I will learn PHP & MySQL in 30 days!!!

[Loai Najati]

Hello
I'm a new member here.So, my name is Loai Najati and I'm from Egypt.
I will learn PHP & MySQL in just 30 days.
Until now, I learnt:
PHP (Functions-Arrays-MySQL Basics-If statements-Looping-Switch statement-Includes-Error handling-Mail sending...etc);

But, always, there's more to learn.I'm not fininshed yet.

If you're asking me about the references, here's it:
Begining PHP & MySQL & Apache web devlopment (Wrox).
VTC - Real world PHP programming.
PHP & MySQL web development for dummies.
Lynda.com - Essential PHP programming

I spend about 5 hours aday writing codes and learning.

What do you think ?

[leatherback]

welcome to PhP builder and good luck learning.

Just note that although you might learn how to program in PhP in a month or so, you will probably find that you will never end finding new things in the language.

[Loai Najati]

Yes, you're right!

Any more advices you can give me ?!

[leatherback]

Read, try, debug, ask :D

And start of with simple projects, such as making forms to insert / delete / update the database. Send an email. Once you master these relatively simple procedures, you can start thinking about bigger, more realistic projects. But to start with those straight away will cause you terrible headaches & probably lead to you having to recode the first weeks of work, as you will learn how to do things better with time.

Finally: Get yourself a code-editor with decent syntax-highlighting: I helps your debugging; queries that don't work: Use: or die(mysql_error()) after each query

[Loai Najati]

Thank you so much
I use Notepad++.

[laserlight]

Just note that although you might learn how to program in PhP in a month or so, you will probably find that you will never end finding new things in the language.
Aye, even old dogs like NogDog learn new tricks (http://phpbuilder.com/board/showthread.php?t=10356604) now and then :)

I use Notepad++.
That's a good programming text editor.

[bradgrafelman]

Begining PHP & MySQL & Apache web devlopment (Wrox).Heh... in case you ever want to critique that book, you should know that a couple of its authors visit this message board. :p

If you really want to see how you're doing in terms of learning PHP and the like, think up some simple application idea and see if you can accomplish it. When you do, post it in the Code Critique (http://www.phpbuilder.com/board/forumdisplay.php?f=24) forum on this board for the community to examine and offer criticisms and possible alternatives/optimizations/etc.

[Piranha]

Welcome to the world of programming :)

It looks like you are well on your way to learn PHP and SQL. Basically what you say you have already learned is what you need for normal applications. Not to let you down, but the tricky part is to know how to combine it all to get the desired result. With a little effort you will get it in no time, especially as you spend about 5 hours a day coding.

A few tips:

1. Don't do the mistake I did. I always started in the wrong end when I started to program, meaning that I did code everything before I could start testing it. When I did mistakes it took ages to find and correct them, or even to rewrite code. Instead code some rows, test, code some more and test again.

2. Before you try SQL queries from within your PHP code try it from a database management tool, such as PHPmyAdmin or SQLyog. It allows you to try the SQL questions without having to worry about the PHP code, and you may spot lots of database errors with it.

3. Learn how to design databases the correct way. The correct way is to always design it to at least normal form 3. Without doing that you will get in trouble when you try to do more advanced queries. Of course you should care about getting a database connection up with relationships before you should care about this.

4. Don't worry about this until you know the basics of the connection between PHP and SQL, but after that you should start to worry about SQL injection. Basically it is a way for users to view information they should not have access to, or even edit or delete it.

5. When you ask questions you will sometime get answers that is just a link or just give clues how to solve the problem. This is not in any way intended to make you stop coding, it is to learn you find the answers yourself. Everyone that answers questions do it in order to either solve your problem for you or help you to solve it yourself.

[Loai Najati]

Welcome to the world of programming :)

It looks like you are well on your way to learn PHP and SQL. Basically what you say you have already learned is what you need for normal applications. Not to let you down, but the tricky part is to know how to combine it all to get the desired result. With a little effort you will get it in no time, especially as you spend about 5 hours a day coding.

A few tips:

1. Don't do the mistake I did. I always started in the wrong end when I started to program, meaning that I did code everything before I could start testing it. When I did mistakes it took ages to find and correct them, or even to rewrite code. Instead code some rows, test, code some more and test again.

2. Before you try SQL queries from within your PHP code try it from a database management tool, such as PHPmyAdmin or SQLyog. It allows you to try the SQL questions without having to worry about the PHP code, and you may spot lots of database errors with it.

3. Learn how to design databases the correct way. The correct way is to always design it to at least normal form 3. Without doing that you will get in trouble when you try to do more advanced queries. Of course you should care about getting a database connection up with relationships before you should care about this.

4. Don't worry about this until you know the basics of the connection between PHP and SQL, but after that you should start to worry about SQL injection. Basically it is a way for users to view information they should not have access to, or even edit or delete it.

5. When you ask questions you will sometime get answers that is just a link or just give clues how to solve the problem. This is not in any way intended to make you stop coding, it is to learn you find the answers yourself. Everyone that answers questions do it in order to either solve your problem for you or help you to solve it yourself.


Thank you so much, this was benefical.

[bpat1434]

Once you're done those books, I suggest you pick up a few security related books. I personally recommend Chris Shifflett's PHP Security book. I also recommend Pro PHP Security published by Wrox.

[Loai Najati]

Thank you so much
I think i will

[nrg_alpha]

Hello
I will learn PHP & MySQL in just 30 days.

I spend about 5 hours aday writing codes and learning.

What do you think ?

Well, like the others, I welcome you to PHP and PHPbuilder :)

As for learning it in 30 days.. well, let's just say that languages like this offer so much versitality and depth, it will take more than 30 days to really understand it all. Much like learning to ride a motorcycle.. sure you can take a driving course and learn to ride by the time the course ends.. but your skills can take years to fully cultivate and truly master (assuming you want to push your skills as far as you can take them).

But great to see you jumping into PHP with enthusiasm! :) It really is a fantastic language (my favorite actually.. next to english).

Enjoy :)

Cheers,

NRG

[Loai Najati]

Thank you.
I know that and i will keep learning it as possible as i can!

[den160593]

Good luck, but read this article, just remember faster is not necessarily better:

http://norvig.com/21-days.html

[rulian]

uh-ohh one day left!

[bpat1434]

So, 150 hours of coding later, are you done? Have you learned all there is to know? Are you ready for that Zend exam?