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I wanna become a PHP programmer.
Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 1:42 pm
by niko_k
Hey guys
Im a MIS guy but I would like to learn php programming so I can be indipendent and customize applications.
There are a lot of articles about php but I really would prefer to start with a book, sort of "php for dummies"
I have NO experience with html, css or any other programming language.
Are there pre-requisites? If not what book do you recommend to me?
Thanks Niko
Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 1:47 pm
by feyd
Have a read through the Forum Tour and threads the links found there reference.
A link to it can be found in my signature:
Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 2:08 pm
by alvinphp
I believe you need to learn HTML and CSS before learning PHP. After you can make a few static web pages, then start playing with PHP.
Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 2:24 pm
by s.dot
If you're anything like the majority of us here, you've just started on a multi-year challenging yet fun adventure
HTML is a definate must, since PHP is used to create dynamic HTML. So you will need to know your HTML basics first.
I learned from htmlgoodies.com, then expanded on that and learned the standards. As for a book, I don't know of any sorry.
Good luck!

Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 6:07 pm
by niko_k
scottayy wrote:If you're anything like the majority of us here, you've just started on a multi-year challenging yet fun adventure
HTML is a definate must, since PHP is used to create dynamic HTML. So you will need to know your HTML basics first.
I learned from htmlgoodies.com, then expanded on that and learned the standards. As for a book, I don't know of any sorry.
Good luck!

Thanks to all of you:). Im 32 I hope I don't get discouraged soon...
Posted: Sun May 07, 2006 10:43 pm
by Todd_Z
w3schools.com
after that, php.net will become you're best friend

Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 3:40 pm
by andym01480
I only started a year ago.
The Zend beginners tutorial was the business!
http://www.zend.com/php/beginners/php101-1.php
The php.net chm help file is nearly always open when I'm coding too -
http://www.php.net/download-docs.php
Book wise - PHP and Mysql for dynamic web sites - a link to it on Amazon.co.uk (through my affiliate account!!!) is ...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/red ... _ap_i2_xgl
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 4:37 pm
by Christopher
One thing that can help you learn is if you have a website idea that you are interested in. Surely you have something like a "totally new idea for a CMS" that you want to build?
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 4:38 pm
by RobertGonzalez
DevNetwork,
Sitepoint,
the PHP website.
Download some sample applications and poke through their code (
phpBB,
WordPress, etc).
Lastly, there are a ton of PHP related books. I have a particular distaste for the 'For Dummies' series, having learned a few bad habits from a few of them.
Kevin Yank's Sitepoint book Build Your Own Database Driven Website Using PHP & MySQL is a good reference also. It goes pretty fast, but is very easy to understand and will get you developing very quickly.
Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 11:19 pm
by Trenchant
If your looking for a book specifically the one I started with at first was The PHP Bible. I can't remember which one I currently have. Its on PHP and MySQL by Sams Publishing. It seems to be a pretty good book.
I personally would stick with practicle experimenting to learn PHP. Its much more efficient.