Want to learn PHP.... - Tech Support Forums

Tekk · July 15th, 2004, 03:34 PM

Seeing as though Im a new graduate and want some experience in a multitude of langauges, I decided upon takin on the task of learning PHP. NOw the question here is what is a great way of going about learning it? SHould I buy a book? Should I just look at online tutorials?

Im just looking for maybe some ideas on how others have taught themselves or if they had a really good book that helped them or something. Thanks for any info! Oh and what do people use to develop PHP? is there an IDE for it? or just notepad like everything else

Nightfire · July 15th, 2004, 04:24 PM

Book versus Online Tutorials

Let me think about that, it depends on your way of learning.

When I started C++, I tried a book, I didn't learn a thing. I read a couple tutorials to learn the basics, they did teach me the basics too, then I read more tutorials to learn more than the basics. I did borrow a book from the library once for reference.

What I'm trying to tell ya is, if you learn better from books, then get a book, if you learn better from free online tutorials, then read online tutorials. If you prefer a class and if you got the money, then attend a class.

Btw, I recommend starting with free online tutorials to see if you kinda understand it and the syntax because if you don't understand it, you haven't loss any money.

crouse · July 16th, 2004, 03:15 AM

http://www.php.net
http://www.php.net/tut.php
http://www.php.net/docs.php
http://www.zend.com
http://www.zend.com/zend/art/index.php
http://www.zend.com/zend/docs.php

For a nice list of php editors
http://www.thelinuxconsultancy.co.uk/phpeditors/

Tekk · July 16th, 2004, 02:49 PM

Thanks crouse/night! I'll try those out.

crouse · July 16th, 2004, 06:42 PM

Your welcome....

Kind of off topic.... but isn't ZEND just a really cool sounding name

vass0922 · July 16th, 2004, 06:57 PM

Maybe a good way...
sixf00t4 runs a open source MUD game, that is all PHP based.
He's posted up the source on his site if you want to learn how to do it maybe this would be a good way to see what it's really like
http://www.sixf00t4.com/dragon/

You'll need your own webserver+php+mysql database server to test it out, but that would be a good idea regardless.

sixf00t4 · July 16th, 2004, 08:03 PM

hello! Vass is right about the game. you can get the distribution source at http://sf.net/projects/lotgd and you can see an example of some of the code additions i put into the game at http://sixf00t4.com/dragon/examples.zip right now, there are near 1000 players, and a few people, some in a similar situation as yourself, that I am helping code for the game. Let me know if you have any questions or problems with anything, then let me know if you are interested!

jutah · July 17th, 2004, 03:03 AM

"PHP fast and easy" by Julie C. Meloni

Its an older book I think maybe 2002, but it is great. It comes with a CD to install MYSQL, Apache, and PHP and takes you through the steps of doing it for both a Windows and Linux based system. I learned a lot with this book.

jutah

brandon184 · July 17th, 2004, 04:09 AM

I just found myself the PHP Manual (available for free at php.net) and went from there.

Brandon

FatalException · August 12th, 2004, 11:25 PM

Does anyone else have any suggestions? I'm looking for the tools someone else used to learn PHP. I know the net is full of tutorials, but it seems like so many of them are over my head or way too easy. It's the Goldilocks syndrome, I know; but I want my porridge, bed, and chair to be just right! Not too difficult and not too easy. Anyone else who knows PHP - how did you start? What tutorial did you find most useful?

Languages I know: C, C++, Visual Basic, Basic, Python, Perl, HTML (if you want to even call it a language).