Where to start to learn PHP?

External Since: Jul 03, 2003 Posts: 98

In article <oprsggf2yegk3m3d DeleteThis @news.nas.net>, GreyWyvern wrote:
> I've posted a few notes of my own, and have had no less than three emails
> of gratitude from people who found just the answer they were looking for
> from one of my posts. So people *do* use them, and to good effect.
>
> And finally, the user contributed notes are moderated (ie, scanned
> regularily for trolls or incorrect and incomplete information) which keeps
> the FUD factor you're worrying about low and the information value high.
>
> Grey
>

Actually, or my feeling is, the best source for such info is the mailing
list arch at marc.theaimsgroup.com

kb

External Since: Jul 01, 2003 Posts: 411

GreyWyvern wrote:

> On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 18:39:39 +0100, Charles Sweeney
> <me.RemoveThis@charlessweeney.com> wrote:
>
>> I don't know why people recommend php.net for complete beginners. I
>> don't think it has much in the way of tutorials.
>
> Exactly Smile

However, it is the best reference manual for the language
> I've ever found.

IMHO, it's the best language reference for any programming language. Wink

The fact that the function descriptions are more or less layman's terms
and that you get (somewhat moderated) user comments about individual
functions make it very easy to use. Of course, being a beginner to php
and being a beginning programmer are two different things. For those
that have had experience with other programming languages like perl and
javascript, the php manual is sometimes all they need since they already
have an idea what needs to be done.

> What to know what preg_match() returns? Want to find the argument order
> for strpos()? Want to find the correct syntax for accessing a
> database? It's all there as quick as you can type it into the search
> bar, but it does assume you know how to program in PHP already.

Yes, the function reference pages do assume that you know
(apporximately) what function you are looking for. However, let's say
you don't. You want a function that does something to a string (broad, I
know). Well, that's what pages like this are for:
<a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.php.net/manual/en/ref.strings.php" target="_blank">http://www.php.net/manual/en/ref.strings.php</a>

There you find brief descriptions of what each of the string functions
do as well as notes on predefined constants that are related to the
string functions. Another handy part of the PHP manual is the "See Also"
headings of these pages. For instnace, on the string functions page, you
see "For even more powerful string handling and manipulating functions
take a look at the POSIX regular expression functions and the Perl
compatible regular expression functions."

The fact that they are linked up that way makes finding a function for
what you want to do much easier.

> I suggest getting the PHP Cookbook from O'Reilly, which has hundreds of
> ready made scripts organized by function. There will eventually come a
> point where you think of what you want to do, turn to the Cookbook and
> realize that you already have a good idea about how the task can be
> accomplished. At this point, start coding and use <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.php.net" target="_blank">www.php.net</a>
> exclusively. For you are now a Jedi.

I found the cookbook less useful that I had originally thought. However,
I didn't get it until I had already been programming with PHP for a
couple years. I remember reading through and not feeling comfortable
with some of the methods and syntax used, but it probabally is a great
book for the less experienced programmer.

--
Justin Koivisto - spam.RemoveThis@koivi.com
PHP POSTERS: Please use comp.lang.php for PHP related questions,
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