Libcurl Error Codes
Apache 2.4 and PHP-FPM
Better, Faster, Stronger gethostbyaddr
Stopping WordPress Exploits and Spam
Secure WP Super Cache, Anti-exploits, Mitigation techniques. A bunch of current ways to stop wordpress exploits and spam. 
PHP fsockopen for FAST DNS lookups over UDP
While reading up on gethostbyaddr on PHP.net, I saw a nice idea for using fsockopen to connect over UDP port 53 to any Public DNS server, like Google DNS 8.8.8.8, and sending the reverse addr lookup in oh about 100 bytes, then getting the response in oh about 150 bytes! All in less than a second. This is how/why to read/write data directly to the wire! This would be extremely valuable for use in things like my online header tool because it's faster than any other method. As usual, I went a bit overboard optimizing it to be lean and fast.
Fsockopen Magic
PHP's fsockopen function lets you open an Internet or Unix domain socket connection for connecting to a resource, and is one of the most powerful functions available in the php language.
Get Number of Running Proccesses with PHP
Recently I had to setup a script to curl 10k urls, but it could only do 500 requests at any one time. In order to work under that limit, I created a function that returns the number of currently running processes on the machine in an extremely fast and efficient way, thus allowing the curl_multi requests to queu themselves such as GNU xargs.
Getting the Mimetype of an Image with PHP
This is awesome. I was so fed up with trying to find a fail-proof, cross-platform way to find the mime type of an image using PHP that I wrote a quick function that utilizes the same technology as the exif_imagetype, getimagesize, and finfo functions do. Ahh the joys of low-level.
Using PHP shorthand and short_open_tag
I hope this will pursuade you to stop using PHP short_open_tag syntax.<?= or <?
PHP to handle HTTP Status Codes for ErrorDocument
Fast, HTTP Protocol, protection. If you are reading this article, you already know enough about the benefits of making sure your site can handle HTTP Protocol Errors. This is a nice single php file with no dependencies or requirements, will work on anything. Optimized for minimizing bandwidth and resource-hogging connections from bots and spambots.
<?php
ob_start();
@set_time_limit(5);
@ini_set('memory_limit', '64M');
@ini_set('display_errors', 'Off');
error_reporting(0);
Creating an Offline Version of Page
So, here's what I hacked together last night, that is being used today. It's essentially 2 files.
- A php file that scrapes uses curl to scrape all the urls for the page (favicon, css, images, pdfs, etc..)
- A simple bash shell script acting as a cgi that creates a zip file of all the urls, and a self-extracting exe file for those without a winzip tool
PHP Session File Hacks
What they say about kung-fu is true..
It can be attained by anyone through hard work over time. You can become as good as the amount of work you put in. Here's a short look at a basic technique that I use. Simply reverse engineering the source code and taking notes along the way...
static void php_session_send_cookie(TSRMLS_D)
if (SG(headers_sent)) {
if (output_start_filename) {
php_error_docref(NULL TSRMLS_CC, E_WARNING, "Cannot send session cookie - headers already sent by (output started at %s:%d)",
output_start_filename, output_start_lineno);
} else {
php_error_docref(NULL TSRMLS_CC, E_WARNING, "Cannot send session cookie - headers already sent");
}
return;
}
/* URL encode session_name and id because they might be user supplied */
e_session_name = php_url_encode(PS(session_name), strlen(PS(session_name)), NULL);
Download Multiple URL’s FAST with cURL
PHP File Uploads
Adding Akismet Anti-Spam Protection Anywhere
Wouldn't you love to have Akismet Anti-spam protection for non-wordpress forms and pages?
PHP Sessions/Cookies On The Fly
This article shows how to save and modify php session data, cookies, do anything really... without using ajax or iframes or forcing the user make a request.
Faster Form Submission and Processing with fsockopen
Part II: Example illustrating how to speed up GET/POST form submissions. Uses fsockopen to initiate a server-side background request to process the submitted data, so that the result page of the form is displayed to the client lightningly quick.
Faster POST and GET Form Submissions… Shazam
Just a very brief look at speeding up form submission by delegating the processing and bandwidth to your server, not your client.
Simple PHP Anti-Spam Captcha Script
Prevent automated web robot tools and spammers from taking advantage of your site with this simple php script that I hacked up earlier today to use on my Advanced HTTP Header Viewer.
The Latest and Greatest php.ini
Grab the latest php.ini developmental version and discover new or previously hidden php runtime configuration settings... ahead of everyone else!
Downloading Multiple Files with Curl Simultaneously
Wouldn't it be great if you could use php and curl to download multiple files simultaneously using built-in curl functions? You can!
PHP htaccess tips and tricks
Htaccess php tips and tricks for the Apache HTTPD Web Server, mostly these tips show you how to run customized versions with customized php.ini files, I require custom php.ini files because they are so useful!
Use php.ini to replace html with anything
Use php.ini to add HTTP Headers to outputSending POST form data with php CURL
CURL Guide for sending POST data form request with PHP and CURL
Custom PHP.ini tips and tricks
- When php run as Apache Module (mod_php)
- When php run as CGI
- When cgi?d php is run with wrapper (for FastCGI)