PHP/MySQL class in Portland?

June 5, 2006 10:21 AM

I'm useless at self-directed book learning, and I'm desperate to add PHP/MySQL to my skillset. I've found this class at PCC, but I'd like to hear if folks know about other classes in the Portland, Oregon area, especially if you know a good one.
posted by frykitty to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

Best answer: If you *have* to take a PHP/MySQL class, that'd be the one to take. (Speaking as a PHP developer of 5 years, I used know the gal who used to teach the class... rock climbing friend ... not sure if she still does.)

PHP is a loose-but-finicky language. A lot of the time, you'll make things work simply by beating them into submission. CTRL-R is your friend. Expect the class to get you started, but you're going to *have* to do a lot of self-directed problem solving afterwards.
posted by SpecialK at 11:24 AM on June 5, 2006

I'd recommend finding someone online proficient with PHP/MySQL and having them 'direct' your studies. Classes are largely useless for most people; the big benefit of a class is you have someone to give you feedback, to go over your programs and say 'change this' and 'you don't want this here because ___'.

Feel free to email me.
posted by devilsbrigade at 3:44 PM on June 5, 2006

I work as a PHP programmer -- the way I learned was through one of those "Learn in 24 Hours" books. Seriously. (I know... people smirk when I mention that.)

I know I know you said that you suck at self-directed book learning... and so do I, for the most part. Those "learn in..." books are a nice alternative to just sitting down with some big fat technical book to try and hack through it.

From there, it was just a matter of choosing a simple project -- i.e., a website that I thought should exist, and working through it with the book cracked open next to me.

Anyway, if you can't find a class, I betcha there's a PHP or Linux users group up there that can point you in the right direction of good local resources.
posted by ph00dz at 7:06 PM on June 5, 2006

ph00dz: teach yourself programming in 10 years.

I don't have direct experience with 24h books for php/etc, but I know for a fact that for C++ they have horribly bad syntax, design, and advice. I help quite a bit in an IRC C++ channel, and we're constantly correcting people on very basic mistakes they learned from the 24h/21days series. I've heard similar things from people doing Java development, so I know its not unique to only C++.
posted by devilsbrigade at 7:09 PM on June 5, 2006

Hey -- don't get me wrong, they're not the end all be all. Just a good way to get your mind around the basic concepts.

At any rate, the nice thing about the LAMP world is that there are a million examples out there. The best way to learn real programming is to read other people's code... but it's not always clear how to get to the point where other people's code starts to make sense.
posted by ph00dz at 10:11 PM on June 5, 2006

Response by poster: Thanks everyone for your responses. I have a couple of books, and I can figure out more or less what's going on in someone else's code, but that isn't translating to writing it myself at this point. I think I need structure, assignments, and someone to crack the whip.

The instructor on the course is Peter Mackie, so I don't think it's your rock-climbing friend, SK. I do think I'll go for it anyway.
posted by frykitty at 7:50 AM on June 6, 2006

Hmn, I think I know Peter from the portland PUG. If it's the person I'm thinking of, the class should be worth it.
posted by SpecialK at 8:22 PM on June 6, 2006