Are you undecided about ColdFusion vs PHP

ColdFusion and PHP are two web programming languages that are commonly used in the world of web development.  Both of these languages are very powerful languages, but there are are a few key differences between the two.

To begin with generalizations, ColdFusion servers are mostly Adobe ColdFusion server, while others implement alternative or open source CFML engines such as RailO or SmithProject.  A ColdFusion server is generally hosted on a windows machine, which typically runs Microsoft IIS web server.

The standard “optimal” and professional environment for a ColdFusion Web Server would be using the latest Adobe ColdFusion Server on the latest Windows Server OS edition with the latest security patches for the latest version of Microsoft IIS.

Take note that all of the “optimal” components for hosting a ColdFusion Web Server involve licensing fees. You must be aware that these fees are reflected in your hosting plans. Finding a decent ColdFusion Developer is hard to come by as well, for knowledge of simple #VARIABLES# and ColdFusion calls is not enough. The development of custom tags, layouts, and templates in ColdFusion are a large part of development in this language.  ColdFusion is almost analogues to PHP, or even a PHP framwork, a collection of functions which can be called to perform basic interactions between server and client.

ColdFusion Email Structure

<cfmail to = "to@domain.com"
      from = "from@domain.com"
      subject = "This is an email sent with cfmail">
      Here it is.
      #form.body#
  </cfmail>

PHP Email using CodeIgniter

function send_email()
 {
 $this->load->library('email');
 $this->email->from('from@domain.com');
 $this->email->to('to@domain.com');
 $this->email->subject('This is an email sent with CodeIgniter);
 $this->email->message('Here it is.');
 $this->email->send();
 }

On the other hand a web server running PHP is generally more flexible so to speak, as well as more portable. PHP can be hosted on both IIS and Apache servers alike and each has its ups and downs. PHP was designed to run for Apache in Apache’s native environment, linux, however there is a growing community of users of both Apache and PHP on windows boxes.

Over time I have seen many variations of server types implementing any or all of PHP, Adobe Coldfusion, ASP, Ruby, Apache, IIS, abyssws, WAMP, perhaps even and attempt at all server side scripting languages on one machine even, you name it. Some of these, as imagined, were a complete mess, and others surprisingly organized and clean functioning.

In terms of “optimal” environment. This can be greatly debated in the world of linux users and web development guru’s. A very simple click and go LAMP setup from the latest Ubuntu server package works great for a nice test server. Securing a lamp server for production is a complete different article, but when you find your optimal LAMP stack setup, you will know it.

If you are looking for cost – go with linux/apache/mysql/php

You can not beat free…can you?

If you are looking for security - go with linux/apache/mysql/php

LAMP stack is arguably more secure than a Windows/IIS server, this has been the case for years now. Both have security holes which do get patched, however the turnaround time on linux patches is higher.

If you are looking for support - its really a toss up now days. Some argue the Microsoft and Adobe has more support since they are paid/licensed software. However the community strength of LAMP server support has never come short to help with any problems that I have had to figure out.

If you are looking for somebody to blame when things to wrong – go with windows/coldfusion/iis.

This is because their support will help you fix the problem (eventually), otherwise it is their license being lost, sales decreasing, and one more user switched to free alternatives.

I hope you take these points into consideration when choosing between ColdFusion and PHP when you are selecting hosting for your web projects.