Let's look at the many "flavors" of PHP, why they are there, how they work and when to use them. We'll also dive a little into the PHP core design pattern of using SAPIs to access the true core application.

1. mod_php
vs PHP CLI
vs FastCGI
vs FPM
@jacques_thekit

2. • Graphic designer turned programmer
• PHP/JS Developer 10 years
experience
• Have worked in Python, ActionScript,
ColdFusion, others…
• Big community supporter
• Co-author of virtPHP
The beard is on the
way back
Who am I?

4. Some Questions:
Do you know?

5. Some house keeping
What is a process?

6. A process is

7. A process is
An app answering
a request
Request
App
Response

8. A thread is
An task requested
by a process
Request
Process
Response
Thread Thread Thread

9. What is PHP, really?

10. C Binary

11. C Binary
Computer

12. C Binary
Computer
Request

13. ?

14. C Binary
Computer
Request
Server
Port

15. Ready to keep diving?
That was the easy part.

16. How does our
server talk to PHP?

17. C Binary
SAPI

18. SAPI: Server Application Interface

19. C Binary
mod_php
FPMCLI

21. http://www.slideshare.net/auroraeosrose/php-extensions-45834933
Even
extensions

22. What are the types?
The rabbit hole keeps going.

23. mod_php FastCGI FPM CLI
And Others

24. Starting with CGI
Applies both to CGI and FPM

25. C Binary
Computer
Request

26. Computer
Request
CGI isolates requests to “locked down” environments

27. Computer
Request
FastCGI
FastCGI acts as interface to CGI and script

28. Computer
Request
FPM
FPM = FastCGI Process Manager

29. How is mod_php
different?
Apache baby!

30. mod_php
apache
Request

31. apache ≠ CGI

32. apache = web server

33. and so is nginx

35. nginx vs apache
This rabbit needs some white gloves

36. apache mpm_prefork

37. apache

38. apache
Request

39. apache
Request
Request

40. apache
Request

41. nginx
Request Request

42. nginx
Request Request
Request

43. nginx
Request
Request
Request

44. nginx
Request
Request

45. apache
Request
PHP PHP PHP PHP PHP

46. apache
PHP PHP PHP PHP PHP
nginx
Request Request
PHP

47. apache
PHP PHP PHP PHP PHP
nginx
Static
Dynamic
Reverse
Proxy

48. Are we done?

49. sum that up for me

50. The types of PHP are just
APIs for web servers to
interface with PHP

51. The web server you use
will most likely determine
what type of PHP to use.

52. You should consider
your needs before
picking which version
of PHP to use.

53. What about CLI?

54. CLI is command line SAPI
you know $ php…

55. $ php -a access interactive shell

56. $ php -r “echo ‘hi’”;
hi

57. $ php your_file.php

59. virtPHP

60. mod_php
vs PHP CLI
vs FastCGI
vs FPM
@jacques_thekit

61. Resources
https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/apache-vs-nginx-practical-
considerations
http://www.php-cli.com
http://php-fpm.org
http://php.net/manual/en/install.fpm.php
http://www.fastcgi.com/drupal/node/5?q=node/10
http://www.suphp.org/Home.htmlt
http://www.sitepoint.com/setting-up-php-behind-nginx-with-fastcgi/
https://www.chriswiegman.com/2011/10/fastcgi-vs-suphp-vs-cgi-vs-mod_php-
dso/

62. mod_php
vs PHP CLI
vs FastCGI
vs FPM
@jacques_thekit