Learning PHP

dc1pop · 08-16-2006, 12:39 PM

Hi,

The time has come for me to learn PHP can anyone recommened a book that is full of advice and help for a newbie in the php field.

I know very little so need to start right at the begging.

Hope some people here can point me in the right direction!

Thanks,
Darren

spacetrain · 08-16-2006, 12:50 PM

PHP & Mysql Web Development 3rd Edition

This covers PHP 5 and Mysql its a great book! It uses examples of scripts to help you learn various functions and at the end gives several step by step guides on how to build popular scripts like web mail scripts and a forum.

Using it and google and a friend who already knew php and mysql ive mastered php and mysql in little over a month

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0672326728

dc1pop · 08-16-2006, 01:46 PM

Well thanks for the information! Il check out that book now! What sites did you use??

Dan · 08-16-2006, 02:30 PM

I have the book that spacetrain suggested.

I hardly ever used it and learned the most by just trying to do things and looking up stuff on php.net

LikuiD · 08-19-2006, 09:29 AM

I've been learning php for quite a few days now just by looking at simply made scripts
I've even made my first script from scartch this morning (script that generates Meta Tags

)
Php really isn't that hard, you just need to have someplace to test your scripts and alot of time to google

Nonetheless I'll still check out that book 'spacetrain' recommended
Good luck !

OK · 08-19-2006, 10:00 AM

I don't remember what book I used to start out (but it had a picture of the Linux penguin on the cover). REALLY helpful. Books > Sites. Although once you learn the basics, the internet becomes more helpful.

baxter · 08-19-2006, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by Dan Friedman

I have the book that spacetrain suggested.

I hardly ever used it and learned the most by just trying to do things and looking up stuff on php.net

I did the same Dan, the book I had was called "Learn php in 24 hours"

RageD · 08-19-2006, 12:08 PM

Search the Namepros forums.. Look at like webmaster articles and things and examine the code. Here is something very basic you can try, it's just working with variables: (It is a hello world, but it helps lol)

PHP Code:

  <?php

// Define the '$hello' variable

$hello = "Hello World";

????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/programming/228341-learning-php.html
echo($hello);

?>

Everyone loves the Hello World lol but you can try other things with that. Also, with that one I would like to say, if you want to put text in there that is not a variable, you can do so. Just do something like this:

PHP Code:

  echo("This is my first PHP script, $hello");

of course, that would replace the "echo" I left in the other script, otherwise $hello is not defined.

Also, another simple thing if you want to see your phpInfo

PHP Code:

  <?php

phpinfo();

?>

haha. Once you learn the basics, you can get into programming your own functions

But get that done and it's like math. Everything builds!

-RageD

NOTE: PHP.net is a great reference guide!

Barrucadu · 08-19-2006, 02:48 PM

When I started I just looked at scripts other people had made, then had a go at making my own.

dc1pop · 08-20-2006, 06:36 AM

Thanks guys its all good to get the information you recommened!

Thanks!

Barrucadu · 08-20-2006, 07:16 AM

When you do start PHP, set up a testing server.

Abyss Web Server (free version) is a great webserver, if you look in the documentation it says how to add PHP support.

Dan · 08-20-2006, 05:16 PM

If you want to run it on localhost [and on Windows], I suggest http://www.en.wampserver.com/

It comes with Apache, PHP, and MySQL. It has an addon which allows you to switch between PHP 4 and 5.

ablaye · 08-20-2006, 07:21 PM

Originally Posted by Mikor

When I started I just looked at scripts other people had made, then had a go at making my own.

That's also how i learnt PHP. I just looked at some scripts, made changes and got the answers to all my questions at www.php.net

08-16-2006, 12:39 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
dc1pop Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,893	Learning PHP Hi, The time has come for me to learn PHP can anyone recommened a book that is full of advice and help for a newbie in the php field. I know very little so need to start right at the begging. Hope some people here can point me in the right direction! Thanks, Darren

08-19-2006, 09:29 AM	#5 (permalink)
LikuiD NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 283 Follow @DeutschedWeb	I've been learning php for quite a few days now just by looking at simply made scripts I've even made my first script from scartch this morning (script that generates Meta Tags ) Php really isn't that hard, you just need to have someplace to test your scripts and alot of time to google Nonetheless I'll still check out that book 'spacetrain' recommended Good luck ! __________________ Learn German online for free - German Phrases

08-19-2006, 10:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
OK NamePros Regular Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 460	I don't remember what book I used to start out (but it had a picture of the Linux penguin on the cover). REALLY helpful. Books > Sites. Although once you learn the basics, the internet becomes more helpful. __________________ Oleg

08-19-2006, 12:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
RageD Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Joliet, Illinois Posts: 1,177	Search the Namepros forums.. Look at like webmaster articles and things and examine the code. Here is something very basic you can try, it's just working with variables: (It is a hello world, but it helps lol) PHP Code: `<?php // Define the '$hello' variable $hello = "Hello World"; ????: NamePros.com http://www.namepros.com/programming/228341-learning-php.html echo($hello); ?>` Everyone loves the Hello World lol but you can try other things with that. Also, with that one I would like to say, if you want to put text in there that is not a variable, you can do so. Just do something like this: PHP Code: `echo("This is my first PHP script, $hello");` of course, that would replace the "echo" I left in the other script, otherwise $hello is not defined. Also, another simple thing if you want to see your phpInfo PHP Code: `<?php phpinfo(); ?>` haha. Once you learn the basics, you can get into programming your own functions But get that done and it's like math. Everything builds! -RageD NOTE: PHP.net is a great reference guide! __________________ Microsonic Development New Programming Video Tutorials

08-19-2006, 02:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
Barrucadu Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Yorkshire, England Posts: 2,689 Follow @barrucadu	When I started I just looked at scripts other people had made, then had a go at making my own. __________________ Website \| Blog Arch Hurd developer; GNU Webmaster; FSF member #8385

08-16-2006, 12:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
spacetrain NamePros Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 133	PHP & Mysql Web Development 3rd Edition This covers PHP 5 and Mysql its a great book! It uses examples of scripts to help you learn various functions and at the end gives several step by step guides on how to build popular scripts like web mail scripts and a forum. Using it and google and a friend who already knew php and mysql ive mastered php and mysql in little over a month http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0672326728

08-16-2006, 01:46 PM	THREAD STARTER #3 (permalink)
dc1pop Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,893	Well thanks for the information! Il check out that book now! What sites did you use??

08-16-2006, 02:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dan Buy my domains. Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,796	I have the book that spacetrain suggested. I hardly ever used it and learned the most by just trying to do things and looking up stuff on php.net

08-20-2006, 06:36 AM	THREAD STARTER #10 (permalink)
dc1pop Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,893	Thanks guys its all good to get the information you recommened! Thanks!

08-20-2006, 07:16 AM	#11 (permalink)
Barrucadu Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Yorkshire, England Posts: 2,689 Follow @barrucadu	When you do start PHP, set up a testing server. Abyss Web Server (free version) is a great webserver, if you look in the documentation it says how to add PHP support. __________________ Website \| Blog Arch Hurd developer; GNU Webmaster; FSF member #8385

08-20-2006, 05:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
Dan Buy my domains. Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,796	If you want to run it on localhost [and on Windows], I suggest http://www.en.wampserver.com/ It comes with Apache, PHP, and MySQL. It has an addon which allows you to switch between PHP 4 and 5.

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