kanidrive

I hope I am posting this in the most appropriate thread... but I have a general question that may seem a little trite to some of you. I've recently hit the job market again and would like to get more familiar with the higher levels of PHP scripting and programming. What do I mean by "higher level"? I have been working through recruiting firms to find a position that matches my current level of skill while trying to fly under the radar of positions I am not (yet) qualified for. I recently took a few online tests that measure your skill level... I not only discovered that I am not up to speed on things like the usage of arrays, but also bitwise operations and PHP class definitions. I've built dozen websites, mostly just simple static pages, but some have used PHP and MySQL for data retention, and display... some have been on a WordPress platform, and some some have been completely custom (my personal favs). In all my experience, I've not even come across a reason to build a PHP class, or compare the bits a data register. I have come across a few reasons to learn more about arrays and the many built in functions PHP 3, 4, 5, and probably 6 have to offer, but the lists I have worked with have been limited to no more than 30 items and I've typically found a work around, or a structure that avoids having to use arrays heavily. I've always been able to listen to someones problem, or logically discern my own programming issues, and find a solution. Once the solution is reached, my coding duties are accomplished. The End. Get the code to work after lots of testing, and then call it a day. The code is purposed to automate some redundant task, if the task is now completed by the code... what else is there? Why do I need to learn all the ins and outs of a language when I can perform its function by only knowing a fraction of the details? This is NOT me stating "it's pointless", it's me sharing the opinion of a "Junior" Web Developer looking for answers. So... what's my REAL question? Ok, here it is: What sort of actual WORK does an "Enterprise-Level" PHP Developer DO? I've always been adept to programming and logical operations like Boolean Algebra and high-level math, and I understand the fundamentals of computing architecture, but without knowledge of the sort of projects a programming would use the aforementioned functions and practices, I lack direction on how to become a better PHP Developer. Would anyone be willing to share with us the purpose someone has used a bitwise operation? I know there is a portion for bitwise operation on the Zend Certification, but what is the practical use for it other than creating an operating system using a PHP kernel? And probably a little easier question to ask the "Gurus" of PHP: When have you used PHP classes in Web Development? For what purpose? I recall a little bit about classes from the little VB anc C++ stuff I dabbled in about a decade ago, they were basically a set of instructions that managed data in a particular way. Perhaps I'm way off base with that line of thought, if so, I'd love to be corrected.

I am new to the PHPfreaks forum, but not necessarily new to web technology. I've been using PHP since 2004, from an Apache 1.3 web server running on Windows XP Pro (SP1) from a RoadRunner connection in my apartment. Back in the early days, server space was limited and broadband was just started to emerge from Novelty to Necessity. I got away from developing applications because I got caught up in a fast-paced lifestyle that lead me to so many dead-ends I couldn't find the Exit. I'm back to Web Development with a newfound passion and desire to get better at it, but for the many years I've been using the web, I feel as though I'm light years behind. I recently earned my MBA and after scanning the job market and weighing my options and establishing my personal goals, I'm 100% set on becoming a PHP Developer. I have programmed in binary and hexadecimal for various purposes that integrate component level circuitry for things like silly little games built from TTL packages on breadboards to 68HC11x microprocessors, and dabbled with Visual C++ and Visual Basic. I have a strong background in computer hardware and configuring software for various purposes including (but not limited to) Accounting, Inventory Management, GIS (ESRI and Delorme products), and remote accessibility. My experience building websites has been mostly with using HTML and a little CSS from images derived from Photoshop and Fireworks. I have a solid grasp of Javascript, but have only scratched the surface of libraries for use with AJAX techniques such as jQuery. I've never used a framework/helper package like CakePHP but I'm interested to learn. I have very little experience with Flash and Actionscript 1 and 2, and a little more experience using Perl 4 and 5. I've ran a few servers that hosted MySQL, and even one using IIS from a Windows Server 2000 platform, but for employment purposes I've been looking into MSSQL, DB2, and Oracle. Using helper apps like PHPMyAdmin, I have no trouble constructing a database and with the help of Google, I can make just about anything "work". I'm here on this forum to better understand PHP and general web development on a deeper level. Can I just reference the code and materials others have written or suggested? Sure. But I'm ready to evolve and become a better web developer without the crutch of Google, or other means to simple reference and edit code. I like to be autonomous and self-sufficient as much as I like to help others do so. I look forward to getting to know the fine folks of this web community and give as much as I receive. =o)