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ColdFusion vs PHP
Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2003 11:29 pm
by m3mn0n
Was reading this article:
http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/col ... _cfmx.html
..and couldn't help but post this question here...
Is this guy's ColdFusion propaganda really worth buying into? 
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 1:23 am
by microthick
I program ColdFusion every day at work. It's my full time job (whereas PHP is my part time job).
Here's what I say:
1) Programming in ColdFusion is FASTER. Meaning, you can get your apps written up VERY FAST.
2) Code execution in ColdFusion is SLOWER, meaning your pages can actually get very sluggish.
3) PHP is more versatile.
4) ColdFusion is more readable and although it isn't really object-oriented, mixing code with HTML isn't as bad as it is with PHP.
5) ColdFusion is not free.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 1:56 am
by Nay
You come a PHP forum to ask about ColdFusion?
I've never used ColdFusion before but from what I read, I might give it a try later <-- yes, procrastination. But again, I think like he said, you'd do it for a job or so, if not maybe expanding your knowledge. I don't think he's telling you to decide on the spot O_O.
*sticks with PHP*
-Nay
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 3:55 am
by m3mn0n
Not free? Bah.. There goes any interest I had in it.

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 4:02 am
by Nay
What'd you expect from Macromedia?
-Nay
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 4:43 am
by twigletmac
It's a pity that generally the people writing these types of articles are intermediate/expert in one language and no more than a beginner in another.
Article didn't convince me I'd ever want to convert, tag based coding seems kinda icky. IMHO CF is a language for designers more than a language for programmers.
Mac
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 4:48 am
by igoy
Absolutely..... hehehe.... ColdFusion is good in some aspects as Microthick said... but I'll stick with what Nay said
*sticks with PHP*
for two reasons,
1) It's True.
2) Nay got wonderfull pics (avatars).

Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 5:29 am
by Pyrite
As someone who is neither expert in either CF or PHP, but uses both, or used to use CF anyways. Here is what I have to say:
Not sure for other versions, but the version I have is CF 4.0 and it doesn't let me have my own user defined functions, multi-dimensional arrays or loops within loops. This all might be different in later CF versions, but PHP has had that stuff always.
On top of that, CF is really made for getting data from a db onto the web quickly like he said, but quickly really means code writting and not page execution.
PHP is really made for web applications.
That's all from my experience.
Cheers.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 9:36 am
by microthick
Pyrite wrote:As someone who is neither expert in either CF or PHP, but uses both, or used to use CF anyways. Here is what I have to say:
Not sure for other versions, but the version I have is CF 4.0 and it doesn't let me have my own user defined functions, multi-dimensional arrays or loops within loops. This all might be different in later CF versions, but PHP has had that stuff always.
On top of that, CF is really made for getting data from a db onto the web quickly like he said, but quickly really means code writting and not page execution.
PHP is really made for web applications.
That's all from my experience.
Cheers.
We use CF 4.5 and CF MX at work.
You can create functions by making your own CF tags (even ones in Java).
You can make a 2D array going <cfset myArray = ArrayNew(2)> or a 3D array going <cfset myArray = ArrayNew(3)>.
You can nest loops in two ways:
<cfloop ... loop attributes>
<cfloop ... more loop attributes>
</cfloop>
</cfloop>
or
<cfoutput query="yourquery">
<cfloop>
</cfloop>
</cfquery>
At my work place, I'm the young'un and while I can program in C++, Java and a few other languages, my co-workers can't or just have forgot. So, they stick to an easy scripting language like ColdFusion.
It does what we need to do (we program document management systems, cms, bug tracking software, intranet portals, etc. for our company's intranet).
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 9:49 am
by jason
twigletmac wrote:It's a pity that generally the people writing these types of articles are intermediate/expert in one language and no more than a beginner in another.
Article didn't convince me I'd ever want to convert, tag based coding seems kinda icky. IMHO CF is a language for designers more than a language for programmers.
Mac
I agree. Most articles like these demonstrate a persons lack of knowledge in one area, and their advanced knowledge in another. However, this article isn't all that bad. They aren't bashing PHP. Indeed, Macromedia is more than willing to support PHP.
I have never used CF, so I can't comment on it appropriately. However, I can say that while it looks weird to use (tags and all), there are some nice things I see with it. It doesn't look too difficult to use.
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 10:30 am
by Pyrite
microthick wrote:
We use CF 4.5 and CF MX at work.
You can create functions by making your own CF tags (even ones in Java).
You can make a 2D array going <cfset myArray = ArrayNew(2)> or a 3D array going <cfset myArray = ArrayNew(3)>.
You can nest loops in two ways:
<cfloop ... loop attributes>
<cfloop ... more loop attributes>
</cfloop>
</cfloop>
or
<cfoutput query="yourquery">
<cfloop>
</cfloop>
</cfquery>
At my work place, I'm the young'un and while I can program in C++, Java and a few other languages, my co-workers can't or just have forgot. So, they stick to an easy scripting language like ColdFusion.
It does what we need to do (we program document management systems, cms, bug tracking software, intranet portals, etc. for our company's intranet).
Yea I figured they would have all that by now. But we only own 4.0 and that means we have to pay more money to buy those critical features, or we can use php for free.
I know that Macromedia supports php in MX, but aren't they giving users a mixed message? Do they want people to use php or CF? Sounds like they are trying to sell php even though they really like CF better...