Nessa has started off a series looking at writing your own API with part one posted recently focusing on the client-side first, writing an interface for their API.

Though in real applications you wouldn’t need an API, all you’d need is a PHP script that accepts GET or POST input to perform some kind of action. In this example, we’ll have a script that automatically adds DNS zones to a nameserver that runs cPanel as well. Most APIs do the same thing - you have a script, then that script accepts post/get variables, then does something.

Her example creates the request - a server, path, IP and hash key - and sends it off to the remote system. The result is pulled back in and parsed through a SimpleXML object. The credentials allow for access lists and a bit of security on the backend.

In this post to the Developer Tutorials blog, Akash Mehta talks about the "version dilemma" that developers face when looking for good hosting - with all of the push towards PHP5 these days, why is it that so many hosting environments are still running on PHP4?

If you purchase a cheap hosting account with many of the major web hosts around today, chances are they will be running PHP 4. The problem for web hosts is this: the PHP community may have moved on from version 4, but a lot of the code out there hasn't.

He recommends one solution that several hosting providers are starting to gravitate towards - offering both to their customers and allowing them to switch between them (via something like cPanel).

On her blog today Nessa has written up a tutorial on getting SuPHP working along with cPanel on your system.

I wrote this tutorial a while back and figured it would be good to post because suPHP is growing more popular as an alternative to phpSuExec. The instructions assume that you are on a Linux cPanel server and are familiar with how to install PHP, but do not want to use EasyApache’s suPHP installer in WHM.

It's a long process but a lot of it is just configuration changes and grabbing the right software. Every line of each of the config files you'll need to change is there ready to cut and paste into your files as well as the command line calls you'll need to make to configure/compile and move files to where they need to go.

On her blog today Nessa has written up a tutorial on getting SuPHP working along with cPanel on your system.

I wrote this tutorial a while back and figured it would be good to post because suPHP is growing more popular as an alternative to phpSuExec. The instructions assume that you are on a Linux cPanel server and are familiar with how to install PHP, but do not want to use EasyApache’s suPHP installer in WHM.

It's a long process but a lot of it is just configuration changes and grabbing the right software. Every line of each of the config files you'll need to change is there ready to cut and paste into your files as well as the command line calls you'll need to make to configure/compile and move files to where they need to go.

Nessa has a guide posted showing exactly how to get the IonCube encoder installed right alongside the Zend Optimizer (specifically on a cPanel setup).

This is a common request we get for Ioncube to be installed. It's generally not an issue, but when you factor in other optimization plugins like Zend and eAccelerator, a common misconception is that the three don't get along. It's very easy to install Ioncube into a PHP installation that already has Zend and eAccelerator.

It's only about a five or six step process to get them working happily together with one "gotcha" mentioned about the ordering of the statements in the php.ini file.

Nessa has a guide posted showing exactly how to get the IonCube encoder installed right alongside the Zend Optimizer (specifically on a cPanel setup).

This is a common request we get for Ioncube to be installed. It's generally not an issue, but when you factor in other optimization plugins like Zend and eAccelerator, a common misconception is that the three don't get along. It's very easy to install Ioncube into a PHP installation that already has Zend and eAccelerator.

It's only about a five or six step process to get them working happily together with one "gotcha" mentioned about the ordering of the statements in the php.ini file.

David Costa has submitted a new item today about the start of a new contest to win one of the DotGeek free PHP5 web hosting offered by the - one of 50 hosting slots that are open each month.

The next drawing will be On May 27th (2006) and will be announced both live on IRC (in #dotgeek on the Freenode network) and on their site. Head over to the signup page for your chance!

David Costa has submitted a new item today about the start of a new contest to win one of the DotGeek free PHP5 web hosting offered by the - one of 50 hosting slots that are open each month.

The next drawing will be On May 27th (2006) and will be announced both live on IRC (in #dotgeek on the Freenode network) and on their site. Head over to the signup page for your chance!