Who fancies a community effort to write a book?

Where we keep all the boring tidbits about the PHPDN site, the news, and what not.

Moderator: General Moderators

Post Reply
User avatar
RobertGonzalez
Site Administrator
Posts: 14293
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:04 pm
Location: Fremont, CA, USA

Post by RobertGonzalez »

Maugrim_The_Reaper wrote:I copied a wiki setup to my own server - at some stage we should have a domain and someone willing to host it and the project's web presence. I think Everah offered originally...

http://phpbook.quantum-star.com/
I'll cover the domain name and hosting if we want. I did offer space on my dedicated server and I am totally willing to offer the domain name and hosting space up for this project.

Has anyone come up with a name for the book that they may be toying with? Maybe we can get a preliminary name and use that as the domain name for now?
GM
Forum Contributor
Posts: 365
Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2006 4:19 am
Location: Italy

Post by GM »

I've taken the time to read everything here - I think it's a fantastic idea, and I'd be more than willing to help out with a "database design" overview as a separate appendix. While I appreciate it's not actually PHP, if you start out with a bad database design, your application is going to suffer no matter how good a programmer you are. I'm a pretty competent writer, so I wouldn't mind contributing if the community feels that there is a place in the book for database design.

I'd also be happy to provide translations to Italian in the case that we wanted to make it available in other languages.

Ideas for a name:
Collaborative PHP - programming techniques from the PHP community
PHP Techniques - a developer's handbook for PHP programmers
PHP: Installation to Application

Cheers,
GM
User avatar
RobertGonzalez
Site Administrator
Posts: 14293
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:04 pm
Location: Fremont, CA, USA

Post by RobertGonzalez »

GM wrote:PHP Techniques - a developer's handbook for PHP programmers
PHP: Installation to Application
I like these two. I really like the second one. Here's my input:

PHP for Anyone
PHP Simplified
PHP Unraveled
PHP: Beginner to Programmer
SpiderMonkey
Forum Commoner
Posts: 85
Joined: Fri May 05, 2006 4:48 am

Post by SpiderMonkey »

How about, seeing as there are going to be so many contributors, "PHP Soup"?
Vinh
Forum Newbie
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Jun 30, 2006 3:30 am

Php book Goal

Post by Vinh »

Oh, i think there's something which needs to be clarified there.

What's the scope of the book ?

Is it another tutorial on PHP ? better but still ...
or is it a full cover of web dev with PHP ?

Based on the title you guys submit, my feeling is that's another "Php for dummy" book.

Which question that book answer ?

-> Can i build a blog with php ?

-> Can i build a fully functional CRM app with PHP hosted on a webfarm ?

If we go for the wide scope, i would go for having some deeper understanding from a DB Expert,
as well as server - engine in depth topic.

Not to say a good cover on DHTML, XML Practice, Asynchronous techs.

Title isn t so important right now, we would get a clear idea after the first draft.

PHP Soup's my favorite ;)

correction : +ied -y
Jixxor
Forum Commoner
Posts: 46
Joined: Wed Jun 07, 2006 5:53 pm
Location: Lakeland, FL

Post by Jixxor »

Perhaps we should first start the book off as a book for Beginners or, if you want, a "PHP for the dummies" book.

I think once we've accomplished this aspect, we can then decide if we want to add onto it, I.E. the interaction of PHP with JavaScript (AJAX), etc. Of course HTML is going to be included in our book initially as you can't have PHP without HTML!

As for names, I've enjoyed the ones thus far, especially PHP: Installation to Application.

I'll toss in these for extra measure:
PHP Dev: A SImple Approach to PHP
Common PHP: From Beginning to Advanced from the Community
Conceptual PHP: Understanding and Mastering PHP
User avatar
Maugrim_The_Reaper
DevNet Master
Posts: 2704
Joined: Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:43 am
Location: Ireland

Post by Maugrim_The_Reaper »

Hmm... I would have preferred MediaWiki but this'll do for now.
MediaWiki is great, but I had DocuWiki setup already. Minimal effort for the temporary wiki ;).
Ambush Commander wrote:When Maugrim created the wiki, he proposed the idea of many people maintaining seperate content lists, and then putting them together at the end. I disagree. Unless a person's idea is radically different, we should practice continuous integration: people put in what they feel is right, and discuss issues in the contents. That is the wiki way.
I put up on single list - everyone who has created a list so far should integrate their ideas into what exists on it. Order is less important - something to discuss somewhat later. Feel free to experiment though - reversion is still possible, and you can post a separate chapter name outline for such.
Has anyone come up with a name for the book that they may be toying with? Maybe we can get a preliminary name and use that as the domain name for now?
No name yet... Should wait for Chris to return from vacation before settling on one. I'll send you a PM later Everah if I have time (Chris is not the only one on vacation :)).

There are some great names suggested though - the more distinctive it is from established titles, the better.
Vinh wrote:What's the scope of the book?
Initially, it's focusing on new programmers. Mainly because that's were we all start at some time or another. It may expand into the realm of advanced programming eventually (or not) and we do have some advanced reading chapters tagged for possible addition. I guess a lot simply depends on who contributes and supports the project and on the progress we do make over time.

Does that sound garbled? Maybe... It needs discussion - hence we need those forums soon...
User avatar
RobertGonzalez
Site Administrator
Posts: 14293
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:04 pm
Location: Fremont, CA, USA

Post by RobertGonzalez »

Maugrim_The_Reaper wrote:
Has anyone come up with a name for the book that they may be toying with? Maybe we can get a preliminary name and use that as the domain name for now?
No name yet... Should wait for Chris to return from vacation before settling on one. I'll send you a PM later Everah if I have time (Chris is not the only one on vacation :)).
I agree. It kinda is d11's baby, so we should at least allow him the chance to name it. If he leaves it up to the community, then we can look at what is being suggested.

Maugrim, I look forward to your PM whenever you get the chance. Long weekend in the US this weekend (Independence Day, Yeah Baby!) so I am probably going to be away from my machine for a little bit as well.
User avatar
daedalus__
DevNet Resident
Posts: 1925
Joined: Thu Feb 09, 2006 4:52 pm

Post by daedalus__ »

I will pay for a domain, I want to help too.
User avatar
Chris Corbyn
Breakbeat Nuttzer
Posts: 13098
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 7:57 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by Chris Corbyn »

Everah wrote:
Maugrim_The_Reaper wrote:
Has anyone come up with a name for the book that they may be toying with? Maybe we can get a preliminary name and use that as the domain name for now?
No name yet... Should wait for Chris to return from vacation before settling on one. I'll send you a PM later Everah if I have time (Chris is not the only one on vacation :)).
I agree. It kinda is d11's baby, so we should at least allow him the chance to name it. If he leaves it up to the community, then we can look at what is being suggested.

Maugrim, I look forward to your PM whenever you get the chance. Long weekend in the US this weekend (Independence Day, Yeah Baby!) so I am probably going to be away from my machine for a little bit as well.
I haven't gone yet :) Just sipping a beer before an early night. Have to get up in the middle of the night/early hours of the morning to fly.

Name? Ermm Yes... I mean no.... I mean, hmm... name? :)
User avatar
Christopher
Site Administrator
Posts: 13596
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2004 7:54 pm
Location: New York, NY, US

Post by Christopher »

d11wtq wrote:Name? Ermm Yes... I mean no.... I mean, hmm... name? :)
How about something with the word "Community" in the title. That's what sets this book apart.
(#10850)
User avatar
RobertGonzalez
Site Administrator
Posts: 14293
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:04 pm
Location: Fremont, CA, USA

Post by RobertGonzalez »

How about that as a subtitle?

Title: <what ever we choose>
Sub: A PHP Developers Network Community Project
User avatar
Chris Corbyn
Breakbeat Nuttzer
Posts: 13098
Joined: Wed Mar 24, 2004 7:57 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by Chris Corbyn »

Yes I was thinking of putting "community" in the title too.

<Title here>
A PHP Communities Guide

(How do you spell comminities when it means "Belonging to the community?" communitys' ?)
User avatar
RobertGonzalez
Site Administrator
Posts: 14293
Joined: Tue Sep 09, 2003 6:04 pm
Location: Fremont, CA, USA

Post by RobertGonzalez »

It's possessive: Community's.
User avatar
Christopher
Site Administrator
Posts: 13596
Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2004 7:54 pm
Location: New York, NY, US

Post by Christopher »

Community PHP
The Community PHP Book
The Developer Network's Guide to PHP (1st of the DN's Guide series! ;))
Community Guide to PHP
Community PHP Guide
(#10850)
Post Reply