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Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:50 am
by Brocberry
I'll get round to my PHP (Do I learn 5 or 6?) question in moment.

With a view to designing and running an ecommerce site, I've learned the basics of xhtml & css (I think) from reading http://www.w3schools.com/ and reading this Web Standards Solutions book. I plan to read a more advanced css book in the future (recommendations welcome!) but I want to learn some programming first... javascript and php.

I read something about these script libraries, jquery and so on, but wanted to give myself a proper grounding in the subject, so I've started to read this. It arrived yesterday and I managed one chapter last night... boolean this, array that, strings, null, something, something. I like it but God it's going to be tough.


This morning my php/mysql book arrived, which is why I've joined up here. "Fourth Edition", "Latest Update: July 2009" Lovely stuff, can't go wrong you would think. But here's the thing, "Install PHP 5 & MySQL 5 on Windows, Linux, Mac"

There are PHP 6 books that are 20 months old; yet there are also updated editions of other titles yet to be released that are "Updated for PHP 5". As I said, mine is a PHP 5 from July 09 - flicking through the intro, I think this is going to teach 5.2. Here it is. Should I read it? or do I need to be getting on board with php 6? I don't want to learn to cycle on a rusty pennyfarthing just as everyone is dismounting and jumping into the back of limousines full of bunny girls.


Thanks

Re: Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:52 am
by Eran
PHP 6 won't be out for a while. So unless you can travel to the future...

Re: Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:05 am
by Brocberry
Thanks for the reply, I'm pleased think that my book might not be obsolete alread, but presumably the code is out in some form as there are books that are teaching it already?

How far into the future are we looking at for 6, hours or years? If it's tomorrow, I might wait. :lol:

Re: Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:10 am
by jackpf
There's not going to be much difference in syntax between 5 and 6 you know.

Re: Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:17 am
by Eran
How far into the future are we looking at for 6, hours or years? If it's tomorrow, I might wait.
They don't have a set release date, but it's not anywhere near ready. My estimate is at least 2-3 years. You will see alpha and release-candidates pop before you see the official version (and we don't have those yet).

Re: Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:25 am
by Brocberry
Years. Great.

What do you make of this book,too early?

"In this edition, the bulk of the new material covers the latest versions of both technologies: PHP 6 (due out in 2008) and MySQL 5 (available now). The book's publication date is likely to beat the official release of PHP 6, making it one of the first books available on the subject."

Re: Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 9:12 am
by jackpf
If the author thinks PHP6 was out in 2008 then they obviously don't know what they're talking about.

Re: Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:54 pm
by Eran
The version number on that book is probably there for marketing purposes. PHP6 is more an incremental upgrade than PHP5 was. Stronger unicode support, deprecating some PHP4 features and streamlining others. You can read about the main differences here - http://www.corephp.co.uk/archives/19-Pr ... PHP-6.html

Anyone familiar with PHP5 should have no problem upgrading.

Re: Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:28 pm
by Darhazer
Some of the features planned for PHP 6, as the late static binding and namespaces, are already available in PHP 5.3

Re: Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 2:51 pm
by soapsuds
Begin with PHP 5 and since you are doing this with an eye out towards minimizing the amount of material you have to lean in the future, learn how to do Contract First Services / SOA in PHP using the SOAP extension. The SOA skills with WSDL, SOAP, XML Schemas, and XML are easily translated across platforms, languages, and APIs whether it be JAVA or something else. You'll also have an easier time understanding the business service perspective knowing SOA than if you were to start at the bottom and working your way up by emphasising languages and APIs.

I'm busy trying to learn how to do these things just now knowing every business that does any planning at all is either going to use this approach or all ready does. Also, if I have a good business service ideal of my own then this approach gives me the tools I need to implement the service(s).

Re: Should I learn PHP (5/6?), MySql, & Javascript this way...?

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:48 pm
by joeynovak
I would learn jQuery inside and out, I think the days of thinClient's is on the way out, and soon, like soapsuds says, SOA will be the way. jQuery allows you to put WOW in your webapps.

Joey