# Porting ASP to PHP


By Ben Ramsey

Published on June 18, 2004


So, I'm not the only one who's noticed an increase in interest here.  [Harry Fuecks](http://www.sitepoint.com/blog-view.php?blogid=9) mentioned in his weblog yesterday that many [ASP 3.0 developers are moving to PHP](http://www.sitepoint.com/blog-post-view.php?id=175686) because of ASP.NET.  I'm one of them, though I made the complete switch over a year ago.

I had been using <abbr title="PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor">PHP</abbr> somewhat side-by-side with <abbr title="Active Server Pages">ASP</abbr>; it just depended on where the application was being hosted.  However, as I saw ASP.NET and all the other .NET technologies become more and more the primary focus of Microsoft, I decided to check it out by installing an "educational" copy of Visual Sudio.NET.  I was flabbergasted.  The program was so bloated and everything so foreign and different from the ASP I knew (VB Script), that I couldn't deal with it.  I had to learn something entirely new to keep up with the pace of development.  It wasn't worth it.

On the other hand, I had to learn something new when I switched to PHP, but it seemed familiar, somewhat inviting.  The structure was similar to JavaScript, something with which I was very familiar, and the language had a great community base and excellent on-line documentation.  I was warmly welcomed in rather than shut out in the cold.

I invite other ASP 3.0 developers who have been orphaned by Microsoft in the wake of ASP.NET to do the same.  Make the switch to PHP; you'll be glad you did.