PHP & MySQL for Dummies

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trigatch4

trigatch4

BuildAndEarn
Aug 23, 2006
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I'm a dummy when it comes to this so I just bought the book. Many of my ideas and concepts for websites require web apps so I figure I'd learn it (though I have no coding knowledge).

After installing the programs, there seems like a million steps to get them up and running... does this book make it too difficult? are the authors dummies? any advice when reading through this book?
 


Well I'm guessing I need to setup MySQL and PHP on my local machine so I can actually create databases and write PHP.

I'm just delving into the book and installed those two and Apache on my local machine. But, having never really programmed I have a feeling this book is going to confuse the shit out of me (even though it's written for dummies)!

Just hoping to get some insight/opinions from any MySQL/PHP programming veterans on what are the most important things to learn, what to take with a grain of salt and any "pitfalls" I might be able to avoid by learning from your mistakes.

THANKS!
 
most important to know? basic functions with strings, numbers, loops, and basic mysql commands (update, select, insert)
learn to process input from forms... post & get, and get the basic idea of what $_SESSIONS do. eventually learn how to work with cookies. If you have any questions (basic or complicated) feel free to ask me
 
Juicify said:
Well, it would be much easier to work on a shared hosting server than to install everything on your local machine. But you can try this all in one install http://www.apachefriends.org/en/xampp.html
Click to expand...
xampp is good, but do it manually once you feel comfortable with everything.
Juicify I have to disagree with doing it on a shared host. Localhost development is always much much simpler because you can test out your code right there and then, without having to upload anything. Also you never enable display_errors on a production machine (aka the real site), but on localhost you can enable everything you want for testing.
 
stanley said:
xampp is good, but do it manually once you feel comfortable with everything.
Juicify I have to disagree with doing it on a shared host. Localhost development is always much much simpler because you can test out your code right there and then, without having to upload anything. Also you never enable display_errors on a production machine (aka the real site), but on localhost you can enable everything you want for testing.
Click to expand...

I was just thinking as he is a beginner not to have the trouble of installing all on his own machine, but of course if you can do it, that's much better.
 
stanley said:
most important to know? basic functions with strings, numbers, loops, and basic mysql commands (update, select, insert)
learn to process input from forms... post & get, and get the basic idea of what $_SESSIONS do. eventually learn how to work with cookies. If you have any questions (basic or complicated) feel free to ask me
Click to expand...

Once you have these down, check out this book. I found it to be one the better written programming books I have read. Strange to hear that about a php book, but the author has a nice writing style and the examples are useful.
You will find it useful because it will teach you some higher level programming concepts.


Good luck!
 
As a beginner on a Windows machine, take XAMPP and start.
Yes, of course one should get deeper into it once you got the basics down, but till then, XAMPP is a godsend.


::emp::
 
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