RadiationHazard Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 I am very much a watch and learn kind of person. You can tell me 100 times how to do something but until you show me and show me why it needs to be done I won't understand more than likely especially when starting out with something new. Please can someone who is maybe something like the way I am give me some info on what I should do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkWater Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 The best book that I ever purchased for PHP was "PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Websites" by Larry Ullman. The latest version (mine is one version older....I've been programming a while. =P) is called PHP 6 and MySQL 5. It's SUCH a great book. And you can look at tutorials only, and look at the manual. After a while, you'll just "get it". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadiationHazard Posted May 3, 2008 Author Share Posted May 3, 2008 The best book that I ever purchased for PHP was "PHP and MySQL for Dynamic Websites" by Larry Ullman. The latest version (mine is one version older....I've been programming a while. =P) is called PHP 6 and MySQL 5. It's SUCH a great book. And you can look at tutorials only, and look at the manual. After a while, you'll just "get it". thanks for the reply. I also failed to mention that I am 16 and in high school and one of our web mastering teachers is willing to sit down this year(before i start taking her class next year) and help me learn some php. It's a web two class and the normally mostly do image editing and flash but she said since she can see I'm so interested in php that she only knows a little but she will read up and teach me some this year and all next year while I'm in her class. But she hasn't been able to start this year and I'd really like to get as good as I can(maybe start helping people out on this site like you guy help me if I get good enough) haha. but yeah just keep giving me your opinions on how you think I might best learn php. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkWater Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 I'm 15. =P And for some reason, a LOT of web site teachers in most schools know NOTHING about PHP. At all. =/ I taught myself, and now I can script almost anything in PHP. It took a lot of time, but it was worth it. Go look up tutorials, bookmark the PHP manual, and buy that book. I hate to advertise for a book on a forum, but this book was just SO amazingly thorough. It won't teach you EVERYTHING, but it'll get you started. Very started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pocobueno1388 Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 Honestly, I don't see a lot of use for a book with all the web tutorials around. Just look in my signature and check out those sites, they teach you a lot. Plus if your reading tutorials online, then you can follow along and try things yourself. If you prefer a book though, there are a lot of good ones out there. I'd really like to get as good as I can(maybe start helping people out on this site like you guy help me if I get good enough) haha. I remember my first post on this forum, I knew barely anything. Now that I've stuck with it and have been programming on a regular basis, I can now help many people on this forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkWater Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 Oh yeah, w3schools is pretty good I think (never used it, but people say it's good). And the book presents everything with a good flow and it's easy to follow. It's like, $30, and it's money well spent. =P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fadion Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 Its always good to have someone to teach u, but even in the best scenario, most of it should be self-taught. When i started php, i hadnt even the basic idea of it, just some principles on how the web works. Looked at a lot of tutorials, but for a starter, u cant compare anything to a good book. I started with "PHP Solutions - Dynamic Web Design made easy" from David Powers. It learned me everything i needed to know to get a good start and further develop my knowledge. After reading that, id recommend "PHP Architects PHP 5 Certification Study Guide" as it is a very concise book (only 270 pages) and full of good information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RadiationHazard Posted May 3, 2008 Author Share Posted May 3, 2008 I'm just letting the teacher help me get started once I get going and start to understand it's all down hill from there. And after I start learning she is wanting me to help her create a new school site so that will be good practice for me. And as far as books I do have to admit that I really don't like reading books. I will if I think it is what is in my best interest and what will benifit me the most in the end but other than that I honestly would much rather stick with some good web tuts and maybe if you guys know of any some good video tutorials? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trq Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 Honestly, I don't see a lot of use for a book with all the web tutorials around. The problem with allot of the tutorials around on the net is you don't know how dated they are. I see allot of people coming here asking questions about code that has been deprecated years ago, yet these users where just reading about it some some tutorial yesterday. At least with a book you know when it was published. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fadion Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 imo when building your knowledge from ground, a book is the best choice. Usually web tuts focus on certain functions (like building a forum, user management etc) or make a short and rough introduction to the languange. Instead books cover a wide amount of knowledge, starting from the very basic until the more advanced. Ive never seen a web tut of 500 pages and well structured. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohdang888 Posted May 3, 2008 Share Posted May 3, 2008 some people compare learning php to learning a new language... but its a lot different(at least for me) web design code is sorta something you have to be interested in and take the time to teach yourself. Its much more difficult for someone else to teach it to you, but its good to have a person as another reference for problems that come up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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