Learning PHP from scratch.

January 26, 2013 1:54 PM

So more and more I'm working with PHP. I can hack my way through most tasks using logic and reference material but I think it might be time to build a better base of understanding.

I've gone through previous AskMe questions but I'm looking for something a little more "Getting Started" flavored.

Where are some online tutorials and education material.

Thanks.

posted by humboldt32 to computers & internet (11 answers total)

It itself a little brief on the details, but lists plenty of places in which to continue your education. It might be a little too advanced if you're just starting out, but I'll link to it anyway because I think it's a good PHP reference, and there are too many bad ones out there.

PHP The Right Way.

One other note: do not learn from the comments on php.net. As a reference it's great, but the comments are so often just crap, or outright wrong.
posted by cgg at 2:19 PM on January 26 [1 favorite]

I learn best from videos, I find. Especially for fundamental stuff. I know PHP pretty well, but went through this Tuts premium course: PHP Fundamentals, and think it would make a nice introductio. Tuts premium isn't free, but they have a membership sale going on for yearly memberships. Membership also gives you access to some ebooks. I went through (very quickly) the Getting Good With PHP and think it'd be a good introduction as well.
posted by backwards guitar at 3:37 PM on January 26

Have you read PHP: a fractal of bad design? It is a concise list of the many gotchas that you will run into as you learn the language.
posted by autopilot at 4:18 PM on January 26 [2 favorites]

Seconding backwards guitar's recommendation of the Tuts+ course. Some of their courses are garbage, but Jeffrey Way is a pretty good instructor.
posted by BrandonW at 4:49 PM on January 26 [1 favorite]

This is by no means comprehensive but I found these tutorials very useful http://www.tizag.com/phpT/
posted by jmsta at 6:45 AM on January 27

Hello. I am a professional web developer. I have been doing this for going on 15 years now--I started right around the time the web was just getting commercialized.

You are at a very important point. You are expressing an interest in programming past the collection of hacks, tweaks, and kludges you've probably been putting together up until now to get things to work. Oh, please don't think I'm saying that disdainfully--I've been there, I was there for an embarrassingly long time. In fact, that's why I'm writing this. I'm writing it to give you a little bit of a leg up, just in case you are the sort of developer I am: a developer who wants to be a good programmer, even, perhaps, a "software engineer."

I'm here to tell you this: the world doesn't need another PHP coder. You can read the article linked to by autopilot, but I suspect it won't really resonate with you at this stage in your career. It's a sprawling collection of criticisms of PHP by someone who has been around the block. Let it suffice to say that, if you care about programming, then there are good reasons to avoid PHP and, more to the point, the PHP community.

But I am not here to tell you what we need less of, I am here to tell you what we need more of: good programmers. Programmers who give a shit about programming. Programmers who care about algorithms, data structures, software engineering, extending their knowledge. Programmers with curiosity and the desire to grow...which you are now expressing.

So before you decide that "you want to get good at PHP," you should examine the map: the big map, the big world that is out there.

Read this, first. Please just read it, withholding judgement, and think about what you want from programming.

While you're at it, you may want to read this too, for a related perspective.

This is also a worthwhile piece, I believe, but maybe something to focus on later.

If these resonate for you, then try some stuff like the Ruby Koans, or if you dare to venture into functional territory, try out 4clojure. These will give you a flavor for other languages and problem solving with immediate feedback.

If you're ready, and have the will, then read SICP. That will give you a basis few working programmers have.

Maybe this is all too much right now, but maybe some of it will make more sense later on when you come back to it. However, if this is all complete nonsense to you from the get-go, then ignore my comment, I'm sure you'll find some great PHP tutorials.
posted by dubitable at 6:56 AM on January 27 [6 favorites]

Thanks for your comments and links dubitable.

Just a bit about me to help clarify. I've been doing this since 1996. I've had my domain name and steady work since then as well.

I'm fluent with HTML, CSS and JavaScript, it's just that I've needed to work with PHP more and more lately. I'm not necessarily trying to set myself up career-wise, I just see what's coming at me from my clients and I'm looking to be better prepared for that. I've been doing quite well as a hired gun for small businesses with small sites. I "want to get good at PHP" because that's what I see as being required to continue helping my current and future clients.

Thank you again, everyone, for your responses.
posted by humboldt32 at 10:25 AM on January 27

I had a quick look at your links dubitable and re-read your response. I see now that you're trying to talk me out of working with or convince me that PHP is no good.

That's not what I'm after here. I specifically want/need to get better at PHP because of a specific demand from my current workload and the need to keep those clients satisfied.

Perhaps a spirited debate on the merits of PHP is appropriate, but not at this time for me.
posted by humboldt32 at 10:33 AM on January 27

I had a quick look at your links dubitable and re-read your response. I see now that you're trying to talk me out of working with or convince me that PHP is no good.

No, I'm not necessarily trying to do that, I'm just trying to give you another way to think about learning to program.

If it doesn't fit what you're interested in now, I totally get that--I just figured I'd throw another option out there. It's something that took me a while to understand and I would have been happy if someone had given me similar advice, say, ten years ago. That said, I may not have had use for it or appreciated it then.

I do apologize if it seems like I was not answering your question in a straightforward manner (I'll admit I wasn't). And I admit I think it would be better to stay away from PHP if you can. However, I sincerely didn't intend to start a PHP-bashing conversation. In the end, I don't feel like 1) you finding a good PHP tutorial to suit your needs right now as well as 2) having the links I gave you as a resource whenever (if ever) they become useful are incompatible with each other--quite the opposite.

In any case, best of luck, sincerely!
posted by dubitable at 3:27 AM on January 28

I appreciate that. My dad is a PhD engineer so your point about doing it right from the beginning is familiar and I'll take it to heart.
posted by humboldt32 at 9:34 AM on January 28

This TUTS+ program is very good. I enjoy Mr. Way's style. cgg your link is a good springboard, thanks.

Still working my way down the page. Thanks to all.
posted by humboldt32 at 4:54 PM on January 29