Getting Started in PHP and MySQL

[bethohio3]

I am new to PHP and MySQL and have some ideas for a few personal databases I'd like to build.

 

I am looking for advice for a "getting started" book. I already know how to program, and understand databases. So, I'm looking for a book geared towards someone learning a new database system and scripting language, not one for people who don't understand tables or selection statements yet.

 

I'd appreciate any suggetions someone might be able to offer.

 

Thanks!

 

--Beth

[rayners]

Well, for PHP, the best place to start is almost always http://www.php.net. The online documentation cannot be beat.

[Paul]

I second the php site as being a great reference point. Additionally, I found that downloading some free PHP applications and ripping apart the code to see what makes it 'tick' was a big help, just make sure the application you pick actually works or you'll find yourself in a world of hurt LOL

 

Good luck and have fun!

 

Later,

Paul

[KevinW]

check out http://tch.kwsupport.com/id17.htm

-kw

[darkwoof]

I started off with Wrox's (www.wrox.com) "Beginning PHP" (ISBN 1-861003-73-0) which I borrowed from the library. It's a simple to understand, step by step book that uses the situational problem solving approach.

 

To try out the examples I downloaded Firepage's (www.firepages.com.au) PHPDev package, which installed and preconfigured Apache, PHP and mySQL for me.

 

As I installed Invision Power Board and started installing mods for it, I begin to learn more about how PHP works. Taking existing code apart are a great way to see how things work.

 

Read or download the PHP documentation too, they are great as a handy reference. I keep a *.CHM (HTML Help) copy on my desktop for easy access too!

[bethohio3]

I ended up buying two different PHP/MySQL books:

• PHP and MySQL Web Development, Luke Welling & Laura Thomson
  
• Professional PHP Programming, Wrox book, Castagnetto, Rawait, Schumann, Scollo, Veliath
  

I've gotten my first PHP/MySQL page working (entering the information into a form that is is emailed to someone and also added to a database). You can't view the database through a web page yet, but hey, I'm working on it!

 

My background might be helpful to know to put my remarks in context:

• Extensive programming experience, mostly in C and Pascal (i.e. before Object Oriented)
  
• I design databases and web application systems (including OO)
  
• Minor maintenance on JSP and ASP pages, as well as some Java objects that others wrote
  
• 10 years of teaching experience, including introductory programming and computer literacy
  

Of these two books, Welling/Thomson is the one I can semi-recommend. I can't recommend the Wrox book at all.

 

PHP and MySQL Web Development has pluses and minuses:

• Basic introduction to programming concepts: variables, loops, selections, functions--good for a beginner
  
• Explanations of variable scope and object oriented program too advanced for a beginner but too basic for someone experienced
  
• Code examples start out very basic--easy to copy and modify
  
• Some poor programming style issues--not of importance to a beginner but annoying to someone who knows more about programming
  
• I didn't read the database concepts sections, so can't review those
  

The Wrox book (Professional PHP Programming) doesn' t have a clue who its audience is.

• There are extensive lists of functions/methods/types that are almost straight from the www.php.net page and should be in an appendix if they're included at all
  
• Lots of "piddly" comparisons
  
• Code in the early sections is too trivial to merit the "Professional" title
  
• This is not a "reading" book--it's a reference book--but not organized properly for that
  

So, that's my take on the two I bought, at any rate!

 

--Beth

[SEO]

On my shelf:

 

Web Database Applications with PHP & MySQL Williams & Lane Pub. O'Reilly (one of my favorite Publishers)

Would be my first recommendation for someone with your background, plus it is a cute little platypus.

 

MySQL/PHP Database Applications Greenspan & Bulger Pub. M&T Books (third place)

 

PHP and MySQL Web Development Welling and Thomson Pub. Sams (not my favorite publisher)

 

As mentioned earlier, http://www.php.net is truly the best online source.

[borfast]

Well, I'm one of those guys who gets every information he needs from the internet

 

What I mean is that if you look for some tutorials, you'll find loads of them.

I've been working with PHP since the beginings of version 3.0 (some years ago) and I've learned a lot by myself, by reading tutorials, reading code from other people...

 

But don't get me wrong - I don't think an online tutorial can replace a book!

 

But in some cases, people don't have the money to buy technical books, which are very expensive (at least here in Portugal). In those cases, online tutorials can do the trick just as well.

 

PS - For those of you who haven't been paying attention, the keyword here is goolge...