Hello programmers, pls what do you think about using php for mainstream windows desktop app development, I need your opinion on this issue, thanks

It is not a bad idea if you will be using php desktop and the likes for your development. But one thing to have in mind is the kind of app you will be developing. If the app is going to be a paid and distributable app, a tech savvy client who loves to explore a lot could go into the directory of the app and easily tweak any form of authentication you might set up in the app, turn the app free and distribute it generally without your knowledge because it is of course........php (text editor friendly). On the other hand, if it is client-specific, the client will only be concerned the about the app's productivity. Hence, he/she will be scared to break the app in any way.

Silverman42:
It is not a bad idea if you will be using php desktop and the likes for your development. But one thing to have in mind is the kind of app you will be developing. If the app is going to be a paid and distributable app, a tech savvy client who loves to explore a lot could go into the directory of the app and easily tweak any form of authentication you might set up in the app, turn the app free and distribute it generally without your knowledge because it is of course........php (text editor friendly). On the other hand, if it is client-specific, the client will only be concerned the about the app's productivity. Hence, he/she will be scared to break the app in any way.

finally, a reply...thank you for your response...

Php is a server-side scripting language for building web apps! Not desktop applications!
If desktop app is what you wanna dive into, u can go for C# with Microsoft SQL Server or MySQL for ur backend
Always use the right tool for d right job.

Cooldude68:
Php is a server-side scripting language for building web apps! Not desktop applications!
If desktop app is what you wanna dive into, u can go for C# with Microsoft SQL Server or MySQL for ur backend
Always use the right tool for d right job.

true tho

Cooldude68:
Php is a server-side scripting language for building web apps! Not desktop applications!
If desktop app is what you wanna dive into, u can go for C# with Microsoft SQL Server or MySQL for ur backend
Always use the right tool for d right job.

PHP is a popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development.

Fast, flexible and pragmatic, PHP powers everything from your blog to the most popular websites in the world.

What can PHP do?

Anything. PHP is mainly focused on server-side scripting, so you can do anything any other CGI program can do, such as collect form data, generate dynamic page content, or send and receive cookies. But PHP can do much more.

There are three main areas where PHP scripts are used.

Server-side scripting. This is the most traditional and main target field for PHP. You need three things to make this work: the PHP parser (CGI or server module), a web server and a web browser. You need to run the web server, with a connected PHP installation. You can access the PHP program output with a web browser, viewing the PHP page through the server. All these can run on your home machine if you are just experimenting with PHP programming. See the installation instructions section for more information.
Command line scripting. You can make a PHP script to run it without any server or browser. You only need the PHP parser to use it this way. This type of usage is ideal for scripts regularly executed using cron (on *nix or Linux) or Task Scheduler (on Windows). These scripts can also be used for simple text processing tasks. See the section about Command line usage of PHP for more information.
Writing desktop applications. PHP is probably not the very best language to create a desktop application with a graphical user interface, but if you know PHP very well, and would like to use some advanced PHP features in your client-side applications you can also use PHP-GTK to write such programs. You also have the ability to write cross-platform applications this way.

That noted, it is just not the best tool out there.

agwaisrael:

PHP is a popular general-purpose scripting language that is especially suited to web development.

Fast, flexible and pragmatic, PHP powers everything from your blog to the most popular websites in the world.



That noted, it is just not the best tool out there.

thank you

ClintonNzedimma:

thank you

No wahala!

You could look into nodejs desktop platforms. E.g. Nwjs

agwaisrael:


No wahala!

You could look into nodejs desktop platforms. E.g. Nwjs

Dhtml81 built one application you can use for windows app development but it was too slow...had to opt for phpdesktop.... its on github

ClintonNzedimma:

Dhtml81 built one application you can use for windows app development but it was too slow...had to opt for phpdesktop.... its on github

That guy is famous on Nairaland though.
Speed is one of the reason I'll advice against php for gui application development.

This kind of development requires access to native device functionality; threading for instance.

You can implement these things yourself, but that's extra complexity.

Phpdesktop works using mongoose, a lightweight server (think malnurished apache). This creates the need for a server call.

There's more on this topic.
It's actually more efficient to have a node-based platform for your desktop development, because node provides direct link between your front-end and back-end ; eg in nwjs, you can access your nodejs modules from the browser gui.

#nuff_said

agwaisrael:


That guy is famous on Nairaland though.
Speed is one of the reason I'll advice against php for gui application development.

This kind of development requires access to native device functionality; threading for instance.

You can implement these things yourself, but that's extra complexity.

Phpdesktop works using mongoose, a lightweight server (think malnurished apache). This creates the need for a server call.

There's more on this topic.
It's actually more efficient to have a node-based platform for your desktop development, because node provides direct link between your front-end and back-end ; eg in nwjs, you can access your nodejs modules from the browser gui.

#nuff_said

Thank you very much, I think PHP can do just CRUD functions on desktop...Although c# is advised but wouldn't mind doing something abstract

I think people should use appropriate tool for appropriate situation. Why will you even consider using php for desktop development? It may work but the performance will be horrible compared to the right language.
The same thing goes for using JAVA for a windows app(with no intention of supporting another OS), it will work but the performance won't be as good as it should have been.
.....my thoughts though.

olarid01:
I think people should use appropriate tool for appropriate situation. Why will you even consider using php for desktop development? It may work but the performance will be horrible compared to the right language.
The same thing goes for using JAVA for a windows app(with no intention of supporting another OS), it will work but the performance won't be as good as it should have been.
.....my thoughts though.

Well, you know people still use fortran.

Same reason people are pushing for hybrid apps.

If you have a working solution why learn a different language?

agwaisrael:


Well, you know people still use fortran.

Same reason people are pushing for hybrid apps.

If you have a working solution why learn a different language?

Well, you may be right, but I'd rather learn an appropriate language for a platform rather than giving myself headaches.

The fact that I'm a .Net developer doesn't mean I will develop an asp.net app for Linux, it may work, but I'd rather learn php and avert myself of the headaches that will later come up.