Re: Re: PHP security (or the lack thereof)
Trying to make the language 'safe' won't fix it because the language is not the
problem. The real problem is the way PHP is presented to most new developers.
PHP has been introduced as a tool for the web developer. As a language its goal
is "to allow web developers to write dynamically generated pages quickly." (
http://www.php.net/manual/en/faq.general.php ). The focus then is to enable the
web developer by giving him the tools he needs to create dynamic content, with
as little hassle as possible. The web developer need only read a short tutorial
( http://www.php.net/manual/en/tutorial.php ) and he is ready to read,
understand and implement the ideas presented in the various example scripts on
PHP.net. Unfortunately this situation leaves the web developer uninformed and
unprepared to face the hostile environment that is the net.
the only real solution is to change the way the language is presented to new
developers. It must be presented in a manner that increases the awareness of
the developer so that he able to deploy his application in a safe manner. This
means that security needs to be taught from the beginning rather than as a
footnote, especially on sites where authoritative teaching is given ( such as
PHP.net ). - nabiy