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Linux, Apache, MySQL and Perl/PHP. The term originated as a marketing<br />
word to help point out that open source (free) software, when combined,<br />
could be just as effective as expensive 'enterprise solutions' like J2EE (Java)<br />
or Microsoft's .NET. To understand the system, let's take a look at the<br />
components individually.<br />
Linux.<br />
Linux is widely considered to be the open source operating system of choice,<br />
and the main alternative to Microsoft Windows. Thousands of volunteers<br />
from all over the world work on Linux and create programs for it. At its heart,<br />
the system is more-or-less a Unix derivative, which means that it's very<br />
stable and fast. While widespread adoption of Linux for the desktop seems<br />
far off, mainly because of the difficulty of getting people to switch, it isn't<br />
stopping Linux from doing very well on web servers.<br />
Apache.<br />
Apache is the world's most popular web server bar none. It was based on the<br />
second-ever web server, which was developed at the NCSA, and its history<br />
goes back as far as 1995.<br />
For all intents and purposes, Apache has become the industry standard<br />
server: it would be silly to say that Apache isn't suitable for business use,<br />
considering that it is included in enterprise packages like Oracle and IBM's<br />
WebSphere. Apache is developed by the non-profit Apache Foundation.<br />
MySQL.<br />
MySQL is a relational database, popular because of its relative simplicity and<br />
the fact that it's free. It is considered to be much easier to set up and use<br />
than more 'traditional' database software, and MySQL databases can be<br />
managed using a range of graphical software. MySQL is controversial among<br />
database professionals, however, as its developers haven't included many<br />
complicated advanced features, feeling that they would make the software<br />
too difficult to use without making it any more useful. MySQL is developed<br />
by a Swedish company, MySQL AB, and its website is www.mysql.com.<br />
Perl and PHP.<br />
Perl and PHP are both scripting languages, and they are both often used as<br />
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