Hi Swakoo
I appreciate your predicament. As a part-time and former full-time teacher myself, my feeling is that teachers are not there to test, but to teach. So, if you are technically and practically challenged by the assignment, I really suggest you approach your teacher and be honest about the fact that you don't feel up to the task and tell her/him why. The teacher should at least be willing to show you where you can find help.
I'm guessing the following:
You don't know much about *nix and how to do things using the shell. Join the club, but I'm working on it.
You don't know any PHP or Perl. The solution to this is to do some tutorials, get the stuff installed and get on with it. If you can afford it, buy some books - I recommend Wrox, O'Reilly, New Riders and SAMS. You can often get these books second-hand from Amazon.
You don't know much about OOP and how it works. Again, join the club, but I'm working on it.
The challenge is what makes it fun, however. I am intellectually challenged by everything I do on the computer - which is why I do it. My only advice is to make some coffee, have a bottle of water and some vitamin-rich food to hand (fruit is better than chocolate) and sit yourself down in front of the computer. Then start learning - it's all there for you to discover, thanks to the internet.
But remember to take some breaks - going for a jog in between times is a good way of revitalizing your body and your brain ready for the next computing challenge.
OK - that's enough advice from grandpa Norman. By February you'll know and understand five times as much as I do, or indeed will ever do.
Best o luck
Norm
