This Week’s Link List (July 15, 2011)

I came across lots of good links this week, but I have to say that I’m most excited about the first two (yes, I know, long overdue). Lot’s of other good reading too…everything from tips for running PHP in Windows Azure to the top 10 things that annoy programmers. Enjoy…

• Finally! SQLSRV and PDO_SQLSRV docs are on php.net:
  • http://www.php.net/sqlsrv
  • http://www.php.net/pdo_sqlsrv

• Windows Azure/PHP news…
  • Maarten Balliauw exposes a hidden gem in the Windows Azure SDK (BTW, the Interoperability Team at Microsoft would like feedback about this feature in the SDK): http://blog.maartenballiauw.be/post/2011/07/11/A-hidden-gem-in-the-Windows-Azure-SDK-for-PHP-command-line-parsing.aspx
  • The Windows Azure Accelerator for Web Roles works with PHP: http://ntotten.com/2011/07/extending-the-windows-azure-accelerator-for-web-roles-with-php-and-mvc3/

• Code…
  • Converting MySQL LIMIT clauses to SQL Server "Denali" syntax: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ssma/archive/2011/07/12/converting-mysql-limit-to-sql-server.aspx
  • How to use Windows Authentication with Drupal on Windows/SQL Server: http://wiki.softartisans.com/display/BLOGS/2011/07/12/Drupal+on+Windows+-+Using+Windows+Authentication+with+SQL+Server
  • Jason Gilmore walks through using the Zend_Search_Lucene component which allows for indexing and searching of HTML, Excel 2007, PowerPoint 2007, Word 2007, and XML documents: http://www.phpbuilder.com/columns/php-lucene/Jason_Gilmore07062011.php3
  • How to create a PHP/HTML5/CSS3-powered "about page": http://tutorialzine.com/2011/07/about-page-vcard-php-css/

• Performance…
  • Gonzalo Ayuso compares PDO and DBAL performance: http://gonzalo123.wordpress.com/2011/07/11/database-abstraction-layers-in-php-pdo-versus-dbal/
  • 6 Tips for improving PHP performance: http://www.phpbuilder.com/columns/php-performance-tips/Jason_Gilmore07122011.php3

• This weeks interviews on Voices of the ElePHPant are with Chris Spruck and Bill Karwin:
  • http://voicesoftheelephpant.com/2011/07/12/interview-with-chris-spruck/
  • http://voicesoftheelephpant.com/2011/07/14/interview-with-bill-karwin/

• Miscellaneous…
  • I didn't realize I'd been blogging long enough to make PHPDeveloper.org's "Blast from the Past" list. (And looking at the referenced post, looks like I need to do some updating!): http://www.phpdeveloper.org/news/16588
  • Windows binaries for PHP 5.4 (alpha 2) are available: http://windows.php.net/qa/
  • Looks like some nice prizes are up for grabs in the Stick-a-fork-in-CoApp Contest: http://coapp.org/posts/2011/07/11/The-stick-a-fork-in-CoApp-Contest/
  • With the recent announcement about Node.js coming to Windows, I figured it was time to learn something about Node.js. This looks like a good "getting started" guide: http://nodebeginner.org/index.html
  • Paul Renheimer talks about OSS and the ability to solve problems quickly (with a nod to the efforts Microsoft has made recently toward embracing Open Source communities): http://www.webcentralstation.ca/?p=1764

• Just for fun…
  • The top 10 things that annoy programmers...funny (and true) that "documenting our applications" and "applications without documentation" are both on the list: http://www.kevinwilliampang.com/2008/08/28/top-10-things-that-annoy-programmers/
  • It's a sure sign that I'm getting old that I'm somewhat intimidated by what these kids can do: http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/Features/2011/jul11/07-13ImagineCupWinners.mspx

Have a great weekend!

-Brian

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