The LAMP Solution...
The LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, Perl / PHP / Python) Solution Stack...
LAMP is a convenient psuedo-acronym for Linux, Apache, MySQL & Perl/Python/PHP and a computing term loosely applied to any system which has some or all of these at its core.
These technologies all underpin the Internet, the majority of webservers use Apache running on a Linux operating system with a significant amount of database functionality provided by MySQL. CGI applications are nearly always coded using Perl, PHP or Python, three different languages but all similar in what they bring to the web; a powerful scripting technology which interacts seamlessly with the webserver capabilities.
DandyWebDesign has a commitment to utilising and promoting the LAMP solution for all web server and application requirements.
Despite the domination of the client operating system market by Microsoft the backbone of the Internet is still essentially unix based. A LAMP solution-stack is a very serious competitor for the Microsoft .NET architecture.
The primary reason for this is one of cost, all of the LAMP components are open-source and freely available, yet these simple components will enable you to create whatever high-level and sophisticated web applications you require.
LAMP works just as well and can be as useful for the home user or hobbyist as it is for businesses. Anyone who wishes to run their own webserver or test website at home will benefit from these applications all of which have win32 ports available.
Ok, so it isn't pure LAMP under Windows but the whole point of this bundle, and indeed one of its many benefits, is that it does not really depend upon the operating system, what we're really pushing here is the combination of Apache, MySQL and Perl (or PHP/Python).
LAMP vs WAMP - it doesn't really matter...
This site makes very little comment about PHP or Python and deals strictly with Perl, however the general comments relating to its usefulness and place in the architecture apply equally to all three. My personal preference is to use Perl, it can do all that PHP or Python can do but it can also do a lot more beyond the scope of web applications, in my honest opinion it is more generally useful. PHP has a very large slice of the market, much of this comes with its modularity, there are many web application packages, (eg bulletin board, forums, shopping carts etc) that will work seamlessly together which naturally encourages its use. However this is no more than sourcing of third party applications and not really what we are talking about here, with LAMP you also have the power to develop your own customised applications.
To find out more about LAMP see »Wikipedia or the »'OnLamp' project...