A good programming book

[Anon]

I'd like to learn how to write my own FUNCTIONS for PHP and was wondering if anyone could recommend a good book for an absolute BEGINNER....please bear in mind that I have never done any programming with any other languages and although I have been writing my own PHP scripts for about a year now I still consider myself to be a novice. Anyways, any suggestions for a good book on how to write PHP functions and maybe, later on creating your own classes and objects?
Thanks.
Allen.

[Anon]

If you've never done other programming before, you might want to precede the PHP-specific things with some of the classics such as Software Tools.

[Anon]

hi. let me suggest a book that has helped me tremendously. its called PROFESSIONAL PHP PROGRAMMING published by Wrox (www.wrox.com). its a big red book with the pictures of the 5 writers on the front. retails for 49.99 usd. the ISBN number is:

1-861002-96-3

I find myself reading this book over and over and constantly referring to it as it is the best book I have ever seen for teaching PHP. (im even reading it again now :p)

As for functions, that's the focus of Chapter 7. it starts out with "what is a function" and by the end of the chapter has you writing (and understanding what you are writing) simple and more complex functions.

Chapter 9 is entitled "Object oriented programming" and is also complete enough to have you understanding what OOP is and implementing it effieciently into your code by the end of the chapter (and I had no clue what OOP was before I read the book)

all in all i highly recommend this book. not only does it cover what you wish to learn in understandable detail, it contains a weatlh of information and instruction that will be invaluable to you as a beginner on up to intermediate and advanced levels of php programming.

blue presley
[e-mail]

[Anon]

i can only agree with blue...very good book it is...i use it often...learned a lot with it

[Anon]

fully agree also. this is really one hell of a book. a must have!

[Anon]

Thanks guys, especially to blue for your detailed review of the book...it was very helpful!!! Ever thought of being a book critic? Ha! Ha! Once again, thanks.

[Anon]

I'm using Beginning PHP Programming which is also on Wrox press. It's solid and excellent for a beginner. Covers lots of stuff including database connectivity, XML, and image generation. But it also covers the most basic things, like passing variables, control structures, and loops.

Hope it helps.