Step up my game

hsnopi

So, I've been coding in PHP for like 15 years. I have solved some very complex problems. I think I need to step up my game at this point. autoloaders somewhat confuse me but also I am not sure what all the php.ini stuff does. Server admin is not my strong point. I am not sure where to go to proceed. I am getting my degree in comp sci now. about 6 more classes. I will have 2 degrees when done. I understand OOP and am reading the Gang of Fours Design Patterns. OOD has been one thing I have been missing using pretty much MVC and composition exclusively.

Not sure where to start.

Thoughts?

hsnopi

Ah, ok yeah, kind of rambling. I was sort of looking for guidance on where to go to step up my game. Focus on some of the more gory details of the interior of PHP, magic methods, auto loaders? learn more about ini and administration? not sure where to go. At the office we have php on IIS (not our choice).

Does that help?

Bonesnap

Perhaps set up a test web server at home and just play around with the ini settings, do some experimenting? That's usually what I do. Trial and error is always fun. 🙂

NogDog

Install MongoDB and the PHP Mongo extension and learn to use it. 🙂

How are your PHP unit testing skills?

Have you worked with a version control system such as Git or Subversion?

Have you read The Pragmatic Programmer and/or Code Complete and/or PHP 5 Objects, Patterns, and Practice?

Have you considered contributing to an open source project that interests you out there on the Interweb?