Date: Tue, 07 Mar 2000 20:15:17 -0700
From: Sara Killingsworth <saralk@home.com>
To: SaraLK@Home.com
Subject: Zend Optimizer for PHP 4 Available Free 3/9!

              Zend Optimizer for PHP 4.0 Now Available

                     Free Download at Zend.com 

Orlando,Florida, ApacheCon 2000,March 9, 2000--Zend Technologies
Ltd.today released the Zend Optimizer, now available for free download
from www.zend.com. The Zend Optimizer speeds up the execution of PHP
code and is now available in a version compatible with the current beta
4 release of PHP 4.0. The Zend Optimizer uses multi-pass code
optimizations to double the running speed of PHP 4.0 applications. This
is done by running several optimization passes on the code, created by
the run-time compiler, before the code is executed. 
	An application that uses the Zend Optimizer typically executes 40
percent to 100 percent faster than one that doesn't. This means visitors
to an Optimized site get faster download times, translating to more
transactions per second and higher customer satisfaction. Faster
response also means that users may be able to save on server hardware or
increase the services offered. In short, using the Zend Optimizer means
an increase in profits for those engaged in eBusiness.
	The Optimizer has obvious benefits for all PHP users. The increase in
speed for running PHP code reduces the CPU load for the server and cuts
latency time in half (latency is the time between the instant the user
clicks on a link and the time the processor begins to retrieve the
page).
	"The Zend Optimizer is extremely useful for high-traffic Web sites,"
said Andi Gutmans, co-founder of Zend and co-developer of the Zend
Optimizer. Zend is offering the Zend Optimizer free at the company's web
site, www.zend.com 
	The Zend Optimizer is multi-pass, wherein each pass optimizes different
code elements. This means that the application reviews the code several
times, each time optimizing different elements of the code. The Zend
Optimizer is capable of performing approximately 20 different
optimizations, some of which are quite complex. For example, one of the
simpler optimizations that the Zend Optimizer does is to change
post-incrementing to pre-incrementing, everywhere possible, because
pre-incrementing is considerably faster.
	The initial Beta release of the Optimizer includes the most important
passes. Subsequent versions will include additional passes, ensuring
that the Beta testing will be gradual with far fewer errors.
	"Zend Optimizer is our first product in a series of modules that
increase Web site application performance," said Doron Gerstel, CEO of
Zend Technologies. "I have no doubt that Zend Optimizer, along with the
new version of PHP (PHP 4), is a step up not just for PHP users, but
gives PHP an edge versus other scripting languages."
	Zend Technologies Ltd. is an Israeli start-up firm specializing in
Internet infrastructure software. Zend is the leader in PHP technology,
and will continue to lead in the development and provision of solutions
and added-value services for Web site and application development.
	Zend founders, Zeev Suraski and Andi Gutmans are members of the PHP
Group. Suraski and Gutmans developed the Zend Engine-a basic
general-purpose scripting engine that drives PHP 4.
	PHP (www.php.net) is a freeware, open-source scripting language used
for developing dynamic Web pages for e-commerce and other dynamic Web
applications. It is used by 25 percent of Web servers running Apache
software.
For general information on PHP, visit http://www.zend.com
                        --End--