Google App Engine needs PHP support - PHP Classes blog

By Manuel Lemos
manuellemos.net
<email contact>

Contents

- Google App Engine
- No PHP support
- No language wars please
- What PHP developers can do


- Google App Engine

As you may be aware, Google launched the Google App Engine. It is a system that lets developers build Web applications that run under Google infrastructure.

http://code.google.com/appengine/

For now only 10,000 developers are allowed to test and develop applications under Google App Engine. You may still try to apply but it may take time to approve your application.


- No PHP support

Currently, Google App Engine only supports Python. That is natural because Google has been using Python for instance for the help system. Guido van Rossum, the creator of Python, is also working for Google.

PHP and other languages are not yet supported. Google uses mostly Java and C++ for their heavy duty sites. But none of these languages is supported so far.

This has been discussed in many blogs and forums, like for instance in this post of Michael Kimsal's blog.

http://michaelkimsal.com/blog/why-not-php-for-googles-app-en ...


- No language wars please

I have read many disrespectful comments from Python and other language developers against PHP. Personally I think that is a waste of time.

PHP is not a polished language like others that were created by computer scientists and programming language experts like Guido van Rossum, creator of Python, Larry Wall, creator of Perl, or James Gosling, creator of Java.

According to a SecuritySpace survey, Apache is installed in at least 73% of the public Web servers. PHP is installed in over 42% of the Apache servers. This means that PHP is available in about 1/3 of the public Web servers.

http://www.securityspace.com/s_survey/data/200803/index.html ...

http://www.securityspace.com/s_survey/data/man.200803/apache ...

PHP did not get this popular without merit. Rasmus Lerdorf, the PHP creator, is not a computer scientist nor a programming language expert, but he is a very practical person.

Rasmus created PHP in 1994, in the early days of the World Wide Web, with the intention to solve practical Web problems. Many capable developers joined him later and made PHP what it is now: a very practical Web programming language that solves the needs of many users, including people that did not have background in programming.

Definitely some developers that use PHP are not programming experts. But that does not mean that all PHP developers are not as skilled as developers of any other language.

Unfortunately, some developers of Python and other languages disrespect PHP developers and treat us like "children of a lesser God". I have already seen some Python developers in particular engaging in hate speech against PHP developers, probably because they do not understand why PHP got so popular.

There is an old say that states that "you will not catch flies with vinegar". It means that you will not attract other people expressing sick feelings, hate speech or bashing others' preferences. If you want to attract other developers to your favorite language, insulting them for choosing another language will always be counterproductive. Make love, not war.

A programming language is a tool, not a religion. Whatever language each developer chooses to create their applications should be respected. Therefore I recommend that every developer of any language to avoid participating in language wars.


- What PHP developers can do

Google says that other languages will be supported in the future. But we do not know if and when Google will support PHP.

PHP is a very popular Web programming language. It is estimated that it has now over 5 million developers worldwide. Having PHP support in Google App Engine can mean plenty of opportunities for PHP developers and also for Google business, whatever is the business model behind this initiative. But I think we need to help Google get that message clearly.

I think it was Rasmus Lerdorf, the PHP creator, that once said that nothing happens in the PHP world until the community moves. So, lets move altogether for the sake of the PHP community.

That is the same kind of thinking that developers of other excluded languages have. So they are already making their moves to persuade Google to support their preferred language sooner rather than later.

PHP developers can also help letting Google know we would like to see PHP support in Google App Engine. You can do several things like:

1. Vote on this petition

http://i-want-php.appspot.com/

2.Add a star to this request issue of the Google App Engine project

http://code.google.com/p/googleappengine/issues/detail?id=13

3. Go in PHP mailing lists, forums, user groups and encourage others to do the same

4. Spread this article around, voting it on Digg, Dzone, etc..

5. Post a comment on this article here to share other ideas that may help spreading this initiative