Why am I seeing the PHP code in the browser?

[sirab33]

UPDATE: when I put this into my browser

http://127.0.0.1/phpinfo.php

I get this big long page full of tables with data and stats about PHP Version 5.2.6, Apache Environment, etc. etc.

I'm assuming this is a GOOD thing, yes?

Otherwise, I get very different results with SAFARI and FIREFOX when opening any file with a .php extension.
SAFARI keeps displaying the PHP code itself - what's weirder is that when I go to View>Source - its greyed out - not even available.

In FIREFOX, its even worse: when I open a .PHP file Firefox gives me this (roll-over this thumb-nail image):


Its like it won't even consider opening it in the browser.

Does this give us any clues as to what's going on?

[Dormilich]

I'm assuming this is a GOOD thing, yes?

definitely

In FIREFOX, its even worse: when I open a .PHP file Firefox gives me this … Its like it won't even consider opening it in the browser.

Does this give us any clues as to what's going on?

sure, this popup comes, if a document with an unknown mime type* is served (say e.g. text/php). I’d say there’s something wrong within the Apache configuration file.

to get it working the mime type should be text/html (html) or application/xhtml+xml (xhtml)

* the browser 'knows' the mime types saved in the HTTP 1.1 Accept Header (you should find it in Firefox’ about:config)

[sirab33]

na that's not it.
the problem was that I didn't open the file from within the browser using http://127.0.0.1/filename

I was just opening them regularly, from within their folders, like regular HTML files.

You see, nobody told me that this is how you open PHP files - that you have to FORCE them to go through the Server, and that this is how its done.

Its kinda of a big DUH on everyone's part :-)

Everyone has been over-thinking this to death, coming up with weird exotic solutions - its a basic thing that should be told to all PHP newbies - but it wasn't in the READ ME files, I didn't see it in any tutorial files, FAQ's - nowhere. Its kind of a shame - it should be posted someplace :-)

anyway, thanks for the help!

[dlite922]

uh.....yeaaaaaa a

PHP is labeled as a server-side script. It is a big DUH. It's like saying you eat your salad with a fork, not a knife.

Many PHP install tutorials refer to Apache, a web server software.

We all miss obvious things like this, so it's ok. You'll eventually find the answer as you did.




Dan

[Dormilich]

You see, nobody told me that this is how you open PHP files - that you have to FORCE them to go through the Server, and that this is how its done.

er, that's why you call it Server Side Scripting… well, no way I could have thought of that.

besides that, it is mentioned how to use PHP: introduction, chapter 2

[sirab33]

er, that's why you call it Server Side Scripting… well, no way I could have thought of that.

besides that, it is mentioned how to use PHP: introduction, chapter 2

oh c'mon guys :-) saying "well PHP is Server Side Scripting" is a somewhat (highly!) general statement, don't you think? :-)

it certainly doesn't mean anything in the pragmatic sense, does it? :-)

Like if you're a newbie and you read the statement "PHP is a Server Side Scripting language" - does the first thing that pop into your head is "hmm, well then I better make sure I open my PHP files in the browser...like maybe using the Server path...and I bet the path to the Server is.... lets see...a series of numbers....like say...I dunno....1....2 ......maybe 7 - yeah that's it, 127....and then....how about a "." and then 0 and then...."

Know what I'm sayin'? :-)

I mean who in the world would think of that stuff? :-)

I dunno.
Perhaps it MAMP's "fault". They have this great download that installs EVERYTHING you need with one click - and it does work perfectly, but they never say anywhere "this is how you open PHP files" - but is it even their job to tell you that?

I dunno.

All I know is I started with this yesterday, downloaded MAMP, installed it, then started checking out some online tutorials - like at w3schools.com - great resource for everything - and they have all this great PHP sample code - so I started trying out stuff - like a simple "hello world" app - boom, didn't work, PHP code showing up IN the browser window, tried other code, tried it on other browsers - same problems.
And from there it was...down the rabbit hole... :-)

I looked through a zillion docs. - its crazy the amount of info that is "recommende d" for you to look through....

hey man, life's too short to search, sift through and read a zillion docs. :-)

all good.

just wondering if there should be a "FOR PHP NEWBIES ONLY - MUST READ!!!" section somewhere in the PHP forums/tutorials sites, know what I'm sayin'?

I know as an experienced programmer - who also does a lot of training - its quite easy to forget that newbies don't know the first thing about stuff we take for granted.
I actually devised a cheat-sheet list of BASICS - I call it the "DUH SHEET"... :-)

Anyway, just my 2 cents - again, really appreciate the input and help - I'm just trying to improve things for the community - and for the next guy that falls down this rabbit-hole :-)

Thanks again, best of everything and CHEERS!
-S

[Markus]

Its kinda of a big DUH on everyone's part :-)

On your part - don't lug me into this; you never said *how* you were opening your files... so it was safe for us to assume you were opening them via your server.

Also, to me at least, the phrase 'server-side' makes absolute sense: it is to be run through the server, but that is purely opinion.

Anyway - glad you've got it all working; and we our somewhat to-the-point/no-nonsense attitudes have not pushed you away from the forum - be sure to ask any questions you have!

Mark (gotta rush out).

[sirab33]

no problem - i'm sure I'll be back - with even sillier more obvious questions! ;-)

[Danzamagu]

Maybe?

Sirab, I had no time to read ALL the comments in this post, so I do not know if this was already suggested to you or not, or if you are doing this..

One common error with running PHP files in a local machine is that people open the file incorrectly in the browser.

try this:

http://localhost/~yourcomputerus ername/thedirectory/yourphpfile.php