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Programming PHP, Second Edition

Creating Dynamic Web Pages

By Kevin Tatroe, Rasmus Lerdorf, Peter MacIntyre
April 2006
Pages: 540
ISBN 10: 0-596-00681-0 | ISBN 13: 9780596006815
(4) (Average of 3 Customer Reviews)

Description

As the industry standard book on PHP, all of the essentials are covered in a clear and concise manner. Language syntax and programming techniques are coupled with numerous examples that illustrate both correct usage and common idioms. With style tips and practical programming advice, this book will help you become not just a PHP programmer, but a good PHP programmer. Programming PHP, 2nd Edition, covers everything you need to know to create effective web applications with PHP.
Full Description

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Featured customer reviews

Definitely A Good Begginers Book.,  March 09 2009
Submitted by Andrés (Vermillion)   [Respond | View]

After searching non-stop for tutorials on the internet about PHP, with no avail, or should I clarify, without finding any good tutorial on the internet, I decided to look up for a book that will help me learn PHP easily and without too many problems. "Programming PHP: Second Edition" is the first book that I found and definitely called my attention (not the animal on the cover... But that's definitely another story for another time).

So I traveled to the US and I found this book on the US, as I couldn't import it due to the lack of a credit card. I started to read it, and it made things very simple. It teaches you the syntax, and the core features of the language in a concise and clear way.

Although, like everyone trying to learn anything, needed or not, I did find some rocks on the field while trying to learn with this book, and unfortunately, the book didn't help me solve many of the problems I found. For instance, I could never use the graphics library for PHP because it seems I didn't have it installed back in that time, and the book does mention some weird command line stuff, but unfortunately, not everyone has a lot of knowledge on Command Lines. Personally I am illiterate when it comes to Command Lines, specially the Linux one (which is the one I believe the book shows you)... But come on! I am pretty sure a lot of the people that bought this book didn't even know what Linux was. It could have tough you a bit more about command line compiling for the PHP libraries you can get, and about the Linux Command Line. It definitely would have been a small yet useful knowledge.

This book also covers the main pillars of OOP (Object Oriented Programming), and I have to say I am very satisfied for this, as with this pillars I actually did well when I saw OOP in C++. But after a while, I noticed the OOP part was not completed in a way, and considering the fact OOP is a first time complex concept for new programmers, they should have talked more about OOP and they should have given more examples regarding classes and objects/instantiation. Deeper coverage on abstraction and Polymorphism could have been very nice too.

It covers the use of databases too, but for some reason they didn't mention MySQL at all, which is the most used Database system for PHP if I am not mistaken...

Never the less, while it has its complex moments, and the OOP part is sort of incomplete, no one I know really takes a deep look at OOP the first time they see the concept. And even though the Database concepts are not really well covered, there are other books dedicated to that. The book still covers its main purpose of teaching PHP and the main features, and the syntax of course.

I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in learning PHP and (probably) about the compatible databases with PHP. Though I recommend you use this book for PHP and just for PHP. The whole Databases part deals with objects and OOP, and not all of it is covered in the book.


Re: A comment about the style,  November 17 2008
Submitted by cambridge   [Respond | View]

its simple only create a typical php file and then you see that the code sample is a simple code:
< ?
function update_counter () {
static $counter = 0;
$counter++;
echo "Static counter is now $counter\n";
}
$counter = 10;
update_counter();
update_counter();
echo "Global counter is $counter\n";
? >

This results in
you will see the output:

Static counter is now 1
Static counter is now 2
Global counter is 10

The simple code expect the knowledge of the simpliest way of computing: code and output

The fully simple knowledge is: input - code - output



Exercises Needed,  September 15 2008
Submitted by Cezar El-Nazli   [Respond | View]

I haven't made the purchase yet, but looking at the Table of Contents, I can think of two things:

First of all, the book is very detailed, but the lack of exercises is a curse. I had to buy both the Learning PHP5 (http://oreilly.com/catalog/9780596005603/index.html) and Programming PHP, because the first one has exercises.

I'll come back with a proper review, after reading and understanding the book(s).

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Media reviews
"If you expect to only buy one book on PHP ever then this may just be the one that you are looking for."
-- Stephen Chapman, Fellgall.com


"Co-written by the guy who invented PHP (Rasmus Lerdorf,) this is a must-buy book for anyone getting into PHP or web programming in general. The book does not try to cover everything about PHP…instead it gives the best coverage of the core language I’ve ever read. Buy the book."
-- Stefan Mischook, KillerPHP.com


"In 521 pages, the book covers a lot of ground and as someone who did read it from end to end, I found it readable and useful. That's a neat trick when it comes to a language such as PHP, which can be used in so many ways...In an age where PHP usage seems to always be on the increase, it's probably a good idea to have such a well-rounded reference around."
-- Taran Rampersad, KnowProSE.com



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"...the best coverage of the core language I’ve ever read. Buy the book."
--Stefan Mischook, KillerPHP.com