An *Ultimate* PHP reference

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nigma
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An *Ultimate* PHP reference

Post by nigma »

If any of you have done any C programming then you most likely have heard of the K&R book. Can any of you recommend a PHP book that is to php what K&R is to C?
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nielsene
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Post by nielsene »

The PHP Manual is the analog of the K&R book.
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nigma
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Post by nigma »

Any other recommendations ;)?
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Bill H
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Post by Bill H »

I found the PHP Black Book by Peter Moulding (Coriolis Publishing) very informative and useful.
macewan
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Post by macewan »

second what Bill H said

my first php book was php essentials by Julie C. Meloni.

you'll probably also want to pickup a mysql book while your at it.
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nigma
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Post by nigma »

Yea, right now I have Learn PHP 4 in 24 hrs, but once the official non-beta of PHP 5 comes out I plan on getting a new book. I will probably get an updated version of the PHP Blackbook if they come out with one?

Thanks for the suggestions.
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Post by qads »

year 2001, i went to my local pc books store and chose a book on php at random...since then i never ever brought another book :lol:

and that book was "php bible" by joyce park, i think they have the 2nd edition out so you may pick that up (don't forgot to pay :P )
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nigma
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Post by nigma »

Should I wait for PHP 5 to be released before buying a PHP book(so I could get a book that has info on PHP5 functions)?
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Post by qads »

not a bad idea, untill then u can do few tutorials on net to get the basics :D.
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nielsene
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Post by nielsene »

Hmm I don't know. PHP5 won't be released officially for many months to come. I wouldn't want a book that comes out before as it might get some details wrong. I wouldn't want one that comes out at the shortly after the release unless it was written by a core member of the zend team for the same reason.

PHP4 will be with us for a while. ISP's are slow to upgrade. Getting a good book on PHP4 now will serve you well for the next 12 months at least.
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Post by m3rajk »

there's still servers below 4.1.0......(read in basic. i forget who it is, someone in belgium and there's using 4.0.6)...i think that means that for all practical purposes, 5 will have to prove that it's stable and safe before hosting companies and big businesses upgrade
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Post by fractalvibes »

My favorite so far is a Wrox book,
Professional PHP Programing - has a nice list of functions also.

fv
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nielsene
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Post by nielsene »

I'm not sure what nigma is asking for. The ultimate reference/the anlog of C's K&R would be the PHP Manual. If you're looking for a more teaching oriented book, or a more case study oriented book, that's not an "Ultimate Reference" book.

On the teaching/learning side, I'll agree that the PHP4 Bible by Joyce and Converse is good. On the case study/example side Wrox had some good books -- Professional PHP Programming and their book on Web Application, (can't remember the title, but it went through creating several different websites and CMS systems.)
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Post by Sinnix »

fractalvibes wrote:My favorite so far is a Wrox book,
Professional PHP Programing - ...
Cheers to that. Me too.
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