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