Hi Neil,

I'm not aware of anything that does this (but I'm sure there's software out there - you'd be looking down the avenue of getting some source code for a basic FTP app and pre-defining which PHP scripts it uploads).

As a seperate thought, have you considered using a PHP script on your web host to do the same task i.e. users could log in with their username and password, provide their FTP details, and then your online script can upload the necessary PHP scripts to their FTP server, and even then execute them to run any installation routines etc.

I'm currently working on something similar for a CMS-style project, so if you need any more advice, feel free to drop me a PM.

Tim.

Thanks for the tip about active/passive connections. I'll make sure I keep it in mind.

Cheers,

Neil

Great thread! I've played around with server based FTP and it's a lot of fun. Obviously you have to be very careful with security so make sure you're validating any user input carefully and filter for XSS and SQL injection.

If you've not seen it already, the documentation for PHP FTP functions could be useful:

PHP: FTP - Manual

Personally, if I needed something like this (and it's a good idea) I would use something like Auto Media Studio to create my simple desktop application that ties into my website's database. Then I would allow users to login from the desktop app, that queries the database, and if they have access, it then allows them to login, and set some settings for their ftp, and it would then execute (on the server side) some php scripts to make a connection via server ftp and install the scripting.

You could even take that further as long as the person had proper permissions on their database, to allow outside access, to do the installs of of the sql.

But I guess with enough 'trickery' of the php and installations, you could literally do an install via your own site on another person's site.

Example:

User registers on your site
Downloads the app
logins in via the app
sets the settings for their site
hits submit
your server then executes a set of scripts
that ftp's to their site
installs the necessary files
and uses the cURL method to call the 'install' script
that that install script has all the sql commands
in the php to do the install on their server as a localhost!

Guys, the answer is very simple!
PHP Encoder, protection, installer and performance tools from ionCube: ionCube Package Foundry does exactly what you guys want.

Cheers!

Dennis

[DELETED]

severt has it right.

IonCube has an EXE script installer that does exactly what you're thinking of. I'm not sure on the price, but if you have a script you're selling and you want a good quality installer it might be worth paying for. IonCube also has a PHP Encoder to optimze and encrypt your PHP files (makes them load a little faster through the IonCube loader, and protects your source code) and I think they even have a module to handle licensing through their loader.

It's called ionCube Package Foundry... it's $197 and is very good. I am now in the process of testing it for one of my scripts.

Makes it a breeze for customers to install your php scripts. They just need to know their ftp details.