Newbie Looking For a Good Starting Book

ryanjulian

I'm looking for a good book to start me on PHP / MySQL. I've been looking at "How to build your own PHP database driven website" but i wanted a community opinion.
I'm a total newbie, i have a primative understanding of programming (just enough to look at some code and be able to understand what's going on) and mainly am going to be using PHP / MySQL for forms, management of data from those forms, and using the data in that database to have a unique interface for each visitor.

Any Ideas?

dalecosp

PHP for the World Wide Web, Larry Ullman, PeachPit Press

As with most books, coded when register_globals was ON by default. Other than that, I found it excellent as a novice...

PHP and MySQL Web Development, Welling/Thomson, SAM's.

Fairly comprehensive, digs deeper, but does it faster...(whirlwind trip, takes more guts...)

phpenth

I started off with a book from Wrox called "PROFESSIONAL PHP Programming". My background was a lot of experience with HTML, DHTML, some javascript and a bit of VB.

I found it very good - it starts from scratch and ends up with pretty cool and complex stuff.

Give it a go - enjoy!

Regards

dalecosp

I forgot to mention that the Welling/Thomson book also comes with a CD-ROM of source for all projects described/discussed ... about 25 in all, including mailist manager, shopcart, "Warm Mail" application (like the warmer one, hotmail, heh...) etc. etc....

erikwebb

If you're an extreme n00b to PHP or programming, PHP Bible is a good one. It really babies you, which was insulting to me. If you just want some hardcore quick solutions, try PHP Black Book.