Learning PHP

[dc1pop]

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]

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 :D

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

 

[dc1pop]

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

 

[Dan]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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
// Define the '$hello' variable
$hello = "Hello World";
echo($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:

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
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]

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

 

[dc1pop]

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

Thanks!

 

[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.

 

[Dan]

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]

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