Moving on from html and javaScript

[webmaster7]

I would like to learn a database language but am wondering the best way to go about it. A friend suggested ASP.net but looking at various books they suggest that a knowledge of PHP is useful. Where do I start! Any suggestions?
Is a book or college course best?
Are there any good on line resources that anyone knows about?

Any advice would be good.

Thanks in advance

Jim

[korkus2000]

I would look at what server OS you have running currently on your host. If it is apache the learn PHP. If its windows learn .Net. I think a combination of books, forums and tutorial sites should be enough for anyone to learn a server language.

[skipfactor]

I would go with PHP. I'm an ASP developer because PHP wasn't as ubiquitous when I taught myself. I wish I knew it, but I don't have time to learn it right now.

I've read ASP is easier on beginners, but with Dreamweaver MX & PHP, there's probably not much of a difference in the learning curve.

Furthermore, with PHP everything's cheaper or free & you get to reside on Apache.

[webmaster7]

Thanks for the info guys. It's good to get a bit of guiding light. Since I'm using dreamweaver mx PHP it is!

Do you have any favourite author or are they all much the same?

Thanks again,

Jim

[griz_fan]

Hi Jim,

I've worked with ASP, .NET and PHP and am also partial to PHP, especially for beginners. In addition to lots of good online tutorial sites (a google search is a great place to start), I also got a LOT out of "PHP and MySQL Web Development, Second Edition" by Luke Welling, Laura Thomson.

[korkus2000]

Again it should depend on your host. Dreamweaver will also do ASP and ASP.Net. If you are going to use dreamweaver though, then just go to Macromedia site. You won't really need to learn much. I would suggest trying to learn the languages if you are interested in moving passed html and js. Dreamweaver generates most of the code for you.

[killroy]

Jsut to chime in... I always run windows+Apache+MySQL+PHP...

If you know PHP you can write for windows as well as linux...

SN

[webmaster7]

Thanks for that info, I can really see the benefit of this forum!

korkus2000
I will look further into DWmx thanks.

griz_fan
I will check out "PHP and MySQL Web Development, Second Edition" by Luke Welling, Laura Thomson.

Thanks to all

:) Jim

[danieljean]

I know this is not necessarily going to be a popular opinion... but here goes.

PHP is a scripting language, not suitable for enterprise applications. MySQL is neither enterprise-level nor standards-compliant, whereas MS-SQL, PostgeSQL and Oracle usually are.

PHP/MySQL however kicks a** when it comes to rapid application development of websites. It's also a great way to get some insights into how to organize dynamic content, useful if you are going to use more robust technologies like JSP or dare I say, ASP/.NET (don't go there if you can avoid it).

So it really depends on what you want to do. But before considering PHP, have you considered CSS and other ways to improve your html and standards compliance?

People that can do good Object-Oriented javascript (yup, seen it done) are rare, as are folks that can write good CSS and XHTML valid pages. Ask small webdesign firms in your area: chances there are openings for people that really know their stuff. OTOH, PHP coders are a dime a dozen these days.

And if you want to stay independent, you can usually work with a programmer that will follow good coding practice and totally separate logic from presentation, allowing both of you to work without getting ruining each other's work.

My $0.02