Hello everyone. I am new to this forum and am wanting to learn PHP. I can code XHTML and CSS that validates in my sleep. I can not for the life of me get PHP down as of yet, I am a slow learner when it comes to programming. I learn best by reading a well written book that explains PHP and does not leave out any in between steps and does not have example coding errors. I have researched the web for sites that have help, but it seems they start slow and jump and miss the in between. I have been researching for days for a good book in the tech sections of a book store or on Amazon’s website. Some of the beginners PHP books on Amazon get high stars, but when you read the reviews, people complain about example coding errors. I do not want to invest in a book that has errors. Does anyone know of any good book that basically hold your hand when teaching how to learn PHP? I can copy scripts all day and change the script to match what I am doing, but that is not really learning in my opinion. Sitepoint has some books but the ones I looked at were for the intermittent to advance users. I do have a PHP book at home, titled PHP 5, by Julie Meloni. It codes one way, while sites I visited, their code syntax is different doing the same thing. Any suggestions from someone who remembers being a beginner to now an expert would be appreciated.
Letmy ask you one question, please.
What for you want to learn programming art? May be there is another way to hit your goal?
I guess I am just wanting to make my websites more interactive (dynamic) for the people who view them. Like filling out a simple form, gathering information to put in a Mysqsl database, etc. I am working at getting my web development business off the ground and thought this might be something to learn. I guess I just want to learn the programming language. Now my wife is a mod on a couple of these role playing text based internet games that are written completely in PHP. My gosh these gaming sites PHP code is deep (she has access to modules). I do not like these gaming sites per say, I usually just look over her shoulder when she’s visiting them. Anyway back to the subject, I prefer to learn from books, on-line books or even video. With a book, I can always be reading (studying) it like at bedtime.
To add a form to your site you don’t need programming.
There are ready-made site suites with thousands of add-ons that suits any needs.
Consider to learn some wordpress instead of PHP
If your looking to learn about database driven websites (using PHP &MySQL) then a book like SitePoint’s, Build Your Own Database Driven Web Site Using PHP & MySQL, 4th Edition is a good book to start with.[URL=“http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/../books/phpmysql4/”]
For the absolute beginners devzone.zend.com/article/627
I disagree
The underlying foundation of WordPress is PHP so by learning PHP you could take WordPress further
Its like the difference between a Car Valet Service and a Vehicle Mechanic
The Valet can make the car look nice for sure but a Mechanic can do a lot more to the car’s performance.
Id be a Mechanic anyday
Id look into learning PHP as its a good thing to know and can only benefit you.
Become a PHP Mechanic is my suggestion
[@ mods ]
I have some videos I made for beginners on another site. Am i allowed to post the location without infringing on any spam policies?
[@ toddf ]
PM me for the location of my vids if I’m not allowed to post
Sure.
But when you need to drive to the mall, you don’t have to be Valet nor Mechanic either.
You just drive a car a have no idea what is inside.
When people say “I want to learn PHP programing”, they focus on the “PHP” word and don’t mind programming. While Programming here is 90% and PHP is only 10%.
And programming itself is a science, much like any other - surgery, nuclear physics, etc.
It is hard to learn. And cannot be learned just by the way, unless you’re gifted one.
So, to learn programming while you need a site is a mistake.
Shrapnel, wordpress might not fit the OPs needs, they don’t say what type of site they intend to make, ie a blog, forum, etc, besides they are wanting to learn php, hence why they asked for suggestions for a book.
yup, that’s right, if they want to learn, they want to learn. that’s that. no reason what so ever they shouldn’t do that. and making webpages dynamic is a perfectly good goal to have to help learn some language such as php.
it would appear froom the op’s post that they have no real programming experience/knowledge (html/css not being programming languauges really). the problem with a lot of books for any language when they’re called something like ‘beginning xxx’, where xxx is whatever language, the book fails to make absolutely clear just what it means by that. is it for people who know programming already reasonably well but not xxx, or is it for people who don’t know programming at all and want to start learning programming (by way of xxx). two very different types of beginners.
i don’t know any books which start off teaching programming by way of php from the start but i’m sure there must be some. i’m just warning you, toddf, when a programming book says it’s for beginners it might mean just beginning in that language, and expecting you to already be comfortable with programming in general.
I agree with the beginners book comments. I do some php programming, cut and paste, tutorials. But I do not know programming in general, which I wish I did, but can not find any books or courses that teach just that, then be able to pic a language (php or .net) to learn to program in.
I have used both php and net and both has been pretty helpfull, even thought I still have to get my feets wet into php language… it is a kind of extended language to learn.
if u feel bore to read
watch first
find some tutorials in youtube n then implement some tutorials
consult manual…
then read book for techniques…
What about 1-2-1 tuition 
Some people prefer this method of delivery as its easier to absorb
checkout my http://codezenith.co.uk site for further details
{Sorry mods if i have infringed on any ‘posting of services’ policies }
As your reference is directly related to the comment involved, and you have shown yourself to be a person of good character, I suspect that there will be little trouble relating to it.
I would def go for Build Your Own Database Driven Web Site Using PHP & MySQL, 4th Edition from good old Sitepoint. Just start at the beginning and gradually complete the thing and you’ll surprise yourself at how much you learn. As for handholding I have always found the forums here excellent. A lot of the time the guys (of all genders) will point you in the right direction rather than explicitly give you the solution, which is a sign of good teaching - encouraging you through guidance so that you do get the kick out of doing it yourself. The last time I read the Amazon reviews of this book I couldn’t really disagree.