Php, Mysql, Apache, Netscape 4.78

how do i start my php adventure?

[juandpaola]

Hi there you experts. Think about a dummie, an idiot who wants to use php. This poor creature has a book she just bought and a Mac with Mac OsX running system, she's italian and she'd rather waste her time making gnocchi. But... If someone can tell me where do i find :
1] a good tutorial
2] a package with Php, Mysql, Apache, Netscape 4.78 for Mac OsX
this someone will get my gnocchi and a good bottle of red wine from Tuscany. Thanks in advance.
Juanita

ps: i've found the terminal! :-)

[timster]

1. tutotorials
PHP : A simple tutorial - Manual
www.php.net/tut.php

PHP /MySQL Tutorial
hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/programming/ php/tutorials/tutorial4.html - 25k - Cached -Similar pages

(These were easy -- just Google PHP tutorial)

2. binaries
PHP
www.entropy.ch/software/macosx/php/
(NOTE: Install MySQL first. You'll also have to configure MySQL just a bit so that PHP can talk to it.)

MySQL
[developer.apple.com...]
[entropy.ch...]
(NOTE: Make sure you set up passwords as explained in the MySQL docs at www.mysql.com)

Apache
(Already installed on your Mac. Use by turning on Web Sharing in Web Sharing in your system preferences.) There are newer versions of Apache, but I'd suggest you use the version that came with OS X. It's fine, and upgrading may make the other installations more complicated.

Netscape(?)
This is part of a client, not the Web server. Download it if you want, but it's not really connected to the other things.
[netscape.com...]

3. books
Consider buying:
"Web Database Applications with PHP & MySQL"
[oreilly.com...]

"Learning the Unix Operating System"
[oreilly.com...]
It's a short boook that most of the basics of using the Terminal.

[DiAMOndDavE]

Thanks timster
I'm interested in this thread too. Is there a MAC equivalent of the PHP-MySQL-Apache packages put out by Foxserv and Firepages?

[juandpaola]

That dmg, *sigh*, doesn't work
J

[timster]

To DiamondDave:
Sorry, don't know much about Foxserv or Firepages. They look promising, though, and I'll check them out. I'll simply repeat that unless you really need the newest Apache, using Apple's built-in version makes your life easier, because most of the step-by-step instructions you'll find on the web (like the URL below) apply directly to you.

To juandpaola:
Which dmg didn't work? What happened? Also, what version of Mac OS X are you running? But I need to know details to help.

Here's a good place to start over:

[developer.apple.com...]

Remember, when you're installing these things, you're using Unix. Unix users are stubborn problem-solvers. Dummies are welcome, but sighing is frowned upon, in this club. ;-)

The good news is that it's almost always possible to make things work in Unix if you play with it long enough. (Unlike a typical Mac OS X app that either works or it doesn't.)

[juandpaola]

Hi timster,
nice to hear from you.
Now I'll give u more details so that you can easily help me:
1) im italian this means that most part of tutorials is in some other language than mine, this can be tough, it depends on my mood.
2) i have Mac OsX (vers. 2) and i know that a terminal exists, i've discovered that this terminal works with "shell unix" but i don't have any idea of what this means
3) i never sigh apart from when im laughing

With this intro, you are probably asking yourself, why i want to "throw" myself in the Php adventure. Because i can wait, because i've studied math and computer machine language and this cannot be that different, that far, and bacause i adore computers. If only i knew how to do it I'd strat using Unix, but one thing a time. So, now, where to start? If i bought a domain and hosting that supports MySql can i directly start to write php strings mixing them to html code - dreamweaver appl. -? Is there a place for DUMMIES where someone says:
"ok , first step, go to this site and download this appl. A, wich will be useful for this, this and that - second step .. etc etc"

So :-)
You are very kind, no need to say, and i believe in no-upper-categories when it comes to the Internet thing: linux, unix, hacker people are so much smart than me, stupid mac osx user, but what would you be without me? :-D

Juanita

[edited by: Marcia at 9:34 pm (utc) on Aug. 13, 2003]
[edit reason] no sigs, please [/edit]

[juandpaola]

and by the way im dislexic, reading is difficoult, you can't even imagine

[timster]

Have you ever tried running translating tutorials into Italian with Babelfish? It often gets things almost right.
(http://babelfish.altavista.com/).

If you are interested in setting up a PHP Web site, but not in administering your own Unix server, you might consider paying for a Web hosting service such as:

[4exposure.com...]

That way you can concentrate on the PHP and MySQL (there's enough to keep you busy there).

There's no doubt this is all tricky stuff, and there's a lot to it. I learned everything I know about Unix on my Mac, so you've got the right tool in front of you.

[juandpaola]

Hi timster dear,
thank you again for answering. Now. The company that called me for designing the web site has already bought the space, by www.aruba.it, and i can count MySql administration and Php between "my" services. Now. Everyone is on holidays here and i thought i could have used this period to improve myself as a "web designer", like something more, like having an idea of what i'm doing there.

Now, i thought Php could be a good choice. I just have to find a step-by-step tutorial, because i've already bought a great book about writing php. I need to have my server done, that's all, Php is similar to other three or four languages i know. But i don't get the concept, here's my problem. I need some "light".
:-)
Juany

[KA_Curtis]

This site is/was useful for me to get started. It's not in Italian, but like someone mentioned you could use a translator like Babelfish.

[macdevcenter.com...]

[too much information]

Maybe I'm missing something but I though osX shipped with Apache and PHP but that the PHP was disabled by default. At least that's what I've read. (Mac OS X hacks - O'Reilly)

My problem is I can't seem to find my config file for Apache to enable the PHP support. but I think that's all you have to do to get things started.

(I ususally work in ASP, but I have decided to try to learn PHP)

Am I completely wrong here about PHP support being included? Is MySQL included as well?

[jatar_k]

I need some "light"

[it.php.net...]

the php.net site is completely available in many languages. That link should take you to the italian tutorial.

i don't get the concept
What kind of illumination would you desire?

[juandpaola]

*the light*

see, hi :-), on php.net is absumed you have an Apache-MySql-Php system working. That's what i'm going to learn. I found a good way on o'ryan and my mac is already a server. Today I'll start my bbedit adventure, i almost understand what a shell unix is.. hehehehe.. step by step.

Gimme hints mates then,
Juany

[jatar_k]

wow, you're going to learn a million things at once. I guess you didn't just want get a nice host who has these things set up already to lessen the learning curve.

bbedit is a great program

Compiling and Installing Apache 1.3
[httpd.apache.org...]

Quick Standard Installation of MySQL
[mysql.com...]

talks about installation etc for php
[it.php.net...]

how about those for a start

[BjarneDM]

I'll recommend the following:

If you are starting from scratch go for Apache 2.0.x instead of the 1.3.x that apple has installed by default. 2.0.x is the future, so you might as well start there. Go to this URL : [serverlogistics.com...] . You can get *everything* you need to set up Apache+PHP+MySQL there with *very* easy installation guides.

Now, for adminstering MySQL get hold of phpMyAdmin and CocoaMySQL - you'll find the links in the MySQL section at the site above.

*Learning* to set thing up correctly and modify the configuration isn't simple - you'll learn as you go, but reading the httpd.conf and php.ini files is very very helpful. php.ini in connection with the information on [php.net...] can teach you a lot of things

As to books learning you the things that you need, I'll recommend : [safari.oreilly.com...]

and for messing around with Mac OS X as a server get hold of : [safari.oreilly.com...]

The real fun starts when you want to do virtual servers and keep *everything* - configuration files, databases, php-includes, php-session files, etc - in the same folder on an account by account basis.

Also, take a look at the articles you can find here : [oreillynet.com...] . There are *lots* of great advise, tutorials, explanations etc that actually give you practical advise you can get your hands dirty on.

As to Netscape : forget it - it's dead and gone. Get hold of Mozilla instead from either [mozilla.org...] or [mozillazine.org...] . It's much much better than *any* version of Netscape you can get hold of.

As to Mozilla, I'll recommend you install the following modules from [mozdev.org...] : bannerblind - adblock - multizilla + googlebox - livehttpheaders - linky - and whatever else catches your fancy there
In addition to the above mozdev projects get hold of 'TheHomeButton' - [home.no.net...] - and pnhtoolbar - [placenamehere.com...]

There's also a calendar module for Mozilla - [mozilla.org...] - that might strike you fancy. It rivals iCal from Apple.

As to editing html, php etc, I'm using BBEdit 7.0.4, but Alphatk 8.3 might also strike your fancy. You can find the links to these on [versiontracker.com...] .

[juandpaola]

Dear timster, KA_curtis, jatar_k, BjarneDM good day. I went out for a sun bath in Cote d'Azur and believe it or not sent a thought to you all, who have been so kind in helping me with this Php-MySql-Apache-BBEdit-Etc thing.
Today I'm gonna try all the new links and tutorials, this website need to be done as soon as possible, and it will be viewed by hundreds of people per hour, it's going to be one of the four italian official nuclear medicine congresses web sites.

I'll give you all a feed back as i understand something, many thanks ffor your kindness.
Juanita
:-)