Best Server-Side Language: (speed) + DB

@Sux0rZh_jc0rzNov 23.2003

The situation in which the language is used:

for a text-based game in which a person has a character that he plays (killing monsters, ect.) and has a map to move around on, on the map he can build a kingdom-(each block of the map that he moves on is a seperate kingdom) and wage war against people on the map.

The game will have a lot of math problems and a TON of database updating and loading with most of the functions. none of the functions will be complex though, like most are (add point to “character’s strength” or “take infantry X random number and subtract that number from the enemies infantry, ect.”

so, what serverside language would work fastest for this? (you click the button, and the speed at which the server responds with an answer to the math problems) and what database would be fastest to reply to (character name: strength=?+1)

thanks in advance,
cheers.

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Full-stack Developer

21 Comments(s) _↴

@Khalid_AliNov 23.2003 — #apache + PHP + MySQL comes first in mind....

@PeOfEoNov 23.2003 — #ASP.NET w/ MsSql is pretty darned fast.

@Sux0rZh_jc0rzauthorNov 23.2003 — #ok, well seeing as how both of those are fast and i always hear how well php and mysql go together, i think i will use php. but my server supports php and asp and asp.net, so i will try all three and see how they work out for me. starting with php first though.

@PeOfEoNov 23.2003 — #you can use mysql with asp.net and mssql with php. It just requires some after market scripts etc and will not run as fast. But mssql and asp.net go hand and hand and run fast, the same with mysql and php. You sort of have to do some emulation to mix them though and that causes a slight lag. You probably would not nitce it though unless you are using a lot of large data grids that are going to lag up the site anyway just because they are heavy objects.

@CardboardHammerNov 24.2003 — #ASP.NET + SQL Server (and using stored procedures) should be crazy fast, though SQL Server costs an arm, a leg, and a gonad... I'm fortunate to work where I can use such a combination without sacrificing body parts...

ASP will SUCK compared to ASP.NET, so don't even waste your time.

@pyroNov 24.2003 — #With PHP and MySQL, it is all free. Depending on what you need it for, it should be very fast, as well. For instance, MySQL wouldn't be as fast as something such as an Oracle DB (doh) if you need to do a lot of UPDATEs or INSERTs, but will quite fast for SELECTs. I have a feeling that for anything you'll be using it for, it'll be fine - I've never run into any problem at all.

@Khalid_AliNov 24.2003 — #[i]Originally posted by CardboardHammer [/i]

[B]ASP.NET + SQL Server (and using stored procedures) should be crazy fast, [/B][/QUOTE]

If some one want to spend money then why not go for Oracle DB huh?...to be honest MSSQL is allot inferior then MySQL,where as MSSQL costs allot of money(which may surprise you because its a crapy product) and MySQL is totally free(unless you want them to give you tech support)..

Here are the possible fastes solution for you(ORDERED BY simplicity)

1. Apache + PHP + MySQL

2. Apache + C(CGI programming) + MySQL Or Oracle

3. Weblogic + Java(jsp,servlet, j2ee) + Oracle

@PeOfEoNov 25.2003 — #[i]Originally posted by Khalid Ali [/i]

[B]If some one want to spend money then why not go for Oracle DB huh?...to be honest MSSQL is allot inferior then MySQL,where as MSSQL costs allot of money(which may surprise you because its a crapy product) and MySQL is totally free(unless you want them to give you tech support)..

Here are the possible fastes solution for you(ORDERED BY simplicity)

1. Apache + PHP + MySQL

2. Apache + C(CGI programming) + MySQL Or Oracle

3. Weblogic + Java(jsp,servlet, j2ee) + Oracle [/B]

[/QUOTE] What makes mssql infrior? I have been using it and it is very nice. It is the fastest data base out there for windows os's that I have seen (Grannet you have to do emulation of sorts to use mysql with asp and asp.net). It is also very secure and stable. I have also not seen any securty flaws that have not since been patched. oracle may have a track record for being fast and secure but as my memory serves me mssql is still a bit cheaper and from what I have seen works comperably to oracle. Also about jsp, it might be a powerful language being object oriented, but asp.net does kill it in speed and also offers many of the same object orient features that jsp yeilds. Even though the makeup of jsp is not so top down where your code does not have to go in order, that is kind of nice I guess.

@CardboardHammerNov 25.2003 — #[i]Originally posted by Khalid Ali [/i]

[B]... to be honest MSSQL is allot inferior then MySQL ...[/B][/QUOTE]

MySQL only is superior to it in price and availability of various platforms (Windows, Linux, etc.). SQL Server will make MySQL it's bitch performancewise, end of story.

SQL Server + ASP.NET + IIS will beat down all three combinations you propose performancewise and is simple and well documented as well.

@RuckusNov 25.2003 — #[i]Originally posted by CardboardHammer [/i]

[B]MySQL only is superior to it in price and availability of various platforms (Windows, Linux, etc.). SQL Server will make MySQL it's bitch performancewise, end of story.[/quote]

but your comparing SQL to the linux version of MS Access, now compare SQL to PostgreSQL, I mean if your gonna compare lets put apples to apples.

@PeOfEoNov 25.2003 — #if you compare anything to access it will be faster. We were talking about mysql vs mssql not access, it is not like what you said apples to oranges or whatever. If we were talking about access, thats like comparing oracle to an xml data base. File data bases are just crud compared to a server based one.

@CardboardHammerNov 25.2003 — #[i]Originally posted by Ruckus [/i]

[B]but your comparing SQL to the linux version of MS Access, now compare SQL to PostgreSQL, I mean if your gonna compare lets put apples to apples. [/B][/QUOTE]

I'm not claiming SQL Server is the be all end all speed freak. My response to the specific comment I quoted was in no way unfair... I'm not the one claiming that a lima bean is sweeter than an apple... lol

Do I know you from elsew[H]ere, or is it just a massive coincidence that someone with yourr name just happened to sign up here today? ?

@Sux0rZh_jc0rzauthorNov 25.2003 — #[i]Originally posted by pyro [/i]

[B]With PHP and MySQL, it is all free. Depending on what you need it for, it should be very fast, as well. For instance, MySQL wouldn't be as fast as something such as an Oracle DB (doh) if you need to do a lot of UPDATEs or INSERTs, but will quite fast for SELECTs. I have a feeling that for anything you'll be using it for, it'll be fine - I've never run into any problem at all. [/B][/QUOTE]

actually my goal is to make an online game... i'm far away from it though... my stepdad is actually making it while i learn php on the side... i planned the whole big shabang up and drew up layouts and everything and worked out equations... he's just converting it all into code... but sadly it's taking him time because he has a programming job that takes up most of his time as it. so i'm learning php.. im a very logical thinker and i can sit with a notebook and a pen and think up equations all day long to the most complex scripts... but then i dont know how to convert it to code... thats what im learning.. and im amazed at how fast im picking up on php.. it's so logical! i love it!

btw... the game will do TONS of updating info in the DB... and inserting new data once in a while..

@RuckusNov 25.2003 — #[i]Originally posted by PeOfEo [/i]

[B]if you compare anything to access it will be faster. We were talking about mysql vs mssql not access, it is not like what you said apples to oranges or whatever. If we were talking about access, thats like comparing oracle to an xml data base. File data bases are just crud compared to a server based one. [/B][/QUOTE]

noone is comparing to access but mysql is the msaccess of linux based databases postgreSQL is the SQL of the linux world, and is a better comparison. MYSQL is much more inferior than SQL but like I said they arent in the same boat from design up MySQL Creators will tell you if you want SQL or Oracle quality use PostgreSQL

Yes Cardboard I am from [H], Im the one Codeone was crying about for getting him kicked on [H] for being a jackass, and trolling questions ? I n3ever knew about this forum until Code Ones bull, so i guess something good did come out of it, looks like a more informative technical site than [H], when it comes to programming and Design.

@DaiWelshNov 25.2003 — #We run an online game ([URL=http://www.ferion.com/]Ferion[/URL]) that is similar to how your proposed game sounds in load terms (every page request hits the database many times). We have several arenas each with hundreds of players running on a single box with Linux/Apache/PHP/MySQL and we have not had serious performance problems (since we upgraded from some tired old hardware anyway).

As to the perennial mud-slinging I use just about every combination mentioned here except JSP for one or another client and I can honestly say they all have advantages and disadvantages, though the advantages of MS Access are extremely slim and stretching the point a little (like you can use the same db on your desktop :rolleyes: ). The decision should be made based on your priorities and not on some semi-religious opinion you hear here.

As you are probably on a limited budget and you want somewhere to start then I would recommend the platform mentioned above which we use for Ferion, if you were working in a corporate environment where you already had a windows architecture and windows skills then my advice would be very different.

@Khalid_AliNov 25.2003 — #Here is a very simple,the crudest level of benchmarking,I am sure it will help ease down some bioling brains..?

http://php.weblogs.com/adodb_benchmarks

I think most of get attached to whatever they use and then try to defend it with a little bias.

I have nothing against MSSQL,but over the years in the industry thats what I have known.

And I hope all of you will just take this topic as informative.

@Sux0rZh_jc0rzauthorNov 25.2003 — #i am once the game is made and ready to go i will buy a host.. i have decided to go with php cause i love php.. even just starting. but as to the database... i think i will use MySQL. im not the one paying for, so i have no budget limit.. (yeah.. 200$ a month isn't going to be the host i'm going with.) I might even just host it on a freeserver until it gets popular if it gets popular or just to do the beta testing then should i need to, move it to a better hosted server.

@Robert_WellockNov 25.2003 — #You'll get fewer visitors on a free server if they are bombarded with advertisements though if you just want to do trials then that would be fine.

@CardboardHammerNov 25.2003 — #[i]Originally posted by Ruckus [/i]

[B]...

Yes Cardboard I am from [H], Im the one Codeone was crying about for getting him kicked on [H] for being a jackass, and trolling questions ? I n3ever knew about this forum until Code Ones bull, so i guess something good did come out of it, looks like a more informative technical site than [H], when it comes to programming and Design. [/B][/QUOTE]

lol... Is that why the corresponding thread here has been locked and hidden? When I tried to follow the link in again after noticing he got banned at the [H], it complained about lack of sufficient permission... and the thread was nowhere to be found by searching, either...

Yeah, this place seems to be a lot more active within the scope of web programming issues than the [H]... I'll probably end up posting more here than there...

@pyroNov 25.2003 — #Reading through this thread, I can't help but think that the question should have been asked something along the lines of "which server-side language and database would be sufficient for this" or something along those lines. If you ask which DB is best. I mean, who's really going to say that a MySQL DB is be better than an Oracle DB?

@pyroNov 25.2003 — #[i]Originally posted by CardboardHammer [/i]

[B]When I tried to follow the link in again after noticing he got banned at the [H], it complained about lack of sufficient permission...[/B][/QUOTE]Yep, that thread was leading a dying path, and finially reached it's end.