Re: Software survey

[Bruce Smith <bruce@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I'm doing my last school project!!
> Just a simple survey about your favorite web building applications:
> 
> What LINUX software would you use for e-commerce/web development applications?

I can do that one better.  Instead of I "would" use, here's this reply
is about what we *DID* use.  About a month ago, my employer released a
NEW e-commerce site.  See:  http://www.e-armstrong.com/

Plus our regular web site has been running for a couple / three years.
We started out running Netscape Fastrack server on HP-UX, then upgraded 
the Web server to Linux running Apache.  The new e-commerce site was 
developed exclusively on Linux.

Disclaimer:  I am the administrator of the site but am not a major
HTML / PHP coder of the web pages.  I only wrote a small percent of 
them.  We chose Linux for reasons listed near the end of the email.

> (ie.  favorite distribution,

Redhat.

> server,

Apache.

> database,

Postgresql.

> scripting language,

PHP all the way!!!

> html editor,

vi

> even proprietary e-commerce development applications would apply).

There is no proprietary software on any of our web servers.

> If money is no object would you rather buy a proprietary e-commerce
> development tool or use open source tools? WHY ????

I haven't looked very much into commercial web software, and really
don't dont have any plans to look at it because everything I mentioned 
above does the job more than adequately (IMO).

> If you were familiar with Microsoft and Linux web tools, would you
> be more productive coding web pages on a Microsoft system (with its
> related software) or a Linux system with open source web tools?  WHY??

I not very familiar with tools, the main reason we chose Linux:

o)  STABILITY!!!

It's a half hour drive from my home to work, and I have no desire to
spend my nights driving back into work to reboot the web server.

Other reasons for running a Linux web server over Microsoft are:

o)  Cost Savings.
o)  Better security (IMO).
o)  Ease of applying updates & patches - without rebooting!
o)  Superior routine maintenance
    (can add another IP & virtual host without rebooting!)
o)  Superior remote maintenance (no need to drive into work! :)
o)  Superior tools (job scheduler, etc.)

I hope this doesn't start a heated Linux vs. Microsoft "discussion",
as these are MY answers to this survey.  But if you feel the need to
send a rebutal to my opinions, send it to the "os-discuss" mailing
list, NOT this main mailing list!!!  PLEASE PAY ATTENTION!!!

It's also getting time to move the "interesting reply" thread to 
the "os-discuss" list.  It is not appropriate here!

--------------------------------------------
Bruce Smith                bruce@armintl.com
System Administrator / Network Administrator
Armstrong International, Inc.
Three Rivers, Michigan  49093  USA
http://www.armstrong-intl.com/
--------------------------------------------