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iPhone And PHP Intergration

  • 18-09-2010 12:43PM
    #1
    ironclaw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,994 ✭✭✭


    Hi Folks,

    I'm looking to use PHP to query and update an SQL database. It will be in the simple call to a script with a few variables e.g. update.php?user=abc&&pass=123 etc

    On that point, how would I sent POST versus GET messages?

    What I'm looking to do is for the PHP script to return a value e.g. 1 = Updated DB 0 = Error and for the iPhone to interpret this. So return a value, assign to an int and on that int display a message.

    Or for another function, query a DB for a name and for the PHP to return all the information from that name e.g. Age, Address and display in a table. Would for the PHP to generate a XML file be a better way to go?

    I can write the PHP at a stretch but the iPhone side has me puzzled. I'm sure its an library I haven't found.

    Can anyone help me on that?

    Many Thanks,

    ironclaw


Comments

  • #2
    The Corinthian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    Let me get this straight; an iPhone queries a PHP script, which then does a look up on a MySQL database and returns a value which is then displayed (or triggers an appropriate display) on the iPhone?

    If so, you are talking about two separate applications; one for the client (iPhone) and one for the server (PHP, MySQL). I will presume that you have some basic technical understanding of the latter.

    There are various means that you can use to develop for the iPhone, from native Objective-C applications, through to some third party platforms, such as Titanium, and even just a Web-base thin client (eliminating the need for any knowledge in iPhone development, beyond UI).

    Given your post, I would suspect that your programming skills are limited, so perhaps the last of these may be the way to go. I've found MobiOne is not a bad WYSIWYG for knocking up prototype UI's, as HTML, for the iPhone - and once you've done that you could use the resultant code to act as a display layer for your server-based application.

    If you feel that a native iPhone app is a better idea, you'll find plenty of threads here that will point you in the right direction.


  • #3
    ironclaw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,994 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    The Corinthian wrote: »
    Let me get this straight; an iPhone queries a PHP script, which then does a look up on a MySQL database and returns a value which is then displayed (or triggers an appropriate display) on the iPhone?

    If so, you are talking about two separate applications; one for the client (iPhone) and one for the server (PHP, MySQL). I will presume that you have some basic technical understanding of the latter.

    There are various means that you can use to develop for the iPhone, from native Objective-C applications, through to some third party platforms, such as Titanium, and even just a Web-base thin client (eliminating the need for any knowledge in iPhone development, beyond UI).

    Given your post, I would suspect that your programming skills are limited, so perhaps the last of these may be the way to go. I've found MobiOne is not a bad WYSIWYG for knocking up prototype UI's, as HTML, for the iPhone - and once you've done that you could use the resultant code to act as a display layer for your server-based application.

    If you feel that a native iPhone app is a better idea, you'll find plenty of threads here that will point you in the right direction.

    Hi, I've actually come from a web development background and I'm currently learning Obj-C. While I'm not a master of either I am learning.

    I can get the PHP side to work, the trick is getting the iPhone to get a response. So if an update was successful to a SQL DB, the phone would get a response and act on it. If the update failed, the phone would get a different error code.

    What response does the PHP have to generate? Or would I be working with HTTP headers?


  • #4
    The Corinthian
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,777 ✭✭✭✭The Corinthian


    ironclaw wrote: »
    What response does the PHP have to generate? Or would I be working with HTTP headers?
    Whatever response your client finds easiest to read. I don't code in Objective-C, but my guess is that an XML based response may be the best way to go, in that Objective-C likely has an XML parser library you can use.

    How to implement this, and whether there are any issues you should be aware of (that you need to have a DTD referenced or text/xml content-type headers) that are specific to iPhone development are something you need to read up on.

    I'm afraid it's a case of RTFM.


  • #5
    Razzuh
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 184 ✭✭Razzuh


    I'm having a go at something similar. I've read up on a few options and there isn't any easy one as far as I can make out. I'm leaning towards using JSON. You might find this blog article helpful:
    http://tempered.mobi/%20
    It gives a simple example for a PHP JSON web service with code for both sides (PHP and obj-c). Don't miss the link to the source at the bottom.


  • #6
    techguy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,238 ✭✭✭techguy


    +1 on JSON!

    From a PHP point of view JSON is very easy to work with. Not sure about the Obj-C side of things though.


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  • #7
    ironclaw
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,994 ✭✭✭ironclaw


    Cheers folks. Finally making sense.


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