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A Research (please answer ASAP!)

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:06 am
by Shine10
Hi!
I’m a student of digital culture and I’m doing a research for my school project about people who use php. Because I can’t travel around the world (as great as that would be), I’ll have to do this research in other way… So, if you could be so kind, please answer to my questions (below) ASAP! Thank you. :)

1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?
2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
10. Optional: How old you are?
11. Optional: What is your gender?
12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)

Please PM me your answers, if you don't want to show them to everybody.[/i]

Re: A Research (please answer ASAP!)

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:30 am
by Chris Corbyn
Shine10 wrote:1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?
Chose PHP when I didn't really even know much about it... It just seemed to be what everyone else was using to do similar things. Been coding it for over 2 years now.

Shine10 wrote:2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
Lots of things. My full-time work is to develop a behaviour management & MIS systme for schools. I've built several small dynamic websites. CMS systems, graphing classes, database front-ends, frameworks, template systems....
Shine10 wrote:3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
Sometimes... I usually write my own if it wouldn't take a lifetime... many of the scripts you can download are too "clunky" for my liking since they try to cover all bases, including ones I don't need. I have some work on Sourceforge too.
Shine10 wrote:4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
*cough* -- Post count :P
Shine10 wrote:5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
Mostly to help new comers to the language but also because I enjoy the advanced discussions.
Shine10 wrote:6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
Definitely... My role, well, I love it :)
Shine10 wrote:7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
I've had a fair few freelance jobs via this forum. My full-time job was also offered to me via this forum.
Shine10 wrote:8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
Not as of yet. There are regular meetings in Manchester where I live but I missed the last one through other commitments.
Shine10 wrote:9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
See number 7.
Shine10 wrote:10. Optional: How old you are?
22 years old.
Shine10 wrote:11. Optional: What is your gender?
Male.
Shine10 wrote:12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)
Europe -- UK.

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:31 am
by Grim...
Well, you asked nicely in the post, so here we go...

1. About five years, because someone told me PHP was better than ASP and I should try it.
2. Literally hundreds of different things - games, forums, photo-sharing, calendars, browsers, content management, blogs, etc, etc.
3. No, I don't. I tend to write my own things.
4. Daily.
5. I come here for information, for fun, and (when I can) to give something back by answering other peoples problems.
6. Yes, I do. Although I don't really have a specific role.
7. Nope, but that's not to say that I won't.
8. No (see above)
9. No.
10. 27
11. Male
12. England, Europe

Re: A Research (please answer ASAP!)

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 6:42 am
by Roja
Shine10 wrote:1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?
Because it was the programming language used for a project I was interested in (Blacknova Traders). Going on 5 years now.
Shine10 wrote:2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
Multiple online games, interactive forms, websites, and more.
Shine10 wrote:3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
I use opensource, freedom software, unlike those found at hotscripts. I prefer software with a license that gives me the freedom to make changes and redistribute them. This to me is a fundamental need in software I use. As a result of that need, I often contribute to the code I use. I have chosen to use them since I've been programming in PHP. It saves me tremendous time, effort, and allows me to work with others towards common goals.
Shine10 wrote:4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
I visit 21 forums every day, generally 2-3 times a day.
Shine10 wrote:5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
To learn, to discuss, to have fun, to be part of a community of people that share a common interest.
Shine10 wrote:6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
Yes I do. I try to improve the overall tone, steer discussions towards learning, and offer my knowledge when appropriate.
Shine10 wrote:7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
I have met one person that I made contact through PHP, but it wasn't via this discussion board. As a general statement, my online life rarely interacts with my Real life.
Shine10 wrote:8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
No.
Shine10 wrote:9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
Not directly, but indirectly. Because of my knowledge of fast webdesign, I landed my first Fortune 500 company position.
Shine10 wrote:10. Optional: How old you are?
31.
Shine10 wrote:11. Optional: What is your gender?
Male.
Shine10 wrote:12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)
Ohio, USA.

Re: A Research (please answer ASAP!)

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:41 am
by feyd
Shine10 wrote:1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?
I was requested by a client just over two years ago to write their site in PHP, which until that time I had not heard of (as I had been out of the web industry since ~1999 making video games)
Shine10 wrote:2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
Frameworks, template engines, applications, forums, various utilities, etc etc.
Shine10 wrote:3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
I use open source scripts, but not from hotscripts. Sources usually are SourceForge and some phpClasses.org .. Since retiring from professional web development, I've moved to writing open source (possibly dual licensed) software using php (or other languages) as personal projects. Generally the licenses I use (both in use and created software) will be GPL or LGPL compatible.
Shine10 wrote:4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
post count × ~3 (here)
Shine10 wrote:5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
I couldn't have said it better than Roja did:
To learn, to discuss, to have fun, to be part of a community of people that share a common interest.
Shine10 wrote:6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
To a degree, yes I am apart of the community. But I always feel like an outsider because of my background in many other languages and professional experience. In reality, I don't think about it.
Shine10 wrote:7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
RL being real life, I'll assume. Not often, but I have met some in meatspace. As Roja said, my cyberality rarely mixes with my reality. If anything, my reality will get thrown into my cyberality when I game or something with a coworker or friend.
Shine10 wrote:8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
We have meetings? I hope not like alcoholics anonymous. 8O “Hi, my name is "Larry Jones" and I have a programming addiction...” :lol: Nah, I haven't gone to any meetings.
Shine10 wrote:9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
Yep, and it didn't turn out the best, but was a life experience on my path to wherever I am leading to. Where that is, I have no clue. :D
Shine10 wrote:10. Optional: How old you are?
26, going on 40.
Shine10 wrote:11. Optional: What is your gender?
Male
Shine10 wrote:12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)
Look left at “Location”

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:00 am
by Maugrim_The_Reaper
Shine10 wrote:1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?
It made more sense than manually coding HTML updates and ftp'ing to a server every few days - PHP excels at dynamic web pages. Then I realized you could make everything on any request dynamically generated. After that I just had to learn more PHP...
Shine10 wrote:2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
Built a small PHP Framework recently, helped maintain an open source game, later forked and am developing a rewritten OOP version of said game (shameless plug: http://www.quantum-star.com/devsite2/ ), have developed a few local community sites, developed a small logging library for OS, etc.
Shine10 wrote:3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
I choose to use open source alternatives over re-inventing the wheel with one notable exception. I dislike most current PHP framework for being too interdependent - you can't just use a piece of one without expecting a lot of modification. Reinventing the wheel except for some concrete reason I don't really like (in my own development).
Shine10 wrote:4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
Every day, except maybe Christmas and St. Paddy's day...
Shine10 wrote:5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
Being part of a larger community with a friendly, helpful and cooperative spirit is enjoyable - enough that visiting the forums is a daily activity. I enjoy contributing and helping out others where I can, and learning from others obviously.
Shine10 wrote:6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
Yes, maybe not as much as I'd like to be (I'd like to be more active on the PHP Code forum for example - but feyd always seems to be magically one step ahead of everyone else. That and I don't always have to time to commit to regular visits during the day.
Shine10 wrote:7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
No, I'm Irish. In a country of 4 million people its rare to spot anyone from RL on a PHP forum...;)
Shine10 wrote:8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
Yes, there's a local programming group (everything from Java to PHP). More of a meet and drink oneself silly event, but it keeps the small programming community in my area in touch.
Shine10 wrote:9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
No - I'm already steadily employed.
Shine10 wrote:10. Optional: How old you are?
Somewhere between 0 and 100. Ok, 26 leaning on 27.
Shine10 wrote:11. Optional: What is your gender?
Male
Shine10 wrote:12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)
Republic of Ireland, small place in the Atlantic Ocean west of the United Kingdom. ;) Eh, that's in Europe.

Re: A Research (please answer ASAP!)

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:25 am
by John Cartwright
1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?
I chose this language because of the easy syntax and large community based around php itself. If it wern't for commuties such as this to help me learn I likely would have stopped years ago. I started coding in grade 10 I believe with turbo pascal, I have been coding PHP since then.. so uhh almost 4 years. About 1 year professionaly.
2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
- Credit card processing scripts, tied in with multiple banks across the world
- Intranet based tools for companies
- Several CMS's
- Framework (incomplete) -- as I likely will shift over to ZF when its finished
3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
99.9% of the open source scripts I use will come from sourceforge. My reasoning is based on community support (again).
4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
This is the only one, and I visit this site as frequent as I am on a computer. I cannot give you a number but lets day every day.
5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
Its fun :P. But more importantly I come here to learn. My learning curve for PHP is way up there, but there are many more developers here with much more experience that I can always learn from. Even the people with less experience I find myself learning new things, ideas, and methods all the time.
6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
Yes. Moderator, friend, and foot stomper.
7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
I have made several friends over this message board, although I have not met any of them considering most of them live thousands of miles away. I have met a potential client that lives near by though..
8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
Nope.
9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
Several jobs actually. I am always looking for a quick job here and there in between contracts.
10. Optional: How old you are?
18
11. Optional: What is your gender?
Robot... fine I'm male.
12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)
Canada eh?

Re: A Research (please answer ASAP!)

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:05 am
by matthijs
1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?
When I build my first website I needed a cms and most of them were php. 1,5 years
2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
Things like forms, guestbooks and small apps.
3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
Yes. Not yet. Daily.
4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
Daily.
5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
To see my friends :) ... no serious: - Learn, read interesting stuff and help others if possible.
6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
Yes. I hope to contribute to it.
7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
No not yet.
8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
No.
9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
No :(
10. Optional: How old you are?
around 32
11. Optional: What is your gender?
male
12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)
Europe

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:58 am
by shiznatix
Alright well I hope this was quick enough so here goes

1) I was sitting at a book store drinking my coffee reading some books my bro was like 'I will buy you a book if you want', I decided to get a PHP book. Been coding since about august 2004.

2) Forum, new script, shoutbox (regular and ajax), CV storage site, and many many many other things.

3) I almost always build my own scripts. It's not the best idea to 're-invent the wheel' but I like the satisfaction.

4) I only visit this one but I am here several times on your average day. ([0.65% of total / 3.56 posts per day])

5) Because helping people out makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside plus this forum taught me almost everything I know about PHP and the people have helped me out so much its insaine.

6) I help out where I can. People know me quite well so I suppose ya I am part of the community. My role is to give people a role model :P

7) Talk to people online and whatnot from these forums somtimes, never met them in real life but I would if someone else lived in the same city as me.

8) At work I do.

9) Yup, I was in a real slump with money and I got a decent freelance job from here that really helped out.

10) 19.

11) Male.

12) Estonia - Europe, it's just north of Ebonia.

Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 3:29 pm
by alvinphp
1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it? ?
Because it is popular so wanted to see what it can do and have been using it for about a year.

2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
Built a portal system and my own framework.

3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
I use no free scripts. I create all my own classes and methods.

4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
a few times a week.

5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
I am a big believer in asking questions and so I go to places with a wealth of knowledge (like this site)

6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
I do not, and never thought about having or being in a role.

7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
No contacts, don't meet anyone, and never share any of my work here.

8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
Do not fully understand question.

9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
Nope

10. Optional: How old you are?
Not too old, not too young.

11. Optional: What is your gender?
Male

12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)
America

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 1:55 am
by anjanesh
1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?
1. Its has more functionality
2. The language construct is very similar to C++ from which I migrated to when I was in college. I wanted to make a intranet-based website so I started out with PHP.
Been coding in PHP for 2 yrs now.

2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
Mostly small code snippets. Some small projects like college community site.

3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
Mainly PHP tools like phpMyAdmin, phpMailer etc - not one page scripts though.

4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
Atleast once a day.

5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
To figure out solutions to ones Im stuck at and share info.

6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
Definitely ! Most of the time I post questions - and I answer ones which I can.

7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
No

8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
No.

9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
No.

10. Optional: How old you are? 25
11. Optional: What is your gender? M
12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…) India

Re: A Research (please answer ASAP!)

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 9:42 am
by Buddha443556
Shine10 wrote:1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?
Using PHP since 1998-99? Somewhere around there. Was using Perl for web programming but was also looking for something faster. Got interested in PHP3 but it wasn't till the addition of Perl type regular express that I started using PHP. PHP was cheaper and more widely available than the other languages I was using or considering.
Shine10 wrote:2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
Event calendar, classified ad, news log, bulletin board, CMS, lots of contact forms, scripts I use in development, web scrapers ...
Shine10 wrote:3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
Only used a couple free scripts haven't for years though. My work is GPL.

Shine10 wrote:4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
This one daily, about every hour. Others once a week or month.
Shine10 wrote:5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
To keep informed.
Shine10 wrote:6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
Yes. My role is to read the zeros and answer the ones I can and occasionally argue in Theory.
Shine10 wrote:7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
No.
Shine10 wrote:8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
Only on the internet.
Shine10 wrote:9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
Yes.
Shine10 wrote:10. Optional: How old you are?
40 something.
Shine10 wrote:11. Optional: What is your gender?
Male
Shine10 wrote:12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)
USA

Re: A Research (please answer ASAP!)

Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 6:16 pm
by a94060
Shine10 wrote:Hi!
I’m a student of digital culture and I’m doing a research for my school project about people who use php. Because I can’t travel around the world (as great as that would be), I’ll have to do this research in other way… So, if you could be so kind, please answer to my questions (below) ASAP! Thank you. :)

1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?

I had chosen this language when i was trying to find out how to make my own forum. I found phpbb and found it ran on PHP. i looked around searched about it and eventually started it with basic things.

2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)

Nothing as of now

3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?

I dont se scripts,i dont contribute. I just use forums fo rmy own selfish self :lol:

4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?

I setup notifications so i come whenever someone replies. i also come because my computer firewall claims that it logs everything when i myself know it aint true.

5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?

i come to help,be helped and just talk like that and learn/

6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?

i dont know about my role in this community. I just come here like that. If anyone wants to be nice and assign me a role,ill gladly take it :D

7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?

Nope never. People in my area are stupid and do not use any type of web programming. I only talk to computer people online.

8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?

Only internet and threads.

9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
Was about to,the perosn did not respond.

10. Optional: How old you are?

Im actually 14.

11. Optional: What is your gender?

Male
12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)

USA

Please PM me your answers, if you don't want to show them to everybody.[/i]

I dont want to format it so my answers are under the questions..Sorry for that,but i did not want to keep using the quote and quote end tags.

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:15 am
by mickd
1. Why you have chosen this language (php) and how long you have been coding with it?
Like many, I started by attempting to make an online PHP game.
2. What kind of projects you have done with php? (For example, have you built a discussion board etc. with it?)
Nothing major, lots of small script here and there.
3. Do you use free php scripts (i.e. those which you can download from sites like http://www.hotscripts.com) and do you also develop them? How often do have chosen to use them?
I never liked using free scripts. As this was a learning experience for me, I always tried to develop them myself.
4. How often you visit on discussion boards like this?
Varies, basically, once or twice a day.
5. What are the reasons why you come to visit on these kind of discussion boards (for example: just for fun or to get some information about… what?)?
To learn and to help out others along the way.
6. Do you consider yourself as part of this community? What do you think about your role in it?
I'd like to think everyone here considers themself apart of the community. After all, a community is a group of people in this case, with some shared element. As for role, everyone plays their part to help out the community, some more than others. Together we make a friendly community that's able to lend a helping hand. Everyone plays his or her part.
7. If you have got contacts through this or any other php discussion board, do you ever meet them in RL?
No.
8. Do you take part of meetings with other php users (and coders)?
No.
9. Have you ever got a job (coding in php) through a discussion board like this?
No.
10. Optional: How old you are?
15.
11. Optional: What is your gender?
Male.
12. Optional: Where do you live? (i.e. Europe, Asia, US…)
In Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:40 am
by matthijs
When all 19762 registered users have filled in the questionaire, it would be nice to add it to the profiles :)

Is Shine10 still around by the way?