Using PHP on Mac OS X

							     Using PHP on
       Mac OS X
A brief and entirely incomplete HOW-TO for
the University of Texas’ PHP User’s Group
Just read this article:

• http://developer.apple.com/internet/mac
  osx/php.html
• http://www.phpmac.com/
• The end.
     Just kidding...

There are three ways to get PHP:
 built it yourself (see previous article)
 download a binary distribution
 use what’s provided (Mac OS X
 Server)
         Built It Yourself...
• Download Mac OS X Developer Tools from
    http://developer.apple.com/tools/ (requires free
    registration)
•   Read
    http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/colle
    ctions/unix.html
•   Read
    http://developer.apple.com/internet/macosx/ph
    p.html
          Before you BIY...
• Consider the following:
   Using built-in Apache? Probably a good idea
   Which options will you support? A few
   suggestions:
   • apache, inline-optimization, zlib, libjpeg, libpng, gd, mysql or pgsql, xml, apxs,
      dom
   Are those installed? Where are the libs? If you
   use Fink, they’re mostly in /sw. Many others in
   /usr/local
Document what config options you use!
A good rule: use what is provided, print
that out and save it
Use the “recommended” php.ini
(http://cvs.php.net/co.php/php4/php.ini-
recommended)
 Binary distributions


• http://www.entropy.ch/software/
• http://www.aaronfaby.com/
  About binary dists...

• Caveat emptor
• Uncertain update schedule (possible delay
  for vulnerability updates)
• Configuration may have missed something,
  or more likely took kitchen sink approach
• Some platforms, may be linked to non-free
 libraries you can’t have (should use gnu!)
       Use what you’re
            given

• Jaguar has Apache 1.3 with PHP 4.3
• Read
 http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2002
 /01/04/apache_macosx_pt3.html
             Great! But...

• Apple doesn’t update components frequently -
    usually security fixes only, unless it’s with an
    OS revision
•   You don’t get to chose config options
•   Doesn’t use recommended php.ini
•   Can you find any build documentation?
           OS X vs. OS X
              Server
• No huge difference - it’s Apache 1.3.x either
  way
• Mac OS X Server has cute GUI tools for
    configuring - use them, even if you’re a CLUI
    buff, otherwise you risk breaking updates
•   None of the 3rd-party installers clobber built-in
    configs, so be prepared to explicitly name
    directories, etc. (this is a good thing)
                 PEAR

• What is it? Kind of like CPAN
• Support built into Jaguar
• Read
    http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/20
    03/01/21/pear_macosx.html
•   http://pear.php.net/
          Useful Links

• http://www.phpmac.com/
• http://developer.apple.com/internet/macosx/
• http://www.macdevcenter.com/
• http://fink.sourceforge.net/
• http://osdir.com/
              Fink
• http://fink.sourceforge.net/
• Based on Debian dpkg/apt-get suite
• Mac OSS community well represented
• Fink Commander provides GUI
 wrapper:
 http://finkcommander.sourceforge.net/
           phpMyAdmin

• http://www.phpmyadmin.net/
• Built in PHP (but not 5, nor mySQL 4.1 yet)
• Download it to any PHP-enabled web server,
  edit config.inc.php and you’re done
• Use .htaccess, and consider running under
  SSL cuz you’ll likely run it as SQL “root” user
• Consider only starting it when you need it
  Apple Project Builder

• http://developer.apple.com/internet/macosx/ph
  pappledevtools.html
• “Pretty” editor, with colors and code
  bracketing/formatting
• Built-in CVS utilities - e.g. PEAR checkout
• 2.1 “broke” pretty colors within PHP code, as
 near as I can tell :(
  Last words/Q & A


• Got any?