Blog

How to Generate a Random Number with PHP

Generating a random number in PHP is very simple and like most things, can be done a number of different ways. The old standby is to use the function rand() to to generate a random integer between the minimum and [...]

Using Transactions with PHP Data Objects (PDO)

With PHP Data Objects, transactions are pretty simple. To be able to use a transaction, you simply wrap your queries with a call to beginTransaction() and either use commit() or rollBack() at the end. Rolling back is at your discretion [...]

How to Use Prepared Statements in PHP

Now that we know how to create a connection to our database using PHP Data Objects, let's talk a bit about prepared statements. Now I'd like to think that we've all made this mistake before, taken user input and used [...]

Yet Another Linode vs. DigitalOcean Post

This has been turning into an every 3 month thing since I originally blogged about Linode vs. DigitalOcean back in late February and then again about Linode NextGen vs. DigitalOcean in May. Not to mention when I moved out of [...]

How to Connect to a Database with PHP Data Objects (PDO)

PHP Data Objects (PDO) provide a consistent interface to different databases including MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, SQL Server and a handful of other systems as well. Aside from database-specific SQL, the only other thing that isn't consistent is how to connect [...]

Split a String by Letters with PHP

Every once in a blue moon you find yourself needing to take a string and converting it to an array of characters in the string. Maybe it's because you want to count how often certain letters exist in the string [...]

Passing Arguments to Command-Line PHP

In a previous post we discussed how to tell whether or not you are on the command-line from within your PHP script. Today we're going to talk about passing command-line arguments to your script. When on the command-line two variables [...]

MySQL and Redis Command Equivalents

Score another one for HitTail as this particular topic was their suggestion. MySQL (PostgreSQL, SQL Server, SQLite or any other RDBMS I didn't list) and Redis are completely different beasts in regard to syntax and especially schema design (or lack [...]

Calculating page load time / execution time with PHP

So who remembers back in the day when one of the coolest things you could have on your website's footer was the page load time? As passé as that may seem in this day in age, it's still something that [...]

Check if PHP is running from the command-line

When running PHP from the command-line interface, the availability of some variables and functionality may or may not be available. Case in point, when running command-line PHP sessions are not available and $_SESSION is undefined. When you're on the command-line [...]