Internet Magic

Our lead programmer Matthew is not only a great PHP programmer but is also in possession of a bone dry wit. He put together a brief FAQ on LAMP that helps me explain our web programming process and also makes me smile when I review it. Here it is.

Q: What programming environment do you work in?

A: We work in a LAMP environment, with the latest versions of PHP and MySQL.

Q: And LAMP is…???

A: LAMP is an acronym for a software bundle referring to Linux (operating system on the server), Apache (the server), MySQL (the database) and PHP (the programming language).

Q: Doesn’t PHP have major security issues?

A: Not if you code it correctly.

Q: But my other developer told me that PHP is a sign of the apocalypse…

A: Every developer has their own ideas about what is a good programming language. PHP has advantages and disadvantages to be sure. When coded correctly, PHP is incredibly stable and reliable, plus it uses server resources very efficiently allowing it to run faster than other programming languages. Also, PHP is free and doesn’t require any additional charges.

Q: But nobody seems to use PHP?

A: PHP is one of the most popular server side programming languages in use today on the web and is widely supported by a number of web developers.

Q: What are some alternatives to PHP and why don’t you use those?

A: The two most popular alternatives are Java and ASP (or ASP.NET). ASP is developed by Microsoft and works well on Windows servers. Java was developed by Sun Microsystems. Both have advantages to be sure, and for enterprise level websites (i.e. creating Amazon.com) those languages might make more sense. For a smaller scale e-commerce website, PHP is a great choice.

Q: Do you do “object oriented programming” or OOP?

A: Yes and no. Where Java or ASP require you to use objects in the programming, which can require longer development times and cause more problems, PHP allows you to bypass the OOP standards so that you can develop in OOP only when needed and only when it makes the most sense to spend the time coding in that manner.

Q: MySQL is too limited. It says so right here on this website that I found on Google…

A: And yet Google uses MySQL internally. MySQL has plenty of power for a typical small business website doing e-commerce, posting to a blog or running a photo gallery. Plus it is free. If in the future you need something more robust, we can port you over to a SQL database (which requires a license to be paid).

Q: What is your development methodology?

A: Our development process goes through four main phases: 1) requirements gathering, 2) detailed scoping/documentation of the project plan, 3) building and 4) testing/tweaking. Unlike other common development methodologies, you [the client] are included in the development process only where you need to be, namely in the first, second and the fourth phase. This system allows us to move as quickly or as slowly as needed while also keeping the project to a particular scope. By detailing every step of the project and understanding the needs of your project, we reduce problems later on and are able to develop your website on schedule.

Q: Yes, but Extreme Programming (XP!) is the best! (Or anything related to an “Agile” methodology.)

A: Extreme Programming relies on heavy interaction of all members of the team and less focus on gathering requirements. While it can be more flexible, XP can lead to projects getting behind schedule or cause projects to lose focus. XP can be good for large teams, or large projects, but for projects with only one web developer, XP doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Ning was introduced to us by a prospective client who “knew nothing about internet marketing.” He had been working in restaurants for years and wanted to create a Myspace for his 400 employees. Though we didn’t feel like this would be the best option, it did set us in motion to figure what would be and we came up with Ning. Let’s take a look at what Ning is and how you might use it.

Ning allows anyone to create their own branded social network. It is built on a scalable php/java platform that can be downloaded and customized to your heart’s content or hosted on their servers. Because the conversation and the forum are an integral part of Ning, you also have to have strong content strategies in place to get people to have that conversation. One of the largest exit points we see on sites are when there is a forum with no one on it.

Looking at it as a strategic marketing device, we plan on recommending it to clients who feel their customers or constituents are interested enough in their product and services to have an active discussion about it. It isn’t for everyone. Beware the huge amount of orphaned networks as you roam Ning. It also isn’t for an organization that has problems getting content developed. If you are having trouble updating your website, then the last thing you need is another place that isn’t being nurtured as well.

So Green Chair will be experimenting with Ning over the next couple of months and we hope to report good things.

What do you think? Have you tried any social networks? Are they a great way to communicate with people and market your business online?

Some good Ning profiles

FOBOH
http://blog.ning.com/