[eluser]Michael Ekoka[/eluser]
[quote author="Derek Jones" date="1184445066"]
Don’t forget that not only PHP, but also the vendors that provide server software to hosts have to decide to support or stop supporting a particular version before any ripples are made. As of last month, penetration for PHP5 was still floating around 15%.
[/quote]
I agree and am not arguing the fact that php4 is here for a while, I however do not think it wise to encourage its continued use with such arguments. I realize that the whole reasoning behind your position is from the standpoint of a software vendor and from that perspective, I understand it completely at the business level. I, on the other hand, speak from the perspective of a web developer with customers oblivious to the choice of php version that i use.
My thinking is that hosting is a business and like any business, hosts respond to customer's demand, because if you don't do it the competition will. We, developers, are their customers, so we are the ones
supposed to create that pressure. Our clients go where we send them, because they want us to do the job and I yet have to see a client pick a host over a development firm. There is nothing stopping a host to install concurrent versions of php as long as there's an incentive. It has been seen. There also exists decent amount of support for php5 out there today and most popular php software vendors allow their software to run on top of php5, so the stage for competition amongst hosts has been set. Now, my position is to move the blame away from hosts, as I think that the excuse has been used and abused. The ball is in the developers' camp and we are dropping it.
I am strongly convinced that the reason why people are not adopting php5 as quickly lies in the community itself. The low entry point has allowed almost anyone with enough free time and a www dream, to become a php programmer. That was nice when it was just a language for simple quick stuff. The main difference between php4 and php5, the sweet stuff, can only be uncovered once one decides to push development passed simple abc routines and start exploring deeper subjects like design patterns, error handling, architecture, scalability and other numerous topics that are often forgotten in a del.icio.us bookmark.
The reality is that amongst developers who like a low entry point, you also have 2 kinds: the ones that will have 5 years of experience and the ones that will have 1 year of experience repeated over 5 years. The former are quickly made aware of the language limitations and usually welcome improvements. Unfortunately, for php I have the feeling that there's more of the latter. Indeed, why would you need to change versions if you're never gonna use the new features.
It is kind of surreal to me that we're at a point where people have to practically be forced off php4 with FUD, when it is agreed that php5 is actually the better version. I do understand that not all programmers need to explore the more colorful corners of the language. I just find it too bad that the resolve to accommodate everyone is usually hybrid projects. I originally had no problem with keeping support for php4, because I thought it only made sense to allow some transition and seeing the amount of applications already developed on top of it. My advocacy for php5 has always been about encouraging a migration, not drop support for php4. However, it's been 3 years, I think it is more than apparent today, that many people who want support to continue, have no intention of moving on.
