Datasheet

❑ They are cross-platform and “technology-neutral.” By requiring open source software to be
non–platform specific, the open source community has ensured that the programs are usable
by virtually everyone. According to the Open Source Definition provided by the Open Source
Initiative at
http://opensource.org/docs/definition.php, open source programs must
not be dependent on any “individual technology or style of interface” and must be “technology-
neutral.” As long as the software can run on more than one operating system, it meets the
criterion.
❑ They must not restrict other software. This basically means that if an open source program is
distributed along with other programs, those other programs may be open source or commer-
cial in nature. This gives software developers maximum control and flexibility.
❑ They embrace diversity. Diversity of minds and cultures simply produces a better result. For
this reason, open source programs cannot, by definition, discriminate against any person or
group of persons, nor against any “field of endeavor.” For example, a program designed for use
in the medical profession cannot be limited to that field if someone in another field wants to
take the program and modify it to fit his or her needs.
For a complete list of the criteria a piece of software must meet before it can be considered “open
source,” or for more information about the OSI or the open source community, visit the OSI Web site
at
www.opensource.org.
How the Pieces of the AMP
Module Work Together
Now that you’ve learned some of the history of open source, it’s important to understand the role each
of these programs (Apache, MySQL, and PHP) plays in creating your Web site.
Imagine that your dynamic Web site is a fancy restaurant. Diners come to your place, and each one
wants something different and specific. They don’t worry so much about how the food is prepared, as
long as it looks and tastes delicious. Unlike a buffet-type spread, where everything is laid out and your
patrons simply choose from what’s available, a nice restaurant encourages patron/waiter interaction
and complete customization for any specific dietary needs. Similarly, a Web site shouldn’t be a static
page with little interaction from visitors; it should be a dynamic site where the visitor can choose what
he or she wants to see.
In this scenario, you can characterize the three components of the AMP module as follows:
❑ Apache: This is your highly trained master of culinary arts, the chef. Whatever people ask for,
she prepares it without complaint. She is quick, flexible, and able to prepare a multitude of dif-
ferent types of foods. Apache acts in much the same way as your HTTP server, parsing files and
passing on the results.
❑ PHP: This is the waiter. He gets requests from the patron and carries them back to the kitchen
with specific instructions about how the meal should be prepared.
❑ MySQL: This is your stockroom of ingredients (or in this case, information).
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Configuring Your Installation
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