RoadRunner vs Nginx vs Apache: A Comprehensive Comparison

RoadRunner, Nginx, and Apache are three powerful web servers and application servers often used in PHP development. Each has its unique strengths and weaknesses, making them suitable for different use cases. In this guide, we will explore RoadRunner and compare it against Nginx and Apache in terms of performance, use cases, and setup.

What is RoadRunner?

RoadRunner is a high-performance PHP application server written in Go. It is designed for modern PHP applications, providing a high-speed alternative to traditional servers like Nginx and Apache. RoadRunner serves as a process manager and load balancer for PHP applications, commonly paired with frameworks like Laravel.

Features:

• Written in Go, optimized for performance.
• Built-in load balancing and process management.
• No need for PHP-FPM (runs PHP as a long-running process).
• Supports gRPC, HTTP/2, and WebSockets.

What is Nginx?

Nginx is a widely-used, open-source web server known for its high performance and scalability. It can serve static files and act as a reverse proxy for PHP applications using PHP-FPM.

Features:

• Efficient handling of concurrent connections.
• Reverse proxy and load balancing capabilities.
• Event-driven architecture.

What is Apache?

Apache HTTP Server is one of the oldest and most popular web servers. It uses a process-driven model and is often chosen for its flexibility and extensive module support.

Features:

• Modular architecture.
• .htaccess support for per-directory configurations.
• Multi-threaded (event, worker, prefork modes).

Performance Comparison

Feature	RoadRunner	Nginx	Apache
Performance	High, optimized for PHP	High for static content, needs PHP-FPM	Moderate, process-driven
Concurrency Handling	Excellent (Go-based)	Excellent (Event-driven)	Moderate (Prefork limits)
Static Content	Limited, needs a proxy	Excellent	Good
Dynamic Content	Excellent	Excellent (with PHP-FPM)	Good
Resource Usage	Low	Low	High
Scalability	Excellent	Excellent	Moderate
Ease of Setup	Moderate	Easy	Easy

Setting Up RoadRunner

Step 1: Install RoadRunner

composer require spiral/roadrunner

Step 2: Create a Basic .rr.yaml Configuration

server:
    command: "php ./vendor/bin/roadrunner-worker.php"
    relay: pipes

http:
    address: 0.0.0.0:8080
    workers:
        command: "php worker.php"
        pool:
            num_workers: 4

Step 3: Run RoadRunner

./vendor/bin/rr serve

Basic PHP Worker Example

<?php
require __DIR__ . '/vendor/autoload.php';

use Spiral\RoadRunner\Worker;

$worker = Worker::create();

while ($request = $worker->waitRequest()) {
    $worker->respond(new Spiral\RoadRunner\Payload(
        json_encode(['status' => 'success']),
        200
    ));
}

When to Use RoadRunner

• Microservices and APIs: For handling high-performance PHP APIs.
• Long-Running Applications: Ideal for real-time services with persistent connections.
• Modern PHP Frameworks: Works seamlessly with Laravel Octane.

When to Use Nginx

• Static Content Serving: Best for delivering images, CSS, and JS files.
• Reverse Proxy and Load Balancer: Common in load-balanced environments.
• PHP Applications: When paired with PHP-FPM.

When to Use Apache

• Legacy Applications: Well-suited for older PHP projects.
• Modular Configurations: .htaccess support for per-directory setups.
• Shared Hosting Environments: Preferred due to wide compatibility.

Conclusion

• RoadRunner: Best for modern, high-performance PHP applications needing concurrency and long-running processes.
• Nginx: Excellent for static file serving and reverse proxy with PHP-FPM.
• Apache: Great for legacy projects and environments needing modular flexibility.

Choosing the right server depends on your application's architecture, performance requirements, and scalability needs.