Ok, let's keep this simple and as a reference question nothing more and nothing less !!!

Hmm, was crusing hotscripts.com and came across some links competitors ...

PHP versions:

http://inlink.intechnic.com/
http://www.indexu.com
<1 of these allow 3 installations for a price of about half of Links>

I like Gossamer Threads and what Alex and others have done here so don't go flaming me !!!

Just curious because I've never really finished translating regular Links 2.0 so before I go into any more development on my site and spending money, I'd like rest my conscience before dropping lots of money on something I'd love to hear some constructive comments.

PHP is a relatively new language/compiler. Anything written in PHP has yet to undergo any real development, testing, and debugging. Links has several years of development behind it, starting with the 1.0 version, now up to the 2.0 SQL version. If you look at the development issues that have been going on, and all the tweaks and requests that have been handled, it's doubtful any PHP version is going to be able to compete.

It's easy to set up a "shell" of a links program, but to do all the fine detail work takes time, lots of users, and experience.

Additionally, PERL is more powerful than PHP, and allows a lot of things PHP just cannot do as an embedded server app. PHP scrits exist in the public webspace, while perl scripts live in the cgi-bin space (ScriptAlias directory).

I have tried most PHP applications out there that are available for demo, and have not been impressed in general.

So far, the w3t port to PHP has been the most robust, but it was based on a perl version, and has many "new" bugs compared to the perl version (check out the development forum there for the details).

All the PHP vs PERL stuff aside, length of time in development and number of users, number of fixes, etc determines which program is "better" for your needs. (Of course, feature lists need to be accounted for too!)

But, most new programs list loads of features, and things they claim to do, and much is not hooked up, or works only one way, which may not be the way you need it to.

Only a program that has been designed by masters from the ground up, or has gone through 2 or 3 full revisions, can have the features and stability for true production and general use.

PHP programs may eventually get to that level, but right now, most are still pretty "immature" compared to the long-running Perl programs.

PHP is "easier" to learn in some ways, and most ISP's provide PHP on virtual servers (while they don't/can't provide mod_perl), so PHP is gaining popularity for those reasons -- but those reasons to me seem to be a step backwards, into the "limitations" era, rather than a step forward away from it.

My views.

PUGDOG® Enterprises, Inc.
FAQ:http://LinkSQL.com/FAQ
Forum:http://LinkSQL.com/forum

Wow, that sums it up pretty nicely and you didn't even bad mouth the competition.

Like I said, I prefer GT, it's just, well you know, a little expensive when you're running on a budget and need to justify expenditures to people like your boss or in my case "wife" ;-)

Just a side note: I guess one reason the popularity of php is that like perl years ago a lot was free/shareware/ or just open source. Perl resently is starting to cost to go with pre-built scripts. Of course, the time spent justifies more than enough, it's jsut that for people like me money is more of a concern to get started with something, wish I were being funded or backed by a budget.

thanks pugdog

Shareware...you still have to register/pay for scripts.

Regards,

Eliot Lee

This is quite interesting really. I am surprised how lame the free links scripts out there really are. When you compare it to the quality of the free bulletin boards ( www.ikonboard.com springs to mind especially) it is amazing that the free links scripts (a type of software that has as much mass appeal) are so bad. There is also only 1 commerical alternative to links sql, hyper(Something) forgot name and to be honest that is not that great either.

LinksSQL really has a monopoly on the market. I wish it was in php, a language i find a lot easier but you pick the best program first and links sql clearly is it. My own thing would be a better default template set (i still think it aint nice) to really make the product "out of the box" as something like www.imagefolio.com is. This i am sure would increase sales to those that just want to add links to their site quickly without having to bother but still want the best admin and features out there.

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