What web language to use?

[CryoEnix]

Okay, I now consider myself competent with HTML, MySQL and PHP (or as competent as you can be after 2-3 weeks!) but I think what I'm looking for now is a different kind of scripting language that accomplishes an entirely different task..

I need some sort of language that enables me to have a constant loop occuring on my web server, occasionally updating the MySQL server at certain intervals but runs completely independantly from a web browser - ie, I could shut down my machine here and it would still be processing.

I'm sure there's a language out there like this, any ideas where to start?

[andehlu]

not sure what u mean but shutting down yer machine and still have process running....but on mac/*nix i suggest perl or C(++) and on windows, i think visual basic will handle what you need, if not, C(++).

[mmm..pi..3.14..]

Welcome to the forums...:)

PHP as you probably have noticed is fairly easy to pick up on, but it does have it's limitations :(

If you want something that's a bit more difficult but can do much more than PHP, I would suggest ASP...though it was sort of a pain in the @ss for me to set up on my server, though you could have better luck than I did :rolleyes:

Eric :)

[mmm..pi..3.14..]

true andehlu :) I think VB would work for a loop. Just use a timer COM object and set it to loop every 10 seconds or so...shouldn't use up too much memory :)

[CryoEnix]

Thanks guys - I'm pretty fluent in both VB and VB.NET, so I'll start looking into how to integrate it with MySQL right away - however, how would I go about 'executing' this exe file on the server? I'm guessing it's a simple FTP job to put it on there.

[CryoEnix]

Hey guys, me again! Just wanted to thank you all for the quick responses - *adds site to favourites*.

[andehlu]

you can kron job to execute the exe. Im not sure what the equivalent of a kron on windows is...but i think i remeber 2000/xp have some sort of scheduling tool to them where u can run a program.

[CryoEnix]

Hmmm, I have an idea. Since PHP is processed server-side, is there a command in PHP to execute a file? And if so, would that work?

[Xeef]

Hmmm

how is this

Make it whit PHP

Make a flash what call this PHP every X sec and let this SWF run on the server

just a tought C++ or VB are much smarter ways

[CryoEnix]

Thanks for the suggestion Xeef, but there are several reasons I won't be able to pull that off:

1: I've never coded in flash in my life and I need a quick solution.
2: Getting files to run on the server is the current problem
3: I've already written the code in VB.NET (with the old fonts 'n margins exception).

So does anybody know the equivelant name for Kron on a Windows server?

[mmm..pi..3.14..]

Is the server run by you...byt that I mean do you have "physical" access to it?? If you do then just create the program and manually start it up on the server. If you don't have physical access to the server, you might want to check and see if the hosting company will even let an exe run on their servers. Some hosting companies won't let you run executable files on their servers since [obviously] someone could create a virus and infect their whole system. :(

Eric

[CryoEnix]

Good point, pi. I don't own the server, so I'll look into whether they'll let me use .exe's.

I just hope they have the .NET framework installed to top it off....What are the odds of that, do you think?

[hangalot]

if you know vb.net or vb just create a service. with .net its pretty straight foreward as its an application type you can choose, with vb there was a wrapper tool to take an activex (dll or exe) set it up as a service

[CryoEnix]

Ooh, I like the sound of that - Ill be back soon, just gonna check it out!

[CryoEnix]

Are you referring to the ASP.NET web service?

[hangalot]

no. a service is an application that runs, from the point when the pc starts up.

[CryoEnix]

Ah, got it - the windows service. So how would I go about deploying and running it on the server?

[Xeef]

you also sayin Window Server if so mayby there is a possibility for a
remote desktop conection if you have remote then it's like siting in front of the machine and you can do anything you want (start exe /instal/deinstal...)

this woud by for me the only reason to take a WinServer because they are ass long a know a nice pice more expensive then a linux ?!

[hangalot]

the problem with remote desktop is that the user has to stay logged in for the application to run. as to deploying a service, just package it and install it

[Xeef]

yep but if you use a service then not
and it's still much comfortabler to instal it whit remote

not even know how else way it woud work ? phone the guy that he shoud instal the service ? hope they have a cheap number :)

and even if the user stay loged on just the application is runing
which so or so woud run (exe or dll not mather) don't think you woud winn a big pice of performace truh not to by loged in

[mmm..pi..3.14..]

not exactly hangalot...I use Remote desktop a bunch on my network, so if CryoEnix could connect and start up the program, he could shut down remote desktop and the service will still run :D

I think remote desktop is the best option...all you need is the username, password, and IP address of the server. Talk to the hosting company about that ;)

Eric

[Xeef]

mmm..pi..3.14 you have miss read hangalot

he was saying that the application is no longer runing which is the case
a service of course

[mmm..pi..3.14..]

ahh...I see ;)

There were alot of posts, so I just skipped ahead to the most recent :D

Eric

[CryoEnix]

It's all sorted guys, but thanks for the mini-flame in my name, I'm honoured! :)

I've managed to sign up for a new webserver, a linux one at that, and I've translated the VB.NET app into PHP to run via a cron job every fifteen minutes. Couldn't have done it without ya!

[devil_online]

Just my opinion the best languages are php with flash(actionscript)

:D

[CryoEnix]

I can program in VB6, VB.NET, Java, HTML, PHP and SQL. I've no experience with flash however, but since so many people have mentioned it I think it'll be worth a look - by flash are you talking about the shockwave-type one? And where can I find some good information on it?

[mmm..pi..3.14..]

hey Cryo...how good are you at VB.NET?? I'm having some trouble with the CodeDom compiler in a current project, do you know alot about compiling during runtime??

Eric :)

[hangalot]

oh the application can keep on running even when you have closed down the ermote desktop, as long as that user sytays logged in [you will notice then when you start remote desktop you are just viewing a locked machine]. we used to do this for an app we could not wrap as a service, that had to be running. it was a right pain in the @ss since everytime the machine had to restart someone had to log in again and set all that up again.

[Xeef]

remote desktop

you can :

Disconect -- programs going on
or
Log off --program stop

[hangalot]

well sumarised. yes thats what i mean ;)

[mmm..pi..3.14..]

yep, I usually just do disconnect...it's the equivelant of doing "Swith User" on your computer, no need to completely log off in my opinion :rolleyes:

Eric