newbie need help

pureplaya

Hi,
I am a newbie in php, but I know some one php the code itself and a little mysql, but I still want to learn more, isthere anybody out there that can help me but maybe teaching me some stuff and maybe giving me some hints on how they learned and started learning, etc..
Thanks

rpanning

First of all, keep your eye on this forum. Your learn a lot from here 😃 I'm also starting to learn php, slowly over about 6 months now. I don't have a whole lot of time but whatever free time I have I look at the forum and read up on PHP. I'd suggest getting a good book too. I've got PHP Bible 2nd Edition and love it. Just start reading the book whenever you have some time. Also, start creating some scripts and small stuff. You'll run into some issues where you can post them here for help. It will help a lot in the learning experience. Don't start off to fast though, so that you don't get confused. Understand what is happening with each line you code. Ah....lets see, what else... Ah yes, try and keep a life too. PHP is very easy to get sucked into and waste your life away at it. 😉 That's about all I have to suggest at this point. Hope this helps!

[edit] Oh ya, a good text editor that "colors" your code is nice too. I use Dreamweaver MX but there are other free ones out there.

pureplaya

what do you mean "waste" life on it, cant you make some money if you can program your own sites and stuph, and its that fun 🙂?

rpanning

Oh ya, it is great fun! When you get on something you can sit for hours working on it, especially problems you can't figure out. 🙂 I've been up very late working on php scripts, now I can't catch up on my sleep, lol. I sure hope I can get a good php job and make some good money. That way I can buy a better computer and a great php editor and things for even more php coding. 😉 Oh no, I think I'm stuck in the php realm. Oh well....hehe.

pureplaya

Should I read a good book first or should I start looking at scripts and studying them, Ive been learning php for 2 weeks now, and I know about arrays, opening files, etc...

rpanning

I would get a book now and start reading it. That way when you look at scripts you can look in your book and read about what they are doing. The php.net manual is ok but a book is nice to have.

pureplaya

I just bought PHP adn MYSQL Web Developement, is that good?

rpanning

Yep! That should help you a lot, I'm always looking/reading my book for info. MySQL is also the most used database for PHP too so that book will help with that. Just start reading and coding, make a few scripts, make a few mistakes, ask a few questions. As they say, you learn from your mistakes, and it's very true. I wish you good luck in your trip to the PHP world! 😃

pureplaya

thankyou, ill always remeber your encouragements, maybe you will answer another one of my questions another day!! 🙂