Basic PHP Hit Counter

<?php
$hitsfile = "counter.dat"; // The file we will use to store the number of hits
if(file_exists($hitsfile)) { // See if the counter file exists already
    $exist_file = fopen($hitsfile, "r"); // File exists so lets open it
    $new_count = fgets($exist_file, 255); // Gets the current content of the file
    $new_count++; // Adds 1 to the variable
    fclose($exist_file); // Close the file
    print($new_count); // Display the number of hits
    $exist_count = fopen($hitsfile, "w"); // Open the file with the Write permission
    fputs($exist_count, $new_count); // Writes the new value (new number of hits_
    fclose($exist_count); // Close the file
} else {
    // The file doesn't exist, so lets make one
    $new_file = fopen($hitsfile, "w"); // Opening the file with the Write permission will create the file
    fputs($new_file, "1"); // The number of hits in this case will be 1
    print("1"); // Show the current hits
    fclose($new_file); // Close the file
}
?>