Ok, so you want to have some scripting on your website, and you've heard that this PHP think is the cat's meow - but what's up with this INI file? I thought those disappeared with Windows 3.1 - what's the deal?!?! The reason PHP (and many other programs) use INI files (which are not something that appears only on Windows) is because they are a relatively easy way to have a cross platform configuration; and in case you weren't aware, PHP is majorly cross platform. Now, on the other hand, AnalogX PHPConfig is NOT majorly cross platform, so I can use nifty tabbed controls, dropdowns, and all the other staples of a GUI dialog.

    :::Background:::
In case you weren't aware, AnalogX PHPConfig is a tool to help in the configuration of PHP; specifically modification of the php.ini file that contains the current settings for PHP. If you aren't familiar with PHP (and if you're not, why on Earth did you download this?) then check out their site:

    http://www.php.net/

    :::Operation:::
Operation of PHPConfig is simple, once the program is running then choose 'Load' and select your php.ini file. Once the file is loaded, PHPConfig will be updated to reflect the current settings of the file; now it's time to make whatever changes you would like. Once you're satisfied, simply choose 'Save', overwrite the original file, and you're in business! It's worth noting at this point that by default, PHPConfig has 'Auto Backup' enabled, which means it will make a backup copy of any file it overwrites before saving. This can be turned on or off in the 'Config' menu, but for most instances I would recommend always leaving it on.

    :::But what about the Zend Optimizer (and other extensions):::
While PHPConfig doesn't explicitly support the Zend Optimizer (or any other entensions, it implicitly does. So what does that mean? Simple, while it doesn't have a custom section dedicated to any extensions, it still reads in their settings, and will write them back out when the file is saved. For more info on this, read on to the 'Unknown entries' section...

    :::Unknown entries:::
Now PHPConfig doesn't know every single conceivable option that PHP might use, a good example is that it doesn't know any of the extensions, like the Zend Optimizer. Any unknown entries show up in the 'Unknown' tab, where they can be edited by simply double-clicking on them, changing the setting in the edit box above, and then choosing 'Update'. This is done to ensure that you can load up a file, even with things it doesn't understand, and the output it generates should still work fine.

    :::Thanks:::
I would like to thank (and everyone using this should as well) Marco over at WebAttack.com for not only suggesting this application, but also doing most of the testing and helping to tweak it into what it is. If you're a member of MyWebAttack, then you already know that he's definitely a fan of PHP (and has done some awesome things with it for members).