How did you learn how to program PHP/MySQL?

Status
Not open for further replies.
V

vizilla

New member
Jul 11, 2006
173
3
0
I've bought books, downloaded ebooks and read websites. I can't seem to get myself to learn the language.

Any tips? How did you guys learn?
 


Want something built. Thats how I learn any new language and I've had to learn a lot. First I figure out what I want, then I write it in the new language using tutorials and documentation to get it working. Then by that point I've usually learned enough about the project to be able to go and write it again only better this time. Then I pick another project and repeat. After that I usually am pretty comfortable with the language.

If you've never programmed before though maybe check out the agile books I think there is one called just learn how to program.
 
If you already have all those resources it seems to me like all you need is motivation. Just try to think of something that you feel would be convenient for you to use, basically like casidnet was saying. I guess in your situation, it just has to be something that you really need. Something that could be done manually, but could be accomplished much faster by a program. Then use all the resources you have at your disposal, including google.

Even when you feel that you have a grasp of those languages, chances are, you'll still be depending on references for more complex programs.
For now..just find a way to motivate yourself
 
Yeah I think the key is to build a project I want to build and then figuring out how to build it. That's how I've learned to design. I plan on doing the lessons from the books just to make a foundation and then start on my projects.
 
The books will teach you syntax. Once you've got that, just go all out. PHP really is not a hard language. :)
 
Trial and error and Google.

I take it you don't have much (any?) programming experience. Once you know one language it's usually pretty easy to learn anything else.

If you don't know any programming then PHP is a good place to start. Like you said just find a book or tutorial and have at it.
 
The way I best learned PHP was I just messed around with other's people code....after learning basic syntax and stuff. I'm the kind of person that learns well from example. I see a piece of code done correctly, then I mess with it to make it do what I want. Then I remember how I did it so next time I can do it on my own without needing to look at other people's code.
 
php.net is a wealth of information. They have examples, and the comments contain common and UNCOMMON pitfalls. It's an amazing wealth of information.

Plus, PHP is such a luxury to work with after having done years of C and C++. The ability to manipulate data is so effortless. Ugh. Im gushing. Learn PHP. If you dont know how to program, learn basic. Find a community college/high school class to take. or find a tutorial on the web.

Josh
 
If you don't know how to program and you want to do it properly, don't start with PHP. Start with something like Java or better still Pascal. While it's not very practical (although Delphi occasionally is) it will teach you the basics of progamming (rather than scripting, which is where you'll go with PHP).

If you're just looking to hack something together then the PHP tutorials dotted around the web will give you more than you need.
 
Hmm...
Any language I learned (a bunch) I learned by trial and error aqnd a book next to me.
Messing around with other people's code doesn't cut it for me, as well as online documentation.
I need to write my own stuff and have a book next to me.
Then it's just hours and days and months of coding and cursing, cursing and coding.

::emp::
 
MySQL: You gotta have an IQ of 2 not to be able to pickup the basic stuff within an hour. SELECT FROM WHERE. simple shit.

PHP: C++. Its alot like C++. Plus, I just used to download script packages and edit them to how I like them and got comfortable that way. I have a summer internship where I put PHP on my resume. All I did was edit scripts in the past, no straight up coding. Well, when they stuck me with a huge PHP project, I was able to pick up PHP in less than a week since I already knew C++
 
A week to create a CMS for me, but I had VB/C++ knowledge.

My first project EVER was from a tutorial that said "create a system to add, delete, and view your employee's information".

Add employees, view a list - click on the name to get their profile, search by name.. etc, and delete employees. :)

Taught me almost everything I needed.
 
Learn another language first, I know it's so 80's but try learning QBASIC. There are some tutorials out forit, just spend a few days playing around with it and making some little worthless programs. Once you know the basics, then php is easy peasy.

Install XAMPP so you can do everything locally.

I suggest starting with an actual project. Learn by doing. Try to do simple things and then move higher. Heck, even try playing around with Wordpress Themes. Anything that leads to higher understanding. My best experience learning php came from making my first wordpress plugin.
 
Why bother learning something that is useless whether it be pascal or basic? PHP is simple enough, learn something useful and start making useful stuff now. Don't waste your time with crap you'll never use. This is the real world not school.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom