7 Replies Latest reply: May 9, 2009 11:48 AM by Mark A. Boyd RSS

    Big decision should I use php or flash for this project..

    the_missing_link Community Member

      Okay I can't say very much because I am working on a project but I need some advice. I want users to be able to insert words or paragrpahs that are presets. I want it to be as unhackable as possible but I also want it to be user friendly for all disabilities. Would flash be better for something like this or would PHP be?

        • 1. Re: Big decision should I use php or flash for this project..
          JayJhabrix Community Member

          Use PHP with Server Side Includes.

           

          Flash stinks because:

           

          1/ Bad for SEO

          2/ Not user friendly

          3/ Maintenance will be a nightmare

          4/ A list as long as your arm

           

          Use Flash only:

           

          1/ If you are a Flash designer and want to show off your skills

          2/ For an image or piece of snazzy ornamentation involving non-static images

           

          Definitely, do not use Flash for navigation. You are limiting your viewers options and driving them away from your site.

          • 2. Re: Big decision should I use php or flash for this project..
            Mark A. Boyd Community Member

            the_missing_link wrote:

             

            Okay I can't say very much because I am working on a project but I need some advice. I want users to be able to insert words or paragrpahs that are presets. I want it to be as unhackable as possible but I also want it to be user friendly for all disabilities. Would flash be better for something like this or would PHP be?

             

            Additionally, Flash runs client-side where users can interfere in many ways. The .swf filetype is a published format and, as such, is NOT secure in any way. Hackable by even the laziest of script kiddies.

             

            Now, you can create forms in Flash that behave like HTML forms - that is, the proccessing is done with server-side scripts such as PHP. But I don't see any advantage at all in doing so - especially with usability as important to you as it is.

             

            But then, I don't really know what you mean by "insert words or paragrpahs [sic] that are presets."

             

            You may also want to use a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) connection (https:)

             

             

            --
            Mark A. Boyd
            Keep-On-Learnin' :-)

            • 3. Re: Big decision should I use php or flash for this project..
              the_missing_link Community Member

              Thank you. I really can't say to much about the project. It is highly classified. I hope it will be finished mid 2010. If anyone can reccomend Websites or more books that would help me on my quest for knowledge in PHP, Javascript, and actionscript I would really appreciate it!!  I already own David powers book Dreamweaver cs4 essentials guide to css,AJAX, and PHP. I am only at page 300. I also own learning actionscript 3.0 by Rich Shupe.

              • 4. Re: Big decision should I use php or flash for this project..
                BCDoherty Community Member

                I agree that Flash is to be avoided in this context.

                 

                A good place to start learning php is http://www.w3schools.com/php. Good for an overview and introduction.

                 

                There's a book by Welling and Thompson - PHP and MySQL Web Development (Developers Library, Indiananpolis, IN, 2004) - that I would recomment. It's a big one and it goes into the database end of things pretty heavily. But you might be heading in that direction with the pre-defined inserts.

                • 5. Re: Big decision should I use php or flash for this project..
                  Mark A. Boyd Community Member

                  I don't have any security books readily available, but I would probably go down to my local mega book store and peruse the shelves there. Don't limit your search to PHP or online databases if you're using a dedicated server.

                   

                  Another good learnin' source is Usenet. comp.lang.php, comp.databases.*, alt.apache.configuration and many others have a large community of experts helping out.

                   

                  --
                  Mark A. Boyd
                  Keep-On-Learnin' :-)

                  • 6. Re: Big decision should I use php or flash for this project..
                    Cezkay

                    Interesting... which is why this whole point system sucks...

                     

                    The OP asked, in esence, PHP or Flash.Jhabrix responded with PHP and some reasons... And a warning to stay away from Flash except for a few specific requirements.

                     

                    Mark follows through on Jhabrix's post and adds a few more points / explanations in favour of PHP. The OP awards full points to Mark.

                     

                    Please understand, I have no hassle with Mark getting points... there's no extra pop corn! It's the system. And, as has been pointed out, it sucks as it gives a skewed weightage and emphasis to posters and their answers. This case, was ok... Jhabrix gave an on-target answer, Mark elaborated. Doesn't matter where the points went. Next time around, some newbies will give the wrong reply points and all other newbies will follow the points and accept the wrong reply as gospel (or near gospel) truth.

                    • 7. Re: [OT] Pointless points [Was: Big decision should I use php or flash for this project..]
                      Mark A. Boyd Community Member

                      I agree completely! And my points have absolutely no meaning if I show up in a forum where I am the newbie.

                       

                      There was a thread last week where the "Answered" points were awarded to a reply that simply asked another question. The correct answers were given no points at all, not even "Helpful"

                       

                      Points are absolutely pointless in this type of forum.

                       

                      --
                      Mark A. Boyd
                      Keep-On-Learnin' :-)

                       

                      Message was edited by: Mark A. Boyd