More questions on web processing scripts

[a.jenery]

Why are some processing scripts written in php as opposed to say asp, or visa versa; or even in cgi? Does it matter which one you use.
Also, does the hosting server/service need to run a cgi-interface for php or asp scripts to work, as is the case for cgi scripts?

[herkalees]

PHP and ASP (guys, correct me if I'm wrong) are fairly capable of the same things, they just come from two different sources. It's really personal preference when deciding between the two.

The hosting server does need to have the PHP parser running (though 98% of all unix servers do), or if you're using ASP, it has to be a Windows server, but I know even less about them...

[a.jenery]

Many thanks. So, PHP scripts usually run on unix servers with a PHP parser, and ASP must be on Windows servers... Can you run PHP scripts on Windows servers also, or must it be unix?

regards..

[sypher]

You can run them on windows too but not everything is supported.

[a.jenery]

I see.. Many thanks. So, for full PHP support I would need a Unix server.
As my local site will be on a Windows PC, would I experience problems with using things like control-pannels (which often come with a hosting deal) being run on a Unix machine/server? I ask because I have no experience of the Unix environment what so ever.

[herkalees]

If you get a hosting account with a hosting provider, you can simply make sure you're on a unix server, and if they offer something like cPanel or Plesk (or something similar), you'll never know you're on a unix machine because you'll simply do all your tweaking in an easy-to-use web interface.

If you instead are hosting your site on a windows machine in your home... that's a whole other ballpark and I'd definitely recommend you don't, unless it's a small personal/hobby web site.