extending PHP on UNIX without recompiling

Is there a way to extend PHP features, like adding new database
connectivity module, java interoperability etc. without recompiling PHP ?
I need a UNIX/Linux solution, something like dropping .so file in
certain directory.

I am not a hobbist, and I do not have root priviledge at my customers site.
My customers are not always capable to recompile PHP themselves, and it
causes me problems.

I am considering moving to Java/JSP/Velocity combination because of
theese problems.


thanks

DG

Drazen Gemic wrote:
> Is there a way to extend PHP features, like adding new database
> connectivity module, java interoperability etc. without recompiling PHP ?
> I need a UNIX/Linux solution, something like dropping .so file in
> certain directory.
>
> I am not a hobbist, and I do not have root priviledge at my customers site.
> My customers are not always capable to recompile PHP themselves, and it
> causes me problems.

I'm not 100% sure, but I think most of the support stuff for php are compiled
as modules (.so), and those can be added on later without needing to recompile
the whole PHP. The major issue is that the modules that you have compiled,
must be from the same source (version) as the one that is already installed at
your customer.

Many linux distros comes with a good packages system, which should make it
easy for you customers to compile and install the packages without knowing how
make and configure works.


//Aho

> I'm not 100% sure, but I think most of the support stuff for php are
> compiled as modules (.so), and those can be added on later without
> needing to recompile
> the whole PHP. The major issue is that the modules that you have
> compiled,
> must be from the same source (version) as the one that is already
> installed at your customer.

Thanks.

>
> Many linux distros comes with a good packages system, which should make
> it easy for you customers to compile and install the packages without
> knowing how make and configure works.
>

A company on Linux didn't have problems, but the other one is on SOlaris
8. I'll check SUN freeware, if there is something usefull.


DG