PHP & MySql
Developers on the IBM i platform have used traditional tools like RPG and SQL for many years.
PHP is an open source scripting language that is designed for Web application development and enables server-side scripting. PHP is widely used for content management, customer relationship management, database access, ecommerce, forums, blogs, wikis, and other Web-based applications. To help development, there are several PHP frameworks, including Zend and PEAR. In recent years IBM and Zend the PHP company, have provided tools to deploy PHP on the IBM i.
WebSmart PHP is a tool to create PHP applications that run on the System i and other PHP supported platforms such as Windows, Linux and Unix. It is the most productive tool for RPG or PHP programmers to create PHP applications.
MySQL is the most popular database to use with PHP applications. MySQL is available in various forms, including the community edition, on the IBM i. But MySql is not the only database for PHP. Perhaps more important for IBM i users, PHP works very well with DB2 for i.
Despite all the tools available, the "greenscreen" way of programming is quite different from the "web" way, and is not without its challenges. We believe we have broken through this learing curve and are in a position to deliver solid web-based solutions running on your IBM i.