PHP & MySQL for Dummies - should i buy?

[nelsonm]

Hi all,

I'm learning PHP & MySQL on my own. While online resources such as w3schools.com and others have been helpful, i feel i need something that explains things on more layman's terms.

It would seem that the "For Dummies" series would be a good place to start. They have a "PHP & MySQL for Dummies" 4th edition book but it was published in December of 2009. Would this version still be relevant or should i look elsewhere?

thanks.

[Habtom]

I wouldn't recommend books to learn programming languages.

The best way to learn programming is to just start programming.


<?php

//Start with this, and learn your loops, conditions,
//variables, .... by writing it here, and running the page
//after writing a single line of code to see the changes.

?>

[nelsonm]

While agree to point... books, online references and code samples have been extremely helpful in defining the scope of the language, what built in functions are available as well as the language syntax and statement short cuts and methods.

However, most books and online references don't explain the nuances of why you'd want to do this over that, how to access objects, how and when to connect objects and methods and so on in a way that a lay person can quickly understand. And i'm always getting tripped up on the technical jargon.

From what i've seen of the "for Dummies" series, you get that extra hand holding or bigger picture and easier explanations of how and why things are done.

I know i'll get a few turned up noses on this issue, but, hay, not ever one learns in the same way and every one is not academically proficient.

[phex]

another book you can check is *php5 in easy steps*. It is very helpfull for biginers.

[Leosghost]

Also..*PHP Solutions: Dynamic Web Design Made Easy: By David Powers*

[nelsonm]

thanks for the leads, I'll look them up.

[rollinj]

I wouldn't suggest it.

It takes about 100 pages to explain what tizag or w3schools does in a much better format.

[robzilla]

another book you can check is *php5 in easy steps*. It is very helpfull for biginers.

It's a book from 2004, though, on the very earliest version of PHP5, and doesn't seem to have been updated.

[penders]

I wouldn't recommend books to learn programming languages.

People learn in different ways and how you learn a new language will depend on what background you already have in programming. And sometimes by jumping straight in you miss some of the fundamentals that turn round and bite you later. So, whilst you can't learn programming just by reading a book, it can certainly help IMO.

[rocknbil]

by jumping straight in you miss some of the fundamentals

The largest being, secure your scripts! :-)