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GeneralRhys

To the whole PHP scene... was wondering if anyone can link me towards some easy to understand tutorials...

stebut05

Hi,

Loads of tutorials out there. Heres one to get you started:

http://www.php-mysql-tutorial.com/

Regards

bpat1434

Or, you can read the articles on this site.....
PHP Builder
PHP Builder Articles

GeneralRhys

Thanks Guys

Rodney_H_

I really enjoyed these two tutorials:

1) http://www.tizag.com/phpT/ (basic, easy to follow)
2) http://www.zend.com/php/beginners/ (very well written, and informative)

GeneralRhys

How important is apache, because I can find anyway to download it....

Rodney_H_

WAMP5 installs automatically Apache 1.3.31 ,PHP5, MySQL database ,PHPmyadmin and SQLitemanager on your computer. It's principal aim is to allow you to easily discover the new version oh PHP : PHP5. WAMP5 comes with a service manager installed as a tray icon. It allows you to manage WAMP5 and access all services.

When you install WAMP5, all the files are copied in the directory you choose. Conf files are then modified to point to that directory. It also installs a "www" directory which will be your Document Root.

At the end of the installation, WAMP5 will automatically install Apache and MySQL as services...

http://www.en.wampserver.com/

bpat1434

apache.org....

Apache or IIS is very important, with out it... you don't have a server. It is the backbone to the HTTPD server....

WAMP stands for Windows Apache mySQL PHP
LAMP stands for Linux Apache mySQL PHP

I honestly don't trust any of the "preconfigured" setups (like WAMP or XAMPP) since I haven't had good dealings with them.

I find it better just to download Apache, download PHP, download mySQL.

Install Apache using the installer (the one with "no-ssl" in the name). Unzip the PHP files into C:\php (or wherever you want, just remember the full path). In Apache, open %APACHE%/conf/httpd.conf and the Document Root sections. Go through and continue editing what you need (most important to start is the DocumentRoot info, and possibly the extensions you want). Then, add C:\php (or the path to PHP) to the windows Path in environment variables (Right-click "My Computer" --> Properties --> Hardware Tab --> Environment Variables). Edit php.ini-recommended and save as php.ini. Install mySQL from the installer.

That's it... can't be any easier....

bradgrafelman

I'll second the notion of installing each piece separately and manually. I don't even use the .msi install for PHP - it's better to follow the instructions on configuring it manually. I don't know... there's just something about dumbing things down so people don't know what they're actually doing that really bugs me.

Rodney_H_

bradgrafelman wrote:
.. there's just something about dumbing things down so people don't know what they're actually doing that really bugs me.

I do see yours' and Brett's points to the argument of using WAMP or not. I would, however, like to offer the voice of one quite a bit less experienced and still playing in my PHP sandbox, LOL!...

In my very limited opinion WAMP IS an excellent way for beginners to get up and running in about ten minutes. Installing the components individually requires quite a bit more experience and comfort. In my opinion, my friend, it is not that WAMP dumbs things down, but allows true newbs (like myself) a very quick and easy way to accomplish the basic goal of creating a testing environment so we can learn PHP/MySQL.