Learning PHP
 

Is there any easy way to learn PHP. I have a number of teams members that are willing to sit down and learn, and we're looking for the easiest way to do that. Thanks.

Think up a project you want to have done, and do it. Read documentation from PHP.net, or wherever else you can find it.

*shrug*

That's the best way I learn.

My advice: Go find a script that works, and dissect it.

http://www.php.net/ is good for reference, as Jim said.
http://www.phpbuilder.com/ has a few good articles & tutorials.

http://www.hotscripts.com/ has decent scripts to run through.

as others have said, look at code. What has really helped me is the downloadable CHM help file from the php website. Tons of code in with the function references which shows you how things work. I also learned c++ which didn't hurt.

Of course everyone is different, but I see two main ways to learn PHP.

a)Find a script and go through it. - This is how I learned. I took the phpBB forums, and played. :) (Heck, all i knew before starting it was the very basics of HTML). However, I did have the "programming concept" before hand because I knew VB.

b)Buy a book. There are quite a few good books out there. This might help a little more if you don't really have a clue as to what a variable is, if .. then, do .. while, and other basic programming concepts.

jack

ps:Ask others who know php a question you get stuck on something. :).. I did, and I can't thank my "tutor" enough. :D

I learned PHP through a book called "PHP Bible", which i would highly recommend. Why don't you find a scrip and modify it. I know i learn well that way.

Make something.

I learned PHP by building a template engine (smarter including, dynamic building of the navigation, etc) for my clan (with significant help from my friends)

it does help if you know basic programming, like conditional statements, and stuff like that. the rest is experience and practice. (or sheer boredom)

I think getting a book would be best if you learn better that way. Thus, you don't have to worry about all the possible internet-flaws like being disconnected, and you can read late at night when the computer is off, and there's no way to get to it til morn'.

IMO it'd probably be best to just set up your own server.

I installed apache/mysql/php without too much difficulties (maybe thirty minutes of hardcore "hmm. maybe I should put everything on my G drive." and "how about port 8080 instead of 80... decisions decisions). One of my friends had a bit more trouble, but was done within an hour.

BTW: books suck for one single reason. lack of copy/paste. :-P

Alot of it does come down to how much basic programming knowledge people have to begin with though...

If you want to set up your own server (on a Windows machine), use phpdev Offical Site (other is from sourceforge.net for the downloads).

It's extremely easy, and not bad at all for testing (just remember to shutdown and restart apache each time you change anything to the apache configs or php config).

If you need any help on this, I'm sure there will always be help here.

Sometimes knowing how to program is just darn cool.

I wrote a PHP/MySQL note organizer. I dumped a lot of US History AP notes in there, and now everything has tooltipped definitions, and is all nice and browsable.

I practically broke my arm patting myself on the back, it was THAT cool.

Cool, congrads.

I hate MySQL (I can't get it setup manually...lol). But, I will get it set up somehow.

If you think of something, you can probably do it (within reason)

I'd give the advice to just read up on tutorials, or if you don't want to.....just download something, and try to do the same.

Really? I thought mysql was unzip and run...

*shrug* once you get it running, its pretty cool, its like having a searchengine backed storage for free.

Well, I got the MSI installer i think (either that, or the AB version zipped, but I still have to install it).

It is, but if you can't connect...then argh!

phpdev (link given above) gets it setup automatically, and you also get phpMyAdmin (a really good program that makes it easier to do the MySQL stuff). you can also download phpmyadmin at www.phpmyadmin.net , and mysql at www.mysql.org i think it is.

mysql.com works just as well (.org is a redirector...)

are you sure you didn't just type the wrong username/password? i've had that happen before. ;)

but yah, getting php/mysql up and running is alot easier with those little installer apps...

i've been using sqlyog (its a graphical mysql gui, currently shareware, but i found an old version from back when it was freeware... $50 so i can import data from csv occaisionally was a tad steep...)

Actually, I'm not sure..... << hides >>. I'm gonna mess w/ it more (I got the 3.23 version now [re-installed php and MySQL]).