Good book to learn PHP?
 

I am realizing I better learn this shit myself...can anyone reccomend a good book to learn PHP?

Check here:

http://www.sitepoint.com/books/

fuck books, use the php.net manual, much easier and better. plus lots of tutors and snippets online.

start with picking small scripts apart and modifying them...

Just do what I did (and did with everything else I learned) Reverse engineering. :)

Edit: u-Bob beat me to that answer

start with an understanding of object oriented programming in general, then do cakePHP or codelighter those are frameworks that after a few uses will allow you a much faster speed and development time.

For books you can go to Barnes and Noble and look up either of those frameworks, my guess is you will enjoy cakePHP its simple to use and lots of books.

:thumbsup:thumbsup

Check this one out:

http://knowfree.net/wp-content/uploa...232672801l.jpg

exactly.. if you can't learn from the manual there is a good chance you can't learn at all.

1, RTFM.
2, CakePHP.
3, Free eBooks and tutorials everywhere.
4, Gold.

:2 cents: especially if you're already familiar with any other OOPL

robbie is also on the money with reverse engineering - it's how i learned most of what i know

edit: damn u-bob is fast

php.net is your best resource always.

But if you're looking for all technical books, I love my subscription to http://safaribooksonline.com

Very much worth it :)

try the PHP Bible ..

Kevin Yank rights an amazing php book.

i was bored one night and walked into a borders a couple years back and spent like $250 bucks on php books.

the most helpful and best book imo getting into php/mysql is larry ullman php and mysql for dynamic web sites second edition.

seriously i broke into all 8-10 the books i got and this is the only one i use heh.

why... thats what good friends and programmers are for?? At best you will learn how to half-way question someone's programming... better time spent to just find someone really good and keep them close :2 cents:

php.net + http://www.w3schools.com/ = pretty much every ref you will ever need online.

I like keeping the peachpit press guide, as well as the oreilly pocket manual handy as well.

the desire to acquire knowledge should never be looked down upon

:2 cents:

I completely agree :thumbsup:thumbsup This was the absolute nail-on-the-head that got me fully immersed into PHP and all things related, especially Kevin Yank's "Build your own database driven websites using PHP/MySQL" that book was so well written that you couldn't help but come away with an excellent understanding of how to start even the most basic database driven web app without much hassle.

My best advice to anyone wanting to pickup PHP is, start simple, find a project that won't take over a month to do, and accomplish it first. Don't try to start working on a full-fleged CMS system for 100+ sites.

Also, as someone mentioned, CakePHP is and, as far as I'm concerned still is, the best framework for PHP. But at least learn the basics of PHP before you start learning a framework. The framework will just put form to your spaghetti code ;) Good lucK! :2 cents:

You're Rich, just hire a better programmer. :thumbsup

Yep, there is nothing wrong with adding another tool to the arsenal.

I dont know what I would do without that site

just use google whenever you want to do something.

www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual www.php.net/manual

No book can teach you better than the people who wrote the language.

If you need any assistance or anything, my ICQ/AIM is in my signature, I have no problem helping newbies out with PHP/MySQL questions.

fuck those pricks - do not give them a cent

I disagree - for learning, always best to have a book

php 5 bible is perfect, do a few of the tutorials then apply a few small things to real scripts that you want and you will build on your knowledge very quickly IMO.

EDIT - however php.net is awesome too, I personally like a book as reference when learning, easier than pouring through pages upon pages of shit when you're not sure what you're searching for.

That's the one you need right there. The Larry Ullman book is ok but not nearly as comprehensive. php.net/manual is where you go when you know what you are looking for but you don't know what you're looking for when you first start. Also a good grounding in C++ helps a lot, in fact if you know C++ you're probably 60% of the way there with PHP5.

I once bought php book and 50% of it's content was copy paste of official php manual.Since then i am not buying any books.

Make yourself familiar with the basic concepts of programming (object oriented programming) first.

I am just now looking into the same topic.

I agree. You can sit by the pool or read it before you go to sleep. It's how I learned most everything.

Yup and the brain starts ticking over thinking about how you could apply the new found knowledge - keep a pen and paper by your side when reading about php - you'll likely want to start coding up a storm as you go :thumbsup

thanx for book recommendations in here, I am always looking for new books to buy and read. Staring at a pc screen to read and learn for hours (after working all day on stuff) begins to hurt my eyes I like to relax in bed with a book and read and take notes in notebook old school way... but obviously much can be learned for free online.

Might be true if you already know another programming language but if it's your first I would recommend any O'Reilly book.

Whatever you do don't buy Beggining PHP and MySQL from Apress.
I bought that and it reads like a print out of every function PHP has with an explanation under it.

php for dummies

thats the one I use most as well :thumbsup

Beggining PHP5 from Wrox

http://www.wrox.com/WileyCDA/WroxTit...764557831.html

The php.net manual is the best reference tool you'll use, it's great.

never had much luck with learning programming by "reading", it is only when you are actually sitting in front of the computer trying things and changing things and expanding or modifying or experimenting that real learning seems to take place :2 cents:

I second that!