I Need A Crash Course In PHP

study study study. PHP isn't that hard to learn. there are plenty resources on the net. google is your friend.

You have to decide what kind of programming you want: procedural, or object programming.  Procedural is easier to understand, and used by most php programmers.

My advice to you is this:  If you are serious about learning php, you have to have a pet project in mind.  Merely reading, and trying out bits of code won't get you very far.  You learn better when you go looking for an answer to a question you already have.  And that would only happen if you have a project in mind.  For example, assuming you're building an application that requires image upload and resize, you would understand it better when you have an actual  need to get it done within a real project.

If you have a personal computer, install LAMP, or WAMP.  And start practicing.

There is no learning php without mysql.  So prepare for that also.

Here are resources I use a lot:

http://www.phpbuilder.com  (Post your questions, and ask nicely for help).
http://www.php.net (Look up functions and their use).
http://www.mysql.com (Everything mysql).

PHP is easy, but it takes patience and several years of dedication to master it.

Goodluck.

Oasis!

Its u again...I just love reading your posts. I learnt alot from the one u posted on nigeriaworld.com concerning setting up a webserver, the cost, challenges and all that...thanks for the free service.

Were you the one who said something about being a forever-student or something? I read that somewhere here and I have been putting my PHP skills to practices ever since. The thing is I got carried away by Paul Hudson's book. There is an online edition at www.hudzilla.org He is a good writer with alot u need to know be u a beginner or an advanced programmer.

After reading his book and some articles online. I felt like the perfect PHP analyst!  but when it comes to putting my skills to practice, I refer back to the manual  but it was not all that bad. But like you said putting your skill to practise is the best option. I started developing a CMS for Nigerian websites after I discovered the need to always keep their (web designers) content fresh! So the CMS would be business oriented, desingers would only design a template and insert my keywords to activate the features.... unlike Mambo and the rest of them who pitched their approaches on community/journals. I am looking at a CMS for Brochure websites that talks about ur products and services.

During my coding, I discovered alot of tips and tricks on how to code better, optimise your codes and keep your codes more secured. So being practical is the best....

Thanks for the homework! I checked www.oasisforlove.com  .You've got so much of javascript in there, and the overall feel isnt that great too!

Wassup..I was expecting the site to look so sexy like www.sexynaija.com. And that big love background make the site kind of draggy. All the same the functionalities there is superb!

@naijaguru

I do a lot of tech writing, many geared toward helping people get started.  My goal is to see Nigerians cash in on the billions of outsourcing dollars that India is enjoying today.  Unfortunately, we're so deeply buried in 419 at the moment.  However, it's encouraging to see you showing interest.  Keep it up.  Post questions if you have any.

As for my site, use it, and you'D discover what's behind the hood.  I've never been interested in designing flashy anything that's why the look is conservative.  It'D probably stay that way.  I value function over heavy graphics.

@ Oasis

Thanks for the encouragement, you are pretty right about the 419 syndrome. But if our MUMU 419ners could be doing lots of hacking and real time cracking. It'll still be better all the same. But its so unfortunate they are doing none! Its a matter of time I guess.

>Back to PHP
What free php debugger out there is as good as Zend Suite? Or at least to an extent. I use PHP Designer 2006...

>On Ajax
Is Ajax Client-Side programming or serverside? And whats its syntax and functionalities like. And on what platform does it run and other stuffs like that. Does Ajax have a site and a community like PHP.net and Zend.com?

@Oasis,

I have been thinking Javascript is not very important because u can copy codes and use it on your site. In my early HTML days, I used to hate Javascript because of I had no programming knowledge and all I could find online are codes to place in your site.

I am having some interest now since its (javascript) syntax looks a bit like real Java and PHP.

You know my prgramming skills is coming from the HTML background. So thats the way it looks to me.

Interesting.

Thanks

I have learnt enough from this thread, please keep posting in

Apart from the fact that Google has a fast and strong webserver, I think Ajax helped their speed too. Try attaching a file while composing a message. While yahoo or hotmail would load for quite some time, Gmail gives you the chance to attach while you type and it loads at the same time. I think thats Ajax for you.

You can also replay to messages as fast as possible.

If anyone here has used www.meebo.com and http://www.writely.com you will know that AJAX speed up things real quick in it's own way. Although it maybe the background processing of command like i have read somewhere before.

Anyone new to AJAX can do some readings here http://www.fiftyfoureleven.com/resources/programming/xmlhttprequest

check out www.phpnuke.org
it's helpful.