I'm currently building a system where I want to combine the power of Node.js, Python, and PHP together in one project. The goal of the system is to convert PDF files to text, and then use Python for machine learning or AI to process and learn from that text. However, the core of my website is built using PHP, so I need to figure out how I can make everything work together. Here’s a breakdown of what I’m trying to do: PDF to Text Conversion I want to use Node.js for this part (or Python if that’s better). I’ve seen some libraries like pdf-parse in Node.js and PyPDF2 or pdfminer.six in Python. I’m not yet sure which one is more efficient or accurate, especially when dealing with different kinds of PDFs (text-based, scanned, etc.). Learning from the Text using Python After extracting the text, I want to pass it to a Python script or service that can analyze it, learn from it, or even store important information for future use. For now, I’m thinking of using something simple like training a model or just extracting entities, keywords, or summaries from the content. PHP as the Main Platform Since my main application is built in PHP, I want to control and trigger both the Node.js and Python scripts from PHP. For example, the user uploads a PDF using the PHP interface, and then behind the scenes the system should: Run the Node.js script to extract the text. Pass the output to the Python script for analysis/learning. What’s the best and most reliable way to make Node.js and Python scripts work together in a PHP project? Should I use shell_exec() or exec() in PHP to run Node.js and Python scripts, or is there a better method (e.g., REST APIs)? How can I pass data (like extracted text) between PHP, Node.js, and Python securely and efficiently? Would it be better to convert the PDF directly in Python and skip Node.js? Are there any security risks I should know about when executing scripts from PHP? Continue reading...
