What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

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Benjamin
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by Benjamin »

onion2k wrote:They're the same. They're just ways to learn about stuff. Use whatever suits you. Neither is "better".
Well for a beginner who is just starting out learning a language, a good book probably can't be beat.
jothirajan
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by jothirajan »

onion2k wrote:
jothirajan wrote:So with books you can get all the basic thing that you want to have?
That really isn't how software development works. You'll never get to the point where you know all the things you want to know and then stop. You continue learning all the time, picking up whatever you need to get the job done. I've been doing PHP dev for nearly 10 years and I'm still learning new things all the time.

>>>> Here i am a professional web developer, same time there is no time for me to play with bugs in the book....

>>>> Please let me know how to get more knowledge other than reading.....Even i know that reading books is better than anything else....
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by jothirajan »

astions wrote:
onion2k wrote:They're the same. They're just ways to learn about stuff. Use whatever suits you. Neither is "better".
Well for a beginner who is just starting out learning a language, a good book probably can't be beat.

>>>> So you got all the things by reading books.....
>>>> Reading depends upon the interest....But it will put you in hell....
>>>> It's a best practice, but a starter cant make anything using a book...
Please let me know, why there are so many forums and tutorials are available even book explain all the recipe we want to have....

people don't want to waste their time....they want some quick learning....
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papa
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by papa »

PHP Newbie wrote:..
I had to read my "php beginner" book about 2,3 times before I really understood everything so just be patient. :)
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papa
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by papa »

jothirajan wrote:
astions wrote:
onion2k wrote:They're the same. They're just ways to learn about stuff. Use whatever suits you. Neither is "better".
Well for a beginner who is just starting out learning a language, a good book probably can't be beat.

>>>> So you got all the things by reading books.....
>>>> Reading depends upon the interest....But it will put you in hell....
>>>> It's a best practice, but a starter cant make anything using a book...
Please let me know, why there are so many forums and tutorials are available even book explain all the recipe we want to have....

people don't want to waste their time....they want some quick learning....
Well it's a lot cheaper for starters. :)
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onion2k
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by onion2k »

jothirajan wrote: people don't want to waste their time....they want some quick learning....
As I've already said though, I've been writing PHP code for nearly 10 years and I'm still learning. "Quick" isn't really possible because the subject is huge and there's lots of different ways to approach problems.

Also, I don't really see reading a book as a waste of time.
PHP Newbie
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by PHP Newbie »

jothirajan wrote:w3schools.com

+ some homework.....


With books no one can get the software knowledge....

Thanks
JOE
Thanks for the website, a programmer friend at work just told me about that same exact website, so I have the link saved to check out after work.
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by PHP Newbie »

astions wrote:
onion2k wrote:They're the same. They're just ways to learn about stuff. Use whatever suits you. Neither is "better".
Well for a beginner who is just starting out learning a language, a good book probably can't be beat.

Ok, but the purpose of this Thread, that everyone who responded, except the guy who gave me the link, seemed to not realize is that I want suggestions of a good book for a total beginner. So you say a good book probably can't be beat, which I agree with, but I want to know <b><i>what</i></b> is that good book?
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Stryks
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by Stryks »

What I think is the most valuable tool in learning PHP, is having something specific to design. My advice for all people just starting out is to get a notepad and a pen, and map out what they want to create. A browser game, a custom forum, a business website with dynamic elements, just something. Preferably something from scratch and not an attachment to someone else's code.

I just think it's easier to learn if you have an idea of WHAT IT IS you want to learn. You can't really learn PHP from a 'reference' book by reading it from cover to cover and then jumping into a project armed with all the knowledge you need. As an experienced coder, I have to say that I often come across things I haven't done yet, or think up new ways to accomplish something I already have. You just never stop learning - the key is to have a place to start.

Also, the thing to keep in mind is that coding in PHP is really a multi-disciplinary task. Sure, you can make a command line PHP program (and that may even be what you want) but at some point, most PHP code generates output, which is most often in HTML. Then, for dynamic or user generated content, you'll probably want to go into mySQL. This requires an understanding of the basic processes of databases, which should make understanding queries much easier, not to mention then needing to go back into PHP to learn the commands which interface with the database.

For me there is a definite sequence to 'learning PHP'. It starts with HTML / CSS.

Excellent book for thinking about user interfaces and usability: "Don't Make Me Think" by Steve Krug
Useful, usable concepts and examples showing excellent CSS / HTML structure: "Bulletproof Web Design" by Dan Cederholm

You'll notice that these aren't huge tomes packed with every piece of HTML markup, instead they are books that succinctly tell you how to use the appropriate HTML / CSS for the most usable output. There are a squillion and one really good look up tools to find out the ins and outs of HTML elements. So how to learn what to learn ... browse. You already know most of the standard HTML elements through everyday use. So if you see an element you want to use, take a look at the source for the site and see what elements they used, then learn about that element.

When it comes to PHP, you're going to want to put in ways to get information from the client and then output some data back to them. This is a fundamental part of PHP to my mind, and one that can really be bad if done wrong. So my first PHP recommendation ...

"Essesntial PHP Security" by Chris Shiflett. A very good book with some excellent explanations of the problems and best practices of PHP security.

The rest for me was from asking on forums "how do I ..." and then using the PHP manual online. It's your friend ... bookmark it and have it in the bookmark bar at the top of the browser. You're going to become very well acquainted with it.

The only other book (within to confines of this discussion) that I have personally gotten a lot from, was one of my first.

"Beginning PHP and MySQL x" by W. Jason Gilmore

This is more the 'tome' kind of book, but once you have a task you want to achieve, you can usually find the parts of the whole in the neatly defined sections of this book. But, I rarely use it these days, while the previously mentioned books are right at the closest point of my bookshelf.

But don't be afraid to post questions on the forums. Try to ignore the "you're a dummy" attitude that you'll sometimes get - keep in mind that the person answering has probably done so hundreds of times already. Having said that ... SEARCH THE FORUMS .... the question has probably already been asked.

POST CODE once you have something that's not working. Nobody wants your code ... chances are nobody even cares what you are making ... but nobody is going to be able to answer your question without seeing what you have done. In most cases, people wont want to help you unless you have had a go yourself. No harm in trying and failing - after all, you will have found the way it doesn't work, therefore bringing you one step closer to finding the way that does.

You *could* do it without books ... but having a good, concise, entertaining book that you can read like a story and not like a reference ... well ... you'll find that you'll start to automatically get a feel for what needs to be worked on to achieve certain goals, and better yet, what questions you need to ask in order to get answers.

Well ... that's how it worked for me anyhow.

Cheers
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Benjamin
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by Benjamin »

Here are PHP books on Amazon, read the reviews for each book and pick out at least 2. Then read them and you'll learn a lot.

http://www.amazon.com/s/qid=1233215800/ ... evancerank
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papa
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Re: What is a good book for a total beginner to learn PHP?

Post by papa »

And search the forum. I've posted in a couple of threads which books I think are good to begin with.
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