Picking up PHP

[Balmong]

hi,

I am looking for a fast way to learn PHP and whatever accompanies it, no kidding. I know C++, a bit of java and almost all the object oriented principles so whats the most practical way to learn it?

 

[Kate]

The manual is a must read... visit php.net (not .com lol), to have an overview of the functions. For each function there are some useful comments from users and examples too.
The best would be to start with a small project involving a dynamic site with database for example. Perhaps if you have some spare domain to develop it would be a good opportunity.
Your C background will help too:blink:

 

[Xyzer]

Another way that could help look at pre made snippets like at www.phpfreaks.com and join a few forums to do with php. www.phpsociety.com is a good one...

 

[Hitch]

Read the official manual, and look at www.tizag.com

I learned by reading code, looking how it worked etc.
It can be abit daunting at first, but it really isn't that hard. :hehe:

www.phpsociety.com is a good one...

Yeh, if Eric ever gets round to opening it again. xD

 

[Xyzer]

wow Hitch, I learnt at tizag!!

 

[champ_rock]

i also learnt at TIZAG

i do not even know C,but still i managed.. its fairly easy

 

[Daniel]

I learnt by reading code, for me it's still the best way. Learn by example.

But to advise some sites: http://w3schools.com <-- Read this first, it explains a good bit.
Then http://php.net and through that.
Finally go look at snippets etc at http://phpfreaks.com

My advice

 

[italiandragon]

hi guys, for someone who knows only a bit of HTML like me and I`m trying to start to develop some of my sites......could you give me a good reason for which php is necessary? I don`t know nothing about php yet.

Thanks

 

[champ_rock]

with php u can do everything u can think off with ur server..

with ur site, u can add databases with it , make them dynamic, make them searchable via ur own server, do unlimited things without any restrictions.. (some restrictions till u are really a pro )

 

[RegFee]

Offer to build sites for free, with the stipulation that you are new and are just looking for experience. I learned A TON of php by agreeing to make an apartment complex listing script. It's always nice to have a project in mind, rather than and endless supply of Hello World tutorials. Don't be afraid to learn optimization along the ways either. Take a second to try and clean up any code you make before moving on. And keep your code snippets tucked away for later use!

http://www.phpbuilder.com has a couple of members (Brad & NogDog) who respond to questions with lightning fast speed and thoughtful insight.

http://www.phpvideotutorials.com offers great free video tuts for visual learners like myself.

Your local community college will most likely have classes starting soon. Tuition is usually around low $xxx depending on the credit hours, and nothing beats hands on experience with an instructor watching over you.

and of course, namepro's own programming section. You'd be surprised how much some domainers know about php

 

[italiandragon]

with php u can do everything u can think off with ur server..

with ur site, u can add databases with it , make them dynamic, make them searchable via ur own server, do unlimited things without any restrictions.. (some restrictions till u are really a pro )

does not HTML let you add a database?

thank you

 

[Daniel]

HTML doesn't work well with databases unfortunately.

 

[Peter]

does not HTML let you add a database?

thank you

HTML is purely for displaying output to a browser. It is the structure of the page. In a sense HTML is not a programming language.

I would advise that you take a look around at places as mentioned such as the php manual as well as http://www.phpbuilder.com/ which has some good tutorials/articles.

As you have a C++ background I would not think it necessary to do a college course as you already have an understanding of programming. Ensure that from the outset that you have a good understanding of security within your application. Unlike C++ memory management is not so much a problem as the zend engine (if I remember correctly it is the zend engine rather than the php engine) handles the memory management for you. Take a read of blogs such as Chris Shiflett's blog. He is somewhat of a security buff with regards to php http://shiflett.org/ .

 

[italiandragon]

HTML is purely for displaying output to a browser. It is the structure of the page. In a sense HTML is not a programming language.

I would advise that you take a look around at places as mentioned such as the php manual as well as http://www.phpbuilder.com/ which has some good tutorials/articles.

As you have a C++ background I would not think it necessary to do a college course as you already have an understanding of programming. Ensure that from the outset that you have a good understanding of security within your application. Unlike C++ memory management is not so much a problem as the zend engine (if I remember correctly it is the zend engine rather than the php engine) handles the memory management for you. Take a read of blogs such as Chris Shiflett's blog. He is somewhat of a security buff with regards to php http://shiflett.org/ .

thank you....but I don`t have C++ background :td:

 

[Peter]

thank you....but I don`t have C++ background :td:

Ahh sorry the 2nd and 3rd paragraph were directed at Balmong. For a novice I would suggest going to the library or local book shop and browse through some books, look at the examples that are given and see if they look real world or totally unrelated also look at the writing style and see if it is something you can follow easily.

Once you have grasped the basics from such a book you are better poised to understand the manual better (as well as online tutorials). Always try and be aware of security issues in fact go out of your way to research about it. I find it highly surprising about peoples lack of comprehension of security. They claim how good they are and how they have been programming PHP for x amount of years yet they don't even sanitize user input.

 

[chicker]

I learnt at http://w3schools.com many years ago, and although it is basic it gets you started. Php nowadays is ideal for many things when building sites from creating easy, global pages such as a global site navigation which can be edited from one file. The use of databases, as others have said, is a vital part for most php programers and the use of beeing able to process data server side, doing caculations and processing data or even sending emails.

Php has many benifits and once you have learnt the basics you can build on them from their. I learnt php several years ago, when their were not as many books avalible if any and the web had some but not alot of resources on it. Try to set aside a time each day to learn a bit and it will grow. You never know you may be able to make a living online from it as many here including myself do although nowadays most companys are outsourcing to india.

 

[LogiK]

wow Hitch, I learnt at tizag!!

So Did I :D

 

[hanz]

I learnt at http://w3schools.com many years ago, and although it is basic it gets you started.

I didn't learn PHP from there, but most of my JavaScript and AJAX knowledge comes from there, so it surely is good site.
For PHP (& MySQL) I would suggest www.php-mysql-tutorial.com, they have some good tutorials.