A long time ago I posted some instructions on installing PHP/Java Bridge on Ubuntu and that post is getting quite a few reads, so I figured I’d post a follow up on how it was used.
Over the last year I had been using a Java Bridge from a Zend Framework application to access a Java only API. And really, between the two bridges there are no differences. They both work identical, they both work great. Would I pay Zend for Zend Platform’s Enterprise license? No. Why? Because both bridges perform the same. The only differences are:
- Zend’s Java bridge already has a function called java_require and the open source PHP/Java Bridge needs you to include a file.
- PHP/Java Bridge has a java_cast function, and you need it. Zend’s Java Bridge does not have, or need this.
With these two differences all you need is a little code in your bootstrap (or somewhere else useful) to cover them and all is golden. Your app should work with both Java Bridges without any issue.
/* no java_require() include the java.inc for PHP/Java Bridge */
if ( ! function_exists('java_require') ) {
include "java/Java.inc";
}
/* declare this, it doesn't exist with Zend Java, but is needed for PHP/Java Bridge */
if ( ! function_exists('java_cast')) {
function java_cast($whatever) {
return $whatever;
}
}
There’s probably a more graceful way of checking and doing this but that’s it, and it’s worked on a multi tiered build environment for over a year now.