Coming back to php from asp.net

[nakins]

I started out messing around with PHP back when it was PHP/FI. but, I got side tracked by my job and had to learn asp.net and vb. I know how to do a few things in it, but most ASP.net guys would ask me why I'm doing something the way I was doing it instead of the most gleaming new and clean asp.net way. for example, i build most of my database filled tables with string builders instead of dumping it into a datagrid, depends if and interactivity is needed. I guess this is more familiar to how i used to do it in php. I've built a corporate intranet with asp.net/vb and mysql that serves about 600 users daily.

 

I now what to build a website, and know that i really want to be on a *nix server and use php/mysql.  But I fear that all my previous php knowledge is either forgotten or out of date. There are a couple of things I was wondering about.

 

1. Mono? is this thing any good? I mean, are people having success putting asp.net applications on a *nix server? If I could use this, I could get something up and running and write php code to replace the asp stuff later. I would be using a mysql backend for this. Going this way gets me away from MS/IIS and mssql. This doesn't get me away from the some of the "junk" in a asp.net page however. But, I could replace the asp code later without having to switch databases.  Anyone know about mono and hosts that provide it, or any other thoughts?

 

2. How about these new php development environments? I would bet that most of you all still code in context or some other text editor.  But, Since i'm now used to Visual Web Developer, it would be nice to have a good tool to build php stuff with. But, I may just be brainwashed. Any advice?

 

I'm not planning to build the next big "web 2.0" website, (i hate the phrase),  but i do want to build solid and efficient code. If you have a suggestion for php tutorial websites that I might find fresh code and methods, i would appreciate it.

 

Thanks