ob_get_clean() is not working on MAMP but works on WampServer?

Question

Can anyone explain why the following script behaves differently on two different platforms?

Script:

<?php

echo "hello!";

$view_content = ob_get_clean();

echo "'".gettype($view_content)."' >".$view_content."<";

Output 1 (on WampServer 2i - php v5.3.0 - Windows 7 x64 ):

'string' >hello!<

Output 2 ( on MAMP 1.9 - php v5.3.2 - OSX 10.6.4 ):

hello!'boolean' ><

It seems like MAMP is not performing the function 'ob_get_clean()' correctly. I also tried v5.2.13 of php on MAMP and saw the same problem.

I realize that these are different "versions" of php but i feel like this should work. Is there an extension/module I'm missing?

Answer 1

Probably on 1 host, automatic output buffering is on. I'd advise against that, as it hogs resources that are not needed most of the time. You can use & set it if you rely on it, a better way IMHO is to just call ob_start() when the real need arises.

From the manual:

Return Values
Returns the contents of the output buffer and end output buffering. If output buffering isn't active then FALSE is returned.