MVC in Matt Zandstra's Objects, Patterns & Practice book

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Brocberry
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MVC in Matt Zandstra's Objects, Patterns & Practice book

Post by Brocberry »

I am looking at the contents of Matt Zandstra's book 'PHP Objects, Patterns, and Practice', with a view to buying it as I would like to understand MVC, but there appears to be no mention of it to my untrained eye - all kinds of patterns are mentioned:

singleton
factory method
abstract factory
composite
decorator
facade
interpreter
strategy
observer
visitor
command

and then in a later 'Enterprise' patterns chapters there is mention of presentation layer and business logic layer - maybe that's it?

Here is the book, you can click on the cover to reveal the contents http://www.amazon.com/PHP-Objects-Patte ... 728&sr=8-8

Will this book help me to understand MVC? With a name like that, I'm sure it must? :?

Thanks for any help you can offer.
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Christopher
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Re: MVC in Matt Zandstra's Objects, Patterns & Practice book

Post by Christopher »

MVC is a high level pattern that defines the major separations and dependencies in an application. I would recommend learning the general patterns first, and then understanding patterns like Front Controller, before learning about MVC. Remember that patterns are solutions to problems, so you have to understand that you have a specific problem to need a specific solution.
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josh
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Re: MVC in Matt Zandstra's Objects, Patterns & Practice book

Post by josh »

I don't like those Apress books. They let just about anyone write for them. I recommend the "gang of four" book for design patterns (the ones you listed). I recommend POEAA by Martin Fowler for high level patterns. I don't think you need to go in any specific order. Neither of the books was meant to be read front to back (they'll have you jumping around from chapter to chapter and even come with a ribbon book mark to hold your place). Get them both and read them at the same time if you want. Probably Christopher was trying to get you to walk before you run but I think as long as you ultimately read & understand books about both high & low level patterns, it won't have mattered which order you did so in.

Even John Resig (the author of jquery) wrote a book for Apress. I thought it sucked and I love jquery. heh Its the kind of book I'd buy for the family member who wants to learn about what I do. Enough information to get the concept but just scratches the surface. It would be like getting a book "how to juggle" and it just told you to go to the store and buy 3 tennis balls. Whereas the Gang of Four book would be like having access to four of the best jugglers and them explaining all the inner details for their whole collective catalog of tricks.

The apress books are abridged. Gof & poeaa are in depth.
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