[RESOLVED] how to learn php the best way ?

[quecoder]

hello guys ,, I really wanted to know your opinion in this , I find that just memorizing the codes make it boring for me ... I bought a few books and began to read them .. some books list some functions for the subject and ignore some .. another one does the opposite ... ,, Arrays for example ,, I can find how to reverse an array , how to sort it , and another book doesn't mention these but mentions array walking through , next() & prev() functions which are not mentioned at all in the first book .. and when reading both to get all the info i get boring from reading again what were in common .. it's a puzzle for me .. and also I'm easy to forget .. but fortunately , got a programming brain .. easy to understand what is there or behind the codes .... is there a nice easy way to study PHP without getting bored .. I've been told that I can learn as I go ( by practicing ) and when I want to do some thing , I can read about it and do it ... but I don't know much about this or if it will succeed with me ,,,,, perhaps all of that is happening because i'm in a rush and I must get a project of my graduation completed before 6 months ....and want to learn faster and not in the mood ....as well as I want to be a professional in PHP ( I like completeness btw) .... please help me out .... !!

sorry for this weird thread ,,, it can be moved or deleted if moderators want to..

Bye !!

[HalfaBee]

Make sure you get a copy of the php manual. www.php.net

It has the functions arranged in groups, so if you want array functions there is a nice list of them.

I have the windows help version on my task bar, one click and the manual is at your finger tips.

Also the www.php.net website has a online version which has lots of user feedback and examples.

I tend to learn by doing, so sitting down and reading a book doesn't work for me.
I just like to dive in and try and write a program. :)

[quecoder]

Thanks a lot HalfaBee , but I like the way books organize the material .. it's a paid service that can't be compared with free ones :) ..

I'm wondering if I can know the outlines of this language , in other words , a brief about the features of this language in this way :

Basics :
Strings .
Functions.
Arrays.
File manipulations.
sessions and cookies.

databases ... ( and what i can benefit from studying it ) :
Mysql
postgre
etc etc..

Designing ur page: (learn the following )
Css , XHTML .....

and other things I hear about like PEAR , SOAP , XSLT , ...etc that I don't know their roles in PHP studing ....

I don't like random study .. I want to set a plan and to know what to study and the most important thing is an overall view of the PHP additional knowledges that affect it ( like what I mentioned above ) ...

I wish I can find a clue ..

[Weedpacket]

Have you actually looked at the PHP manual, yet?

[NogDog]

Zend.com PHP 101 tutorial (http://devzone.zend.com/node/view/id/627)

PHP Manual Language Reference section (http://www.php.net/manual/en/langref.php) that addresses many of your issues

[quecoder]

Yes weedpacket , I have had a look there ,, and as I mentioned , I like the way that material is organized in books .. I admit that php manual is great.

[quecoder]

NogDog , Thx a lot for the Zend tutorial link ....

[schwim]

I decided I needed to pick something to write, so I picked a CMS. Two months later, I realized what a stupid idea that was(a little grand), and I scaled it down. I've since written quite a few scripts that I still maintain, and while I'm still really bad at php, I enjoy it a bunch.

thanks,
json

[shadow_483]

while it seems random, I've found the best way to learn the applications of alot of functions and finding out interesting ways to manipulate data is following tutorials that help you build actual scripts. I really like what Codango.com (http://www.codango.com/) has going with their site...

Maybe taking a look around and reading on some of this stuff would at least help you understand how to pull it all together?

check out the subcategories: http://codango.com/php/dir/tutorial/

Good luck!

EDIT: dude^^^^^ i love your sig hahaha

[quecoder]

Thanks Schwim and Shadow_483 alot ,, your advices are really appreciated . Good luck !.

[Weedpacket]

Best way to learn a language: use it. Read stuff written in it, write stuff in it.

It's like when you're in a foreign city where the locals speak a weird lingo and you need a lavatory now. See how long it takes to learn the language then.

But pay attention to punctuation while you're at it.

[NogDog]

I've learned a lot via forums like this one: not just from reading other people's answers, but to a large extent by trying to figure out how to answer the questions for which I didn't already know the answers.

[dougal85]

http://devzone.zend.com/node/view/id/627

[quecoder]

weedpacket , nogdog , dougal85 ... Thanks alot for your tips and advices .. very useful , guys !