it. then you’ll know it filing system installation goes to C: (of course upon choosing on installation) then windows files are at folder “windows” by default. then program files folder for all the programs installed (mostly). then the rest are docu and settings, for the user and etc. etc.
somehow when i look into a linux drive, it’s just like I hit a big city without knowing the whole place, I could really get lost.
the windows old structuring like 8 characters for filenames and 3 for extension names isn’t similar to linux (i’m talking to the old DOS naming format which old schoolers like me was taught everything about it.)
a linux doesn;t have a C: D; or partition or something. then there’s the “mount” thing… uh for me mount is like used only in virtual CDs…
then how do i know how to install apps on it? in windows, of course finding it’s installer whether .bat .exe. or msi does the job. in linux… uh… i dunno and when i accidentally do so, icon’s isn’t placed on the desktop which i don’t know where to find since there no named drive and folders name are really new to me. now I’m realizing how it feels when I teach a kid on how to explore in windows PC.
yes i know, just like people say, walk first before you run.
linux books here aren’t widely availablehere locally, all i’ve seen are “switch to linux, here and there, what’s profitable for business users etc.” but doesn’t teach on how to use one a what distro is right for you. hmm. makes me think… I never had any books on windows but now i’m already a geek on it. maybe then I really have to spend some time on the machine just like when I had my first PC.
then after 5 - 6 hrs of moving the mouse clicking here and there finally i said uh… I have no time, i’m not a kid anymore who can spend the whole day experimenting on these, if I wanted to then I should assemble a system put linux on it and technically give some time to it. I finally shut it down and tried to install back an XP. which i found out that it cannot continue initializing when there is a linux OS on the drive, I had to cold boot, remove xp CD, insert a win98 startup a delete the non-dos partition to make it work. which also lies to another question? if i make a dual-boot win and linus OS what should i do to the drive? do i partition it onto a slpit? or do i leave everything alone then let linux find a space for itself. I am really that far when it comes to linux OS.
Mr L,
Yes, the WinDoze and 'Nix are slang terms for the Windows OS and Linux/Unix OSes.
As far as helping you through the Linux install and configuration, the best advice I can give is to get a copy of SitePoint’s Linux - Build your own web server using Linux & Apache. It’ll help with all the fine details.
Regards,
DK
Hey. sounds good. where do I download it? anyway I’ll search for it here. thanks a lot!