By LTG1 on

It's really an irony that D6 has so many nice improvements to the setup process yet overall getting it to work on Windows is quite a big deal. This applies to people who are technically very skilled on MS software and are trying to move toward open software.

Most of this has to do with the open software stack required, rather than Drupal specifically, but it's still something that is a barrier.

For example:
1) Choosing a database - after researching it seems that PostgreSQL will be a fine choice. Then after searching everywhere under the sun I found out theres no 64-bit version. Uh, what year is it? Big waste of time.

2) Turns out MySql supports 64-bit so problem solved right? Noooo... Turns out for months now it's known that MySql config app does not run on Vista. The solution? Editing the binary .exe file by hand of course. Oh that was fun.

3) Search around for PHP 64-bit binaries, find a couple places install. Turns out they're incomplete. Chalk up more time

4) Long story short - You need to use the PHP 32-bit version with the NOT THREAD SAFE option because that's fastest on Windows.

5) Of course PHP doesn't just work with IIS - you need to configure the MS version of FastCGI as an IIS7 module.

6) MySql has a standard client and and "i" client. Which do I need? Back to google...

This list goes on and on - researching little things that would take minutes to setup if you already knew about them.

My main point is that I'm sure some people give up before completing the steps, which limits the migration of MS people to open software and Drupal.

This is important because if X% more people migrate to Drupal, the community grows stronger, more plug-ins created, the whole virtuous cycle thing.

Just a thought.
regards,
Ltg
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⋅ Categories: Drupal 6.x

Comments

matt_harrold’s picture

matt_harrold commented

I don't wish to sound trivial or anti-Microsoft, but perhaps your problems have LESS to do with open source software, and more to do with Microsofts' "shifting sands" policy towards everything. Do we even have a Vista 64bit GCC that works properly yet?

The mysql and mysqli variants are only present to cater for PHP4 and PHP5, if you are using PHP5, just select mysqli as your client.

Postgres is a great DB, but there are heaps of modules that only support MySQL at the moment (just a heads up).

IIS7 might be a Microsoft native server, but unless you have MS specific duties to perform on the SAME SERVER, Apache is a far better choice as a web server (IMHO).

I think the vast majority of your difficulty stems from Microsoft, NOT the open source community. Vista 64bit is still a very new and unfinished OS (see the SP1 fixes for backup to my "unfinished" claim), and until Microsoft learn to "play well with others", attempting ANYTHING that integrates MS products with other software will be problematic.

$0.02 (opinion, not authoritative advice)

Broicher’s picture

Broicher commented

I started the same way as you, from scratch and I also had the feeling sometimes "WTF"....
But now after investing 2 days of research and testing, I got it up and running, so lets focus on developing new stuff :O)

If you are still facing problems, maybe here is the last piece you are missing http://drupal.org/node/354640

happy hack!

Andreas