The History of PHP

When we talk about the dynamic website then the first language comes in mind is PHP. Yes, we use PHP programming language for making our website dynamic. Web developer easily develops a website with a database to store user data.

So, using PHP we programmers develop cool projects right. Even Facebook is developed using PHP. With the awesome feature of PHP, this language is the start as the small tool. So, let’s see the brief history of PHP.

The History of PHP

History

Rasmus Lerdorf

Rasmus Lerdorf

Development of PHP began in1994 by Rasmus Lerdorf. PHP is the set of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) that written in C programming language.

Originally, this script wrote for tracking visitor for his resume on the internet and this system known as “Personal Home Page Tool” in short “PHP Tool”.

He extends this system with web form with the database then this tech. known as”Personal Home Page/Forms Interpreter” or PHP/FI.

Now, Rasmus Lerdorf decides to release PHP/FI as PHP tool version 1.0 and announcement of this version on the Usenet discussion group comp.infosystems.www.authoring.cgi on June 8, 1995. PHP/FI is used to building a simple and dynamic web application. This version includes Perl-like variable, easy with database and ability to embed with HTML.

PHP was not intended to be a new programming language. How cool right. Lerdorf has no idea about this even he doesn’t know how to write a programming language. According to Wikipedia, Lerdorf noting in retrospect: “I don’t know how to stop it, there was never any intent to write a programming language. I have absolutely no idea how to write a programming language, I just kept adding the next logical step on the way.”

Example #1 Example PHP/FI Code

<!--include /text/header.html--><!--getenv HTTP_USER_AGENT--><!--ifsubstr $exec_result Mozilla-->  Hey, you are using Netscape!<p><!--endif--><!--sql database select * from table where user='$username'--><!--ifless $numentries 1-->  Sorry, that record does not exist<p><!--endif exit-->  Welcome <!--$user-->!<p>  You have <!--$index:0--> credits left in your account.<p><!--include /text/footer.html-->

Now, the development team release beta version and official version release of PHP/FI 2 on November 1997.

Andi Gutmans

Andi Gutmans

Zeev Suraski

Zeev Suraski

Now, development moves one person to two more developers. Zeev Suraski and Andi Gutmans rewrite the parser in 1997. And released the PHP 3 and here comes a new name of PHP called, PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor. An official version came in June 1998.

Suraski and Gutmans again start the new rewrite of PHP’s core, develop the Zend Engine in 1999. And they also found Zend Technologies in Ramat Gan, Israel. Then PHP 4 powered by Zend Engine 1.0 was released on  May 22, 2000.

For more version surely visit http://php.net/manual/en/history.php.php

Reference
Wikipedia
php.net