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Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:25 am
by thundarr
hi all,

I have decided to actually learn php rather than figuring out what my predecessors left me with and avoiding any actual use other than updating tables.

Basically I was at the bookstore and noticed some books on php and said "you know I really ought to know some server side stuff instead of the basic client side biz". Long story short I picked up a book. "PHP 6 fast and easy web development". So far so good everything makes sense and all my "tuts" are comin up gravy. Further in it says hey lets create a phpinfo () and see what happens and go over our results.

Results the host I use is running version 5.2.5 (I might be wrong about that third digit)
I'm learning version 6 and have had no real working knowledge of php before this.

I searched and could not find a release date for 6. Did I just screw up royally and pick up the wrong book? Also has anyone dealt with godaddy before in terms of updating the version of php on a server?

I appreciate your time and look forward to learning the language and hopefully returning the favor of knowledge to those who need it.

Thanks,
Thundarr the Barbarian

Re: Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:46 am
by jaoudestudios
What is the full title of the book?

If your book includes information on php6, then it is fine and future proof, as long as it teaches you the general basics that are in all versions. When it mentions php6 built in functions/libs then they wont work on your php5 setup.

Re: Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 2:08 am
by thundarr
Thanks!

The full title is: "PHP 6 Fast & Easy Web Development"

So far it seems to be covering the basics. I'm only up to Chapter 7: Displaying Dynamic Content atm. I'm going to keep slogging through it. 8)

Re: Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:11 am
by daedalus__
the reviews on amazon are saying some pretty bad stuff lol

i usually buy books from sans

Re: Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:05 am
by thundarr
(sigh) It figures, and of course I cant return the thing because I assaulted it with my highlighter already. It was one of those I knew I should have ordered online but it was right there. Looks Like I'm book shopping again.

Re: Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:11 am
by jaoudestudios
I would keep it and use it. Just be aware that some examples might not work. You can always check the functions on php.net to see what versions they are or if certain parts of the flags in the function/class are only available to php6.

Is there not a beta of php6 out yet? If so, you could use that for testing/development, but would not help when you come to make stuff live as production servers wont have php6 for a while.

Re: Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:12 am
by papa
I like the Wrox series as I've mentioned in another thread.

Example:
http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTitle/ ... 79665.html

I buy my books from Amazon.

Re: Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:20 am
by jaoudestudios
Me too, amazon rules. Well maybe not but it is good enough for me :wink:

Re: Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:36 am
by thundarr
Thanks guys,

I will have a look at that book, I believe the store might actually have that one. Still, I'm going to check amazon. That's where I picked up all my javascripting books. Think I spent 12 dollars for a used copy of a 30 dollar book :D


Thundarr the Barbarian

Re: Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:50 pm
by papa
thundarr wrote:Thanks guys,

I will have a look at that book, I believe the store might actually have that one. Still, I'm going to check amazon. That's where I picked up all my javascripting books. Think I spent 12 dollars for a used copy of a 30 dollar book :D


Thundarr the Barbarian
Offtopic but I got to ask. How did you become a barbarian, did you go to school for that?

Re: Not the typical n00b question

Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:17 pm
by thundarr
lol no schooling necessary. I recently found my son watching my all time favorite cartoon Thundarr the Barbarian on Boomerang and thought hey that's a good one to use. :) Nothing like growing up watching a cartoon that dooms the world in 1994 with runaway planet the splits the moon in half. :lol: