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I had a small conversation with a junior PHP developer and I was disappointed about the lack of knowledge on PHP caching. In this article I will cover some ideas about APC.

What is APC? Php.net offers a laconic presentation: ” The Alternative PHP Cache (APC) is a free and open opcode cache for PHP”. That’s awesome, but what exactly this APC does? If you are not familiar with PHP internal process, you should read the following paragraph. If you are familiar, just go to the APC manual and start using it.

Let me describe in few words how a request is processed in PHP: Continue Reading »

This is not really something new, but I had to use it few days ago and I decided to write my experience with the new Query Profiler from MySQL. Jeremy Cole from Proven Scaling did a great job and since MySQL Community Server 5.0.37 we have now a built-in tool for performance analysis.

I wrote a very simple class to help me identify slow queries: Continue Reading »

Maybe you’ve heard the expression: “Managing computer programmers is like herding cats”. I think that analogy is not chosen just happy. Traditional management, through some sort of command-control hierarchy, isn’t what a manager should attempt. Programmers are complex people and have a spacial way of thinking in consonance with the work they provide. Their intelligence is above average but also they have strong personalities which leads to a permanent tension between team members. The situation is not so bad if any idea is very well discussed, everyone understand why it’s good and important to accept a change.

Now, since we agreed that programmers are difficult people, let’s discuss about Culture Factor. Continue Reading »