| This article describes a real life experience | | | | database options from Open Source Code |
| in picking and using the linux operating | | | | softwares. Extremely reliable, Postgresql has |
| system, as well as libraries with Open Source | | | | reported cases where there have been |
| Code licenses, during the development of a | | | | databases in production with over 4 |
| brazilian auction web site. It is truly a | | | | terabytes. Besides all of that, Postresql is |
| testimony of successful use of Open Source | | | | not the most popular Open Source Code |
| Code softwares. | | | | database. A matter of marketing ? Probably. |
| | | | |
| As we started the project of our web site, we | | | | As for the programming language PHP, we had |
| knew that the proprietary software costs | | | | to use an object oriented application |
| would be too high for our financial | | | | structure. There are many PHP application |
| resources. Our only option then was to make | | | | structures being offered with Open Source |
| use of Open Source Code softwares. | | | | Code license. Object oriented application is |
| | | | very important, because it makes programming |
| However, within the Open Source Code there | | | | very easy and scalable up to the point where |
| are lots of softwares to choose from, and | | | | the system may grow without many problems. |
| it´s up to the system analyst/programmer | | | | Also, it helps to keep PHP code separated |
| to pick the ones that best suit the project | | | | from HTML, with the help of some specific |
| goals. | | | | libraries, such as Smarty. We make use of |
| | | | Smarty library and we believe that it is a |
| In our case, we picked Linux as our operating | | | | very important resource, which can even make |
| system. However we faced a big question: | | | | web pages faster thru the use of its cache |
| Which Linux distribution ? There are dozens | | | | functions. |
| of linux distributions, each one with | | | | |
| specific advantages, sometimes with or | | | | Also a very important set of libraries worth |
| without paid services. | | | | mentioning for PHP systems, is the PEAR |
| | | | libraries. In PEAR web site, among the many |
| We chose linux Slackware because we thought | | | | libraries being offered, there are the |
| that it would suit better our needs, in terms | | | | database interface DB and the MAIL_QUEUE, |
| of stability and reliability. Slackware is a | | | | which sends emails thru the use of database. |
| conservative distribution, meaning that it | | | | |
| only offers in its distribution package | | | | As we came to the end of our project, we had |
| kernel versions and third party libraries, | | | | to use some sort of real time database |
| once it´s been proved to be stable and | | | | replication. For that we chose the DRBD and |
| reliable. As a result, Slackware is one the | | | | Heartbeat libraries. The use of database |
| most stable Linux operating system on the | | | | replication is very important and should not |
| market. If the user wishes the most recent | | | | be postponed. Just after 3 months our system |
| Linux kernel and libraries, we recommend to | | | | got into production, our server hard disk |
| look for a different distribution. | | | | became bad. Thru the use of DRBD/Heartbeat we |
| | | | were able to put the system back into |
| Another reason for us picking Slackware, was | | | | production within seconds, without loosing |
| because of its text interface, which at the | | | | any data. DRBD/Heartbeat replication is done |
| beginning may become a bit difficult, in the | | | | thru the use of a lan network between the |
| long run however it offers a better | | | | server and slave nodes. |
| understanding of the Linux environment. This | | | | |
| way most of Slackware configurations are done | | | | Our project also makes use of ImageMagick |
| thru text scripts. | | | | (enlarge and reduce images), Iptables |
| | | | (firewall), Tsearch2(text search in |
| Once it was set the operating system, we | | | | portgresql) and Mon (linux monitoring tasks). |
| picked Apache as our web server. Apache is | | | | |
| one of the most popular web server in the | | | | Also a very important library worth |
| internet. For server programming language, we | | | | mentioning is the pseudo APC compiler for |
| chose PHP. Also, a very popular programming | | | | PHP. Speed is always a critical factor for |
| language. Our experience with Apache/PHP | | | | internet sites. |
| proves that this setup is very reliable, | | | | |
| working extremely well in our production | | | | Our web site is already in production and |
| environment. For workstation programming | | | | based upon our experience we can say that the |
| language, we chose javascript, which besides | | | | Open Source Code softwares we picked, proved |
| of having a simple syntax, it offers lots of | | | | to be extremely reliable and stable. Open |
| resources. | | | | Source Code softwares can certainly be an |
| | | | excellent option for developing web sites. |
| Apache web server is really a complete web | | | | |
| server. Also, it can become very complex with | | | | Roberto SedyciasIT Consultant |
| many configuration setups. | | | | |
| | | | This article is under GNU FDL license and can |
| For our database, we picked Postgresql. This | | | | be distributed without any previous |
| database has been made available to the | | | | authorization from the author. However the |
| public for more than 15 years, and besides of | | | | author´s name and all the URL´s (links) |
| being well debugged, it offers so many | | | | mentioned in the article and biography must |
| resources that it has become one of the best | | | | be kept. |