Microsoft's Web Platform Expands To PHP

Blasphemy might be the first word that comes to mind when you hear Microsoft, PHP, and open source mentioned in the same breath. But no more: The new Microsoft Web Platform will offer simplified install of certain popular PHP Web applications such as Acquia Drupal, Gallery, and SilverStripe CMS. Of course, the platform will also support popular ASP.NET Web applications such as dasBlog, DotNetNuke, and ScrewTurn Wiki. Microsoft has also announced that the Web Application Gallery will allow developers to offer free versions of these applications directly to IT development shops. PHP runs on other platforms now, but Microsoft's contribution to the open source software (OSS) community is to support PHP apps and make them easy to install — on Windows servers. The result: Open source software has another direct channel into the enterprise, which means that it's now easier for enterprises to find and install an OSS alternative to expensive commercial application platforms that run on Windows and Internet Information Services (IIS).